The 2012 season was the New England Patriots' 43rd in the National Football League (NFL) and their 53rd overall. The Patriots did not improve upon their 13–3 record from 2011, finishing at 12–4, but did win the AFC East for the fourth season in a row, and a first-round bye as one of the top two seeds in the AFC for the third consecutive year. This season marked head coach Bill Belichick's 13th season as Patriots head coach, and the 11th season in which the Patriots played all of their home games at Gillette Stadium.
The 2012 Patriots featured a prolific offense that broke the record for first downs in a season, with 444, and finished third all-time in scoring, with 557 points, finishing only behind the 2011 Green Bay Packers and their previous 2007 record setting season. Additionally, this was the third consecutive season that the Patriots exceeded 500 points scored, which tied the record set by the 1999–2001 St. Louis Rams. The Patriots also ranked first in the league with a turnover margin of +25.
The Patriots' 12-win season marked their tenth consecutive 10-win season, a feat exceeded only by the San Francisco 49ers' streak of 16, from 1983 to 1998, and their twelfth consecutive winning season. They defeated the Houston Texans in the divisional round 41–28 before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship game 28–13, marking their first and only AFC title game loss at home. As of 2026, this represents the most recent sweeping the AFC East for the Patriots.
Offseason On May 15, Wes Welker signed his franchise tender of 1 year for $9.5 million. He was still permitted to negotiate a long-term deal until July 15, which passed, and a new contract was not allowed to be negotiated until the end of the season. Looking for a replacement for Chad Ochocinco, who had struggled during his tenure with the team, the Patriots signed Brandon Lloyd. The Patriots also signed veteran Joseph Addai to replace departing BenJarvus Green-Ellis. When Addai was released, Shane Vereen moved up to the 3 running back split.
2012 NFL draft
The Patriots traded their fifth-round selection and a 2013 sixth-round selection to the Cincinnati Bengals in exchange for wide receiver Chad Johnson. They also tried to improve their defense when they traded their fifth-round selection to the Washington Redskins for defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and their sixth-round selection to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for linebacker Tracy White and the Eagles' seventh-round selection. The Patriots also traded two seventh-round selections—one to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for safety Jarrad Page, and another to the Minnesota Vikings along with Randy Moss in exchange for a 2011 third-round selection. + 2012 New England Patriots Draft Selections Round Overall Player Position College1The Patriots acquired the New Orleans Saints' first-round selection and a 2011 second-round selection in a trade for the Patriots' 2011 first-round selection. ESPNBoston.com summary 21 Chandler Jones Defensive end Syracuse 25 Dont'a Hightower Linebacker Alabama2 48 Tavon Wilson Safety Illinois3 90 Jake Bequette Defensive end Arkansas6 197 Nate Ebner Safety Ohio State7 224 Alfonzo Dennard Cornerback Nebraska235 Jeremy Ebert Wide receiver Northwestern
NOTES: The Patriots traded up to acquire pick 21 from the Bengals The Patriots traded up to acquire pick 25 from the Broncos The Patriots acquired the Raiders' second-round selection and a 2011 seventh-round selection in a trade for the Patriots' 2011 third- and fourth-round selections. ProFootballWeekly.com summary Third, sixth and seventh round picks from the Packers. From Jets through Packers.
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 August 9 New Orleans Saints W 7–6 1–0 Gillette Stadium Recap 2 August 20 Philadelphia Eagles L 17–27 1–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 3 August 24 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 28–30 1–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap 4 August 29 at New York Giants L 3–6 1–3 MetLife Stadium Recap
Regular season
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 9 at Tennessee Titans W 34–13 1–0 LP Field Recap 2 September 16 Arizona Cardinals L 18–20 1–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 3 September 23 at Baltimore Ravens L 30–31 1–2 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 4 September 30 at Buffalo Bills W 52–28 2–2 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 5 October 7 Denver Broncos W 31–21 3–2 Gillette Stadium Recap 6 October 14 at Seattle Seahawks L 23–24 3–3 CenturyLink Field Recap 7 October 21 New York Jets W 29–26 4–3 Gillette Stadium Recap 8 October 28 at St. Louis Rams W 45–7 5–3 Wembley Stadium Recap 9 Bye 10 November 11 Buffalo Bills W 37–31 6–3 Gillette Stadium Recap 11 November 18 Indianapolis Colts W 59–24 7–3 Gillette Stadium Recap 12 November 22 at New York Jets W 49–19 8–3 MetLife Stadium Recap 13 December 2 at Miami Dolphins W 23–16 9–3 Sun Life Stadium Recap 14 December 10 Houston Texans W 42–14 10–3 Gillette Stadium Recap 15 December 16 San Francisco 49ers L 34–41 10–4 Gillette Stadium Recap 16 December 23 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 23–16 11–4 EverBank Field Recap 17 December 30 Miami Dolphins W 28–0 12–4 Gillette Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Regular season results
Week 1: at Tennessee Titans
The Titans received the opening kickoff, marching 70 yards to the Patriots 10, converting a 4th-and-1, but the drive stalled at the Patriots 11 and Rob Bironas kicked a 28-yard field goal. Two possessions later, the Patriots raced 67 yards in only 5 plays, scoring on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Tom Brady to Aaron Hernandez. The Titans drove to the Patriots 48 on their next drive, but Jake Locker was intercepted by Tavon Wilson at the Patriots 3-yard line. After Zoltan Mesko pinned the Titans at their own 10, Locker was strip-sacked by rookie Chandler Jones with fellow rookie Dont'a Hightower recovering for a touchdown, increasing the lead to 14–3. After the Titans punted, the Patriots took advantage marching 67 yards in 12 plays, scoring on a 2-yard touchdown pass from Brady to Rob Gronkowski, extending their lead to 21–3, after the play was upheld by replay. The Titans moved the ball well on their next drive, but their drive fell apart and they punted. Brady took a knee and the Patriots kept their 21–3 lead at halftime. The Patriots reached as far as midfield on their next drive, but punted. The Titans zoomed 80 yards on their next drive, scoring with Locker's 29-yard touchdown pass to Nate Washington, trimming the deficit to 21–10. Two possessions later, the Patriots raced 48 yards in 6 plays, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run by Stevan Ridley extending the lead to 28–10. The Titans drove all the way to the Patriots 6 on their next drive, settling for a 24-yard field goal and trimming the deficit to 28–13. The Patriots countered on their very next drive, reaching the Titans 7, with Gostkowski's 25-yard field goal pushing the lead three scores, 31–13. Four straight incompletions ended any hope of a Titans comeback and Gostkowski kicked a 31-yard field goal. The Titans ran one final play and the Patriots won the game. With the win, the Patriots not only started the season at 1–0 but they also won their ninth straight season opener. Tom Brady threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns, and the defending AFC champion Patriots routed the Tennessee Titans at LP Field by a score of 34–13. Second year running back Ridley for 125 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries and the Patriots offense was nearly flawless. With the win, New England started the season 1-0. This would be the Pats last win in Nashville until 2025.
Week 2: vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals took the opening possession of the game 60 yards in over six minutes, reaching the Patriots 20-yard line. The Patriots defense clamped down though, and Jay Feely was good on a 38-yard field goal. On the Patriots first offensive play, Brady was intercepted by Patrick Peterson at the Patriots -38 for no gain. The Cardinals failed to get a first down, but Feely was good on a 47-yarder and the Cardinals led 6–0. The Patriots responded on their next drive, driving 47 yards to the Arizona -28 where Gostkowski was good on a 46-yard field goal making the score 6–3. The rest of the quarter was all punts. The Patriots reached the Cardinals 11-yard line later, but eventually settled for a 34-yard field goal, tying the game 6-6 midway through the second quarter. On the sixth play of the Cardinals next possession, Jones forced Williams to fumble with Wilson recovering at the Patriots own 48, setting the Patriots up with good field position to take over, but the Cardinals defense stood strong and the Patriots punted. Both teams got the ball again only to punt for a 6-6 halftime score. The Patriots took the opening possession of the second half 47 yards, but were once again forced to settle for a field goal, this one from 51 yards giving the Patriots a 9–6 lead. Later in the third quarter, Quentin Groves blocked a punt by Mesko and the ball rolled out of bounds at the Patriots 2-yard line. Three plays later, Kevin Kolb threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Andre Roberts giving the Cardinals a 13–9 lead. The Patriots drove to the Cardinals 30-yard line, but on 3rd-and-6, Danny Woodhead was tackled for a 9-yard loss, and the Patriots punted rather than attempt a 58-yard field goal. On 2nd-and-18 from their own 28, Kolb hit tight end Todd Heap on a screen pass for a 28-yard gain to the Patriots 44 plus a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Steve Gregory, moving the ball to the Patriots 29-yard line. Seven plays later, Kolb ran in a 5-yard touchdown run less than a minute into the fourth quarter, giving the Cardinals a shocking 20–9 lead. The Patriots reached the Cardinals 39, but on 3rd-and-1, Ridley was tackled for a 4-yard loss and the Patriots punted. After the Cardinals did the same, the Patriots drove to the Cardinals- 35 and Gostkowski connected on a 53-yarder, trimming the deficit to 20–12. After a Cardinals three-and-out, the Patriots marched 82 yards with Brady finding Gronkowski for a 5-yard touchdown pass, trimming the deficit to 20–18. However, Brady's two-point conversion attempt to Gronkowski was incomplete, keeping the Cardinals ahead 20–18 with just 2:06 remaining in the game. With the touchdown pass, Brady moved to 4th all-time by throwing a touchdown pass in 34 consecutive games. With his 46th career 300 yard passing game, Brady moved to 8th all-time. On the Cardinals next drive, Williams fumbled at the Cardinals 35 with Vince Wilfork recovering at the 30, setting up the Patriots nicely. After an incompletion, Woodhead burst for a 30-yard touchdown, but the play was nullified on an offensive holding penalty on Gronkowski. The Patriots reached the 24, but Gostkowski missed a 42-yard field goal wide left with 0:01 left. Kolb took a knee and the Cardinals got the upset win.
With the loss the Patriots fell to 1–1, 10–1 in home openers at Gillette Stadium, and 18–3 against NFC opponents at Gillette Stadium.
Week 3: at Baltimore Ravens
The Patriots were hoping to stave off a losing streak and rebound from their loss to the Cardinals in this rematch of the AFC Championship.