when was the last time the patriots missed the playoffs
2008 New England Patriots season
With the ball to begin the second half as the result of their opening coin toss deferral , the Patriots extended their lead to 38 -- 0 on the first play , a screen pass to Moss that went for a 76 - yard touchdown . The Cardinals again went three - and - out , and a 28 - yard reception by Evans put the Patriots in Cardinals territory on one play . Nine plays later , on a 3rd - and - 5 from the Cardinals ' 5 - yard line , Cassel was sacked by linebacker Karlos Dansby , setting up a 35 - yard Gostkowski field goal that increased the Patriots ' lead to 41 -- 0 . Yet another Cardinals three - and - out meant the Patriots began their next drive from the Cardinals ' 49 - yard line . An 11 - play , 44 - yard drive followed , and ended in a 24 - yard Gostkowski field goal that put the Patriots ' lead at 44 -- 0 . The field goal was Gostkowski 's 33rd of the season , breaking Tony Franklin 's record of 32 field goals in 1986 . On their ensuing possession , the Cardinals converted a first down , but quarterback Matt Leinart , playing in place of Warner , was sacked for a loss of four yards , fumbling ; the Cardinals recovered at their own 27 - yard line . Two plays later , Leinart was strip - sacked by a blitzing Meriweather for a loss of 12 yards , but this time defensive lineman Jarvis Green recovered the ball for the Patriots at the Cardinals ' 15 - yard line . The Patriots would be unable to score , forcing Gostkowski to kick a 30 - yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter , giving the Patriots a 47 -- 0 lead .
With the ball to begin the second half as the result of their opening coin toss deferral , the Patriots extended their lead to 38 -- 0 on the first play , a screen pass to Moss that went for a 76 - yard touchdown . The Cardinals again went three - and - out , and a 28 - yard reception by Evans put the Patriots in Cardinals territory on one play . Nine plays later , on a 3rd - and - 5 from the Cardinals ' 5 - yard line , Cassel was sacked by linebacker Karlos Dansby , setting up a 35 - yard Gostkowski field goal that increased the Patriots ' lead to 41 -- 0 . Yet another Cardinals three - and - out meant the Patriots began their next drive from the Cardinals ' 49 - yard line . An 11 - play , 44 - yard drive followed , and ended in a 24 - yard Gostkowski field goal that put the Patriots ' lead at 44 -- 0 . The field goal was Gostkowski 's 33rd of the season , breaking Tony Franklin 's record of 32 field goals in 1986 . On their ensuing possession , the Cardinals converted a first down , but quarterback Matt Leinart , playing in place of Warner , was sacked for a loss of four yards , fumbling ; the Cardinals recovered at their own 27 - yard line . Two plays later , Leinart was strip - sacked by a blitzing Meriweather for a loss of 12 yards , but this time defensive lineman Jarvis Green recovered the ball for the Patriots at the Cardinals ' 15 - yard line . The Patriots would be unable to score , forcing Gostkowski to kick a 30 - yard field goal on the second play of the fourth quarter , giving the Patriots a 47 -- 0 lead .