| 2014 New England Patriots season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Robert Kraft |
| Head coach | Bill Belichick |
| Offensive coordinator | Josh McDaniels |
| Defensive coordinator | Matt Patricia |
| Home field | Gillette Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 12–4 |
| Division place | 1st AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Ravens) 35–31 Won AFC Championship (vs. Colts) 45–7 Won Super Bowl XLIX (vs. Seahawks) 28–24 |
| Pro Bowlers | |
| AP All-Pros | |
| Uniform | |
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The 2014 season was the New England Patriots' 45th in the National Football League (NFL), their 55th overall and their 15th under head coach Bill Belichick.
The 2014 season would mark the tenth anniversary of the Patriots third and then most recent Super Bowl win, when they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. Despite their championship drought, the Patriots remained a dominant NFL dynasty throughout the 2000s and early 2010s. They qualified for the playoffs nine times (missing only the 2008 postseason), reached the AFC Championship five times, appeared in two Super Bowls and, in the eyes of many, solidified Tom Brady's status as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. In 2007, the Patriots completed just the second undefeated regular season in the history of the modern NFL (the first being their division rival Miami Dolphins in 1972), as well as the first since the league expanded its seasons to sixteen games (though only the '72 Dolphins were able to win the Super Bowl). The team's continued success over more than a decade drew a great deal of intrigue toward the ball club, and with it, constant media scrutiny. Despite several setbacks throughout the season, including a blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in week four and the highly publicized Deflategate scandal, the Patriots rode the momentum of a 10–2 finish to a Super Bowl championship.
The Patriots finished 12–4 for the third straight year, winning their sixth straight AFC East title, as well as the top-overall seed and home field advantage for the AFC playoffs. With their seeding, New England was awarded a first-round bye in the playoffs for the fifth season in a row, the first such occurrence for any team since the league switched to a 12-team playoff format in 1990 (surpassing the 1992–95 Dallas Cowboys). They finished fourth in the NFL in scoring (468 points) and eighth in points allowed (313), and first in point differential (with an average margin of victory of 9.7 points).
The Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens 35–31 in the divisional round of the playoffs, advancing to their fourth straight AFC Championship game. There, they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 45–7 to advance to their 8th Super Bowl, their 6th under Bill Belichick. On February 1, 2015, the Patriots played the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. After allowing the Seahawks to tie the game 14–14 at halftime and falling behind ten points in the third quarter, the Patriots rallied in the final quarter of the game to secure a 28–24 victory, and with it, the franchise's fourth championship.