Craig James rushes the ball past the Dolphins' defense in the AFC Championship game.The 1985 New England Patriots seasonNational Football League (NFL) and 26th overall. The Patriots had a record of eleven wins and five losses and finished third in the AFC East Division. They then became the first team in NFL history ever to advance to the Super Bowl by winning three playoff games on the road, defeating the New York Jets 26–14 in the AFC Wild Card Game, the Los Angeles Raiders 27–20 in the AFC Divisional Game and the Miami Dolphins 31–14 in the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots' win in Miami was their first victory at the Miami Orange Bowl since 1966.[ a] Dolphins in the game has gone down as one of the greatest upsets in NFL history, as the Dolphins (the only team to defeat the Chicago Bears that year) were heavily favored.[ 3]
But despite the Patriots' success in the playoffs, they proved unable to compete with the acclaimed 15–1 Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX , losing 46–10 in what was at the time the most lopsided defeat in Super Bowl history. The Patriots were held to a Super Bowl record of just seven rushing yards and their quarterbacks, Tony Eason and Steve Grogan, were sacked a combined seven times by the Bears defense.
Offseason
NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
1985 New England Patriots staff
Front office
President – Billy Sullivan
Executive vice president – Chuck Sullivan
Vice president – Bucko Kilroy
General manager – Patrick Sullivan
Director of player development – Dick Steinberg
Director of college scouting – Joe Mendes
Director of pro scouting – Bill McPeak
Special assistant to the head coach – John Polonchek Head coaches
Head coach – Raymond Berry
Assistant head coach-offense/offensive line – Rod Humenuik Offensive coaches
Quarterbacks/receivers – Les Steckel
Offensive backfield – Bobby Grier
Assistant receivers – Harold Jackson
Defensive coaches
Defensive coordinator – Rod Rust
Defensive line – Eddie Khayat
Assistant defensive line – Ray Hamilton
Linebackers – Don Shinnick
Defensive backfield – Jim Carr Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
Strength and conditioning – Dean Brittenham
Roster
Schedule
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Venue
Attendance
1
September 8
Green Bay Packers
W 26–20
1–0
Sullivan Stadium
49,488
2
September 15
at Chicago Bears
L 7–20
1–1
Soldier Field
60,533
3
September 22
at Buffalo Bills
W 17–14
2–1
Rich Stadium
40,334
4
September 29
Los Angeles Raiders
L 20–35
2–2
Sullivan Stadium
60,686
5
October 6
at Cleveland Browns
L 20–24
2–3
Cleveland Municipal Stadium
62,139
6
October 13
Buffalo Bills W 14–3
3–3
Sullivan Stadium
40,462
7
October 20
New York Jets
W 20–13
4–3
Sullivan Stadium
58,163
8
October 27
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
W 32–14
5–3
Tampa Stadium
34,661
9
November 3
Miami Dolphins W 17–13
6–3
Sullivan Stadium
58,811
10
November 10
Indianapolis Colts
W 34–15
7–3
Sullivan Stadium
54,176
11
November 17
at Seattle Seahawks
W 20–13
8–3
Kingdome
60,345
12
November 24
at New York Jets
L 13–16 (OT)
8–4
Giants Stadium
74,100
13
December 1
at Indianapolis Colts
W 38–31
9–4
Hoosier Dome
56,740
14
December 8
Detroit Lions
W 23–6
10–4
Sullivan Stadium
59,078
15
December 16
at Miami Dolphins
L 27–30
10–5
Miami Orange Bowl
69,489
16
December 22
Cincinnati Bengals
W 34–23
11–5
Sullivan Stadium
57,953
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
Packers
0
6 0 14
20
• Patriots
7
12 0 7
26
Date: September 8Location: Sullivan Stadium Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game attendance: 49,488Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C); wind 10 mph (16 km/h)Referee: Bob McElwee TV announcers (CBS): Jim Hill and John Dockery
Scoring summary Q1 9:33 NE Collins 11 yard run (Franklin kick) NE 7–0 Q2 11:40 NE Franklin 34 yard field goal NE 10–0 Q2 10:24 NE Dickey tackled by Blackmon in end zoneNE 12–0 Q2 2:20 GB Ellis 1 yard run (kick failed)NE 12–6 Q2 0:08 NE Jones 3 yard pass from Eason (Franklin kick) NE 19–6 Q4 6:23 NE James 65 yard run (Franklin kick)NE 26–6 Q4 3:51 GB Coffman 8 yard pass from Dickey (Del Greco kick) NE 26–13 Q4 0:25 GB Clark 23 yard run (Del Greco kick) NE 26–20
[ 4] [ 5]
Week 2
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
Patriots
0
0 0 7
7
• Bears
7
3 10 0
20
Date: September 15Location: Soldier Field Referee: Tom DooleyTV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy
Week 3
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
• Patriots
3
7 7 0
17
Bills
0
7 0 7
14
Date: September 22Location: Rich Stadium • Orchard Park, New York Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C) • Wind 7 mph (11 km/h)Referee: Jerry SeemanTelevision network: NBC
Scoring summary 1 NE Tony Franklin 32-yard field goalPatriots 3–0 2 BUF Greg Bell 16-yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Scott Norwood kick) Bills 7–3 2 NE Tony Collins 5-yard pass from Craig James (Tony Franklin kick) Patriots 10–7 3 NE Irving Fryar 85-yard punt return (Tony Franklin kick)Patriots 17–7 4 BUF Andre Reed 18-yard pass from Vince Ferragamo (Scott Norwood kick)Patriots 17–14
[ 6]
Week 4
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
• Raiders
14
0 7 14
35
Patriots
10
10 0 0
20
Date: September 29Location: Sullivan StadiumReferee: Gordon McCarterTV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Bob Griese
Week 5
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
Patriots
0
13 7 0
20
• Browns
7
7 3 7
24
Week 6
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
Bills
0
3 0 0
3
• Patriots
0
0 7 7
14
Date: October 13Location: Sullivan Stadium • Foxboro, Massachusetts Game start: 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind 12 mph (19 km/h)Referee: Gene BarthTV announcers (NBC): Len Berman and Reggie Rucker
[ 7]
Week 7 vs Jets
Week Seven: New York Jets (5–1) at New England Patriots (3–3)
at Sullivan Stadium , Foxboro, Massachusetts
Date : October 20Game time : 4:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 54 °F (12 °C)Game attendance : 58,163Referee : Fred SilvaTV announcers (NBC) : Marv Albert & Bob GrieseBox Score , Box Score
Game information
First quarter
NE – Tony Franklin 19-yard field goal, 1:56. Patriots 3–0. Drive: Second quarter
NYJ – Pat Leahy 53-yard field goal, 9:30. Tie 3–3. Drive:
NE – Tony Franklin 44-yard field goal, 2:37. Patriots 6–3. Drive: Third quarter
NYJ – Pat Leahy 52-yard field goal, 5:48. Tie 6–6. Drive: Fourth quarter
NE – Irving Fryar 36-yard pass from Steve Grogan (Tony Franklin kick), 10:22. Patriots 13–6. Drive:
NYJ – Tony Paige 2-yard run (Pat Leahy kick), 6:50. Tie 13–13. Drive:
NE – Steve Grogan 3-yard run (Tony Franklin kick), 3:27. Patriots 20–13. Drive:
Top passers Top rushers NYJ – Johnny Hector – 21 rushes, 80 yards
NE – Craig James – 22 rushes, 94 yards Top receivers NYJ – Wesley Walker – 6 receptions, 140 yards
NE – Stanley Morgan – 3 receptions, 71 yards
Week 8
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
• Patriots
0
13 3 16
32
Buccaneers
14
0 0 0
14
Date: October 27Location: Tampa Stadium Referee: Tom DooleyTelevision network: NBC
Week 9
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
Dolphins
7
3 3 0
13
• Patriots
0
3 0 14
17
Date: November 3Location: Sullivan StadiumReferee: Fred WyantTV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Bob Griese
Week 10
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
Colts
0
6 0 9
15
• Patriots
0
7 17 10
34
Date: November 10Location: Sullivan StadiumReferee: Gordon McCarter
Week 11
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
• Patriots
0
7 0 13
20
Seahawks
0
3 10 0
13
Week 12
Team
1
2 3 4 OT Total
Patriots
0
3 0 10 0
13
• Jets
6
0 7 0 3
16
Date: November 24Location: Giants Stadium Referee: Bob FredericTV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Merlin Olsen
Week 13
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
• Patriots
7
17 0 14
38
Colts
7
10 0 14
31
Week 14
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
Lions
3
0 3 0
6
• Patriots
7
10 0 6
23
Date: December 8Location: Sullivan StadiumReferee: Gene BarthTV announcers (CBS): Jim Hill and John Dockery
Week 15
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
Patriots
7
0 3 17
27
• Dolphins
7
10 3 10
30
Date: December 16Location: Orange Bowl Game start: 9:00 EST Referee: Dick JorgensenTV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Joe Namath, OJ Simpson
Week 16
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
Bengals
3
3 7 10
23
• Patriots
10
10 0 14
34
Date: December 22Location: Sullivan Stadium , Foxboro, Massachusetts Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 24 °F (−4 °C), wind 12 mph (19 km/h)Referee: Red CashionTV announcers (NBC): Phil Stone and Sam Rutigliano
Scoring summary 1 NE Tony Franklin 25 yard field goalPatriots 3–0 1 CIN Jim Breech 42 yard field goal Tie 3–3 1 NE Stanley Morgan 50 yard pass from Tony Eason (Tony Franklin kick)Patriots 10–3 2 CIN Jim Breech 22 yard field goal Patriots 10–6 2 NE Tony Collins 9 yard run (Tony Franklin kick) Patriots 17–6 2 NE Tony Franklin 30 yard field goal Patriots 20–6 3 CIN Eddie Brown 33 yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick)Patriots 20–13 4 CIN Jim Breech 30 yard field goal Patriots 20–16 4 NE Craig James 11 yard run (Tony Franklin kick)Patriots 27–16 4 CIN Cris Collinsworth 8 yard pass from Boomer Esiason (Jim Breech kick)Patriots 27–23 4 NE Robert Weathers 42 yard run (Tony Franklin kick) Patriots 34–23
[ 8]
After winning against the Bengals, fans stormed the field and tore down the goal posts. Fans proceeded to walk down Route 1 with the goalposts, accidentally hitting an overhead wire and nearly electrocuting themselves.[ 9]
Postseason
Wild card
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
• Patriots
3
10 10 3
26
Jets
0
7 7 0
14
This was only the second postseason win in Patriots history, and the first since 1963.
Divisional
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
• Patriots
7
10 10 0
27
Raiders
3
17 0 0
20
Conference championship
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
• Patriots
3
14 7 7
31
Dolphins
0
7 0 7
14
Date: January 12, 1986Location: Orange Bowl Referee: Gene BarthTV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
In the 1985 AFC Championship Game, the Patriots ran the ball on 59 out of 71 offensive plays, amassing 255 rushing yards in an upset of the favored Dolphins.[ 10]
The New England Patriots became the first team in NFL history to win three playoff games on the road in the same postseason.
Super Bowl
Team
1
2 3 4 Total
• Bears
13
10 21 2
46
Patriots
3
0 0 7
10
Standings
AFC East
W
L
T
PCT
DIV
CONF
PF
PA
STK
Miami Dolphins (2)
12
4
0
.750
6–2
9–3
428
320
W7
New York Jets(4)
11
5
0
.688
6–2
9–3
393
264
W1
New England Patriots (5)
11
5
0
.688
6–2
8–4
362
290
W1
Indianapolis Colts
5
11
0
.313
1–7
2–10
320
386
W2
Buffalo Bills
2
14
0
.125
1–7
2–12
200
381
L6
Notes
^ While they did defeat Miami on the road in 1969, that game was played in Tampa Bay.
References
^ "1985 NFL All-Pros" . Pro-Football-Reference.com.^ "1985 NFL Pro Bowlers" . Pro-Football-Reference.com.^ "Patriots Run Down Dolphins, 31-14 : Miami Can't Overcome Six Turnovers in Losing AFC Title" . Los Angeles Times . January 13, 1986. Retrieved October 9, 2022 .^ Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved 2014-Aug-01.^ Gainesville Sun. 1985 Sept 9. Retrieved 2017-Nov-01.
^ Pro-Football-Reference.com ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com ^ "Foxboro Stadium History - 1985 | New England Patriots" . Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017 .^ 100 Things Dolphins Fans Should Know and Do Before They Die, Armando Salguero, Triumph Books, Chicago, 2020, ISBN 978-1-62937-722-3, p.147
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (23) Conference championships (12) League championships (6) Retired numbers Media Current league affiliations Former league affiliation
Formerly the Boston Patriots (1960–1970)
