The 2020 season was the New England Patriots' 51st in the National Football League (NFL), their 61st overall, and their 21st under head coach Bill Belichick.
It was the first season since 1999 without quarterback Tom Brady on the roster, as he signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady led the Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances, winning six, and had been their primary starting quarterback from 2001 to 2019, and would go on to win Super Bowl LV with his new team, his seventh overall. The Patriots signed long-time Carolina Panthers quarterback and 2015 MVP Cam Newton on June 29, and named him the starting quarterback on September 3.
The Patriots attempted to win their 12th consecutive AFC East title and their first since 1997 without Tom Brady. However, they saw many key players opt out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns and battled numerous injuries throughout the season. They began the season 2âÂÂ5, their worst record through 7 games since 2000. They failed to improve on their 12âÂÂ4 record from the previous season following a Week 7 loss to the San Francisco 49ers and failed to match that record following a Week 8 loss to the division rival Buffalo Bills. Following a Sunday Night win by the Bills over the Steelers in week 14, the Patriots failed to win their division for the first time since 2008, and they were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2008 with a Week 15 loss to the Dolphins, ending their winning season streak at 19. This leaves the record to the Dallas Cowboys at 20 consecutive winning seasons from 1966 to 1985. After their blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills in week 16, the New England Patriots finished the 2020 season with a losing record for the first time since 2000.
This was only the third time after 2000 and the first time since 2008 in which the Patriots missed the playoffs and failed to win the division. With their 11-year streak of playoff appearances snapped, the Buffalo Bills now hold the league's longest playoff streak, making the playoffs every year since 2018. In addition, New England's streak of 10+ win seasons that dated back to their 2003 Super Bowl-winning season, which was an NFL record, also came to an end following a Week 14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
For the season, the Patriots adopted a modified version of their Color Rush jerseys as their primary home uniform while introducing a new road uniform for the first time since 2000.
This was also the final season of Super Bowl MVP Julian EdelmanâÂÂs career. He played his final game in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers. He underwent precautionary surgery for a chronic knee injury and did not return for the remainder of the season. On April 12, 2021, he announced his retirement from the NFL.
Notes
The Patriots' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Patriots' 2020 schedule was announced on May 7.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
This was the Patriots' first game without longtime quarterback Tom Brady since October 2, 2016, and their first without Brady on the roster since January 2, 2000. Nonetheless, new starting quarterback Cam Newton performed admirably, finishing with a 79% completion percentage and leading a rush-heavy offensive attack with 75 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground, as the Patriots finished with 217 rushing yards overall. With the win, New England opened the season at 1âÂÂ0.
A competitive matchup versus the Seahawks on Sunday Night Football saw Seattle pull away during the third quarter, though the Patriots offense kept pace in the fourth quarter. A potential game-winning drive by the Patriots was snuffed out when Cam Newton, who passed for nearly 400 yards, was stuffed short of the goal line on a quarterback keeper in the final seconds of the game. This was New England's third loss in four career meetings with former Patriots head coach Pete Carroll. It was also Newton's sixth loss in eight career games against the Seahawks.
Running back Rex Burkhead scored three touchdowns in a blowout win over the previously undefeated Raiders with the Patriots rushing for 250 yards; the game was Belichick's 275th career win with the Patriots. As of 2025, this the last time the Patriots had defeated the Raiders.
The game was postponed to Monday night after Cam Newton tested positive for COVID-19. With Newton out, backup quarterback Brian Hoyer made the start for the Patriots. A low-scoring defensive affair in the first half saw the New England defense shut down Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes for much of the half, though the Patriots offense was likewise ineffective, with Hoyer taking a sack on the last play of the first half that prevented a potential game-tying field goal. Mahomes and the Chiefs offense came to life late in the third quarter, scoring two touchdowns on back-to-back drives as Hoyer was benched for Jarrett Stidham, who threw his first career touchdown but also two interceptions, including a pick-six to Tyrann Mathieu that all but sealed the game and dropped New England to 2âÂÂ2.
Despite scoring the game's only touchdown, this was the Patriots' first home loss to Denver in 14 years as they fell below .500, the first time they failed to be above .500 following Week 6 since 2002. In addition, it was the first time the Patriots lost without giving up a touchdown in the Bill Belichick era.
49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo made his first return to New England since the Patriots traded him to the 49ers in October 2017. Garoppolo played for the Patriots from 2014 to 2017 and was part of their 2014 and 2016 Super Bowl-winning teams. This was the Patriots' worst home loss in the Belichick era and their worst loss since their 2003 season opener versus the Buffalo Bills, where they were shut out 31âÂÂ0. It was also the Patriots' first time losing three games in a row since 2002. This was also the final game of Julian EdelmanâÂÂs career, as he would undergo a precautionary procedure to address his chronic injury, land on the IR, and miss the final 10 games of the season. He announced his retirement on April 12, 2021.
A game that featured strong rushing performances by both teams was played down to the wire. As the Patriots were driving down the field for a score to win or tie the game down 24âÂÂ21 in the last two minutes, Bills defensive tackle Justin Zimmer forced Cam Newton to fumble at the Buffalo 14-yard line, sealing the loss for New England. This was the Patriots' first loss to the Bills in four years; also their first road loss to them since the Pats' 2011 AFC Championship season. The Patriots also began the season 2âÂÂ5 for the first time since 2000.
Against the winless Jets, the Patriots fell behind 20âÂÂ10 by halftime, but mounted a comeback, limiting the Jets to just four plays in the fourth quarter. Nick Folk's game-winning 51 yard field goal as time expired ended the Patriots' four-game losing streak, got them their first road win of the year and their 9th win over the Jets since 2015. New England improved to 3âÂÂ5 with the win and began 3âÂÂ5 for the first time since 1994.
In the rain, the Patriots were able to sneak out a 23âÂÂ17 win against the previously 6-2 Ravens. With the win, the Patriots improved to 4âÂÂ5, and this was their first winning streak this season. They also began 4-5 for the first time since 1988.
Cam Newton's last-second Hail Mary was not enough as the Patriots suffered their second straight loss to the Texans. Their two-game win streak ended as they fell to 4âÂÂ6, their first 4âÂÂ6 start since 1994. They also lost 6 games in a season for the first time since 2009.
Nick Folk's last-second 50-yard field goal improved the Patriots to a 5âÂÂ6 start for the first time since 1994 and increased their home win streak to two games.
With the blowout win, the Patriots improve to 6-6 and were now at an even .500. New England extended their win streak over the Chargers to 5 straight and they finished 2-2 against the AFC West.
With their first loss to Rams since 2001, the Patriots dropped below .500 again as they fell to 6âÂÂ7 (1-3 against the NFC West) losing at least 7 games for the first time since 2002 and beginning 6-7 for the first time since 1987.
Despite 4 red zone trips, the Patriotsâ only score came from a Nick Folk field goal; their three points scored were the lowest the Patriots have scored in a game since a 2016 Week 4 shutout against the Buffalo Bills. This was also their fewest points scored in a game in which their first-string quarterback made a start, since a 2006 shutout loss against the Miami Dolphins (Brady was serving his four-game suspension in that 2016 loss against the Bills).
In addition, with the Bills beating the Steelers later on NBC Sunday Night Football, the Patriots had failed to win the AFC East for the first time since 2008.
With the loss, the Patriots were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 2008 and were ensured a non-winning season for the first time since 2000. During the 2nd quarter, cornerback and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore suffered a partially torn quad that would cause him to miss the remainder of the season. Quarterback Cam Newton also lost to the Dolphins for the first time in his 9-year career. It was the team's first 6âÂÂ8 start since 1971. They also finished 2-6 on the road.
With the loss, the Patriots suffer their first losing record since 2000, and have been swept by the Bills for the first time since 1999 as well as for the first time under Bill Belichick's tenure. This is also the first time since 2000 a division rival swept New England. The 29 point home loss is the worst in the Bill Belichick era, and the 2nd worst loss overall (Buffalo won 31âÂÂ0 in Week 1 of the 2003 season in then-Ralph Wilson Stadium).
With their 10th consecutive win over the Jets, the Patriots finished their season at 7-9 (3-3 against the AFC East) and 5-3 at home.