1976 New England Patriots season
| 1976 New England Patriots season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Chuck Fairbanks |
| General manager | Chuck Fairbanks |
| Owner | Billy Sullivan |
| Home field | Schaefer Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 11–3 |
| Division place | 2nd AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Raiders) 24–21 |
| Pro Bowlers | TE Russ Francis T Leon Gray G John Hannah CB Mike Haynes |
| AP All-Pros | G John Hannah (1st team) TE Russ Francis (2nd team) CB Mike Haynes (2nd team) |
The 1976 New England Patriots season was the seventh season for the team in the National Football League and 17th season overall.
After a nine-year stretch in which they posted just one non-losing season amid eight losing years, the Patriots turned around their fortunes, going 11–3. The team had gone just 3–11 the previous season, and was considered a "Cinderella team" in 1976. Coach Chuck Fairbanks was named NFL Coach of the Year, and cornerback Mike Haynes was named NFL Rookie of the Year.
The 1976 Patriots rushed for a total of 2,957 yards (averaging five yards per carry) and scored 376 points, both second-best in the league. The 2,957 yards rushing were the fifth-highest total in NFL history at the time. The team's 5.0 yards per carry was the best in the NFL and remains higher than all Super Bowl champions except the 1973 Miami Dolphins whose own run game was 5.0 yards per carry. The Patriots also led the league in takeways at 50; the Patriots finished third in the league in turnover differential at plus-14.
The Patriots made only their second playoff appearance in their history and first since 1963, but lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Oakland Raiders in the first round of the playoffs. Earlier in the season, the Patriots handed the Raiders their only loss of the season with a final score of 48–17, but a controversial roughing the passer penalty on Ray Hamilton on a Raiders drive late in the playoff game dimmed the Patriots' hopes of defeating the Raiders again.
...
Wikipedia