2005 New England Patriots season
| 2005 New England Patriots season | |
|---|---|
| File:NewEnglandPatriots 100.gif | |
| Head coach | Bill Belichick |
| Home field | Gillette Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 10-6 |
| Division place | 1st AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Jaguars) 28-3 Lost Divisional Playoffs (Broncos) 27-13 |
The 2005 New England Patriots season was the 36th season for the team in the National Football League and 46th season overall. The season began with the team trying to improve on its 14-2 record in 2004 after finishing in first place in the AFC East and winning Super Bowl XXXIX. Injuries hit the Patriots hard, with 45 different players starting at one point or another during the season, an NFL record for a division champion (breaking the record of 42 set by the Patriots in 2003).[1] Only earning a #4 seed in the playoffs, the Patriots fell to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Playoffs.
Offseason
Coaching Changes
Bill Belichick lost both of his coordinators following the 2004 season. Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis left to become head coach at Notre Dame University, while defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel was named head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Belichick only replaced Crennel for the 2005 season, promoting defensive backs coach Eric Mangini to defensive coordinator. Assistant offensive line and tight ends coach Jeff Davidson followed Crennel to Cleveland, and was replaced as tight ends coach by Pete Mangurian and as assistant offensive line coach by Matt Patricia. Also departing was assistant strength and conditioning coach Markus Paul, who was replaced by former Canadian Football League star Harold Nash. Former assistant running backs/wide receivers coach Joel Collier rejoined the staff as an assistant defensive backs coach.
Departures
Free agency saw the departure of only one full-time starter from 2004, offensive guard Joe Andruzzi, who signed with the Cleveland Browns. However, three-time Pro Bowl defensive back Ty Law was released in a salary cap move and would stay in the division, signing with the New York Jets. Veteran linebacker Roman Phifer, who had started on all three of the Patriots' Super Bowl teams, was also released, along with nose tackle Keith Traylor. Long-time Patriot linebacker Ted Johnson was a surprise departure, retiring on the eve of training camp. Other free agency departures were Adrian Klemm (Green Bay Packers) and David Patten (Washington Redskins).
Signings
Unlike past Patriots offseasons, the 2005 offseason did not bring the arrival of any would-be full-time starters. Linebackers Chad Brown and Monty Beisel started six games together to begin the season, but both were benched in favor of Mike Vrabel and Tedy Bruschi, who returned from a stroke. Veteran quarterback and New England native Doug Flutie returned to the Patriots for the final season of his career, having played for them last in 1989. In November, facing multiple injuries to their defensive backfield, the Patriots signed veteran defensive back Artrell Hawkins, who would go on to start six games, including both of the Patriots' playoff games. Other arrivals were Chad Scott (Pittsburgh Steelers), Wesly Mallard (New York Giants), Tim Dwight (San Diego Chargers), Antuan Edwards (St Louis Rams), Chad Morton (Washington Redskins), and David Terrell (Chicago Bears), but only Scott and Dwight finished the season with the Patriots.
Free agents or potential free agents Brandon Gorin, Patrick Pass, Stephen Neal, Ethan Kelley, Tom Ashworth, Don Davis, David Givens, Jarvis Green, and Troy Brown (after being released) were all re-signed, while Tom Brady received a long-term contact extension. Defensive lineman Richard Seymour held out for the first four days of training camp but returned after receiving a raise. Kicker Adam Vinatieri signed and played the full season under his franchise tag tender.
Trades
On March 4, the Patriots traded a third-round pick and a fifth-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft to the Arizona Cardinals for defensive back Duane Starks and a fifth-round pick in the 2005 Draft. Starks started six-straight games for the Patriots before being placed on injured reserve in November.
Also, during the preseason, the Patriots traded their fifth-round pick in the 2006 NFL Draft to the Cleveland Browns for wide receiver André Davis, who started four games for the Patriots in 2005.
2005 NFL Draft
| Round | Overall | Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 | Logan Mankins | Offensive Guard | Fresno State |
| 3 [2] | 84 | Ellis Hobbs | Cornerback | Iowa State |
| 3 | 100 | Nick Kaczur | Offensive tackle | Toledo |
| 4 | 133 | James Sanders | Safety | Fresno State |
| 5 | 170 | Ryan Claridge | Linebacker | UNLV |
| 7 [3] | 230 | Matt Cassel | Defensive Tackle | Southern California |
| 7 | 255 | Andy Stokes | Safety | William Penn |
| compensatory selection |
Undrafted Free Agents
The Patriots also signed 16 undrafted free agents following the draft. Defensive lineman Mike Wright was the only to make the Patriots' 53-man roster and was active for 13 games during the 2005 season. Defensive lineman Santonio Thomas, defensive back Ray Ventrone, Offensive lineman Ryan Krug, and linebacker Andre Torrey all spent time on the Patriots' practice squad, but only Thomas, who was promoted to the 53-man roster for Week 17 and the playoffs, and Ventrone finished the season with the Patriots. Wide receiver Michael McGrew was placed on injured reserve, while fullback Kyle Eckel was released, signed by the Miami Dolphins and subsequently placed on their reserve/military list. Kicker Robbie Gould was released before the season but was signed by the Chicago Bears and became their starting kicker.
External links
Preseason Schedule
| Week | Kickoff | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | TV | Record | NFL Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7:30 PM EST | August 12, 2005 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 23-13 | Paul Brown Stadium | WCVB | 1-0 | Recap |
| 2 | 8:00 PM EST | August 18, 2005 | New Orleans Saints | L 27-37 | Gillette Stadium | FOX | 1-1 | Recap |
| 3 | 8:00 PM EST | August 26, 2005 | Green Bay Packers | W 27-3 | Lambeau Field | WCVB | 2-1 | Recap |
| 4 | 8:00 PM EST | September 1, 2005 | New York Giants | L 3-27 | Giants Stadium | WCVB | 2-2 | Recap |
Uniforms
Home jersey Away jersey Alternate jersey
The New England Patriots entered the 2005 season using the same uniform combinations as they used in 2004.
Final Roster
Regular Season Schedule
Postseason Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Record | Host Stadium | NFL.com Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card | January 7, 2006 | Jacksonville Jaguars (5) | W 28-3 | 1-0 | Gillette Stadium | Recap |
| Divisional | January 14, 2006 | Denver Broncos (2) | L 13-27 | 1-1 | Invesco Field at Mile High | Recap |
Random Facts
- With his 10-point performance as part of a Patriots Week 13 win over the New York Jets, kicker Adam Vinatieri became the Patriots' all-time leading leading scorer. (Gino Cappelletti, 1,130 points)
See Also
References
- ^ Patriots.com Bill Belichick biography. Accessed 23 April 2007.
- ^ Draft pick received with a 2005 5th Round pick and 2006 3rd Round pick in a trade from the Baltimore Ravens for the Patriots' 2nd round pick in 2005.
- ^ Draft pick received with a 2006 5th Round pick in a trade from the Oakland Raiders for the Patriots' 6th round pick in 2005.
| Preceded by 2004 New England Patriots season |
2005 New England Patriots season | Succeeded by 2006 New England Patriots season |
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