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==Offseason==
==Offseason==
===Incidents off the field===
===Incidents off the field===
'''PATRIOTS SUCK MAJOR ASS ESPECIALLY TOM BRADY SUCKS CRISS MOON'S'''
Two days after Super Bowl XLII, defensive back [[Willie Andrews]] was arrested in [[Lowell, Massachusetts]] on [[February 5]] for possession of a half pound of [[Cannabis (drug)|marijuana]] and driving an unregistered car.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/02/patriots_defens.html|title=Patriots defensive back charged with marijuana possession in Lowell|work=[[The Boston Globe]]|date=2008-02-05|accessdate=2008-05-31}}</ref> On [[May 9]], Andrews' case was continued without finding for one year, during which time Andrews was ordered to pay a fine, speak to student athletes about the dangers of narcotics, and complete an NFL substance abuse program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2008/05/09/patriots_defensive_back_andrews_pleads_to_drug_offense/|title=Patriots defensive back Andrews pleads to drug offense|work=[[Associated Press]]|publisher=The Boston Globe|date=2008-05-09|accessdate=2008-05-31}}</ref> On [[June 30]], Andrews was arrested again and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm in [[Mansfield, Massachusetts]], after his fiancée accused him of pointing a gun at her head.<ref name="AndrewsGun">{{cite web|url=http://www.bostonherlad.com/sports/football/patriots/view/2008_06_30_Pats__defenseman_arrested_in_gun_assault/srvc=sports&position=recent|title=Pats’ defensive back arrested in gun assault|work=[[Boston Herald]]|first=Mike|last=Underwood|date=2008-06-30|accessdate=2008-06-30}}</ref> Andrews' fiancée called police, who searched Andrews' vehicle but did not find a gun; she later took her child to a hotel for the night, where Andrews then met her again before being arrested.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebostonchannel.com/sports/16749713/detail.html|title=Patriots Player Faces Gun Assault Charge|work=[[WCVB-TV]]|date=2008-06-30|accessdate=2008-06-30}}</ref> The weapon, a [[Glock pistol]], was later recovered in a dumpster near Andrews' apartment.<ref name="AndrewsGun" /> Andrews was released on [[July 1]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/07/02/patriots_release_andrews/|title=Patriots release Andrews|work=The Boston Globe|first=Christopher L.|last=Gasper|date=2008-07-02|accessdate=2008-07-02}}</ref>

On [[February 22]], running back [[Kevin Faulk]] was issued a misdemeanor summons after he was found with four marijuana cigarettes at a [[Lil Wayne]] concert in [[Lafayette, Louisiana]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/02/27/faulk_cited_for_marijuana_in_la/|title=Faulk cited for marijuana in La.|work=The Boston Globe|first=Christopher L.|last=Gasper|date=2008-02-27|accessdate=2008-05-31}}</ref> Upon returning to New England, Faulk passed a drug test and did not have to enter the NFL's substance abuse program.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/patriots/2008-02-28-faulk-test_N.htm|title=Patriots' Faulk says he passed drug test|work=The Daily Advertiser|publisher=[[USA Today]]|first=Kevin|last=Foote|date=2008-02-29|accessdate=2008-05-31}}</ref> Faulk pleaded no contest to the charge on [[July 8]] and was sentenced to a five-month suspended jail term, given one year of probation, fined, and ordered to complete community service and substance abuse treatment programs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=8640995|title=Kevin Faulk, pleads no contest|work=[[KATC (TV)]]|date=2008-07-08|accessdate=2008-07-08}}</ref> Faulk was later suspended for the first game of the 2008 regular season for a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/08/faulk_suspended.html|title=Faulk suspended 1 game|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-08-30|accessdate=2008-09-09}}</ref>

On [[April 27]], according to ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', offensive lineman [[Nick Kaczur]] was arrested in [[Whitestown, New York]], when police discovered Kaczur had a "small amount of controlled substance for which he did not have a prescription," which was later identified as [[oxycodone]].<ref name="KaczurDEA">{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/06/04/patriot_arrested_then_aids_drug_sting/?page=full|title=Patriot arrested, then aids drug sting|work=The Boston Globe|author=Ellement, John R. and Murphy, Shelley|date=2008-06-04|accessdate=2008-06-04}}</ref> Kaczur was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh degree, a misdemeanor. In May, the article states Kaczur participated in a [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] sting operation, wearing a hidden recording device while purchasing [[United States dollar|$]]3,900 worth (100 pills) of OxyContin.<ref name="KaczurDEA" /> The three transactions, on [[May 1]], [[May 6]], and [[May 13]] in the area near [[Foxborough, Massachusetts]], led to the arrest of Kaczur's dealer Daniel Ekasala, who was indicted by a federal [[grand jury]] on [[June 3]] for three counts of possession of oxycodone with intent to distribute.<ref name="KaczurDEA" /> When ''The Globe'' asked for comment, however, Kaczur denied any involvement in the case.<ref name="KaczurDEA" />

===Staff changes===
Following the regular season, the [[Atlanta Falcons]] hired Patriots Director of College Scouting [[Thomas Dimitroff]] to be their new [[general manager]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.atlantafalcons.com/News/Articles/2008/01/7-13/Falcons_name_Tom_Dimitroff_new_GM.aspx |title=Falcons name Thomas Dimitroff to GM post |work=AtlantaFalcons.com |date=2008-01-13 |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> Former Pro Personnel Director [[Nick Caserio]], who had spent the 2007 season as [[wide receiver]]s coach, returned to the personnel department as the director of player personnel, a position that partly replaced both Dimitroff's and Caserio's former responsibilities under Vice President of Player Personnel [[Scott Pioli]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/03/23/merger_of_field_and_screen/?page=1 |title=Merger of field and screen |work=[[The Boston Globe]] |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2008-03-23 |accessdate=2008-03-30}}</ref> Regional scout [[Jon Robinson]] was also promoted to assistant director of college scouting.<ref name="2008mg">{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/08/media_guide_nug.html|title=Media guide nuggets|work=The Boston Globe|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-08-11|accessdate|2008-08-11}}</ref> The Patriots then promoted offensive assistant [[Bill O'Brien (American football)|Bill O'Brien]] to wide receivers coach to replace Caserio.<ref name="CoachChanges">{{cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/02/22/capers_joins_coaching_staff/ |title=Capers joins Patriots' coaching staff |work=The Boston Globe |first=Mike |last=Reiss |date=2008-02-22 |accessdate=2008-02-23}}</ref> Additionally, the Patriots announced [[defensive back|secondary]] coach [[Joel Collier]] would not return to the team in 2008, and hired former [[Carolina Panthers]] and [[Houston Texans]] head coach [[Dom Capers]] as a special assistant/secondary coach.<ref name="CoachChanges" /> [[Don Davis (American football)|Don Davis]], who joined the coaching staff as an assistant strength and conditioning coach and team chaplain after retiring in 2007,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/sp_fbn_davis0201_02-01-08_148RK5P_v9.3560fc5.html|title=Don Davis offers strength in both of his Pats roles|work=[[The Providence Journal]]|first=Shalise Manza|last=Young|date=2008-02-01|accessdate=2008-08-11}}</ref> left the organization to pursue Christian ministry.<ref name="2008mg" /> Finally, coaching assistant [[Kevin Bickers]] was made a special assignment scout, and replaced by [[Brian Flores]], formerly a pro scout, and [[Shane Waldron]].<ref name="2008mg" />

===Departures===
Prior to the start of free agency, the Patriots released [[linebacker]]s [[Oscar Lua]] and [[Rosevelt Colvin]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/02/lua_released_to.html|title=Lua released too|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-02-26|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> who had started 39 games in his five seasons with the team. Both ended the 2007 season on injured reserve and failed post-season team physicals.<ref name="PFWFeb">{{cite web|url=http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL/AFC/AFC+East/New+England/Transactions/2008/transfeb.htm|title=New England Patriots February, 2008 Transactions|work=[[Pro Football Weekly]]|date=2008-02-29|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> [[Tight end]] [[Kyle Brady]] was released at the start of free agency,<ref name="KBrady">{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/02/patriots_releas.html|title=Patriots release TE Kyle Brady|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Christopher L.|last=Gasper|date=2008-02-29|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> also after having failed a physical.<ref name="PFWFeb" /> The Patriots declined multi-year contract options on wide receivers [[Kelley Washington]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/02/k_washington_up_1.html|title=K. Washington update|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-02-22|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> and [[Donté Stallworth]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/02/report_stallwor.html|title=Report: Stallworth to visit Browns|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-02-29|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> making them both free agents; Stallworth signed with the [[Cleveland Browns]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/report_stallwor_1.html|title=Report: Stallworth to join Browns|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Christopher L.|last=Gasper|date=2008-03-01|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> while Washington re-signed with the Patriots.<ref name="Washington">{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/02/washington_agre.html|title=Washington agrees with Pats|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-02-28|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> Also departing via free agency were defensive backs [[Asante Samuel]] ([[Philadelphia Eagles]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/02/so_long_asante.html|title=So long Asante|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Christopher L.|last=Gasper|date=2008-02-29|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> [[Randall Gay]] ([[New Orleans Saints]]),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/gay_goes_to_the.html|title=Gay marches to the Saints|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Christopher L.|last=Gasper|date=2008-03-02|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> and [[Eugene Wilson]] ([[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/wilson_to_bucs.html|title=Wilson to Bucs & CB|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-03-14|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> Restricted free agent [[defensive lineman]] [[Rashad Moore]] was not tendered a qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/02/no_offer_to_ras.html|title=No offer to Rashad Moore|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-02-29|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref>

===Signings===
After losing a combined 122 games of starting experience for the team in Samuel, Gay, and Wilson, the Patriots added back to their secondary by signing cornerbacks [[Lewis Sanders]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/sanders_signed.html|title=CB Lewis Sanders signed|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-03-06|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> and [[Fernando Bryant]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/bryant_signing.html|title=Bryant signing official|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Christopher L.|last=Gasper|date=2008-03-20|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> who were both released by their former teams, as well as two unrestricted free agents - cornerback [[Jason Webster]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/webster_deal_of.html|title=Webster deal official|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-03-4|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> and safety [[Tank Williams]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/report_pats_sig.html|title=Report: Pats sign Tank Williams|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-03-05|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> Also signed via unrestricted free agency were wide receiver [[Sam Aiken]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/aiken_signs_on.html|title=Aiken signs on for 2 years|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-03-03|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> linebacker [[Victor Hobson]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/04/belichick_on_ho_1.html|title=Belichick on Hobson|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-04-07|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> and tight end [[Marcus Pollard]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/04/te_pollard_to_j.html|title=TE Pollard to join Pats|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-04-22|accessdate=2008-04-22}}</ref> Free agents or potential free agents [[Tedy Bruschi]],<ref name="KBrady" /> [[Lonie Paxton]],<ref name="KBrady" /> [[Kelley Washington]],<ref name="Washington" /> [[Randy Moss]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/mosss_agent_det.html|title=Moss' agent details deal|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-03-03|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> [[Jabar Gaffney]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/report_gaffney.html|title=Report: Gaffney back to Pats|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-03-04|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> [[Ray Ventrone]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/ventone_officia.html|title=Ventrone officially re-signs|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-03-11|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> [[Mike Wright]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/mike_wright_fol.html|title=Mike Wright follow-up|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-03-19|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> [[Wesley Britt]], and [[Pierre Woods]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/03/britt_woods_res.html|title=Britt & Woods re-sign|work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-03-25|accessdate=2008-04-14}}</ref> were all re-signed.

===2008 NFL Draft===
{{main|2008 NFL Draft}}
As a penalty for violating the "league policy on the use of equipment to videotape an opposing team’s offensive or defensive signals" during a September 9, 2007 game against the [[New York Jets]] (see [[Spygate]]), the Patriots forfeited their original first round pick, which would have been the 31st overall pick due to their loss in Super Bowl XLII.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2007/09/final_ruling.html |title=Final ruling |first=Mike |last=Reiss |work=Boston.com Reiss' Pieces |date=2007-09-13 |accessdate=2007-09-13}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|+ 2008 New England Patriots Draft Selections
! Round !! Overall !! Player !! Position !! College
|-
|1<ref name="SaintsTrade">The Patriots traded their first- and fifth-round selections (#7 and #164 overall) to the [[New Orleans Saints]] for the Saints' first- and third-round draft picks (#10 and #78 overall). The #7 pick was received with a 2007 fourth-round pick in a trade from the [[San Francisco 49ers]] for the Patriots' first-round pick in the [[2007 NFL Draft]]. [http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/04/details_of_trad.html Boston.com summary]</ref>|| 10 || [[Jerod Mayo]] || [[Linebacker]] || [[Tennessee Volunteers football|Tennessee]]
|-
|1 || (31)<ref>As the team that lost Super Bowl XLII, the Patriots' original first-round selection would have been #31.</ref> ||colspan="3" align="center"| ''Selection forfeited''
|-
|2 || 62 || [[Terrence Wheatley]] || [[Cornerback]] || [[Colorado Buffaloes football|Colorado]]
|-
|3<ref name="SaintsTrade" /> || 78 || [[Shawn Crable]] || Linebacker || [[Michigan Wolverines football|Michigan]]
|-
|3 || 94 || [[Kevin O'Connell (American football)|Kevin O'Connell]] || [[Quarterback]] || [[San Diego State Aztecs football|San Diego State]]
|-
|4 || 129 || [[Jonathan Wilhite]] || Cornerback || [[Auburn Tigers football|Auburn]]
|-
|5<ref name="TampaTrade">The Patriots traded their fifth- and seventh-round selections (#160 and #238 overall) to the [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] for the Buccaneers' fifth-round selection (#160 overall). The fifth-round pick was received in a trade with the [[San Diego Chargers]] in which the Patriots traded a third-round selection (#69 overall) to the Chargers for the Chargers' fifth-round pick in 2008 and second-round pick in the [[2009 NFL Draft]]. (The Patriots received the #69 pick in a trade with the [[Oakland Raiders]] in which the Raiders traded their 2008 third-round pick and 2007 seventh-round pick for the Patriots' third-round pick in 2007.) [http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/04/more_on_matt_sl.html Boston.com summary]</ref>|| 153 || [[Matthew Slater]] || [[Safety (American football)|Safety]] || [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA]]
|-
|6|| 197 || [[Bo Ruud]] || Linebacker || [[Nebraska Cornhuskers football|Nebraska]]
|-
|}

{| class="wikitable" align="center"
|+ 2008 New England Patriots Draft Day Trades
! Round !! Overall !! Team !! Received
|-
| 1 || 7 || rowspan="2" | to [[New Orleans Saints]] || rowspan="2" | Received New Orleans' first-round pick and third-round pick (10 and 78 overall)
|-
| 5 || 164
|-
| 3 || 69 || to [[San Diego Chargers]] || Received San Diego's fifth-round pick (160 overall) in 2008 and second-round pick in 2009
|-
| 5 || 160 || rowspan="2" | to [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] ||rowspan="2"| Received Tampa Bay's fifth-round pick (153 overall) in 2008
|-
| 7 || 238
|}

==Staff==
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! colspan="7" style="background-color: #0d254c; color: #d6d6d6; text-align: center;"|'''New England Patriots 2008 staff'''
|-
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Front Office'''
* Owner/Chairman/CEO – [[Robert Kraft]]
* President – [[Jonathan Kraft]]
* Vice President of Player Personnel – [[Scott Pioli]]
* Director of Player Personnel – [[Nick Caserio]]
* Assistant Director of College Scouting - [[Jon Robinson]]
* Football Research Director – [[Ernie Adams]]

'''Head Coaches'''
*Head Coach – [[Bill Belichick]]
*Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Line – [[Dante Scarnecchia]]

'''Offensive Coaches'''
* Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – [[Josh McDaniels]]
* Running Backs – [[Ivan Fears]]
* Wide Receivers – [[Bill O'Brien (American football)|Bill O'Brien]]
* Tight Ends – [[Pete Mangurian]]
|width="35"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" |
'''Defensive Coaches'''
* Defensive Coordinator – [[Dean Pees]]
* Defensive Line – [[Pepper Johnson]]
* Linebackers – [[Matt Patricia]]
* Special Assistant/Secondary – [[Dom Capers]]

'''Special Teams Coaches'''
* Special Teams – [[Brad Seely]]

'''Strength and Conditioning'''
* Strength and Conditioning – [[Mike Woicik]]
* Assistant Strength and Conditioning – [[Harold Nash]]

'''Coaching Assistants'''
* [[Josh Boyer]], [[Brian Flores]], [[Shane Waldron]]
</div>
|}

==Opening training camp roster==
As of the Patriots' first training camp practice at [[Gillette Stadium]] on [[July 24]], they had the NFL maximum of 80 players signed to their roster (first-round pick [[Jerod Mayo]], who was not signed until after training camp began, did not count against that limit until his signing).

{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background-color: #0d254c; color: #d6d6d6; text-align: center;"|'''New England Patriots 2008 opening training camp roster'''
|-
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Quarterbacks'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">12</span> [[Tom Brady]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">16</span> [[Matt Cassel]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">&nbsp;7</span> [[Matt Gutierrez]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">&nbsp;5</span> [[Kevin O'Connell (American football)|Kevin O'Connell]] <sup>R</sup>

'''Running Backs'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">38</span> [[Kyle Eckel]] FB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">44</span> [[Heath Evans]] FB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">33</span> [[Kevin Faulk]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">39</span> [[Laurence Maroney]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">34</span> [[Sammy Morris]]

'''Wide Receivers'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">88</span> [[Sam Aiken]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">13</span> [[Chris Dunlap]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">10</span> [[Jabar Gaffney]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">17</span> [[Chad Jackson]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">19</span> [[C. J. Jones]] KR
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">81</span> [[Randy Moss]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">14</span> [[Robert Ortiz (American football)|Robert Ortiz]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">18</span> [[Matthew Slater]] S <sup>R</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">15</span> [[Kelley Washington]]

'''Tight Ends'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">87</span> [[Marcus Pollard]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">82</span> [[Stephen Spach]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">85</span> [[Jonathan Stupar]] <sup>UR</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">86</span> [[David Thomas (American football)|David Thomas]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">84</span> [[Benjamin Watson]]
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Offensive Linemen'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">75</span> [[Lav Bauta]] T/G
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">65</span> [[Wesley Britt]] T
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">69</span> [[Anthony Clement]] T
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">63</span> [[Dan Connolly (American football)|Dan Connolly]] C/G
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">71</span> [[Russ Hochstein]] G/C
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">67</span> [[Dan Koppen]] C
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">72</span> [[Matt Light]] T
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">70</span> [[Logan Mankins]] G
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">60</span> [[Jimmy Martin (American football)|Jimmy Martin]] G/T
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">64</span> [[Gene Mruczkowski]] G/C
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">68</span> [[Ryan O'Callaghan]] T
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">74</span> [[Billy Yates (American football)|Billy Yates]] G/C

'''Defensive Linemen'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">62</span> [[Titus Adams]] DE
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">69</span> [[Steve Fifita]] NT
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">76</span> [[Chris Norwell]] DE <sup>UR</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">93</span> [[Richard Seymour]] DE
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">95</span> [[Kenny Smith (American football)|Kenny Smith]] DE
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">90</span> [[Le Kevin Smith]] NT/DE
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">92</span> [[Santonio Thomas]] DE
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">94</span> [[Ty Warren]] DE
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">75</span> [[Vince Wilfork]] NT

| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Linebackers'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">52</span> [[Eric Alexander (American football)|Eric Alexander]] ILB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">54</span> [[Tedy Bruschi]] ILB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">98</span> [[Shawn Crable]] OLB <sup>R</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">48</span> [[Gary Guyton]] ILB <sup>UR</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">59</span> [[Victor Hobson]] ILB/OLB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">53</span> [[Larry Izzo]] ILB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''51</span> [[Jerod Mayo]] ILB'' <sup>R</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">47</span> [[Vince Redd]] OLB <sup>UR</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">96</span> [[Adalius Thomas]] OLB/ILB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">58</span> [[Pierre Woods]] OLB

'''Defensive Backs'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">25</span> [[Fernando Bryant]] CB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">30</span> [[Mark Dillard]] S <sup>UR</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">31</span> [[Brandon Meriweather]] CB/S
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">35</span> [[Mike I. Richardson|Mike Richardson]] CB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">36</span> [[James Sanders (American football)|James Sanders]] S
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">29</span> [[Lewis Sanders]] CB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">28</span> [[Antwain Spann]] CB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">41</span> [[Raymond Ventrone]] S/WR
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">21</span> [[Jason Webster]] CB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">22</span> [[Terrence Wheatley]] CB <sup>R</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">24</span> [[Jonathan Wilhite]] CB <sup>R</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">26</span> [[Tank Williams]] S/ILB

'''Special Teams'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">&nbsp;3</span> [[Stephen Gostkowski]] K
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">&nbsp;6</span> [[Chris Hanson]] P
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">66</span> [[Lonie Paxton]] LS
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Reserve Lists'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">97</span> [[Jarvis Green]] DE <small>(Active/PUP)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">42</span> [[BenJarvus Green-Ellis]] RB <small>(Active/PUP)</small> <sup>UR</sup> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">37</span> [[Rodney Harrison]] SS <small>(Active/PUP)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">27</span> [[Ellis Hobbs]] CB/KR <small>(Active/PUP)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">77</span> [[Nick Kaczur]] OT <small>(Active/PUP)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">61</span> [[Stephen Neal]] G <small>(Active/PUP)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">76</span> [[Oliver Ross]] OT/G <small>(Active/PUP)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">91</span> [[Bo Ruud]] ILB <small>(Active/PUP)</small> <sup>R</sup> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">50</span> [[Mike Vrabel]] OLB/ILB <small>(Active/PUP)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">83</span> [[Wes Welker]] WR/PR <small>(Active/PUP)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">62</span> [[Ryan Wendell]] C <small>(Active/PUP)</small> <sup>UR</sup> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">99</span> [[Mike Wright]] DE/NT <small>(Active/PUP)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]


<small>'''Notations'''
* R: [[2008 NFL Draft|2008 Rookie]]
* UR: 2008 [[Undrafted sportsperson|Undrafted Rookie]]
* ''Italicized players are not on the 80-man roster.''
</small>
|-
|}

==Schedule==
===Preseason===
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
! Week || Kickoff || Date || Opponent || Result || Record || Game Site || TV || NFL.com Recap
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
|align="center"| 1 || 7:30 PM [[North American Eastern Time Zone|EDT]] || [[August 7]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Baltimore Ravens season|Baltimore Ravens]] || '''L''' 15-16 ||align="center"| 0-1 || [[Gillette Stadium]] || [[WCVB-TV|WCVB]] ||[http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29786&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2008&week=PRE1 Recap]
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
|align="center"| 2 || 8:00 PM EDT || [[August 17]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] || '''L''' 10-27 ||align="center"| 0-2 || [[Raymond James Stadium]] || [[NFL Network|NFLN]]{{ref label|simulcast|a|a}} ||[http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29813&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2008&week=PRE2 Recap]
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
|align="center"| 3 || 7:30 PM EDT || [[August 22]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]] || '''L''' 17-27 ||align="center"| 0-3 || Gillette Stadium || WCVB ||[http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29818&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2008&week=PRE3 Recap]
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
|align="center"| 4 || 7:00 PM EDT || [[August 28]], [[2008]] || [[2008 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] || '''L''' 14-19 ||align="center"| 0-4 || [[Giants Stadium]] || WCVB ||[http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29836&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2008&week=PRE4 Recap]
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" align="center"
! Week || Kickoff || Date || Opponent || Result || Record || Game Site || TV || NFL.com Recap
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
|align="center"| 1 || 1:00 PM EDT || [[September 7]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] || '''W''' 17-10 ||align="center"| 1-0 || Gillette Stadium || [[NFL on CBS|CBS]] ||[http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29533&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2008&week=REG1 Recap]
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
|align="center"| 2 || 4:15 PM EDT || [[September 14]], [[2008]] || [[2008 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] || '''W''' 19-10 ||align="center"| 2-0 || Giants Stadium || CBS ||[http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29557&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2008&week=REG2 Recap]
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
|align="center"| 3 || 1:00 PM EDT || [[September 21]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] || '''L''' 13-38 ||align="center"| 2-1 || Gillette Stadium || CBS ||[http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29564&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2008&week=REG3&override=true Recap]
|- align="center"
| 4 ||colspan="8" align="center"| ''[[Bye (sports)|Bye]]''
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
|align="center"| 5 || 4:15 PM EDT || [[October 5]], [[2008]] || [[2008 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] || '''W''' 30-21 ||align="center"| 3-1 || [[Candlestick Park]] || CBS ||[http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/recap?game_id=29600&displayPage=tab_recap&season=2008&week=REG5 Recap]
|-
|align="center"| 6 || 8:15 PM EDT || [[October 12]], [[2008]] || [[2008 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]] || ||align="center"| || [[Qualcomm Stadium]] || [[NBC Sunday Night Football|NBC]] ||
|-
|align="center"| 7 || 8:30 PM EDT || [[October 20]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]] || ||align="center"| || Gillette Stadium || [[Monday Night Football|ESPN]]{{ref label|simulcast|b|b}} ||
|-
|align="center"| 8 || 1:00 PM EDT || [[October 26]], [[2008]] || [[2008 St. Louis Rams season|St. Louis Rams]] || ||align="center"| || Gillette Stadium || [[NFL on FOX|FOX]] ||
|-
|align="center"| 9 || 8:15 PM EST || [[November 2]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] || ||align="center"| || [[Lucas Oil Stadium]] || NBC ||
|-
|align="center"| 10 || 1:00 PM EST || [[November 9]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] || ||align="center"| || Gillette Stadium || CBS ||
|-
|align="center"| 11 || 8:15 PM EST || [[November 13]], [[2008]] || [[2008 New York Jets season|New York Jets]] || ||align="center"| || Gillette Stadium || [[Run to the Playoffs|NFLN]]{{ref label|simulcast|b|b}} ||
|-
|align="center"| 12 || 1:00 PM EST || [[November 23]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] || ||align="center"| || [[Dolphin Stadium]] || CBS ||
|-
|align="center"| 13 || 4:15 PM EST || [[November 30]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]] || ||align="center"| || Gillette Stadium || CBS ||
|-
|align="center"| 14 || 8:15 PM EST || [[December 7]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]] || ||align="center"| || [[Qwest Field]] || NBC ||
|-
|align="center"| 15 || 4:15 PM EST || [[December 14]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]] || ||align="center"| || [[Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum]] || CBS ||
|-
|align="center"| 16 || 1:00 PM EST || [[December 21]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Arizona Cardinals season|Arizona Cardinals]] || ||align="center"| || Gillette Stadium || FOX ||
|-
|align="center"| 17 || 1:00 PM EST || [[December 28]], [[2008]] || [[2008 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] || ||align="center"| || [[Ralph Wilson Stadium]] || CBS ||
|}
:{{note label|simulcast|a|a}} Simulcast on [[WBZ-TV]].
:{{note label|simulcast|b|b}} Simulcast on [[WCVB-TV]] and [[WMUR-TV]].

'''Note:''' Game times in weeks 12-17 are subject to change pursuant to the NFL's flex scheduling policy. The Week 11 game against the Jets, on the NFL Network, is exempted from possible rescheduling. Since teams are limited to six primetime games, no more than two Patriots games between weeks 12 and 17 may be in primetime.

==Week 1 roster==
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
|-
! colspan="9" style="background-color: #0d254c; color: #d6d6d6; text-align: center;"|'''New England Patriots 2008 week 1 roster'''
|-
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Quarterbacks'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">12</span> [[Tom Brady]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">16</span> [[Matt Cassel]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">&nbsp;5</span> [[Kevin O'Connell (American football)|Kevin O'Connell]] <sup>R</sup>

'''Running Backs'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">44</span> [[Heath Evans]] FB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">32</span> [[LaMont Jordan]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">39</span> [[Laurence Maroney]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">34</span> [[Sammy Morris]]

'''Wide Receivers'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">88</span> [[Sam Aiken]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">10</span> [[Jabar Gaffney]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">19</span> [[C. J. Jones]] PR
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">81</span> [[Randy Moss]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">18</span> [[Matthew Slater]] S/KR <sup>R</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">41</span> [[Raymond Ventrone]] S
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">15</span> [[Kelley Washington]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">83</span> [[Wes Welker]] PR

'''Tight Ends'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">82</span> [[Stephen Spach]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">86</span> [[David Thomas (American football)|David Thomas]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">84</span> [[Benjamin Watson]]
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Offensive Linemen'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">65</span> [[Wesley Britt]] T
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">63</span> [[Dan Connolly (American football)|Dan Connolly]] C/G
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">71</span> [[Russ Hochstein]] G/C
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">77</span> [[Nick Kaczur]] T
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">67</span> [[Dan Koppen]] C
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">64</span> [[Mark LeVoir]] T
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">72</span> [[Matt Light]] T
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">70</span> [[Logan Mankins]] G
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">74</span> [[Billy Yates (American football)|Billy Yates]] G/C

'''Defensive Linemen'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">97</span> [[Jarvis Green]] DE
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">93</span> [[Richard Seymour]] DE
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">90</span> [[Le Kevin Smith]] DE
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">94</span> [[Ty Warren]] DE
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">75</span> [[Vince Wilfork]] NT
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">99</span> [[Mike Wright]] NT/DE

| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Linebackers'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">52</span> [[Eric Alexander (American football)|Eric Alexander]] ILB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">54</span> [[Tedy Bruschi]] ILB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">98</span> [[Shawn Crable]] OLB <sup>R</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">59</span> [[Gary Guyton]] ILB <sup>UR</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">53</span> [[Larry Izzo]] ILB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">51</span> [[Jerod Mayo]] ILB <sup>R</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">96</span> [[Adalius Thomas]] OLB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">50</span> [[Mike Vrabel]] OLB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">58</span> [[Pierre Woods]] OLB

'''Defensive Backs'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">37</span> [[Rodney Harrison]] SS
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">27</span> [[Ellis Hobbs]] CB/KR
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">31</span> [[Brandon Meriweather]] S
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">21</span> [[Deltha O'Neal]] CB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">36</span> [[James Sanders (American football)|James Sanders]] S
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">29</span> [[Lewis Sanders]] CB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">22</span> [[Terrence Wheatley]] CB <sup>R</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">24</span> [[Jonathan Wilhite]] CB <sup>R</sup>

'''Special Teams'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">&nbsp;3</span> [[Stephen Gostkowski]] K
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">&nbsp;6</span> [[Chris Hanson]] P
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">66</span> [[Lonie Paxton]] LS
| style="width: 25px;" |
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Reserve Lists'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''69</span> [[Anthony Clement]] OT'' <small>(IR)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''33</span> [[Kevin Faulk]] RB'' <small>(Susp.)</small>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''61</span> [[Stephen Neal]] G'' <small>(PUP)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''68</span> [[Ryan O'Callaghan]] OT'' <small>(IR)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''76</span> [[Oliver Ross]] OT/G'' <small>(NF-Inj.)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''91</span> [[Bo Ruud]] ILB'' <small>(IR)</small> <sup>R</sup> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''95</span> [[Kenny Smith (American football)|Kenny Smith]] DE'' <small>(IR)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''75</span> [[Barry Stokes]] OT/G'' <small>(IR)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''26</span> [[Tank Williams]] S/ILB'' <small>(IR)</small> [[Image:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

'''Practice Squad'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''62</span> [[Titus Adams]] DE''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''60</span> [[Jacob Bender]] G/T''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''30</span> [[Mark Dillard]] S'' <sup>UR</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''42</span> [[BenJarvus Green-Ellis]] RB'' <sup>UR</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''49</span> [[Vince Redd]] OLB'' <sup>UR</sup>
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''35</span> [[Mike I. Richardson|Mike Richardson]] CB''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">''28</span> [[Antwain Spann]] S/CB''


<small>'''Notations'''
* R: [[2008 NFL Draft|2008 Rookie]]
* UR: 2008 [[Undrafted sportsperson|Undrafted Rookie]]
* ''Italicized players are not on the 53-man roster.''
</small>
|-
|}

==Regular season results==
===Week 1: vs. Kansas City Chiefs===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road=Chiefs
|R1=0||R2=3||R3=0||R4=7||RT=10
|Home='''Patriots'''
|H1=0||H2=7||H3=7||H4=3||HT=17
}}
''at [[Gillette Stadium]], [[Foxborough, Massachusetts]]'' <br>
*'''Game time:''' 1:00 p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone (North America)|EDT]]
*'''Game weather:''' {{convert|75|°F|°C}}, sunny and warm
*'''TV announcers ([[NFL on CBS|CBS]]):''' [[Greg Gumbel]] (play-by-play) and [[Dan Dierdorf]] (color commentator)
*'''Referee:''' [[Carl Cheffers]]
*'''Game attendance:''' 68,756

The Patriots began their regular season at home against the [[Kansas City Chiefs]]. On the first drive of the game, a running-into-the-kicker penalty committed by the Chiefs on a fourth-down punt gave the Patriots a fresh set of downs, but three plays later, wide receiver [[Wes Welker]] fumbled after catching a pass from quarterback [[Tom Brady]]; the Chiefs recovered and started their next drive at their own 48 yard line but failed to convert on third down and punted. On their next drive, the Chiefs again recovered a fumble by a Patriots receiver after a catch; this time wide receiver [[Randy Moss]] lost the ball after a 28-yard completion from Brady. After the throw, Brady was hit in his lower left leg by Chiefs safety [[Bernard Pollard]], left the game, did not return, and was later placed on [[injured reserve list|injured reserve]] with a torn [[anterior cruciate ligament]] and a torn [[medial collateral ligament]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/09/10/sources_brady_tore_acl_and_mcl/|title=Sources: Brady tore ACL and MCL|work=The Boston Globe|date=2008-09-10|accessdate=2008-09-10}}</ref> Quarterback [[Matt Cassel]] replaced Brady for the Patriots' next drive, which began from the Patriots' 2-yard line. Seven plays after a 51-yard completion to Moss from inside the Patriots' 1, Cassel hit Moss in the end zone from 10 yards out for a touchdown, giving the Patriots a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. The teams then exchanged three-and-outs twice, before the Chiefs ended a 13-play, 51-yard drive with a 40-yard [[Nick Novak]] field goal to cut the Patriots' lead to 7-3 at the end of the first half.

After a Chiefs punt on a drive in which Chiefs quarterback [[Brodie Croyle]] was injured on a sack by [[Adalius Thomas]], the Patriots drove 80 yards on 11 plays, capping off the series with a 5-yard touchdown run by running back [[Sammy Morris]] to extend the Patriots' lead to 14-3. The next Chiefs drive began with backup quarterback [[Damon Huard]] replacing Croyle. The Chiefs drove 63 yards and trimmed the Patriots' lead to 14-10 on a 13-yard touchdown reception by wide receiver [[Dwayne Bowe]]. After three punts, Huard and the Chiefs began a fourth-quarter drive by throwing an interception to Patriots cornerback [[Ellis Hobbs]]; a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on the Patriots caused their ensuing series to begin at their own 47-yard line. A handful of Morris runs and Cassel passes, including an 11-yard reception by Morris, brought the Patriots into the Chiefs' red zone, but the Patriots failed to convert on third down and settled for a 37-yard [[Stephen Gostkowski]] field goal to make their lead 17-10. Starting from his own 22-yard line with 2:20 remaining, Huard was strip-sacked on the third play of the series, but recovered his own fumble at the Chiefs' 27-yard line. On the next play, Huard hit wide receiver [[Devard Darling]] for a 68-yard completion, giving the Chiefs first-and-goal from the Patriots' 5-yard line with 53 seconds left. However, the Patriots' defense prevented the Chiefs from advancing another yard, as an incomplete pass, a [[Larry Johnson (American football)|Larry Johnson]] run for no gain, and two more incomplete passes gave the Patriots the ball back to seal their first victory of the season, and their 20th consecutive regular-season win.

===Week 2: at New York Jets===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road='''Patriots'''
|R1=3||R2=3||R3=10||R4=3||RT=19
|Home=Jets
|H1=0||H2=3||H3=0||H4=7||HT=10
}}
''at [[Giants Stadium]], [[East Rutherford, New Jersey]]'' <br>
* '''Game time:''' 4:15 p.m. EDT
* '''Game weather:''' {{convert|90|°F|°C}}, partly cloudy
* '''TV announcers (CBS):''' [[Jim Nantz]] (play-by-play) and [[Phil Simms]] (color commentator)
* '''Referee:''' [[John Parry (American football official)|John Parry]]
* '''Game attendance:''' 78,554

In their first divisional game of the season, the Patriots traveled to Giants Stadium, where they had not lost since [[2000 New England Patriots season|2000]]. On the first series of the game, the Jets drove to the Patriots' 13-yard line but the game remained scoreless after kicker [[Jay Feely]] missed a 31-yard field goal. Eleven plays later, the Patriots faced 3rd-and-goal from the Jets' 2-yard line, but a run for a loss by running back [[Laurence Maroney]] set up a 21-yard Gostkowski field goal to give the Patriots a 3-0 lead. After a Jets punt, the Patriots extended their lead to 6-0 on a 37-yard Gostkowski field goal early in the second quarter. The Jets responded with a 77-yard drive, highlighted by a 54-yard [[Laveranues Coles]] completion from quarterback [[Brett Favre]], which brought them as close to the end zone as the Patriots' 1-yard line, but they again had to settle for a field goal; this time Feely completed the 21-yard attempt to cut the Patriots' lead to 6-3. The Patriots and Jets exchanged punts to end the first half.

After a Patriots punt began the second half, the Jets started their next possession from their own 23-yard line. Three offensive penalties later, with the Jets at 2nd-and-25, defensive back [[Brandon Meriweather]] earned his first career interception on an errant Favre pass, giving the Patriots the ball at the Jets' 31-yard line. Despite a [[Kris Jenkins]] sack of Cassel to begin the drive, the Patriots moved into the red zone on a 22-yard completion to running back [[Kevin Faulk]] on a 3rd-and-9 play. Three plays later, Morris ran it in from the Jets' 1-yard-line for a touchdown, extending the Patriots' lead to 13-3. On an ensuing Jets punt, a 24-yard Faulk return set-up the Patriots' next drive at the Jets' 39-yard line; nine plays later, a 28-yard Gostkowski field goal gave the Patriots a 16-3 lead and ended the third quarter scoring. Beginning from their own 20-yard line for the sixth time in the game, the Jets drove into the Patriots' red zone and then cut the Patriots' lead to 16-10 on a 2-yard touchdown catch by wide receiver [[Chansi Stuckey]]. The Patriots next drive went for 71 yards and ended on a 27-yard Gostkowski field goal to build the Patriots' lead to 19-10. This would be the final score, as the Jets' next drive, which included a 20-yard sack of Favre by Adalius Thomas, went three-and-out and the Patriots held the ball for the final 3:45 in the game. The win brought the Patriots' record to 2-0 and kept the team tied for first place in the AFC East. Gostkowski finished the day 4-for-4 on field goals and earning five touchbacks on six kickoffs.

===Week 3: vs. Miami Dolphins===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road='''Dolphins'''
|R1=7||R2=14||R3=7||R4=10||RT=38
|Home=Patriots
|H1=0||H2=6||H3=7||H4=0||HT=13
}}
''at Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts'' <br>
* '''Game time:''' 1:00 p.m. EDT
* '''Game weather:''' {{convert|72|°F|°C}}, sunny
* '''TV announcers (CBS):''' [[Ian Eagle]] (play-by-play) and [[Solomon Wilcots]] (color commentator)
* '''Referee:''' [[Bill Carollo]]
* '''Game attendance:''' 68,756

Playing their second divisional opponent in as many weeks, the Patriots returned home looking for their 22nd straight regular season victory, a streak extending back to December [[2006 New England Patriots season|2006]] when the Dolphins shut out the Patriots in Miami. Despite a 50-yard Hobbs return on the opening kickoff, the Patriots and Dolphins exchanged three-and-out punts to begin the game. On their second drive, the Patriots got as far as the Dolphins' 7-yard line, but back-to-back sacks of Cassel set-up 3rd-and-goal, where Cassel threw his first interception of the season, to Dolphins defensive lineman [[Randy Starks]]. Starting from their own 26-yard line, the Dolphins drove into the Patriots' red zone in part from two catches by tight end [[Anthony Fasano]] from [[Chad Pennington]] for 47 yards. On 2nd-and-goal from the Patriots' 2-yard line, the Dolphins lined up Pennington as a wide receiver and had running back [[Ronnie Brown]] take a direct snap from a [[shotgun formation]]; Brown proceeded to fake an end-around to running back [[Ricky Williams]] before running for the touchdown to give the Dolphins a 7-0 lead. This formation, known as the "Wildcat," was developed by Dolphins head coach [[Tony Sparano]] and quarterbacks coach [[David Lee (quarterback)|David Lee]] following the Dolphins' loss to the [[Arizona Cardinals]] the week prior.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/09/21/patriots_had_no_answers_for_miamis_scheme/|title=Patriots had no answers for Miami's scheme|work=The Boston Globe|first=Mike|last=Reiss|date=2008-09-22|accessdate=2008-09-21}}</ref> The Patriots' ensuing possession reached the Dolphins' red zone again on 13 plays, but ended with the Patriots settling for a 37-yard Gostkowski field goal, trimming to the Dolphins' lead to 7-3 early in the second quarter.

The Dolphins' next drive began with a 33-yard reception by wide receiver [[Greg Camarillo]]; five plays later, Brown scored his second touchdown of the day with a 15-yard third down run, extending the Dolphins' lead to 14-3. On their next drive, the Patriots reached the Dolphins' 28-yard line on a 21-yard completion by Welker on a Cassel pass that was tipped by Dolphins safety [[Renaldo Hill]]. However, the Patriots gained only two more yards before Gostkowski hit his second field goal of the day, this one from 44 yards out, to cut the Dolphins' lead to 14-6. On the first play of the ensuing drive, the Dolphins again employed a direct snap to Brown, who this time proceeded to hand-off to Williams, gaining three yards on the play. With two minutes remaining in the first half, the Dolphins faced a 1st-and-10 from the Patriots' 45-yard line; Williams again took the hand-off on the direct snap to Brown, but this time went for 28 yards to put the Dolphins in the Patriots' red zone. Three plays later, the Dolphins again used the "Wildcat" formation, and Brown took the direct snap and ran five yards for his third touchdown of the day, giving the Dolphins a 21-6 lead at the half.

After an exchange of punts began the second half, the Dolphins drove from their own 21-yard line to a 3rd-and-3 from the Patriots' 19-yard line. The Dolphins again used the "Wildcat;" this time Brown threw a halfback pass to Fasano for a 19-yard touchdown that extended the Dolphins' lead to 28-6. Hobbs returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards to have the next Patriots' possession begin from the Dolphins' 23-yard line. On 4th-and-3, Cassel hit wide receiver [[Jabar Gaffney]] for a 5-yard touchdown that cut the Dolphins' lead to 28-13. The Dolphins' ensuing possession featured Brown touching the ball on every play; after a first-down reception, Brown ran four times in a row to give the Dolphins a 1st-and-10 from their own 38-yard line. The Dolphins again lined up Brown to receive the direct snap; this time he ran 62 yards for his fourth rushing touchdown of the day, a Dolphins record.

Early in the fourth quarter, Hobbs returned the Patriots' next kickoff 31 yards, setting his own team record with 237 kickoff return yards in the game. Three plays later, Cassel fumbled on a third down scramble that was forced by Dolphins linebacker [[Joey Porter]] and recovered by Dolphins defensive lineman [[Phillip Merling]] at the Patriots' 49-yard line. After a Dolphins' three-and-out, the Patriots began their next drive with a Cassel interception thrown to Hill that was negated on a roughing the passer penalty on defensive lineman [[Vonnie Holliday]]; the Patriots punted four plays later. The Dolphins' next drive ended in a 39-yard [[Dan Carpenter]] field goal that gave the Dolphins a 38-13 lead. After an unsuccessful fourth-down conversion attempt on a pass by backup Patriots quarterback [[Kevin O'Connell (American football)|Kevin O'Connell]] and a Dolphins punt, that score became the final. The loss dropped the Patriots to 2-1 and to second place in the AFC East.

===Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers===
{{Linescore Amfootball|
|Road='''Patriots'''
|R1=7||R2=10||R3=7||R4=6||RT=30
|Home=49ers
|H1=14||H2=0||H3=0||H4=7||HT=21
}}
''at [[Candlestick Park]], [[San Francisco, California]]'' <br>
* '''Game time:''' 4:15 p.m. EDT
*'''Game weather:''' {{convert|67|°F|°C}}, sunny
*'''TV announcers (CBS):''' [[Dick Enberg]] (play-by-play), [[Randy Cross]] and [[Dan Fouts]] (color commentators)
* '''Referee:''' [[Mike Carey (American football)|Mike Carey]]
* '''Game attendance:''' 67,650

Coming off their bye week, the Patriots flew to [[Candlestick Park]] for a Week 5 interconference duel with the [[San Francisco 49ers]]. In the first quarter, New England trailed early as 49ers QB [[J. T. O'Sullivan|J.T. O'Sullivan]] completed a 16-yard TD pass to RB [[Frank Gore]]. The Pats responded with QB [[Matt Cassel]] completing a 66-yard TD pass to WR [[Randy Moss]]. San Francisco answered with O'Sullivan completing a 6-yard TD pass to WR [[Isaac Bruce]]. In the second quarter, the Patriots took the lead with kicker [[Stephen Gostkowski]] getting a 35-yard field goal, along with RB [[Kevin Faulk]] getting a 2-yard TD run.

In the third quarter, the Pats increased their lead as Faulk got another 2-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, New England continued its victory march as Gostkowski kicked a 40-yard field goal. The 49ers tried to rally as O'Sullivan completed a 5-yard TD pass to Bruce, but New England pulled away with Gostkowski nailing a 49-yard field goal.

With the win, the franchise picked up its first ever victory in San Francisco and the 2008 Patriots improved its record to 3-1.

==Divisional standings==
{{2008 AFC East standings}}

==Current roster==
{{New England Patriots roster}}

==Awards and honors==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Recipient
! Award(s)
|-
| [[Larry Izzo]]
| 2008 New England Patriots [[Ron Burton]] Community Service Award<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/sports/patriots/ |title=Tom Brady MIA at Kickoff Gala |work=Boston Herald The Point After |first=Karen |last=Guregian |date=2008-08-26 |accessdate=2008-08-26}}</ref>
|}

==Notes and references==
{{reflist|2}}


{{2008 NFL season by team}}
{{New England Patriots seasons}}

[[Category:2008 National Football League season by team|New England]]
[[Category:New England Patriots seasons]]

[[hu:A New England Patriots 2008-as szezonja]]
[[de:New England Patriots Saison 2008]]

Revision as of 15:24, 8 October 2008

2008 New England Patriots season
Head coachBill Belichick
Home fieldGillette Stadium
Results
Record3-1
Division place2nd AFC East
Playoff finishTBD
Pro BowlersTBD
Uniform
File:AFCE-Uniform-NE.PNG

The 2008 New England Patriots season is the 39th season for the team in the National Football League and 49th season overall. The Patriots entered the season with an NFL-record 19-game regular season winning streak after a 16-0 regular season in 2007, and will try to reach Super Bowl XLIII after losing 17-14 to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.

Offseason

Incidents off the field

PATRIOTS SUCK MAJOR ASS ESPECIALLY TOM BRADY SUCKS CRISS MOON'S

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