Ahead of the season, longtime offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels left to become the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia was given offensive playcalling duties and former special teams coordinator Joe Judge was named quarterbacks coach, despite both having no prior offensive coaching experience. Under Patricia and Judge, the offense suffered a noticeable regression from the previous season, dropping from 15th in yards and sixth in points scored to 26th in yards and 17th in points scored.[1][2] The decision to replace McDaniels with Patricia and Judge was widely criticized[3][4][5] and both would be removed from the offense in favor of returning offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien for the 2023 season.
The season also saw the Patriots wear red and white throwback uniforms for the first time since 2012 after an NFL rule requiring teams to wear the same helmet designs for the entire season was rescinded.
^ abcdThe Patriots traded a first-round selection (21st overall) to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for first-, third-, and fourth-round selections (29th, 94th and 121st overall).
^ abcThe Patriots traded second- and fifth-round selections (54th and 158th overall) to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a second-round selection (50th overall).
^ abThe Patriots traded a third-round selection (94th overall) to the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a fourth-round selection (137th overall) and a 2023 third-round selection.
^The Patriots traded a 2023 third-round selection to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for WR DeVante Parker and a fifth-round selection (158th overall).
^ abThe Patriots traded a fifth-round selection (164th overall) to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for OT Trent Brown and a seventh-round selection (243rd overall).
^ abcThe Patriots traded a fifth-round selection (170th overall) to the Houston Texans in exchange for sixth- and seventh-round selections (183rd and 245th overall).[84]
^The Patriots traded G Shaq Mason to the Tampa Bay in exchange for a fifth-round selection (170th overall).
^The Patriots traded RB Sony Michel to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for a sixth-round selection (210th overall) and a 2023 fourth-round selection.
^The Patriots traded a seventh-round selection (224th overall) and a 2023 fifth-round selection to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for CB Shaun Wade.
^The Patriots traded TE Ryan Izzo to the Houston Texans in exchange for a seventh-round selection (224th overall).
^The Patriots traded a conditional seventh-round selection (242nd overall) to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for WR Isaiah Ford, who met the conditions for that selection.
For the first time since the 2012 season, the Patriots wore their red and white "throwback" uniforms for select games. The red jersey and white helmet combination, with the "Pat the Patriot" logo, was last worn regularly in the 1992 New England Patriots season. The Patriots wore it for select games as an alternate uniform starting 2002, but NFL rules restricting teams to wearing the same helmet designs for the entire season were enacted after 2012. When that rule was rescinded for the 2022 season, the Patriots brought back their classic uniforms as an alternate.[88] In week 7 against the Chicago Bears, the Patriots wore silver pants for the first time since the 2019 season, but the red stripes were wider than the previous silver pants to match the blue pants style.[89]
The game featured a slow start, with the first score coming via a Jason Sanders field goal for the Dolphins with 4:06 remaining in the first quarter, and the first touchdown coming on a Melvin Ingram fumble recovery, also for the Dolphins, coming at 7:40 left in the second quarter. The sole offensive touchdown went to the Patriots on a 6-yard reception by Ty Montgomery from Mac Jones, though the Patriots would lose the game 20–7, marking the second year in a row that the Patriots lost to the Dolphins on Opening Day, and the fourth straight loss to them in this rivalry. A late-game back injury to Mac Jones led to some post-game X-rays, but he was cleared to play in Week 2.
The Patriots held the Steelers to a three-and-out on the opening drive, and themselves had a 13-play long ball-control focused first drive that resulted in a 28-yard Nick Folk field goal and ate up 6:45 of game clock. The teams traded interceptions on the final two drives of the first period, with the Steelers getting their own field goal off the foot of Chris Boswell to tie the game up at 3–3 with 8:35 left to play in the second quarter. With time running out in the half, Nelson Agholor made a difficult catch while closely covered by the Miami defender to give the Patriots a 10–3 lead going in to half-time. The Patriots would not relinquish the lead; the Steelers bringing it to 17–14 following a Pat Freiermuth reception on the first play of the fourth quarter and a Diontae Johnson reception for the ensuing two-point conversion. The teams then traded punts for the remainder of the game, with the Patriots ending as they started, with another 13-play drive that used up the final 6:33 of game time, to preserve the win. For the 21st year in a row, the Patriots began the year with at least a 1–1 record.
In the Patriots home opener against the Ravens, Baltimore scored first on a five-yard reception by Mark Andrews. The Patriots answered with a Nick Folk field goal and, on the next drive, a three-yard quarterback keeper by Mac Jones to bring the Patriots to 10–7. Lamar Jackson hit Mark Andrews for a second touchdown to take the lead back, while Nick Folk hit a 50-yard field goal to bring the Patriots to within one point as time expired at half time. A two-yard Damien Harris run on the opening drive of the second half gave the patriots a 20–14 lead. Baltimore took the lead 21–20 on the next possession, capping their 7-play, 74-yard drive with a 1 yard Jackson to Josh Oliver pass for a touchdown. Baltimore would not relinquish the lead, despite a fourth quarter Rhamondre Stevenson run and missed two-point conversion that brought the Patriots to within five, the Ravens scored on a 9-yard Lamar Jackson run that gave the Ravens their final 37–26 win. Mac Jones suffered a left leg injury at the two-minute warning of the final quarter after throwing his third interception. This was the Pats' first regular season home loss to the Ravens in franchise history, and their first home loss to them since the 2012 AFC Championship game.
Following the injury to Mac Jones the prior week, journeyman backup Brian Hoyer was given the start, but he was taken out of the game on the Patriots second offensive series due to a head injury. At that point, the Patriots were up 3–0 on a Nick Folk field goal. Rookie third-string quarterback Bailey Zappe played the rest of the game. Green Bay took their first lead on a Christian Watson 15-yard run, while the Patriots' Jack Jones returned an interception of an Aaron Rodgers pass 40 yards to give the Patriots a 10–7 lead at halftime. The teams traded scores throughout the second half, with the game going into overtime tied 24–24. The Packers won the overtime coin toss for first possession, then each team was forced into a 3-and-out situation to start the overtime. The Packers then ran a clock-dominating 11-play drive to 13-yard line, and Mason Crosby kicked the game-winning field goal as the clock expired at the end of overtime. Zappe, in his first game action of the season, played efficiently and didn't make any major mistakes, ending the game 10-for-15 with 1 touchdown and no interceptions on 99 yards passing.
For the first time in ten years, the Patriots played in their red throwback uniforms, with the popular Pat the Patriot logo occupying the center of the field. Bailey Zappe, who started the season third on the quarterback depth chart, was given his first start as both Mac Jones (leg) and Brian Hoyer (head) were injured. The Patriots dominated all phases of the game, earning a shutout win 29–0, as running back Rhamondre Stephenson carried the bulk of the Patriots offensive output, accounting for 161 rushing yards on 25 carries, and adding 2 receptions for 14 yards. Zappe again played efficiently, going 17-for-21 with 1 touchdown on 188 yards passing; the lone blemish on his record being an interception that wide receiver Nelson Agholor had in his hands, but lost to free safety DeShon Elliott. On the defensive side of the ball, fan favorite Matthew Judon had two sacks and a forced fumble in the shutout win.
Rookie quarterback Bailey Zappe started his second game in a row under center, and for the first time in his three appearances this season looked like more than a game manager, throwing the ball very well, going 24-for-34 with 2 touchdowns on 309 yards, for a 118.4 passer rating. Rhamondre Stevenson added two touchdowns on the ground and continued to carry the bulk of the Patriots running game, going for 76 yards on 19 carries. Rookie wide receiver Tyquan Thornton played in his much-anticipated first game of the season, and produced immediately, scoring on both a receiving and rushing touchdown. Once again the defense dominated the opponent, with the Browns never leading for the entire game, which the Patriots won 38–15 in which the Browns only touchdown came too late in the game to matter. Matthew Judon ended his 5-game sack streak to start the season, but did contribute four tackles, one for loss, while both Kyle Dugger and Jalen Mills had interceptions.
This was the first time in 22 years the Pats lost to the Bears, and their first-ever home loss to them in franchise history. The Bears rushed for 243 yards in the victory.
This win not only marks their 13th straight against the Jets in this rivalry, but also was Bill Belichick's 325th career win, surpassing George Halas for second place in total career wins by a head coach, including the playoffs.
With the win (their second straight this season), the Pats won their seventh straight home meeting against the Colts, and are now above .500 for the first time this season.
This win, thanks to a punt return TD with five seconds left in the game, marks the third straight for this season and the 14th straight against the Jets in this rivalry. "Diamonds" by Rihanna was playing after Marcus Jones scored the game-winning punt return touchdown.
Despite Mac Jones passing for a career-high 382 yards and two touchdowns, the Patriots were unable to beat Kirk Cousins and the Vikings, losing a Thanksgiving night shootout 33–26.[90] This was the Pats' first loss to the Vikings in 22 years.
Despite forcing Buffalo to punt for the first time in 23 drives in games played between the two division rivals and scoring on their opening drive, the Patriots struggled on offense throughout the game as they lost to the Bills 24–10.[91] This was the third season in a row the Pats lost to the Bills at home in this rivalry.
The Pats won due to a strong performance by the rushing attack and defense, in addition to Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray suffering a torn ACL on the third play of the game. Unfortunately, several of New England's starters were also injured during the game, including running back Rhamondre Stevenson, receiver DeVante Parker, and cornerback Jack Jones.[92]
Despite a strong performance from Rhamondre Stevenson, who returned from injury, and overcoming an early 17–3 deficit, the Patriots allowed the Raiders to tie the game at 24 with a controversial touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Keelan Cole, then lost off a walk-off touchdown by Raiders defensive end and former Patriot Chandler Jones, who intercepted an attempted lateral pass from receiver Jakobi Meyers as time ran out.[93] Notably, the failed lateral play by Stevenson and Meyers at the end of the game, which has gained the monikers the "Lunatic Lateral" and "Col-lateral damage" from the media,[94][95] happened just over four years after the Miracle in Miami, which was a successful lateral pass play by the Miami Dolphins to defeat the Patriots.[96]
With the Pats' first loss to the Raiders in 20 years, they fell to 7–7 and just outside the playoff picture.[97]
This was the Pats' first loss to the Bengals in nine years, and their first home loss to them in 36 years. Because of this, they drop below .500 for the first time since week 7.
With the loss, the Pats got swept by the Bills for the second time in three years and are out of the playoffs for the second time in three years. This is also the second time in three years the Pats finish with a losing record.
^ abLA Chargers finished ahead of Baltimore based on conference record (7–5 vs. 6–6).
^ abMiami finished ahead of Pittsburgh based on head-to-head victory, claiming the 7th and final playoff spot.
^ abcNY Jets and Tennessee finished ahead of Cleveland based on conference record (5–7 vs. 4–8).
^ abNY Jets finished ahead of Tennessee based on common record (3–3 vs. 2–4 against: Buffalo, Cincinnati, Denver, Green Bay, Jacksonville).
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest ranked remaining team from each division.
