The 2021 season was the New England Patriots' 52nd in the National Football League (NFL), their 62nd overall, their 20th playing home games at Gillette Stadium, and their 22nd under head coach Bill Belichick.
Following the team's 7âÂÂ9 finish the previous season, their first losing record since 2000, the Patriots spent a record $163 million in guaranteed money to sign new free agent acquisitions. 11 free agents were added to the roster on March 19, with the largest contracts awarded to linebacker Matthew Judon, tight ends Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith, cornerback Jalen Mills, and wide receivers Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor. In the 2021 NFL draft, New England selected quarterback Mac Jones 15th overall, marking the first time the Patriots drafted a first-round quarterback since Drew Bledsoe in 1993. Jones also became the first rookie quarterback to start for the Patriots since Bledsoe after he was named the starter ahead of the season opener.
The Patriots began the season 2âÂÂ4, but won eight of their next 11 games and finished with a 10âÂÂ7 record to secure a wild card berth. In their first playoff appearance without quarterback Tom Brady since 1998 and their first as a wild card under Belichick, they were defeated 47âÂÂ17 by the division rival Buffalo Bills, the worst postseason loss of Belichick's tenure. The playoff game was also the Patriots' last with Belichick and was their last appearance until 2025.
Notes
The Patriots' 2021 schedule was announced on May 12.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
In rookie quarterback Mac Jones' first NFL start, a back-and-forth affair against divisional opponent Miami was sealed when Patriots running back Damien Harris fumbled the ball in the fourth quarter, allowing the Dolphins to run out the clock. With the close loss, the Patriots began the season 0âÂÂ1 for the first time since 2017.
A battle of rookie quarterbacks saw Zach Wilson of the Jets throw four interceptions to the Patriots defense, allowing New England to coast to a 25âÂÂ6 win, its 11th straight win over divisional rival New York. Mac Jones completed over 70% of his passes for the second game in a row.
Jones threw three interceptions, including a pass bobbled by tight end Jonnu Smith before being returned by P. J. Williams for a touchdown, as the Patriots lost to the Saints 28âÂÂ13 and dropped to 1âÂÂ2. This was also the Patriots' first loss to the Saints since 2009.
This game marked former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's first return to Gillette Stadium since leaving the Patriots after the 2019 season, as he was cheered by the Patriots' home crowd during pre-game introductions before being jeered during the game. During the rain-soaked, back-and-forth contest, Brady was held without a touchdown and completed just over half of his passes; he was held to his third lowest passer rating â 70.8 â since joining the Buccaneers but led them to a go-ahead field goal just after the two-minute warning. Jones, who passed for 2 touchdowns and an interception, led the Patriots into position for their own field goal, but Nick Folk's 56-yard attempt hit the left upright, sealing the loss for the Patriots to their former franchise quarterback. With their first loss to Tampa Bay since 2000, the Patriots fell to 1-3.
Despite being down 22âÂÂ9 to Houston at one point, the Patriots came back to win â coincidentally in the same stadium where they overcame a 28âÂÂ3 deficit to the Atlanta Falcons to win Super Bowl LI. Aside from a missed extra point in the first half, Nick Folk made four field goals during the game, including the game-winner with 15 seconds left in the game. With the win, New England improved to 2âÂÂ3, taking sole possession of 2nd place in the AFC East. This marked the Patriots last win over the Texans until 2025.
This was the Patriots' first overtime game since the 2018 AFC Championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs. This was the Pats' first loss to the Cowboys in 25 years and their first home loss to them in 34 years.
With the win, the Patriots improved to 3âÂÂ4 and swept the Jets for the sixth consecutive season and improved the winning streak against the Jets to 12.
With their 7th win against the Chargers, the Patriots improved to 4âÂÂ4 on the season. However, this would be the Patriots last win against the Chargers until 2025.
The Patriots intercepted Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold three times en route to victory, including an 88-yard pick-six by J.C. Jackson. New England improved to 5âÂÂ4 on the year and 4âÂÂ0 all-time vs. Darnold. This was also the Patriots first win over the Panthers since 2009.
The Patriots outplayed the Browns on both sides of the ball. Mac Jones had one of his better games as a rookie, completing over 80 percent of his passes for three touchdowns and no interceptions as the Patriots converted 7 of 9 third downs. The defense only allowed points on the first drive of the game, held the Browns to 1 of 11 on third down, and knocked Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield out of the game in the third quarter. With Damien Harris sidelined with a concussion from the Panthers game, Rhamondre Stevenson served as the primary running back, rushing for 100 yards and two touchdowns. With the score 38âÂÂ7 in the fourth quarter, Brian Hoyer replaced Jones and threw the pass that ended Jakobi Meyers' record touchdown drought. With their 4th win over the Browns since 2013, in addition to their 6th home win against Cleveland since 1995, the Patriots improved to 6-4.
The Patriots defense intercepted all three quarterbacks on the FalconsâÂÂMatt Ryan, Josh Rosen, and Feleipe FranksâÂÂas New England coasted to their 8th win over Atlanta since 2001 on Thursday Night Football, improving to 7âÂÂ4 (2-3 against the NFC). They would gain the AFC East division lead later in the week after the Buffalo Bills lost to the Indianapolis Colts.
The Patriots defense put up a show against a banged up Titans team. The offense was only forced to punt once but struggled to finish drives and get the run game going, resulting in five Nick Folk field goals. Mac Jones threw for 310 yards, and completed a pair of touchdown passes to Kendrick Bourne, with Damien Harris adding a touchdown late in the fourth quarter on the ground. Cornerback J. C. Jackson secured his seventh interception of the season, while the rest of the defense forced five fumbles, three of which were recovered by the Patriots. The Patriots improved to 8âÂÂ4 for the AFC East division lead and an overall second place in the AFC.
The Patriots entered the game in first place in the AFC following the Baltimore Ravens' loss the previous day, and were playing for first place in the AFC East. The game was impacted by winds; Belichick noted after the game that the winds in the Patriots' Week 17 game in Buffalo in 2008 were "way worse".
The Patriots drew up a run-heavy game plan in which Jones attempted just three passes, completing two for 19 yards (in 2008, Cassel completed six of eight passes for 78 yards). The Patriots ran the ball 46 times, for over 220 yards, utilizing a sixth offensive lineman on the majority of their offensive snaps. The three pass attempts were the fewest in a game since 1974 (when the Bills attempted just two in a game), the fewest in franchise history, and the fewest by a winning team in 30 years.
The Patriots defense was also stout: the Bills' only touchdown came after a N'Keal Harry muffed punt, and Myles Bryant broke up a fourth-down pass in the red zone late in the fourth quarter to preserve the Patriots' 14âÂÂ10 win.
The Patriots had their bye week after this game, making it their latest regular-season bye since their Week 16 bye in 2001. This would mark the Patriots last win in Buffalo until 2025.
The Patriots were flat for much of the game, being shut out in the first half for the first time in 99 games. A late second half comeback brought the Patriots to within three points, but fell short when Jonathan Taylor put the game away with a 67-yard touchdown run. With the loss, the Patriots fell to the #3 seed in the AFC prior to Week 15's Sunday games, while still maintaining first place in the AFC East. It was also the first time the Patriots lost to the Colts since Week 10 of the 2009 season. The Patriots gave up 226 rush yards in the loss.
This was the first time in five years the Pats and the Bills split the season series. Because of this loss (their second straight after a bye week), the Pats fell to the #6 seed in the AFC playoff picture. The Bills did not have a single punt in this game.
With the blowout win, alongside Tennessee's win over Miami, the Patriots clinched their 12th playoff berth in 13 years after a 1 year absence. This marked the last time the Patriots clinched a playoff berth until 2025. New England finished 3-1 against the AFC South & 4-5 at home.
With the loss, the Patriots not only failed to defeat Miami for the first time since 2000, but also Buffalo's win over the Jets meant the Patriots would lose the AFC East to the Bills for second year in a row. Instead, the Pats would clinch the #6 seed following a Raiders win. New England finished the regular season 3-3 against the AFC East & 6-2 on the road.
In New England's first playoff game since the departure of quarterback Tom Brady, they were unable to stop the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen defensively, with the Bills being the first team in NFL history to never punt, kick a field goal or turn the ball over on any of their drives (every Buffalo offensive possession ended in a touchdown or was the end of the game). It was the New England Patriots' worst playoff loss since Super Bowl XX.
Statistics correct as of the end of the 2021 NFL season