1993 New England Patriots season
Encyclopedia
The New England Patriots
finished the National Football League
's 1993 season
with a record of five wins and eleven losses, and finished fourth in the AFC
East
division.
(even to the point of a team logo being unveiled and hats being printed), the Patriots ran through the year, the first for coach Bill Parcells
, who'd been a linebackers coach in Foxboro in 1980 under Ron Erhardt
. The Patriots drafted Drew Bledsoe
as the #1 pick and he was named starter.
The Patriots lost their first four games, even after forcing overtime against the Lions
and seeing a last-minute field goal attempt against Seattle
bounce off the crossbar, and Bledsoe was injured, Scott Secules
was named the starting quarterback and won the game with two touchdowns passing and one rushing in the team's 23–21 win over the Cardinals
. Scott Secules
was then benched the next game and would remained benched. Drew Bledsoe started for the Patriots then lost seven straight before eking out a 7–2 win against the Bengals
in the last occurrence to date of a team scoring only a safety in a game. This win led to a 20–17 win over the Cleveland Browns
coached by Parcells' longtime assistant Bill Belichick
and a 38–0 massacre of the Indianapolis Colts
in brutal windchill.
The season ended on January 2, 1994 with many in the sellout crowd at Foxboro Stadium
believing it would be the final ever game for the New England Patriots before moving to St. Louis; unknown to most, though, was that stadium owner Robert Kraft
was working to force the selling of the team to him, and his control of the team's lease ensured no move could take place until 2002 at the earliest.
The season finale itself became on of the most dramatic games in the club's history. The Patriots were hosting the Dolphins
, who'd fallen to 9–6 with starter Dan Marino
out for the year after Week Five and needing a win to make the playoffs. The Patriots led 10–7 at halftime and twice stopped the Dolphins on downs, but early in the third a Bledsoe fumble led to a Dolphins field goal. A blocked punt by the Dolphins' Darrell Malone
led to a touchdown by Scott Mitchell
to Mark Ingram. The game lead tied or changed five times in the fourth quarter. In the fourth the Dolphins completed a drive ending in a Terry Kirby
touchdown run, this despite Andre Tippett
's sack of Mitchell for a ten-yard loss – it was the 100th career sack for the future Hall Of Fame linebacker.
In the final 3:40 Bledsoe drove the Patriots down to a Ben Coates
touchdown catch, but the Dolphins forced overtime on a Pete Stoyanovich
field goal. In the overtime the Dolphins punted after Chris Slade
forced a fumble, then Bledsoe was picked off by J.B. Brown before the Dolphins had to punt again. Vincent Brisby
caught a ten-yard pass but fumbled; teammate Leonard Russell
recovered the ball and ran 22 yards; Bledsoe then absorbed a Dolphins blitz and launched a 36-yard touchdown to Michael Timpson
, ending a wild 33–27 Patriots win and finishing their season at 5–11, but with four straight wins to close it out.
Several weeks later owner James Orthwein
completed sale of the team to Robert Kraft
.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
finished the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's 1993 season
1993 NFL season
The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new...
with a record of five wins and eleven losses, and finished fourth in the AFC
American Football Conference
The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
East
AFC East
The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets...
division.
Season summary
Amid year-long rumors that the team would move to St. Louis and become the StallionsSt. Louis Stallions
The St. Louis Stallions were a proposed National Football League expansion team to be located in St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis had lost the Cardinals franchise, which moved to Phoenix and became the Arizona Cardinals. The city entered the race to get a team for the 1995 NFL season.The team would...
(even to the point of a team logo being unveiled and hats being printed), the Patriots ran through the year, the first for coach Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells
Duane Charles "Bill" Parcells is a former American football head coach, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to 2006...
, who'd been a linebackers coach in Foxboro in 1980 under Ron Erhardt
Ron Erhardt
Ron Erhardt is a former football coach at both the collegiate and professional levels, and from 1979-1981 served as head coach of the National Football League's New England Patriots.-College assistant and high school head coach:...
. The Patriots drafted Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe
Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993-2001. During the 1990s, he was considered the face of the Patriots franchise...
as the #1 pick and he was named starter.
The Patriots lost their first four games, even after forcing overtime against the Lions
1993 Detroit Lions season
The 1993 Detroit Lions season was the 64th season in franchise history.-Schedule:-Standings:-Roster:-Playoffs:-References:***...
and seeing a last-minute field goal attempt against Seattle
1993 Seattle Seahawks season
The 1993 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 18th season with the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-Standings:-External links:* *...
bounce off the crossbar, and Bledsoe was injured, Scott Secules
Scott Secules
Thomas "Scott" Wescott Secules is a former professional American football quarterback who played 6 seasons in the National Football League from 1988 to 1993 for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, and the New England Patriots.Secules was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 6th round of the 1988...
was named the starting quarterback and won the game with two touchdowns passing and one rushing in the team's 23–21 win over the Cardinals
1993 Phoenix Cardinals season
The 1993 Phoenix Cardinals season was the 74th season the team was in the league and their final as the Phoenix Cardinals . The team improved upon their previous output of 4-12, winning eight games. Despite the improvement, the Cardinals failed to qualify to the playoffs for the eleventh straight...
. Scott Secules
Scott Secules
Thomas "Scott" Wescott Secules is a former professional American football quarterback who played 6 seasons in the National Football League from 1988 to 1993 for the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, and the New England Patriots.Secules was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 6th round of the 1988...
was then benched the next game and would remained benched. Drew Bledsoe started for the Patriots then lost seven straight before eking out a 7–2 win against the Bengals
1993 Cincinnati Bengals season
The 1993 Cincinnati Bengals season was the team's 26th year in professional football and its 24th with the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Roster:-Schedule:-Standings:-Awards and records:...
in the last occurrence to date of a team scoring only a safety in a game. This win led to a 20–17 win over the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
coached by Parcells' longtime assistant Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick
William Stephen "Bill" Belichick is an American football head coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After spending his first 15 seasons in the league as an assistant coach, Belichick got his first head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991...
and a 38–0 massacre of the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in brutal windchill.
The season ended on January 2, 1994 with many in the sellout crowd at Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...
believing it would be the final ever game for the New England Patriots before moving to St. Louis; unknown to most, though, was that stadium owner Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft
Robert K. Kraft is an American business magnate. He is the Chairman and was the Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio...
was working to force the selling of the team to him, and his control of the team's lease ensured no move could take place until 2002 at the earliest.
The season finale itself became on of the most dramatic games in the club's history. The Patriots were hosting the Dolphins
1993 Miami Dolphins season
The 1993 Miami Dolphins' season was the 28th for the franchise and 24th in the NFL. The season was marked by Don Shula becoming the winningest coach in NFL history, passing George Halas against the Philadelphia Eagles...
, who'd fallen to 9–6 with starter Dan Marino
Dan Marino
Daniel Constantine "Dan" Marino, Jr. is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League...
out for the year after Week Five and needing a win to make the playoffs. The Patriots led 10–7 at halftime and twice stopped the Dolphins on downs, but early in the third a Bledsoe fumble led to a Dolphins field goal. A blocked punt by the Dolphins' Darrell Malone
Darrell Malone
Darrell Kenyatta Malone is a former American football cornerback who played in the National Football League. He played college football at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. Malone was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 6th round of the 1991 NFL Draft...
led to a touchdown by Scott Mitchell
Scott Mitchell
Scott Mitchell may refer to:*Scott Mitchell , former quarterback*Scott Mitchell , footballer*Scott Mitchell , offensive lineman in the CFL...
to Mark Ingram. The game lead tied or changed five times in the fourth quarter. In the fourth the Dolphins completed a drive ending in a Terry Kirby
Terry Kirby
Terry Gayle Kirby , is a former professional American football player who played ten seasons in the NFL from 1993 to 2002. A 6'1" running back from the University of Virginia...
touchdown run, this despite Andre Tippett
Andre Tippett
Andre Bernard Tippett is a former American football linebacker who played for the New England Patriots of the NFL. Currently, he is the Patriots' Executive Director of Community Affairs. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.-Personal life:Tippett was born in Birmingham,...
's sack of Mitchell for a ten-yard loss – it was the 100th career sack for the future Hall Of Fame linebacker.
In the final 3:40 Bledsoe drove the Patriots down to a Ben Coates
Ben Coates
Ben Terrence Coates is a former American football tight end in the National Football League and former CIAA football coach and former NFL tight ends coach. Coates didn't play football until his senior year of high school, and was a multi-sport player at Livingstone College located in Salisbury,...
touchdown catch, but the Dolphins forced overtime on a Pete Stoyanovich
Pete Stoyanovich
Peter Stoyanovich and is an American football placekicker of Macedonian descent who played with the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs and briefly the St. Louis Rams in the NFL. He attended college at Indiana University.A first-team all-pro in 1992, Stoyanovich finished his career in the top 35 in...
field goal. In the overtime the Dolphins punted after Chris Slade
Chris Slade
Chris Slade is a Welsh rock drummer.-Career:Slade has worked with Gary Numan, Tom Jones, Olivia Newton-John , and Uriah Heep. He was a member of Manfred Mann's Earth Band from 1972 to 1978...
forced a fumble, then Bledsoe was picked off by J.B. Brown before the Dolphins had to punt again. Vincent Brisby
Vincent Brisby
Vincent Cole Brisby , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New England Patriots in the second round of the 1993 NFL Draft. A 6'3", 193 lb...
caught a ten-yard pass but fumbled; teammate Leonard Russell
Leonard Russell
Leonard James Russell is a former professional American football player who was selected by the New England Patriots in the 1st round of the 1991 NFL Draft. A 6'2", 235-lb. running back from Arizona State University, Russell played in 6 NFL seasons from 1991 to 1996 for the Patriots, the Denver...
recovered the ball and ran 22 yards; Bledsoe then absorbed a Dolphins blitz and launched a 36-yard touchdown to Michael Timpson
Michael Timpson
Michael Dwain Timpson is a former American football player and sprinter.-Early life:Timpson was a track star and multi-sport athlete at Hialeah-Miami Lakes High School in Hialeah, Florida from 1981 to 1985.-NFL:...
, ending a wild 33–27 Patriots win and finishing their season at 5–11, but with four straight wins to close it out.
Several weeks later owner James Orthwein
James Orthwein
James Busch Orthwein was an American advertising executive and great-grandson of Anheuser-Busch founder Adolphus Busch. Orthwein owned the New England Patriots from 1992-1993.-Life and career:...
completed sale of the team to Robert Kraft
Robert Kraft
Robert K. Kraft is an American business magnate. He is the Chairman and was the Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio...
.
Staff
| New England Patriots 1993 staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
|
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Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 5, 1993 | at Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 38–14 | |
| 2 | September 12, 1993 | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
L 19–16 (OT) | |
| 3 | September 19, 1993 | Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
L 17–14 | |
| 4 | September 26, 1993 | at New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 45–7 | |
| 5 | Bye | |||
| 6 | October 10, 1993 | at Phoenix Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 23–21 | |
| 7 | October 17, 1993 | Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
L 28–14 | |
| 8 | October 24, 1993 | at Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
L 10–9 | |
| 9 | October 31, 1993 | at Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
L 9–6 | |
| 10 | November 7, 1993 | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 13–10 | |
| 11 | Bye | |||
| 12 | November 21, 1993 | at Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 17–13 | |
| 13 | November 28, 1993 | New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 6–0 | |
| 14 | December 5, 1993 | at Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
L 17–14 | |
| 15 | December 12, 1993 | Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
W 7–2 | |
| 16 | December 19, 1993 | at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 20–17 | |
| 17 | December 26, 1993 | Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
W 38–0 | |
| 18 | January 2, 1994 | Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 33–27 (OT) | |
Roster
| New England Patriots 1993 roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Bruce Armstrong Bruce Charles Armstrong is a former offensive tackle in the National Football League from 1987 to 2000, playing all fourteen seasons with the New England Patriots... T Mike Arthur Mike Arthur is a former center in the National Football League.-Biography:Arthur was born Michael Scott Arthur on May 7, 1968 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.Arthur grew up in Houston, Texas, and played football at Spring Woods High School.-Career:... C Rich Baldinger Richard L. Baldinger is a former professional American football player. Baldinger, an offensive lineman, played twelve seasons in the National Football League, mainly for the Kansas City Chiefs... G Eugene Chung Eugene Yon Chung was a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League from 1992 to 1997... G Mike Gisler Michael Gisler is a former American football offensive lineman. Gisler was selected in the eleven round by the New Orleans Saints out of the University of Houston in the 1992 NFL Draft and played seven seasons in the National Football League for the New England Patriots and the New York Jets.... G/C Pat Harlow -College career:Harlow played college football at the University of Southern California and won the Morris Trophy. He blocked for quarterbacks Todd Marinovich and Rodney Peete and cleared the way for Ricky Ervins in college.... T Bill Lewis (American football) William Glenn "Bill" Lewis is a former professional American football center in the National Football League. He played for the Los Angeles Raiders , the Phoenix Cardinals , and the New England Patriots .... C Todd Rucci Todd Rucci is a former professional American football player who played guard for seven seasons in the National Football League from 1993 to 1999. He was a starter in Super Bowl XXXI for the New England Patriots... G Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
David Bavaro David Anthony Bavaro is a retired American football player. A linebacker at Syracuse University, Bavaro played professionally in the National Football League for the Phoenix Cardinals , the Buffalo Bills , the Minnesota Vikings , and the New England Patriots . His brother Mark Bavaro also played... ILB Jason Carthen Dr. Jason D. Carthen Ph.D. is a retired American football player.Born in Decatur, Alabama, Carthen graduated from Scott High School in Toledo, Ohio in 1989 and played at Ohio University. He had a three-year career in the National Football League from 1993 to 1995 as an outside linebacker... OLB Todd Collins (linebacker) Todd Collins is a former National Football League linebacker. He started for the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI, and Super Bowl XXXIV for the Rams.... ILB Aaron Jones Aaron Jones was a professional football player who played in the NFL. He played as a defensive end and a linebacker and had played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins. His son Mike Jones plays linebacker for the University of Michigan football team.-References:... OLB Dwayne Sabb Dwayne Irving Sabb is a former American football linebacker and fullback in the National Football League, the XFL and the Arena Football League.-Early life:Sabb was born October 9, 1969 in Union City, New Jersey... OLB Chris Singleton (American football) Chris Singleton is a former American football linebacker who played for the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League.-Playing career:... ILB Chris Slade (American football) Christopher Carroll Slade was an American football linebacker who plays in the National Football League. He played most of his career with the New England Patriots. Slade was named to his 1st Pro Bowl after the 1997 season. He played college football at the University of Virginia.-Personal... OLB Andre Tippett Andre Bernard Tippett is a former American football linebacker who played for the New England Patriots of the NFL. Currently, he is the Patriots' Executive Director of Community Affairs. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.-Personal life:Tippett was born in Birmingham,... OLB Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
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See also
- New England Patriots seasonsNew England Patriots seasonsThe New England Patriots are an American football team based in Foxborough, Massachusetts. They compete in the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference of the National Football League . Originally called the Boston Patriots, the team was founded as one of eight charter members of the...