The 2014 season was the New England Patriots' 45th in the National Football League (NFL), their 55th overall, and their 15th under head coach Bill Belichick.
The 2014 season would mark the tenth anniversary of the Patriots' third and then most recent Super Bowl win, when they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. Despite their championship drought, the Patriots remained a dominant NFL dynasty throughout the 2000s and early 2010s. They qualified for the playoffs nine times (missing only the 2008 postseason despite finishing 11–5), reached the AFC Championship five times, appeared in two Super Bowls, and, in the eyes of many, solidified Tom Brady's status as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. In 2007, the Patriots completed just the second undefeated regular season in the history of the modern NFL (the first being their division rival Miami Dolphins in 1972), as well as the first since the league expanded its seasons to sixteen games (though only the 1972 Dolphins were able to win the Super Bowl). The team's continued success over more than a decade drew a great deal of intrigue toward the ball club, and with it, constant media scrutiny. Despite several setbacks throughout the season, including a blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in week four and the highly publicized Deflategate scandal, the Patriots rode the momentum of a 10–2 finish to a Super Bowl championship.
The Patriots finished 12–4 for the third straight year, winning their sixth straight AFC East title, as well as the top-overall seed and home field advantage for the AFC playoffs. With their seeding, New England was awarded a first-round bye in the playoffs for the fifth season in a row, the first such occurrence for any team since the league switched to a 12-team playoff format in 1990 (surpassing the 1992–95 Dallas Cowboys). They finished fourth in the NFL in scoring (468 points) and eighth in points allowed (313), and first in point differential (with an average margin of victory of 9.7 points).
The Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens 35–31 in the divisional round of the playoffs, advancing to their fourth straight AFC Championship Game. There, they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45–7 to advance to their 8th Super Bowl, their 6th under Bill Belichick. On February 1, 2015, the Patriots played the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. After allowing the Seahawks to tie the game 14–14 at halftime and falling behind ten points in the third quarter, the Patriots rallied in the final quarter of the game to secure a 28–24 victory, and with it, the franchise's fourth championship and first title since the 2004 season 10 years prior.
This would be the last season until 2020 (and the last one of the 2010s) in which the Patriots did not face the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Roster changes
Free agency Notable Departures: Aqib Talib (to Denver Broncos), Brandon Spikes (to Buffalo Bills), Dane Fletcher (to Tampa Bay Buccaneers), LeGarrette Blount (returned the same year, to Pittsburgh Steelers) Logan Mankins (to Tampa Bay Buccaneers) Notable Re-signings: Michael Hoomanawanui, Julian Edelman, Danny Aiken Notable Arrivals: Darrelle Revis (from Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Brandon Browner (from Seattle Seahawks), Brandon LaFell (from Carolina Panthers), Patrick Chung (from Philadelphia Eagles)
Draft
Draft trades The Patriots traded their third-round selection (No. 93 overall) to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for the Jaguars' fourth- and sixth-round selections (Nos. 105 and 179 overall). The Patriots traded their fifth-round selection (No. 169 overall) to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for the Eagles' sixth-round selection (No. 198 overall) and defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga.
Undrafted free agents All undrafted free agents were signed just after the 2014 NFL draft concluded on April 30, 2014.
Position Player College CB Malcolm Butler West Alabama Made regular season roster
Staff
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 August 7 at Washington Redskins L 6–23 0–1 FedExField Recap 2 August 15 Philadelphia Eagles W 42–35 1–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 3 August 22 Carolina Panthers W 30–7 2–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 4 August 28 at New York Giants L 13–16 2–2 MetLife Stadium Recap
Regular season
Week Date Opponent Results Game site NFL.comrecap Score Record 1 September 7 at Miami Dolphins L 20–33 0–1 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 2 September 14 at Minnesota Vikings W 30–7 1–1 TCF Bank Stadium Recap 3 September 21 Oakland Raiders W 16–9 2–1 Gillette Stadium Recap 4 September 29 at Kansas City Chiefs L 14–41 2–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 5 October 5 Cincinnati Bengals W 43–17 3–2 Gillette Stadium Recap 6 October 12 at Buffalo Bills W 37–22 4–2 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 7 October 16 New York Jets W 27–25 5–2 Gillette Stadium Recap 8 October 26 Chicago Bears W 51–23 6–2 Gillette Stadium Recap 9 November 2 Denver Broncos W 43–21 7–2 Gillette Stadium Recap 10 Bye 11 November 16 at Indianapolis Colts W 42–20 8–2 Lucas Oil Stadium Recap 12 November 23 Detroit Lions W 34–9 9–2 Gillette Stadium Recap 13 November 30 at Green Bay Packers L 21–26 9–3 Lambeau Field Recap 14 December 7 at San Diego Chargers W 23–14 10–3 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 15 December 14 Miami Dolphins W 41–13 11–3 Gillette Stadium Recap 16 December 21 at New York Jets W 17–16 12–3 MetLife Stadium Recap 17 December 28 Buffalo Bills L 9–17 12–4 Gillette StadiumRecap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Postseason
Playoff round Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap Wild Card First-round bye Divisional Baltimore Ravens (6) W 35–31 1–0 Gillette Stadium Recap AFC Championship January 18, 2015 Indianapolis Colts (4) W 45–7 2–0 Gillette Stadium Recap Super Bowl XLIX February 1, 2015 vs. Seattle Seahawks (N1) W 28–24 3–0 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap
Game summaries
Regular season
Week 1: at Miami Dolphins
The Patriots traveled to Miami to face their division rival Miami Dolphins in the 2014 season opener. The Patriots featured several key additions: Brandon LaFell, Darrelle Revis, and Brandon Browner (even though he was suspended for the first four games).
After forcing a Patriots three-and-out, Chris McCain blocked the punt by Ryan Allen with Jason Trusnik recovering at the Patriots 15. Four plays later, Lamar Miller scored on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Tannehill, for a 7–0 Dolphins lead. The Patriots responded, marching 80 yards in 13 plays, with Shane Vereen tying the game on a 2-yard run. On the third play of the Dolphins' next drive, Mike Wallace was stripped by Jamie Collins with Jerod Mayo recovering at the Dolphins 35. The Dolphins defense stiffened, and held New England to a 47-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski. The Dolphins responded by driving all the way to the Patriots 37, but Alfonzo Dennard intercepted Tannehill at the Patriots 6-yard line. The Patriots proceeded to march 94 yards in 11 plays, aided by a 44-yard bomb from Tom Brady to Julian Edelman, culminating with Brady finding Rob Gronkowski on a six-yard touchdown pass, giving the Patriots a commanding 17–7 lead midway through the second quarter. After reaching their own 47, the Dolphins' turnover woes continued with Logan Ryan stripping Miller and Darrelle Revis recovering at the Patriots 34. The Dolphins defense stiffened and the Patriots punted. The Dolphins answered with a drive deep into Patriot territory, but had to settle for a 38-yard field goal from Caleb Sturgis, trimming the score to 17–10 with 1:59 to go in the half. A 30-yard kickoff return by Patrick Chung and a 33-yard catch by Edelman, helped the Patriots reach the Dolphins 27 where Gostkowski drilled a 45-yard field goal, giving the Patriots a 20–10 lead at halftime. The second half was a different story entirely. The Dolphins stormed all the way to the Patriots 6-yard line on their first possession, but the Patriots defense clamped down and held the Dolphins to a 24-yard field goal to trim the lead back to 7. On the fourth play of the Patriots' next drive, Brady was strip-sacked by Cameron Wake with Louis Delmas recovering at the Patriots 34. Four plays later Tannehill found Wallace for a 14-yard touchdown pass to tie the game midway through the third quarter. Following a Patriots three-and-out, the Dolphins were set up with good position at their own 47. They reached the Patriots 3, but once again the Patriots clamped down and Sturgis booted a 21-yard field goal, regaining the lead for the Dolphins, 23–20. It only got worse for New England. Early in the fourth quarter, facing a 3rd-and-9 at the Dolphins 44, Brady had his best pocket of the 2nd half, but overthrew an open Edelman and the Patriots punted. The Dolphins pulled away on their next drive, methodically marching 85 yards in 12 plays, converting three third-downs, with Moreno rushing for a 4-yard touchdown, increasing the Dolphins lead to 30–20 with just 3:29 remaining in the 4th quarter. Any hope of a Patriots comeback died on their next possession when Brady was sacked by Anthony Johnson on 4th-and-10. The Dolphins didn't get a first down, but Sturgis's 27-yard field goal, his 4th, was good and the Dolphins led 33–20. The Patriots drove deep into Miami territory in the final seconds, but turned the ball over on downs.
The loss was the Patriots' first to open a season since losing 31–0 to the Buffalo Bills in 2003. Tom Brady was sacked four times, losing two fumbles and finishing the day completing only 29 of 56 pass attempts, including 14/35 in the second half, for 249 yards and 1 touchdown. Edelman had 95 yards on just 6 catches, but Brandon LaFell, the new deep-threat, didn't have a single catch. The Patriots defense played well in the first half, forcing three turnovers and holding the Dolphins to just ten points, but allowed 23 points and forced no turnovers in the second half. Ryan Tannehill was efficient, 18 of 32 for 178 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Moreno ran for 134 yards, including 91 yards in the 2nd half, and the Dolphins as a team rushed for 191 yards and out-gained the Patriots in total yards in the second half, 222–67.
Week 2: at Minnesota Vikings
After a disappointing loss to the Miami Dolphins, the Patriots looked to bounce back against the lowly Vikings who were without Adrian Peterson who was suspended, but were led by ex-Patriot Matt Cassel at quarterback.