The 2022 season was the New England Patriots' 53rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 63rd overall, their 21st playing home games at Gillette Stadium, and their 23rd under head coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots finished 8–9 and missed the playoffs for the second time in three years.
Ahead of the season, longtime offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia was given offensive playcalling duties and former special teams coordinator Joe Judge was named quarterbacks coach, despite both having no prior offensive coaching experience. Under Patricia and Judge, the offense suffered a noticeable regression from the previous season, dropping from 15th in yards and sixth in points scored to 26th in yards and 17th in points scored. The decision to replace McDaniels with Patricia and Judge was widely criticized and both would be removed from the offense in favor of returning offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien for the 2023 season.
The season also saw the Patriots wear red and white throwback uniforms for the first time since 2012 after an NFL rule requiring teams to wear the same helmet designs for the entire season was rescinded.
Roster changes
Free agency
Unrestricted PositionPlayer2022 teamDate signedContractMLBJa'Whaun BentleyNew England PatriotsMarch 21, 20222 years, $6 millionRBBrandon BoldenLas Vegas RaidersMarch 17, 20222 years, $5.01 millionOTTrent BrownNew England PatriotsMarch 23, 20222 years, $13 millionOLBJamie CollinsDTCarl DavisNew England PatriotsApril 28, 20221 year, $1.19 millionKNick FolkNew England PatriotsMarch 21, 20222 years, $5 millionTETroy FumagalliSan Francisco 49ersMay 17, 20221 year, $895,000MLBDont'a HightowerQBBrian HoyerNew England PatriotsMarch 14, 20222 years, $4 millionCBJ. C. JacksonLos Angeles ChargersMarch 16, 20225 years, $82.5 millionCTed KarrasCincinnati BengalsMarch 17, 20223 years, $18 millionOLBBrandon KingIndianapolis ColtsApril 13, 20221 year, $1.19 million FSDevin McCourtyNew England PatriotsMarch 13, 20221 year, $9 millionWRMatthew SlaterNew England PatriotsMarch 16, 20221 year, $2.62 millionRBJames WhiteNew England PatriotsMarch 17, 20222 years, $5 million
Restricted PositionPlayer2022 teamDate signedContractFBJakob JohnsonLas Vegas RaidersMarch 17, 20221 year, $1.5 millionWRJakobi MeyersNew England PatriotsJune 16, 20221 year, $3.99 millionWRGunner OlszewskiPittsburgh SteelersMarch 21, 20222 years, $4.2 million
Exclusive-rights PositionPlayer2022 teamDate signedContractOLBTerez Hall
Signings/waiver claims
PositionPlayerPrevious teamDate signedContractCJames FerentzNew England PatriotsMarch 14, 20221 year, $1.075 millionCBTerrance MitchellHouston TexansMarch 16, 20221 year, $1.75 millionWRTy MontgomeryNew Orleans SaintsMarch 19, 20222 years, $3.6 millionCBMalcolm ButlerArizona CardinalsMarch 24, 20222 years, $9 millionSSJabrill PeppersNew York GiantsApril 4, 20221 year, $2 millionTEMatt SokolDetroit LionsMay 11, 20221 year, $705,000KTristan VizcainoLos Angeles ChargersJune 10, 20221 year, $825,000WRLil'Jordan HumphreyNew Orleans SaintsJune 16, 20221 year, $965,000CDarryl WilliamsKansas City ChiefsJune 21, 20221 year, $705,000DTJeremiah Pharms Jr.Pittsburgh Maulers (USFL)July 19, 20221 year, $705,000WRJosh HammondPhiladelphia EaglesJuly 29, 20221 year, $705,000SSJalen ElliottDetroit LionsAugust 2, 20221 year, $825,000SSBrad HawkinsAtlanta Falcons1 year, $705,000CBDevin HaffordPittsburgh Maulers (USFL)August 14, 20221 year, $705,000TEJalen WydermyerBuffalo BillsAugust 18, 20221 year, $705,000 Indicates that the player was a free agent at the end of his respective team's season.
Releases/waivers PositionPlayerDate released/waivedOLBKyle Van NoyMarch 7, 2022HBDevine OzigboMay 3, 2022OLBTerez HallMay 5, 2022GLiam ShanahanMay 13, 2022CBDevin HaffordMay 16, 2022QBD'Eriq KingKQuinn NordinJune 10, 2022LSRoss ReiterJuly 18, 2022DTByron CowartJuly 22, 2022CDarryl WilliamsJuly 26, 2022PJake JulienAugust 16, 2022SSJalen ElliottAugust 20, 2022CBDevin HaffordTEDalton KeeneAugust 21, 2022TEDevin AsiasiAugust 30, 2022CBJustin BethelGDrew DesjarlaisGYasir DurantCJames FerentzGArlington HambrightWRJosh HammondHBKevin HarrisSSBrad HawkinsWRLil'Jordan HumphreyMLBHarvey LangiMLBCameron McGroneCBTerrance MitchellGBill MurrayWRTre NixonDTJeremiah Pharms Jr.DTLaBryan RayCKody RusseyOTWill ShermanTEMatt SokolHBJ. J. TaylorKTristan VizcainoMLBNate WielandTEJalen WydermyerWRLil'Jordan HumphreyOctober 11, 2022
Retirements PositionPlayerDate retiredWRMalcolm PerryJuly 22, 2022RBJames WhiteAugust 11, 2022
Trades
March 17 – Defensive end Chase Winovich was traded to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for linebacker Mack Wilson. March 17 – Guard Shaq Mason was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in exchange for a 2022 fifth-round selection (No. 170). April 5 – The Patriots' 2023 third-round selection was traded to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for wide receiver DeVante Parker and a 2022 fifth-round selection. May 13 – Jarrett Stidham and a 2023 seventh-round selection were traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2023 sixth-round selection. July 13 – Wide receiver N'Keal Harry was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round selection. September 21 – Offensive tackle Justin Herron and a 2024 seventh-round selection were traded to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round selection.
Draft
2022 New England Patriots Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 29 Cole Strange G Chattanooga from San Francisco via Miami and Kansas City 2 50 Tyquan Thornton WR Baylor from Miami via Kansas City 3 85 Marcus Jones CB Houston 4 121 Jack Jones CB Arizona State from Miami via Kansas City 127 Pierre Strong Jr. HB South Dakota State 137 Bailey Zappe QB Western Kentucky from LA Rams via Houston and Carolina 6 183 Kevin Harris RB South Carolina from Houston 200 Sam Roberts DT Northwest Missouri State 210 Chasen Hines G LSU from LA Rams 7 245 Andrew Stueber G Michigan from Dallas via Houston Draft trades
+ 2022 New England Patriots undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Devin Hafford CB Tarleton State Jake Julien PEastern Michigan D'Eriq King QB Miami (FL) DaMarcus Mitchell DE, OLB Purdue LaBryan Ray DT Alabama Kody Russey C Houston Brenden Schooler FS Texas Liam Shanahan G LSU Ross Reiter LS Colorado State Nate Wieland MLB Grand Valley State
Uniform changes For the first time since the 2012 season, the Patriots wore their red and white "throwback" uniforms for select games. The red jersey and white helmet combination, with the "Pat the Patriot" logo, was last worn regularly in the 1992 New England Patriots season. The Patriots wore it for select games as an alternate uniform starting 2002, but NFL rules restricting teams to wearing the same helmet designs for the entire season were enacted after 2012. When that rule was rescinded for the 2022 season, the Patriots brought back their classic uniforms as an alternate. In week 7 against the Chicago Bears, the Patriots wore silver pants for the first time since the 2019 season, but the red stripes were wider than the previous silver pants to match the blue pants style.
Staff
Final roster
Preseason The Patriots' preseason and regular season opponents and schedule were announced on May 12.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 New York Giants L 21–23 0–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 2 Carolina Panthers W 20–10 1–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 3 at Las Vegas Raiders L 6–23 1–2 Allegiant Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 11 at Miami Dolphins L 7–20 0–1 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 2 September 18 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 17–14 1–1 Acrisure Stadium Recap 3 September 25 Baltimore Ravens L 26–37 1–2 Gillette Stadium Recap 4 October 2 at Green Bay Packers L 24–27 1–3 Lambeau Field Recap 5 October 9 Detroit Lions W 29–0 2–3 Gillette Stadium Recap 6 October 16 at Cleveland Browns W 38–15 3–3 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap 7 Chicago Bears L 14–33 3–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 8 October 30 at New York Jets W 22–17 4–4 MetLife Stadium Recap 9 November 6 Indianapolis Colts W 26–3 5–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 10Bye 11 November 20 New York Jets W 10–3 6–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 12 November 24 at Minnesota Vikings L 26–33 6–5 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 13 Buffalo Bills L 10–24 6–6 Gillette Stadium Recap 14 at Arizona Cardinals W 27–13 7–6 State Farm Stadium Recap 15 December 18 at Las Vegas Raiders L 24–30 7–7 Allegiant Stadium Recap 16 Cincinnati Bengals L 18–22 7–8 Gillette Stadium Recap 17 January 1 Miami Dolphins W 23–21 8–8 Gillette Stadium Recap 18 January 8 at Buffalo Bills L 23–35 8–9 Highmark Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Miami Dolphins
The game featured a slow start, with the first score coming via a Jason Sanders field goal for the Dolphins with 4:06 remaining in the first quarter, and the first touchdown coming on a Melvin Ingram fumble recovery, also for the Dolphins, coming at 7:40 left in the second quarter. The sole offensive touchdown went to the Patriots on a 6-yard reception by Ty Montgomery from Mac Jones, though the Patriots would lose the game 20–7, marking the second year in a row that the Patriots lost to the Dolphins on Opening Day, and the fourth straight loss to them in this rivalry. A late-game back injury to Mac Jones led to some post-game X-rays, but he was cleared to play in Week 2.
Week 2: at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Patriots held the Steelers to a three-and-out on the opening drive, and themselves had a 13-play long ball-control focused first drive that resulted in a 28-yard Nick Folk field goal and ate up 6:45 of game clock. The teams traded interceptions on the final two drives of the first period, with the Steelers getting their own field goal off the foot of Chris Boswell to tie the game up at 3–3 with 8:35 left to play in the second quarter. With time running out in the half, Nelson Agholor made a difficult catch while closely covered by the Miami defender to give the Patriots a 10–3 lead going in to half-time. The Patriots would not relinquish the lead; the Steelers bringing it to 17–14 following a Pat Freiermuth reception on the first play of the fourth quarter and a Diontae Johnson reception for the ensuing two-point conversion. The teams then traded punts for the remainder of the game, with the Patriots ending as they started, with another 13-play drive that used up the final 6:33 of game time, to preserve the win. For the 21st year in a row, the Patriots began the year with at least a 1–1 record.
Week 3: vs. Baltimore Ravens
In the Patriots home opener against the Ravens, Baltimore scored first on a five-yard reception by Mark Andrews. The Patriots answered with a Nick Folk field goal and, on the next drive, a three-yard quarterback keeper by Mac Jones to bring the Patriots to 10–7. Lamar Jackson hit Mark Andrews for a second touchdown to take the lead back, while Nick Folk hit a 50-yard field goal to bring the Patriots to within one point as time expired at half time. A two-yard Damien Harris run on the opening drive of the second half gave the patriots a 20–14 lead. Baltimore took the lead 21–20 on the next possession, capping their 7-play, 74-yard drive with a 1 yard Jackson to Josh Oliver pass for a touchdown. Baltimore would not relinquish the lead, despite a fourth quarter Rhamondre Stevenson run and missed two-point conversion that brought the Patriots to within five, the Ravens scored on a 9-yard Lamar Jackson run that gave the Ravens their final 37–26 win. Mac Jones suffered a left leg injury at the two-minute warning of the final quarter after throwing his third interception. This was the Pats' first regular season home loss to the Ravens in franchise history, and their first home loss to them since the 2012 AFC Championship game.
Week 4: at Green Bay Packers