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1985 New England Patriots season

NFL team season

NFL team season

FieldValue
teamNew England Patriots
year1985
record11–5
division_place3rd AFC East
coachRaymond Berry
general managerPatrick Sullivan
ownerBilly Sullivan
stadiumSullivan Stadium
playoffs**Won [Wild Card Playoffs](1985-86-nfl-playoffs)**
(at [Jets](1985-new-york-jets-season)) 26–14
**Won [Divisional Playoffs](1985-86-nfl-playoffs)**
(at [Raiders](1985-los-angeles-raiders-season)) 27–20
**Won [AFC Championship](1985-86-nfl-playoffs)**
(at [Dolphins](1985-miami-dolphins-season)) 31–14
Lost Super Bowl XX
(vs. [Bears](1985-chicago-bears-season)) 10–46
pro bowlers{{Collapsible list
title8
1CB Raymond Clayborn
2KR Irving Fryar
3G John Hannah
4T Brian Holloway
5RB Craig James
6FS Fred Marion
7LB Steve Nelson
8LB Andre Tippett
AP All-pros{{Collapsible list
title4
1G John Hannah *(1st team)*
2LB Andre Tippett *(1st team)*
3T Brian Holloway *(2nd team)*
4WR Irving Fryar *(2nd team)*
<!-- Commented out:uniformImage:AFC-1984-1987,1990-Uniform-NE.PNG --
shortnavlinkPatriots seasons

(at Jets) 26–14 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Raiders) 27–20 Won AFC Championship (at Dolphins) 31–14 Lost Super Bowl XX (vs. Bears) 10–46 | AP All-pros = {{Collapsible list

The 1985 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 16th season in the National Football League (NFL) and 26th overall. The Patriots had a record of eleven wins and five losses and finished third in the AFC East Division. They then became the first team in NFL history ever to advance to the Super Bowl by winning three playoff games on the road, defeating the New York Jets 26–14 in the AFC Wild Card Game, the Los Angeles Raiders 27–20 in the AFC Divisional Game and the Miami Dolphins 31–14 in the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots' win in Miami was their first victory at the Miami Orange Bowl since 1966. The win over the Dolphins in the game has gone down as one of the greatest upsets in NFL history, as the Dolphins (the only team to defeat the Chicago Bears that year) were heavily favored.

But despite the Patriots' success in the playoffs, they proved unable to compete with the acclaimed 15–1 Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX, losing 46–10 in what was at the time the most lopsided defeat in Super Bowl history. The Patriots were held to a Super Bowl record of just seven rushing yards and their quarterbacks, Tony Eason and Steve Grogan, were sacked a combined seven times by the Bears defense.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1985 NFL draft

Personnel

Staff

  • President – Billy Sullivan

  • Executive vice president – Chuck Sullivan

  • Vice president – Bucko Kilroy

  • General manager – Patrick Sullivan

  • Director of player development – Dick Steinberg

  • Director of college scouting – Joe Mendes

  • Director of pro scouting – Bill McPeak

  • Special assistant to the head coach – John Polonchek

  • Head coach – Raymond Berry

  • Assistant head coach-offense/offensive line – Rod Humenuik

  • Quarterbacks/receivers – Les Steckel

  • Offensive backfield – Bobby Grier

  • Assistant receivers – Harold Jackson

  • Defensive coordinator – Rod Rust

  • Defensive line – Eddie Khayat

  • Assistant defensive line – Ray Hamilton

  • Linebackers – Don Shinnick

  • Defensive backfield – Jim Carr

  • Special teams/tight ends – Dante Scarnecchia

  • Strength and conditioning – Dean Brittenham

Roster

  • Steve Grogan

  • Tony Eason

  • Tom Ramsey

  • Tony Collins

  • Craig James

  • Mosi Tatupu

  • Robert Weathers

  • Irving Fryar

  • Cedric Jones

  • Stanley Morgan

  • Stephen Starring

  • Derwin Williams

  • Lin Dawson

  • Greg Hawthorne

  • Derrick Ramsey

  • Pete Brock C

  • Paul Fairchild G

  • John Hannah G

  • Brian Holloway T

  • Steve Moore T

  • Guy Morriss C/LS

  • Art Plunkett T

  • Ron Wooten G

  • Julius Adams DE

  • Smiley Creswell DE

  • Dennis Owens NT

  • Ben Thomas DE

  • Garin Veris DE

  • Lester Williams NT

  • Don Blackmon OLB

  • Brian Ingram OLB

  • Larry McGrew ILB

  • Steve Nelson ILB

  • Johnny Rembert ILB

  • Ed Reynolds ILB

  • Andre Tippett OLB

  • Ed Williams OLB

  • Jim Bowman FS/SS

  • Raymond Clayborn CB

  • Ernest Gibson CB

  • Roland James SS

  • Ronnie Lippett CB

  • Fred Marion FS

  • Rod McSwain CB

  • Rich Camarillo P

  • Tony Franklin K

  • Steve Grogan QB (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

  • Darryl Haley T (NF-Ill.) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

  • Eric Jordan RB (NF-Inj.) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

  • Trevor Matich C/G (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

  • Gerard Phelan WR (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

  • Bo Robinson RB (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

  • Kenneth Sims DE (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

  • Tom Toth T (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

  • Clayton Weishuhn LB (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

  • Jon Williams RB (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

  • Toby Williams DE (IR) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

  • Darryal Wilson WR (PUP) [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

Schedule

New England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"WeekNew England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"DateNew England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"OpponentNew England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"ResultNew England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"RecordNew England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"VenueNew England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"Attendance12345678910111213141516
September 8[Green Bay Packers](1985-green-bay-packers-season)**W** 26–201–0Sullivan Stadium49,488
September 15at [Chicago Bears](1985-chicago-bears-season)**L** 7–201–1Soldier Field60,533
September 22at **[Buffalo Bills](1985-buffalo-bills-season)****W** 17–142–1Rich Stadium40,334
September 29[Los Angeles Raiders](1985-los-angeles-raiders-season)**L** 20–352–2Sullivan Stadium60,686
October 6at [Cleveland Browns](1985-cleveland-browns-season)**L** 20–242–3Cleveland Municipal Stadium62,139
October 13**[Buffalo Bills](1985-buffalo-bills-season)****W** 14–33–3Sullivan Stadium40,462
October 20**[New York Jets](1985-new-york-jets-season)****W** 20–134–3Sullivan Stadium58,163
October 27at [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1985-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)**W** 32–145–3Tampa Stadium34,661
November 3**[Miami Dolphins](1985-miami-dolphins-season)****W** 17–136–3Sullivan Stadium58,811
November 10**[Indianapolis Colts](1985-indianapolis-colts-season)****W** 34–157–3Sullivan Stadium54,176
November 17at [Seattle Seahawks](1985-seattle-seahawks-season)**W** 20–138–3Kingdome60,345
November 24at **[New York Jets](1985-new-york-jets-season)****L** 13–16 (OT)8–4Giants Stadium74,100
December 1at **[Indianapolis Colts](1985-indianapolis-colts-season)****W** 38–319–4Hoosier Dome56,740
December 8[Detroit Lions](1985-detroit-lions-season)**W** 23–610–4Sullivan Stadium59,078
December 16at **[Miami Dolphins](1985-miami-dolphins-season)****L** 27–3010–5Miami Orange Bowl69,489
December 22[Cincinnati Bengals](1985-cincinnati-bengals-season)**W** 34–2311–5Sullivan Stadium57,953
**Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text.

Game summaries

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7 vs Jets

First quarter

  • NE – Tony Franklin 19-yard field goal, 1:56. ''Patriots 3–0. '''Drive:''''' Second quarter
  • NYJ – Pat Leahy 53-yard field goal, 9:30. ''Tie 3–3. '''Drive:'''''
  • NE – Tony Franklin 44-yard field goal, 2:37. ''Patriots 6–3. '''Drive:''''' Third quarter
  • NYJ – Pat Leahy 52-yard field goal, 5:48. ''Tie 6–6. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
  • NE – Irving Fryar 36-yard pass from Steve Grogan (Tony Franklin kick), 10:22. ''Patriots 13–6. '''Drive:'''''
  • NYJ – Tony Paige 2-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 6:50. ''Tie 13–13. '''Drive:'''''
  • NE – Steve Grogan 3-yard run (Tony Franklin kick), 3:27. ''Patriots 20–13. '''Drive:''''' ;Top passers
  • NYJ – Ken O'Brien – 15/31, 246 yards, INT
  • NE – Steve Grogan – 11/32, 171 yards, TD, INT ;Top rushers
  • NYJ – Johnny Hector – 21 rushes, 80 yards
  • NE – Craig James – 22 rushes, 94 yards ;Top receivers
  • NYJ – Wesley Walker – 6 receptions, 140 yards
  • NE – Stanley Morgan – 3 receptions, 71 yards

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Week 15

Week 16

After winning against the Bengals, fans stormed the field and tore down the goal posts. Fans proceeded to walk down Route 1 with the goalposts, accidentally hitting an overhead wire and nearly electrocuting themselves.

Postseason

New England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"RoundNew England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"DateNew England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"Opponent (seed)New England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"ResultNew England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"RecordNew England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"VenueNew England Patriotsyear=1985border=2}}"AttendanceWild card playoffDivisional PlayoffAFC ChampionshipSuper Bowl XX
December 28at [New York Jets](1985-new-york-jets-season) (4)**W** 26–141–0Giants Stadium70,958
January 5, 1986at [Los Angeles Raiders](1985-los-angeles-raiders-season) (1)**W** 27–202–0Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum88,936
January 12, 1986at [Miami Dolphins](1985-miami-dolphins-season) (2)**W** 31–143–0Miami Orange Bowl74,978
January 26, 1986[Chicago Bears](1985-chicago-bears-season) (N1)**L** 10–463–1Louisiana Superdome73,818

Wild card

This was only the second postseason win in Patriots history, and the first since 1963.

Divisional

Conference championship

In the 1985 AFC Championship Game, the Patriots ran the ball on 59 out of 71 offensive plays, amassing 255 rushing yards in an upset of the favored Dolphins.

The New England Patriots became the first team in NFL history to win three playoff games on the road in the same postseason.

Super Bowl

Standings

Notes

References

References

  1. "1985 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. "1985 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. (1986-01-13). "Patriots Run Down Dolphins, 31-14 : Miami Can't Overcome Six Turnovers in Losing AFC Title".
  4. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198509080nwe.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2014-Aug-01.
  5. Gainesville Sun. 1985 Sept 9. Retrieved 2017-Nov-01.
  6. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198509220buf.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
  7. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198510130nwe.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
  8. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198512220nwe.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
  9. "Foxboro Stadium History - 1985 | New England Patriots".
  10. 100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Armando Salguero, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2020, ISBN 978-1-62937-722-3, p.147
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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