Sports

GAME NOTES: Patriots Fire on All Cylinders in 59-24 Romp of Colts

The New England Patriots scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams en route to a 59-24 dismantling of Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium Sunday.

The New England Patriots played the complete game fans have been waiting to see all season Sunday in a 59-24 romp of the Indianapolis Colts Sunday at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

The Patriots scored 35 points on offense, 14 points on defense and 7 points on special teams in what turned out to be a lopsided victory for the Pats in a game forecasted to be a shootout between two prolific offenses.

Perhaps the most impressive part in New England’s 59-point effort was the play of its new-look secondary as recently acquired cornerback Aqib Talib made his Patriots debut Sunday and returned a second quarter interception 59 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Alfonzo Dennard intercepted a Luck pass and returned it 87 yards for a score. The Pats secondary ended the game with three interceptions in what turned out to be arguably the units most impressive showing of the season after early struggles in the first half.

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On special teams, Julian Edelman had a big day, highlighted by a 68-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter.

On offense, quarterback Tom Brady was his usual self, completing 24 of 35 passes for 331 yards and three touchdown passes, two to tight end Rob Gronkowski.

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The Patriots improve to 7-3 on the season and will travel to New Jersey to face the New York Jets on Thanksgiving night.

The following is a compilation of game notes courtesy of the New England Patriots Media Relations Department:

200-GAME SELLOUT STREAK

Today’s game was the 200th consecutive home sellout for the Patriots, including all regular-season, playoff and preseason games dating back to the 1994 regular-season opener against Buffalo on September 11, 1994. In the early 1990s, the Patriots seemed destined for relocation until Robert Kraft’s purchase of the team rejuvenated local interest. In 1991, the season ticket base was just 17,635, barely enough to support the club. Now, the season tickets are capped and more than 50,000 fans are on a season ticket waiting list.

PATRIOTS WIN 200th REGULAR-SEASON GAME SINCE ROBERT KRAFT PURCHASED TEAM

Today’s win over the Colts was the Patriots’ 200th regular season victory since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. New England’s regular-season record from 1994 to the present is now 200-98 (.671). That record is the best in the NFL over that span. In the franchise’s first 34 seasons, it won a total of 221 regular season games, while in last the 18-plus seasons, it has now won 200 regular season games.

PATRIOTS TIE FRANCHISE RECORD FOR MOST POINTS IN A GAME

The Patriots scored 59 points against the Colts today, tying the franchise record for most points in a game. New England also scored 59 points in a 59-0 victory over Tennessee at Gillette Stadium on October 18, 2009. The Patriots have now scored 50 or more points twice this season, with today’s scoring output joining a 52-28 win over Buffalo on Sept. 30, 2012. It is the third time in team history that the Patriots have scored at least 50 points two times in a season. The patriots also scored 50 or more points two times in 1979 and 2007. The 59 points are the most by a team in 2012. Baltimore scored the second most with 55 points last week in a win vs. Oakland.

PATRIOTS START SEASON 7-3 OR BETTER FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT SEASON

The Patriots are 7-3 on the 2012 season following their win over Indianapolis. New England has now won at least seven of its first 10 games for the fourth straight season and is the only NFL team to have won seven of its first 10 games in every season from 2009-2012. Baltimore, Green Bay and Chicago have won at least seven of their first 10 games for the last three straight years, and Pittsburgh can join that club with a win over Baltimore tonight.

PATRIOTS STRONG IN SEASON’S SECOND HALF

The Patriots are now 2-0 in the second half of the 2012 regular season (games 9-16). Since the 2010 season, the Patriots are now a combined 18-0 in the second half of the regular season. In both 2010 and 2011, the Patriots were 8-0 in the second half of the regular season. The last time the Patriots lost a game in the second half of the regular season was in the 2009 regular-season finale, a 34-27 loss at Houston on Jan. 3, 2010. During their 18-game second half winning streak, the Patriots have forced opponents into 51 turnovers while only turning the ball over four times. During their 18-game second-half winning streak, the Patriots have more than doubled the point total of their opponents, scoring 686 points (38.1 points per game) and allowing just 338 points (18.8 points per game).

PATRIOTS HAVING HISTORIC POINT-SCORING SEASON

The Patriots have scored 358 points through 10 games in 2012, averaging 35.8 points per game. New England is on pace to score 573 points this season, which would rank second in NFL history, trailing only New England’s record 589 points in 2007.

ROB GRONKOWSKI BECOMES FIRST TIGHT END IN NFL HISTORY WITH THREE STRAIGHT 10-PLUS TOUCHDOWN SEASONS.

Rob Gronkowski caught two touchdown passes against Indianapolis to push his season totals to 10 touchdowns. He is the first tight end in NFL history to have three straight 10-plus touchdown seasons (10 touchdowns in 2010, 18 in 2011, 10 in 2012). Gronkowski and Antonio Gates (13 in 2004 and 10 in 2005) are the only tight ends to have back-to- back 10-plus touchdown seasons.

GRONKOWSKI IS SECOND PATRIOTS PLAYER WITH THREE CONSECUTIVE 10-PLUS TDS

Gronkowski (10 in 2012, 18 in 2011 and 10 in 2011) joins Randy Moss (2007, 2008 and 2009) and Corey Dillon (2004, 2005, 2006) as the only Patriots with three straight 10-plus touchdown seasons and three 10-plus seasons overall.

ROB GRONKOWSKI HAS THIRD TWO-TOUCHDOWN GAME OF 2012 AND 12th CAREER GAME WITH AT LEAST TWO RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS

Rob Gronkowski scored two touchdowns against Indianapolis. He scored on a 4-yard pass in the first quarter and a 24-yard pass in the third quarter for his 12th game of his career with two or more touchdown receptions in a game and his third time doing so in 2012. Last season, Gronkowski set an NFL record for a tight end with seven games with two touchdown receptions. The NFL record for most two-plus reception games in a season is eight by Randy Moss with the Patriots in 2007. Gronkowski’s 2011 total is tied with Cris Carter (1995) and Jerry Rice (1987) for the second most games with two or more touchdowns in a single season.

JULIAN EDELMAN SCORES HIS THIRD CAREER PUNT RETURN ON A 68 YARD RETURN

Julian Edelman returned his third career punt for a touchdown with a 68-yard return in the second quarter. He joins Troy Brown and Irving Fryar as the only Patriots with three punts returned for a touchdown. Edelman had a Patriots record 94-yard return vs. Miami (1/2/11) and a 72-yarder vs. Kansas City (11/21/11).

EDELMAN HAS HIGHEST PUNT RETURN AVERAGE IN TEAM HISTORY

Julian Edelman has returned 68 punts for 886 yards during his Patriots’ career and has the highest punt return average in team history with a 13.0-yard average. The NFL all-time leader (minimum of 75 returns) is 12.8 by George McAfee of the Chicago Bears (1940-41, 45-50) with 112 returns for 1,431 yards.

EDELMAN BECOMES FIRST PATRIOT TO SCORE A RECEIVING TOUCHDOWN AND SCORE ON A RETURN IN THE SAME GAME SINCE 1985

Julian Edelman scored on a 68-yard punt return in the second quarter and also had a 2-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter to become the first Patriots player to score on a return and have a touchdown reception in the same game since Irving Fryar scored on a 5-yard touchdown reception and a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown vs. Indianapolis on Nov. 10, 1985. It has now happened three times in team history, all against the Indianapolis/Baltimore franchise. In addition to Fryar and Edelman, Stanley Morgan accomplished the feat at home against the Colts on Nov. 18, 1979 when the franchise was located in Baltimore.

EDLEMAN BREAKS FOR A 47-YARD RUN IN THE FOURTH QUARTER

Edelman had a 47-yard run in the fourth quarter. It was the longest run from scrimmage for the Patriots in 2012, topping Steven Ridley’s 41-yard run against St. Louis in London on Oct. 28. It is the longest run since Troy Brown had a 35-yard run vs. Tampa Bay on Sept. 3, 2000. It is the longest run by a Patriots player since Sammy Morris had a 55-yard run on Dec. 27, 2009 vs. Jacksonville.

NEWLY ACQUIRED CB AQIB TALIB RRETURNS HIS FIRST INTERCEPTION FOR A SCORE

CB Alibi Talia made his first start as a member of the Patriots and returned a second quarter pick 59 yards for a touchdown. It his fourth interception returned for a touchdown of his career. He had two returned for touchdown last season with Tampa Bay. It is the first interception that was returned for a score for New England since Sterling Moore returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown vs. Buffalo on Jan. 1, 2012. It was the first of two defensive scores for the Patriots on the day, joining Alfonzo Den nard’s 87-yard interception return for a score in the fourth quarter.

THE PATRIOTS SCORE BY OFFENSE, DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS FOR SECOND TIME IN TEAM HISTORY.

The Patriots scored on offense, defense (with Talib and Dennard interception returns) and special teams (68-yard punt return by Edelman). It is the first time the Patriots have scored in all three phases of the game since they did it at Miami on Oct. 4, 2010. The Patriots became the first team in NFL history to score a touchdown five different ways in the same game at Miami (10/04/10). In that game at Miami, the Patriots scored a rushing touchdown, a receiving touchdown, had a kickoff returned for a touchdown, blocked a field goal that was returned for a touchdown and returned an interception for a touchdown.

WILSON HAS TEAM-LEADING FOURTH INT

Rookie safety Tavon Wilson intercepted Andrew Luck in the fourth quarter, recording his team-leading fourth interception of the season. The Patriots’ team record for most interceptions by a rookie is eight, by Mike Haynes in 1976.

GRONKOWSKI HAS NINTH CAREER 100-YARD GAME

Gronkowski registered his third 100-yard game of the season and his ninth career 100-yard game after finishing the game with 137 yards on seven receptions. Gronkowski is now tied with Ben Coates (9) for the most 100-yard games by a Patriots tight end. In 2011, Gronkowski tied a team mark for a tight end with five 100-yard games. Ben Coates had five 100-yard games in 1994.

ROOKIE ALFONZO DENNARD RETURNS A PICK 87 YARDS FOR A TOUCHDOWN

Rookie Alfonzo Dennard returned a fourth quarter interception 87 yards for a touchdown. It is tied for the sixth longest interception return in Patriots history.

PATRIOTS RETURN TWO INTERCEPTIONS FOR TOUCHDOWNS FOR NINTH TIME IN TEAM HISTORY AND FIRST TIME SINCE 2001 SEASON-FINALE.

Dennard returned a fourth quarter interception 87 yards for a touchdown, and Talib scored on a 59-yard return in the second quarter. It is the ninth time in team history that the team has returned two interceptions for a touchdown in the same game and the first time since Jan. 6, 2002 at Carolina when Otis Smith scored on a 76-yard return and Ty Law scored on a 46-yard return.

PATRIOTS SCORE ON THE GROUND

The Patriots had a pair of rushing touchdowns against Indianapolis and have now scored 16 times on the ground this season. New England is on pace to total 26 rushing touchdowns this year, which would be the second-highest such total in team history. The last time the Patriots had 25 or more rushing touchdowns in a season was 1978, when they scored a franchise-record 30 times on the ground. The NFL record for most rushing touchdowns in a season is 36, by Green Bay in 1962.

GRONKOWSKI ON PACE FOR BACK-TO-BACK 1,000-YARD SEASON

Gronkowski has 748 receiving yards through the first ten games of 2012 and is on pace to finish the season with 1,197 receiving yards for his second consecutive 1,000 yard season. If he accomplishes the feat, he will be the sixth NFL tight end with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

MAYO ON PACE FOR 200 TACKLES

After 10 games in 2012, Mayo leads the team with 125 tackles and is on pace to finish the season with 200 total tackles and become the third New England player to reach 200 tackles in a single season. Mayo has registered at least 10 tackles in eight out of the first ten games, including a season-high of 20 vs. the New York Jets (10/28/12). He had a career-best with nine games in 2010 with 10 or more tackles.

BRADY ON PACE FOR FIFTH SEASON WITH 4,000 OR MORE YARDS PASSING

Tom Brady now has a total of 2,976 yards through 10 games in 2012 and is on pace to total 4,762 passing yards this year. If Brady tops 4,000 passing yards this season it will be his fifth career season with more than 4,000 yards, joining Dan Marino (6), Drew Brees (6), Brett Favre (6) and Peyton Manning (11) as the only players to have at least five seasons with 4,000 passing yards. Brady reached 4,000 yards passing for the fourth time in his career in 2011. Brady had 4,110 yards in 2005, 4,806 in 2007, 4,398 in 2009 and 5,235 in 2011.  

BRADY ON PACE FOR 30 TOUCHDOWNS …. AGAIN

Tom Brady has 21 touchdown passes and just three interceptions this season and is on pace for 34 touchdowns and five interceptions. If he reaches 30 touchdowns in 2012 it will be his third straight season with 30 touchdowns after finishing with 39 in 2011 and 36 in 2010. It will be his fourth season overall with 30 touchdowns (50 in 2007, 36 in 2010 and 39 in 2011). He can become the fourth quarterback in NFL history to have 30 or more touchdown passes in at least four seasons and the third quarterback in NFL history with three or more straight seasons with 30 or more touchdowns.

BRADY NOW HAS 161 STRAIGHT PASS ATTEMPTS WITHOUT AN INTERCEPTION

Tom Brady has now thrown 161 straight passes without an interception and has totaled just three interceptions through 10 games this season. The last time Brady threw an interception was more than a month ago – in the fourth quarter of the Patriots’ game at Seattle on Oct. 14.

STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI ON HIGH POINT IN 2012

Stephen Gostkowski has scored 104 points this season and entered this week’s games second in the NFL in 2012 with 93 total points. Gostkowski is on pace to finish with 166 points, which would tie the NFL record for most points in a season. The Patriots record for most points in a season is 155 by Gino Cappelletti in 1964.

GRONKOWSKI NOW HAS 38 CAREER TOUCHDOWNS (37 RECEIVING AND 1 RUSHING)

Since he entered the NFL in 2010, Gronkowski has 37 career touchdown receptions and 38 total touchdowns. The NFL record for most overall touchdowns in a player’s first three NFL seasons is 47 by Barry Sanders and the record for most touchdown receptions in a player’s first three NFL seasons is 43 by Randy Moss.

PATRIOTS OFFENSE ON PACE TO SET THE NFL RECORD FOR MOST FIRST DOWNS IN A SEASON

The Patriots have 284 first downs through ten games this season, giving them an average of 28 per game and a pace to finish the year with 454, which would smash the NFL record of 416 total first downs by New Orleans in 2011. The Patriots’ 399 first downs in 2011 are second all-time in NFL history. 

PATRIOTS ON PACE TO BREAK FRANCHISE RECORD FOR MOST NET YARDS

The Patriots have 4,319 net yards through the first ten games in 2012 and are on pace to finish with 6,910 yards, a total which would rank fourth in NFL history and set a new franchise record. The Patriots finished the 2011 season with 6,848 total net yards, setting a new franchise record for most total net yards in a season. That total is fourth all-time in NFL history.

PATRIOTS ON PACE TO BREAK FRANCHISE RECORD FOR MOST NET YARDS

The Patriots have 4,319 net yards through the first ten games in 2012 and are on pace to finish with 6,910 yards, a total which would rank fourth in NFL history and set a new franchise record. The Patriots finished the 2011 season with 6,848 total net yards, setting a new franchise record for most total net yards in a season. That total is fourth all-time in NFL history.

WELKER EXTENDS STREAK TO 104 CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH AT LEAST ONE RECEPTION

Wes Welker extended his streak to 104 straight regular season games with at least one reception, including his time with the Miami Dolphins. He has a streak of 87 straight regular-season games with at least one reception as a member of the Patriots to extend his franchise record. Welker has caught at least one pass in each of his 94 games with the Patriots, including seven postseason games. The last time that Welker did not catch a pass in a game was December 24, 2005 when he was with Miami. He is one of 39 NFL players to have a streak of at least 100 games with one reception.

DL ROB NINKOVICH RECORDS HIS SIXTH SACK OF THE SEASON

DL Rob Ninkovich registered a third quarter sack of Andrew Luck for his sixth sack of the season and now has at least a half-sack in four straight games and six of his last seven games. On his sack, Ninkovich forced Luck to fumble, marking Ninkovich’s third strip-sack of the season which has resulted in a turnover. Ninkovich had a career-high with 6.5 sacks in 2011. It was the Patriots’ sixth strip sack of the year.

WELKER RECEPTION PACE

Wes Welker has 73 receptions through 10 games this season and is on pace to total 117 catches in 2012. If Wes Welker reaches 100 receptions in 2012, he will become the first player in NFL history with five 100-catch seasons. Welker’s four seasons with 100 or more receptions ties Marvin Harrison and Jerry Rice for the NFL record.

GRONKOWSKI ON PACE FOR ANOTHER SOLID SEASON

Rob Gronkowski has 53 catches for 748 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2012. If Gronkowski keeps up his current 2012 pace, he would finish with 85 catches for 1,197 yards and 16 touchdowns.

RIDLEY HAS SEVENTH RUSHING TOUCHDOWN; ON PACE TO FINISH WITH 11

Ridley scored his sixth touchdown of the season on a 1-yard run in the first quarter. He is on pace to finish with 11 touchdowns this season. It would be 13th time in Patriots history that a running back finished a season with 10 or more touchdowns rushing.

RIDLEY STARTS STRONG

Stevan Ridley has a total of 842 rushing yards through 10 games this season. Ridley is on pace to total 1,347 rushing yards, which would give him the 15th 1,000-yard rushing season in Patriots history and make him the 12th Patriots’ player to reach 1,000 yards rushing. Ridley is on pace to become the fourth Patriots player with at least 1,400 yards rushing in a season

CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH AT LEAST ONE TOUCHDOWN PASS CONTINUES FOR BRADY

Tom Brady has now thrown at least one touchdown pass in 42 straight regular season games following a 4-yard touchdown pass to TE Rob Gronkowski in the first quarter. It is the third longest streak, behind Drew Brees at 53 (current) and Johnny Unitas (47) (1956-60). Brady’s current streak started when he threw a touchdown pass in all 16 games in 2010 and 2011 and now the first nine games of 2012. The old team record was 19 games, also set by Brady.

PATRIOTS GO OVER 30 POINTS FOR SEVENTH TIME IN 2012; PATRIOTS TIED NFL RECORD FOR MOST 30-POINT GAMES IN A SINGLE SEASON IN 2011

The New England Patriots scored 59 points in the win vs. Indianapolis for their seventh game in 2012 with 30 or more points. The Patriots scored 30 points 12 times in 2011 to tie the NFL record for most 30-point games in a single season. The 2007 Patriots and the 1999 St. Louis Rams also had 12 30 point games. The NFL record for most consecutive 30-point games in a single season is eight by the 2007 and 2010 Patriots and the 2000 St. Louis Rams.

BRADY HAS HIS 51st 300-YARD GAME TO TIE DAN FOUTS FOR SIXTH MOST 300 YARD GAMES

Tom Brady had his 51st career 300-yard game after finishing with 331 yards vs. Indianapolis to move into a tie with Dan Fouts for the most 300-yard games in NFL history.

BRADY HAS SIXTH 300-YARD GAME OF THE SEASON.

Brady had his sixth 300-yard game of the 2012 season with 331 yards against Indianapolis. In 2011, Brady had a personal best 11 300 yard games. The NFL record for most 300-yard games in a season is 13 by Drew Brees (2011).

BRADY HAS SIXTH 300-YARD GAME OF THE SEASON.

Brady had his sixth 300-yard game of the 2012 season with 331 yards against Indianapolis. In 2011, Brady had a personal best 11 300 yard games. The NFL record for most 300-yard games in a season is 13 by Drew Brees (2011).

MOST GAMES WITH THREE TOUCHDOWNS AND NO INTERCEPTIONS

Tom Brady had his third game of 2012 with at least three touchdowns and no interceptions. His other games were at Buffalo (9/30) and at St. Louis (10/28).


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