The 1977 New England Patriots season was the franchise's eighth season in the National Football League and 18th overall. The Patriots struggled to a 5âÂÂ4 record and trailed the Baltimore Colts by three games and the Miami Dolphins by two games after losing 17âÂÂ5 to the Dolphins. Beginning November 20th, the Patriots won four straight allowing no more than 10 points. While they won the rematch with Miami, a Baltimore win on December 11th would have actually helped them in their quest to win the division crown, but Detroit won 13âÂÂ10 on a late blocked punt, and New England then needed help with a Buffalo win over Miami. That did not happen as the Dolphins rolled to a 31âÂÂ14 win to eliminate the Patriots, who ended the season with a record of 9âÂÂ5 and finished third in the AFC East Division, after a 30âÂÂ24 loss in the final game to the Colts.
Steve Grogan passed for two touchdowns in the first half, and the New England defense sacked Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski eight times as the Patriots keep their faint playoff hopes alive with their win in front of a regional TV audience. Grogan hit Stanley Morgan on a scoring shot 64 yards in the first period, and then drilled a 16-yard pass to Darryl Stingley for another touchdown in the first half. The Eagles averted a shutout as Jaworski broke out of trouble and passed 12 yards to Charles Smith for a touchdown with just 52 seconds left to play.