GAME NOTES: New England Patriots Take First Place in AFC After Big Win Over Indianapolis Colts

SUSTAINED SUCCESS: PATRIOTS TO FINISH 500 OR BETTER FOR 14th STRAIGHT SEASON

After improving to 8-2 on the 2014 season, the Patriots are guaranteed to finish the season with a record of .500 or better for the 14th consecutive year. At the conclusion of the 2014 season, the Patriots will be the only NFL team to finish with a record of .500 or better in each of the last 14 years (2001-2014). Each of the other 31 NFL teams had at least one losing season between 2001 and 2013.

PATRIOTS IMPROVE TO 11-4 ALL-TIME AFTER THE BYE UNDER BELICHICK

The Patriots are now 11-4 all-time following a bye week under head coach Bill Belichick.

SECOND HALF SURGE

Since 2010, the Patriots are 31-3 in the second half of the regular season, In both 2010 and 2011, the Patriots were 8-0 in the second half of the year. New England was 7-1 in 2012 and 6-2 in 2013. The Patriots are off to a 2-0 starts in the second half in 2014. Since Bill Belichick became the Patriots coach in 2000, New England is 91-23 in the second half of the season, and has gone 8-0 in the second half four times (2003, 2007, 2010 and 2011) and 7-1 three times (2001, 2004 and 2012).

Best Record in the NFL in the Second Half since 2010

Patriots 31-3

Packers 23-10-1

49ers 22-10-1

Saints 23-11

PATRIOTS WIN SIXTH STRAIGHT GAME

The Patriots won their sixth consecutive game, which is the longest winning streak in the NFL. The Patriots have not lost since a 41-14 defeat at Kansas City on Sept. 29. Over their six-game winning streak, the Patriots have averaged 40.5 points per game.

PATS HAVE WON 73 STRAIGHT HOME GAMES WHEN LEADING AT THE HALF

The Patriots have now won 73 straight home games when leading at halftime, adding to their NFL record. The last time the Patriots lost at home after leading at halftime was on Dec. 24, 2000 (vs. Miami) when they Patriots lost 27-24 after leading 21-17 at halftime. The Patriots were leading 14-10 at halftime and won the game 42-20.

PATRIOTS SCORE FIRST FOR SIXTH STRAIGHT GAME

The Patriots scored first on a 4-yard touchdown run by RB Jonas Gray. It is the sixth straight game that the Patriots have scored first (all victories).

PATRIOTS HAVE TOP NOVEMBER RECORD SINCE 2001

NFL’s Top November Records Since 2001

Team W L T PCT.

New England 39 14 0 .736

Indianapolis 38 19 0 .667

Baltimore 37 22 0 .627

Dallas 35 21 0 .625

ROAD WARRIORS: PATRIOTS HAVE BEST ROAD RECORD SINCE 2000

Since the start of the 2000 season, the Patriots have the best regular-season road record.

TEAM RECORD PCT.

New England 76-41-0 .650

Philadelphia 72-44-1 .620

Indianapolis 71-46-0 .607

Pittsburgh 66-51 .564

PATS IMPROVE TO 40-1 SINCE 2000 WHEN A PATRIOT REACHES 100 YARDS RUSHING

The Patriots are now 40-1 since 2000 when a Patriots player eclipses 100 yards rushing. Against Indianapolis, RB Jonas Gray had his first NFL 100-yard rushing day, gaining 199 yards. The only loss with a 100-yard rusher during the Bill Belichick era came at Miami on Dec. 20, 2004, when Corey Dillon rushed for 121 yards on 26 carries and the Patriots lost to the Dolphins, 29-28. Since then, New England is 27-0 with a 100-yard rusher.

PATRIOTS GROUND GAME GAINS 200 YARDS

For the second time in 2014, the Patriots offense gained 200 yards on the ground after gaining 244 yards against the Colts. The Patriots had 220 rushing yards vs. Cincinnati on Oct. 5. The Patriots are 65-7 all-time when rushing for 200 yards or more and are 12-0 under Bill Belihcick when rushing for 200 yards or more. h

64-7 all-time when rushing for 200 or more yards. 11-0 under Bill Belichick.

PATRIOTS HOLD COLTS TO JUST 19 YARDS RUSHING

The Patriots held Indianapolis to just 19 yards rushing, tied for the fourth lowest in team history and the second lowest since Bill Belichick became head coach of the Patriots. The Patriots held Buffalo to 14 yards rushing on Dec. 11, 2005.

Fewst Rushing Yards Allowed in a Game/Patriots

2 at San Diego, Dec. 17, 1961

14 vs. Kansas City, Oct. 11, 1998

14 at Buffalo, Dec. 11, 2005

19 at Indianapolis, Nov. 16, 2014

19 vs. Houston, Nov. 1, 1963

20 at Tennessee, Sept. 9, 2012

20 vs. Seattle, Dec. 4, 1998.

PATRIOTS START 8-2 OR BETTER FOR SIXTH TIME IN TEAM HISTORY

The Patriots are off to an 8-2 start for the sixth time history (1978, 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2010).

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

RB JONAS GRAY SETS TEAM REGULAR SEASON MARK WITH 4 TDS

RB Jonas Gray set a team record with four rushing touchdowns, his first touchdowns of his career, in his very first NFL starting assignment. LeGarrette Blount set a Patriots postseason record with four rushing touchdowns vs. Indianapolis in the 2013 AFC Divisional playoff game on Jan. 11, 2014.

Most Rushing TDs in a regular Season Game/Patriots

4 Jonas Gray at Indianapolis, Nov. 16, 2014

3 Corey Dillon vs. Detroit, Dec. 3, 2006

3 Curtis Martin vs. Miami, Nov. 3, 1996

3 Mosi Tatupu at LA Rams, Dec. 11, 1983

3 Tony Collins vs. NY Jets, Sept. 18, 1983

3 Sam Cunningham at Buffalo, Oct. 20, 1974

GRAY HAS FIRST CAREER 100-YARD DAY; TIED FOR THE THIRD HIGHEST TOTAL IN TEAM HISTORY

Gray had his first 100-yard day in the NFL after gaining 199 yards on 38 carries for a 5.2-yard average. He had 14 carries for 100 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. Gray’s 199 yards the tied for the third-highest in team history. RB Stevan Ridley had 113 yards rushing vs. Cincinnati (10/5).

Most Rushing Yards in a Game/Patriots

212 Tony Collins vs. NY Jets, Sept. 18, 1983

208 Jim Nance vs. Oakland, Oct. 30, 1966

199 Jonas Gray at Indianapolis, Nov. 16, 2014

199 Curtis Martin vs. NY Jets, Sept. 14, 1997

196 Robert Edwards at St. Louis, Dec. 13, 1998

189 LeGarrett Blount vs. Buffalo, Dec. 29, 2013

185 Jim Nancy vs. Buffalo, Sept. 24, 1967

177 Don Calhoun vs. Denver, Nov. 28, 1976

RB JONAS GRAY SCORES HIS FIRST NFL TOUCHDOWNS

RB Jonas Gray capped an 11-play, 89-yard drive with his first NFL touchdown on a 4-yard run on the Patriots first offensive drive of the game. He scored his second touchdown on a 2-yard run in the second quarter. He scored on his third touchdown on a 2-yard run in the third quarter and added his fourth touchdown on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter.

GRONKOWSKI CAN BECOME THE FIRST TIGHT END IN NFL HISTORY WITH FOUR 10-PLUS TOUCHDOWN SEASONS.

TE Rob Gronkowski scored his 9th touchdown of the season on a 26-yard pass in the fourth quarter. He became the first tight end in NFL history to have three consecutive 10-plus touchdown seasons (10 in 2010, 18 in 2011 and 11 in 2012). He now has 9 touchdowns in 2014 and can become the first tight end in NFL history with four seasons of three touchdowns. Gronkowski is tied with Tony Gonzales (3) and Antonio Gates (3) for the most seasons with 10 or more touchdowns by a tight end. Gates enters this week with nine touchdowns in 2014.

NFL TIGHT ENDS WITH MOST 10-PLUS TOUCHDOWN SEASONS

Rob Gronkowski 3 10 in 2010, 18 in 2011 and 11 in 2012 – 8 in 2014)

Antonio Gates 3 (13 in 2004, 10 in 2005 and 10 in 2010 - 9 in 2014)

Tony Gonzalez 3 (11 in 1999, 10 in 2003 and 10 in 2008)

Dallas Clark 2

Vernon Davis 2

Jimmy Graham 2

Shannon Sharp 2

Wesley Walls 2

Julius Thomas 2

GRONKOWSKI MOVES INTO SECOND PLACE ON PATRIOTS ALL-TIME RECEIVING TOUCHDOWN LIST

Rob Gronkowski now has 51 career touchdown receptions, the most among Patriots tight ends and the second-most touchdown receptions in Patriots history.

MOST TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS BY A PATRIOTS PLAYER

Player Touchdown

1. Stanley Morgan 67

2. Rob Gronkowski 51

3. Ben Coates 50

3. Randy Moss 50

Most Receiving Touchdowns by a Patriots Tight End

Player TD Years

Rob Gronkowski 51 2010-Present

Ben Coates 50 1991-99

Russ Francis 28 1975-80, 87-88

Ben Watson 20 2004-09

GRONKOWSKI EXTENDS HIS STREAK TO 60 STRAIGHT GAMES WITH A RECEPTION

Rob Gronkowski caught a 9-yard pass in the first quarter and has caught at least one pass in all 60 regular season games that he has played.

BRADY IMPROVES ON STELLAR NOVEMBER RECORD

Quaterbacks with the best records in November in Super Bowl era (min. 20 starts)

Player Record in November Win PCT.

Tony Romo 25-5 .833

Daryle Lamonica 19-4-2 .826

Jim McMahon 18-5 .783

Tom Brady 37-11 .771

Joe Flacco 21-8 .724

BRADY WINS FIRST GAME AT LUCAS OIL STADIUM; HAS WINS IN 34 NFL STADIUMS

The win at Indianapolis gives Brady victories (regular or postseason) in 34 different stadiums, including three college stadiums (Memorial Stadium vs. Chicago, Sun Devil Stadium vs. the Cardinals and TCF Bank Stadium vs. Minnesota) and Wembley Stadium. Brady is winless at CenturyLink Field and University of Phoenix Stadium. He has never played at AT&T Stadium, Levi’s Field or Raymond James Stadium and did not play at the Pontiac Silverdome (as a starter) or Candlestick Park during their existence

GOSTKOWSKI ON PACE TO SET NFL RECORD FOR MOST POINTS BY A KICKER

Gostkowski added six extra points and now has 107 points through the first ten games, on pace for an NFL record of 171 points.

NFL RECORD FOR MOST POINTS BY A KICKER

166 David Akers (SF) in 2011

164 Gary Anderson (MIN) in 1998

163 Jeff Wilkins (STL) in 2003

161 Mark Mosley (WAS) in 1983

158 Stephen Gostkowski (NE) in 2013

157 Mike Vanderjagt (IND) in 2003

153 Stephen Gostkowski (NE) in 2012

GOSTKOWSKI TIES GINO CAPPELLETTI FOR SECON IN PATS POINTS

Gostkowski’s six points tied him with Gino Cappelletti for second place in team history. He needs 29 points to move into first place.

Player Points

Adam Vinatieri 1,158

Gino Cappelletti 1,130

Stephen Gostkowski 1,130

Photo Credit: New England Patriots