Pats Pulpit
Pat Lane and Matt St. Jean begin their series recapping all 21 wins from New England’s record-setting streak.
Twenty-one years ago, the New England Patriots completed the most dominant streak in the history of the NFL, finishing with 21 wins in a row across two seasons. Since it was such a dominant run, we have decided to take a look back at each one of the games.
This is the first in the series, so expect a ton more to come, and make sure to follow along on YouTube for the accompanying videos for each game as well.
Without further ado, let’s get started.
2003 Week 5 | Oct. 5, 2003, 1 p.m. ET | Gillette Stadium
Setting the scene: The Patriots’ record-breaking streak started on October 5, 2003, when the then one-time Super Bowl champions hosted the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium. The team was coming off a disappointing loss to the lowly Washington Redskins, and, after getting blown out by the Bills in Week 1, was 2-2 and just 11-9 since its win in Super Bowl XXXVI.
There was a ton of talent on this team. After cutting team captain and longtime starting safety Lawyer Milloy — leading to Tom Jackson speculating about the Patriots “hat[ing] their coach” — and suffering a ton of injuries, however, there was a real question about the direction the team was headed.
The Titans, meanwhile, had beat the Patriots the previous season and were coming off a win against the Pittsburgh Steelers the week before. Steve McNair, who would end the season as the co-MVP with Peyton Manning, was making a move into the elite category of quarterbacks.
Key injuries for the Patriots included: Ted Washington, Roosevelt Colvin, Ted Johnson, Mike Vrabel, Willie McGinest, and Ty Law (who was playing, but was clearly hobbled by an ankle injury).
Game breakdown: The Patriots offense had been up and down since the previous season, and hadn’t scored a first quarter touchdown in seven straight games. That streak would finally be broken in this contest, but not before another was as well.
After the Patriots gave up an opening drive field goal to the Titans, a big return by Bethel Johnson set them up with great field position. The drive stalled and then Adam Vinatieri missed a 34-yard field goal, breaking his streak of 33 consecutive field goals made under 40 yards. After giving up another field goal, the Patriots hit a long pass play to Troy Brown — 58 yards to be exact — for a touchdown: Tom Brady slides to the left, stiff arms one of his linemen in the back, sets himself again, and fires a bomb to Brown for the score. (The play looks eerily similar to a famous overtime TD to Brown in Miami a few weeks later, but we’ll get to that.)
Before the end of the half, the Patriots would allow a 1-yard rushing touchdown to Steve McNair, and Vinatieri...
