| 1976 New England Patriots season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Billy Sullivan |
| General manager | Chuck Fairbanks |
| Head coach | Chuck Fairbanks |
| Home field | Schaefer Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 11–3 |
| Division place | 2nd AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Raiders) 21–24 |
| 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 franchise's 7th season in the National Football League and 17th 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. It marked their first winning season as an NFL team (their last winning season came in 1966 when the team was still in the AFL). The team had gone just 3–11 the previous season, and was considered a "Cinderella team" in 1976.[1] 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.[2] 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 takeaways 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 24–21 in the first round of the playoffs. The Patriots held a 4-point lead in the 4th quarter. But a controversial roughing the passer penalty on Ray Hamilton on a Raiders drive late in the playoff game dimmed their hopes of defeating the Raiders again.
Earlier in the season, the Patriots handed the Raiders their only loss of the season with a final score of 48–17.
Despite the playoff loss, the team has been considered one of the most talented in Patriots history;[3] in 2004, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who was an assistant coach for the Detroit Lions in 1976, called this Patriots team "loaded", a "who's who team."[4][5]
After the season, offensive line coach Red Miller was hired as head coach of the Denver Broncos.[6][7][8] In his first season, he led them to the AFC's best record (12–2), their first-ever postseason appearance, and the Super Bowl.
- ^ [Neft, David S.; Cohen, Richard M.; and Korch, Rich The Sports Encyclopedia: Pro Football, 12th Edition, p.306, Martin's Press, August 1994, ISBN 0-312-11073-1
- ^ The total is still 6th in NFL history for a 14-game season, Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 1977, in the regular season, sorted by descending Rushing Yds.
- ^ Farley, Glen (February 9, 2007). "Spirit of '76". Patriots.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2011. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
- ^ "Bill Belichick Press Conference". Patriots.com. December 1, 2004. Archived from the original on March 12, 2005. Retrieved June 15, 2009.
- ^ WBZ-FM Radio retrospective on 1976 Patriots
- ^ Mossman, John (February 1, 1977). "Ralston quits Broncs, Miller seen stepping in". The Day. (New London, Connecticut). Associated Press. p. 18.
- ^ "Ralston walks out on Broncos". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Associated Press. February 1, 1977. p. 13.
- ^ "Following best year, Ralston quits Denver". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. February 1, 1977. p. 17.