The Patriots' loss to the 49ers in Week 15 of 2012 brought an end to a 20-game winning streak at home in December that dated to Dec. 22, 2002, a 30-17 defeat to the Jets. That first loss doomed their playoff hopes as they sought to defend their Super Bowl XXXVI title. The next loss occurred almost a full decade later.
In between, the Patriots were unbeatable at Gillette Stadium in December -- and very difficult to beat there in any other month. The Patriots went 68-11 at home overall in the regular season between that loss to the Jets and the loss to the 49ers.
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Much changed in the NFL and elsewhere between the losses at home in the month of December. Tom Brady, for example, had not even completed his first full season as the Patriots' starting quarterback when the streak started. Take a look back at what has changed in that decade:
December 22, 2002 | Category | Now |
PATRIOTS | ||
18 | Tom Brady career wins | 134 |
1 | Super Bowl titles | 3 |
299 | Franchise wins | 424 |
10 | Playoff wins | 23 |
11 | Playoff berths | 20 |
6 | Division titles | 15 |
3 | Losses in Gillette Stadium | 14 |
OTHER SPORTS | ||
84 | Years since Red Sox World Series title | 5 |
Grady Little | Red Sox manager | John Farrell |
58 | Career home runs for David Ortiz | 401 |
Pedro Martinez, Derek Lowe, John Burkett, Frank Castillo | Red Sox primary starting rotation | Jon Lester, Clay Buchholz, Felix Doubront, John Lackey |
Alex Rodriguez, 57 | Reigning MLB HR champion | Miguel Cabrera, 44 |
Lance Armstrong | SI Sportsman of the Year | LeBron James |
ABC | Monday Night Football network | ESPN |
ESPN | Sunday Night Football network | NBC |
Jim O'Brien | Celtics coach | Doc Rivers |
Paul Pierce, Antoine Walker, Eric Williams, Tony Delk, J.R. Bremer | Celtics' five leading scorers (season) | Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry, Rajon Rondo, Jeff Green |
Robbie Ftorek | Bruins coach | Claude Julien |
Byron Dafoe | Bruins' primary goaltender | Tuukka Rask |
NEWS AND CULTURE | ||
Jane Swift | Governor of Massachusetts | Deval Patrick |
$1.39 | Average price of gallon of gas | $3.54 |
Bill Frist replaces Trent Lott as Senate majority leader | Washington headline | Negotiations to end fiscal cliff stagnating |
Still 4.5 years from initial release | iPhone status | iPhone 5 in stores |
Peter Jennings | ABC News lead anchor | Diane Sawyer |
Tom Brokaw | NBC News lead anchor | Brian Williams |
Dan Rather | CBS News lead anchor | Scott Pelley |
A Beautiful Mind | Oscar winner, best picture | The Artist |
Friends | Emmy winner, best comedy | Modern Family |
The West Wing | Emmy winner, best drama | Homeland |