The 2002 season was the New England Patriots' 33rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 43rd overall and their third under head coach Bill Belichick. They finished with a 9âÂÂ7 record, good enough for second in the division but not a playoff berth. It was their first season at their new home field, Gillette Stadium, which replaced the adjacent Foxboro Stadium.
This was the first season since 1992 that Drew Bledsoe was not on the opening day roster, as he was traded to the Buffalo Bills during the offseason.
Following their victory in Super Bowl XXXVI seven months earlier, the Patriots played their first game in the new Gillette Stadium in the NFL's primetime Monday Night Football opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a win for the Patriots. After an additional two wins to begin the season, including a 44âÂÂ7 road win against the division rival New York Jets, the team lost five of its next seven games, allowing an average of 137 rushing yards a game during that span. In the final week of the season, the Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins on an overtime Adam Vinatieri field goal to give both teams a 9âÂÂ7 record. A few hours later, the Jets, who defeated the Patriots the week prior, also finished with a 9âÂÂ7 record with a win over the Green Bay Packers. Due to their record against common opponents, after the Jets won the tiebreaker for the division title, both the Patriots and Dolphins were eliminated from the playoff contention. The 2002 season was the only time the Patriots failed to win at least 10 games during the regular season in the BradyâÂÂBelichick era. It also marked the only season with Tom Brady as the primary starter that the team failed to make the playoffs, and the only time that Brady lost four consecutive games.
The loss ended the Patriots' 10-game winning streak against the Chargers, losing to them for the first time since the 1970 season.
With the comeback win, the Patriots defeated Chicago and improved to 5-4.
With the loss, the Patriots fell to 5-5 and finished 1-3 against the AFC West.
With the win, the Patriots improved to 7-5 and finished 3-1 against the NFC North.
With the humiliating loss, the Patriots fell to 8-6 and finished 5-3 on the road.
With the overtime victory, the Patriots eliminated the Dolphins from playoff contention and they would both finish the regular season at 9-7. Unfortunately for New England, the Jets' 42-17 win over Green Bay prevented the Pats from clinching the AFC East and eliminated them from playoff contention. This remains only season the Patriots missed the playoffs following a Super Bowl victory. This would also be the last time the Patriots both failed to clinch the AFC East and a playoff berth until 2008. New England ended the season 4-2 against the AFC East and 4-4 at home.