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10 years between Patriots’ home losses in December

Tom Brady last tasted defeat at home in December in this Dec. 22, 2002, loss to the Jets.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff/Boston Globe

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