| What was to be thought of the 1976 Patriots? Were they the team that showed promise early in 1974 or the disenchanted squad that muddled it's way through the 1975 season. The answer would be known early. After opening with a 27-13 home loss to perennial division contender Baltimore, the Patriots had their plate full with AFC powers Miami, Pittsburgh and Oakland next on their schedule. After falling behind early 7-6, the Patriots would score 17 straight points enroute to a 30-14 victory over Miami. The next week on the road against the two time defending champion Pittsburgh, the Patriots rallied from a 20-9 third quarter defecit to win 30-27 and gain a tie for first place. The Patriots closed their three game test by hosting Oakland. The Patriots jumped out early to a 14-0 lead and led 21-10 at halftime before an offensive explosion saw them score the first 27 points of the second enroute to a 48-17 victory. The three straight wins launched the Patriots to a franchise record 11 wins, their first playoff berth since 1963 and a rematch with Oakland in the playoffs. Unlike the early game, this game was a dogfight from the outset. The Patriots took a 21-10 lead into the 4th quarter before controversy struck. After Oakland had closed the gap to 21-17, the Patriots started driving for a game securing score when tightend Russ Francis was mugged before the pass had arrived. No flag was thrown and John Smith 's field goal attempt missed with 4:12 left. Oakland took the ball and started marching down the field. On a 3rd and 18 from the Patriots' 27, Ken Stabler attempted a pass that fell harmlessly to the ground, but Ray Hamilton was flagged from Roughing the Passer, a dubious and questionable call. Ken Stabler would go over from the 1 yard line with 10 seconds left sending the Patriots to one of the bitterest defeats in team history. |
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| Passing Cmp Att Pct. Yards TDs INTs QBRtg Steve Grogan 145 302 48.1 1903 18 20 60.6 Tom Owen 1 5 20.0 7 0 0 39.6 Andy Johnson 0 2 0.0 0 0 0 39.6 |
| Rushing Att. Yards AVG TDs Sam Cunningham 172 824 4.8 3 Don Calhoun 129 721 5.6 1 Andy Johnson 169 699 4.1 6 Steve Grogan 60 397 6.6 12 Jess Phillips 24 164 6.8 1 Ike Forte 25 100 4.0 1 Darryl Stingley 8 45 5.6 0 Russ Francis 2 12 6.0 0 Steve Burks 1 2 2.0 0 Mike Patrick 1 -16 -16.0 0 |
| Receiving Rec Yards AVG TDs Andy Johnson 29 343 11.8 4 Sam Cunningham 27 299 11.1 0 Russ Francis 26 367 14.1 3 Darryll Stingley 17 370 21.8 4 Don Calhoun 12 56 4.8 0 Randy Vataha 11 192 17.5 1 Marlin Briscoe 10 136 13.6 1 Al Chandler 5 49 9.8 3 Ike Forte 3 9 3.0 1 Steve Burks 2 27 13.5 0 Jess Phillips 1 18 18.0 0 Pete Brock 1 6 6.0 0 |
| Kicking XP XPA FG FGA PTS John Smith 42 46 15 25 87 Steve Zabel 1 1 0 0 1 |
| Interceptions
Mike Haynes 8, Prentice McCray 5, Bob Howard 3, Tim Fox 3, Steve Nelson 2, Sam Hunt 2 |
| AFC East W L T .Pct PF PA Colts 11 3 0 .786 417 246 Patriots 11 3 0 .786 376 236 Dolphins 6 8 0 .429 263 264 Jets 3 11 0 .214 169 383 Bills 2 12 0 .143 245 363 AFC Division Playoffs: Pittsburgh 40 Baltimore 14 Oakland 24 New England 21 Boxscore AFC Championship Oakland 24 Pittsburgh 7 Superbowl IX Oakland 32 Minnesota 14 |
| 1976 |
| Baltimore 13-27 0-1 Miami 30-14 1-1 @Pittsburgh 30-17 2-1 Oakland 48-17 3-1 @Detroit 10-30 3-2 N.Y. Jets 41-7 4-2 @Buffalo 26-22 5-2 @Miami 3-10 5-3 Buffalo 20-10 6-3 @Baltimore 21-14 7-3 @N.Y. Jets 27-7 8-3 Denver 38-14 9-3 New Orleans 27-6 10-3 @Tampa Bay 31-14 11-3 Conference Playoffs - Boxscore New England 7 0 14 0 - 21 Oakland 3 7 0 14 - 24 |
| Roster QB - Steve Grogan QB - Tom Owen HB - Don Calhoun HB - Ike Forte HB - Andy Johnson HB/FB - Jess Phillips FB - Sam Cunningham WR - Marlin Briscoe WR - Steve Burks WR - Darryl Stingley WR/DB - Randy Vataha TE - Al Chandler TE - Russ Francis T - Leon Gray T - Bob McKay T - Tom Neville G - Sam Adams G - John Hannah G - Fred Sturt C/TE - Pete Brock C - Bill Lenkaitis DE - Julius Adams DE - Mel Lunsford DE - Tony McGee NT - Richard Bishop NT - Ray Hamilton NT - Art Moore NT - Dave Tipton LB - Pete Barnes LB - Sam Hunt LB - Steve King LB - Steve Nelson LB - Jim Romaniszyn LB - Donnie Thomas LB - George Webster LB - Steve Zabel DB - Doug Beaudoin DB - Joe Blahak DB - Dick Conn DB - Tim Fox DB - Willie Germany DB - Mike Haynes DB - Bob Howard DB - Prentice McCray DB - Deac Snaders P - Mike Patrick K - John Smith Injury G - Steve Corbett (Neck) T - Shelby Jordan (Ineligible) NT - Pete Kusick (Knee) DE - Craig Hanneman (?) LB - Rod Shoate (Knee) |
| Offense Ranking Points: 376 (2 of 28) Run: 591-2948 (2 of 28) Pass: 1910 (25 of 28) Defense Ranking Points: 236 (12 of 28) Run: 462-1847 (8 of 28) Pass: 2604 (20 of 28) |
| Pro Bowlers: TE - Russ Francis T - Leon Gray G - John Hannah DB - Mike Haynes |
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| Coach: Chuck Fairbanks |
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