The following is a collection of Patriots notes from their 24-20 loss to the Giants. Notes are courtesy of the Patriots media relations staff.
PATRIOTS WITH RARE CONSECUTIVE LOSSES
The Patriots have lost back-to-back games for just the third time since the beginning of the 2003 season. Over that span, the Patriots are now 26-3 (.897) in games following a regular season loss. Over the last nine seasons (2003-11), the only other times the Patriots lost back-to-back games was once in 2006 and once in 2009.
PATRIOTS CONCLUDE 20-GAME HOME WINNING STREAK
The Patriots concluded a 20-game home winning streak. Prior to tonight, the last time the Patriots lost a regular-season game at Gillette Stadium was on Nov. 30, 2008, when New England fell 33-10 to Pittsburgh.
GRONKOWSKI LEADS NFL TIGHT ENDS
Rob Gronkowski had eight catches for 101 yards, including a grab for a 14-yard touchdown with 1:36 remaining that gave the Patriots a 20-17 lead. Gronkowski now has six touchdowns this season and has 16 touchdowns since the start of the 2010 season, the most among any tight end in the NFL over that span. Jason Witten is second with 13 touchdowns from 2010-present. Through eight games this season, Gronkowski has 44 receptions for 596 yards and six touchdowns. His 44 receptions and 596 yards have eclipsed his totals as a rookie last season (42 receptions for 546 yards).
GRONKOWSKI SETS CAREER HIGH WITH EIGHT CATCHES
Rob Gronkowski had eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Gronkowskis eight grabs set a new career high, topping his previous mark of seven catches in a game. The 101 yards marked Gronkowskis third career 100-yard game. He now has three straight games with seven or more receptions. He has four games in 2011 with seven or more receptions.
BRADY CONCLUDES 31-GAME HOME WINNING STREAK
Tom Brady concluded a 31-game winning streak as a starter in home games. Bradys streak of 31 straight home victories was the longest such streak for any starting quarterback in NFL history, besting Brett Favres string of 25 straight home wins from 1995-98. Prior to tonight, the last time the Patriots lost a game at Gillette Stadium in which Brady had started was on Nov. 12, 2006 against the New York Jets. Following that game against the Jets, the Patriots installed an artificial playing surface at Gillette Stadium. Prior to todays game, Brady had been 31-0 in the regular season as a starter on the artificial turf at Gillette Stadium.
WELKER SURPASSES HIS 2010 RECEIVING YARD MARK
At the midway point of the season, Wes Welker has 66 receptions for 960 yards. He is on pace to total 132 receptions for 1,920 yards. The all-time NFL record for most receptions in a season is 143 (Marvin Harrison, 2002), and the record for most receiving yards in a campaign is 1,848 (Jerry Rice, 1995).
New England Patriots
WELKER PASSES BEN COATES ON PATRIOTS RECEPTIONS LIST AND RECEIVING YARD LIST
Following his 9-catch, 136-yard performance against the Giants, Wes Welker has now caught 498 passes for 5,496 yards in his four-and-a-half seasons with the Patriots (2007-present). Today, Welker passed Ben Coates (490 catches) for third place on the Patriots all-time receptions list. Welker also passed Coates (5,471 yards) for fourth place on the Patriots all-time receiving yardage list. Welkers 25-yard reception in the first quarter was his 490th reception with the Patriots and moved him into a third place tie with Ben Coates (490) on the Patriots all-time list. His 4-yard reception in the second quarter moved him past Coates into sole possession of third place. Troy Brown (557) is in first place on the Patriots all-time receptions list followed by Stanley Morgan (534). Welker trails Stanley Morgan (10,352), Troy Brown (6,366) and Irving Fryar (5,726).
KYLE ARRINGTON IN THE LEAD WITH FIVE INTERCEPTIONS
Kyle Arrington registered his fifth interception of the season when he picked off Eli Manning in the end zone in the third quarter. He is tied with Eric Weddle (Seattle) and Charles Woodson (Green Bay) for the NFL lead. The Last Patriot player to lead the NFL in interceptions was Asante Samuel with 10 in 2006.
RARE SCORELESS FIRST HALF FOR PATRIOTS
The Patriots were held scoreless in the first half for the first time since a 21-0 loss at Miami on Dec. 10, 2006. The Patriots and the Giants did not score in the first half. It is the first time since a 14-0 loss at the LA Rams on Sept. 13, 1992 that the Patriots played a 0-0 first half.