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At 16-0, NE would break its "official" record win streak
Cold, Hard Football Facts for November 30, 2007
It wouldn’t be a full week if we didn’t chime in with at least one look at the various records New England has in its sights this season.
A FORGOTTEN RECORD WIN STREAK
If New England runs the table this season – an effort that's still far, far from sealed – the 16-0 record will, of course, have its own historical merit.
But it will also give the Patriots another achievement lost amid so many others this year: they will have won 19 straight games, breaking their own official NFL record of 18 straight victories in 2003-04.
Of course, New England actually won 21 straight games back then, including its three straight victories in the 2004 postseason. But official NFL records don’t acknowledge playoff games, even if the Hall of Fame does, which features an entire display dedicated to the 21 straight wins.
The NFL Record & Fact Book, therefore, lists New England’s record streak at 18, not 21. The 1933-34 Bears are second, with 17 straight victories.
Which brings us back to today.
The 2006 Patriots won their final three regular-season games. So those three wins, coupled with a potential 16 straight in 2007, would give the Patriots 19 straight regular-season victories and the two longest win streaks – officially speaking – in NFL history (19 and 18 straight).
Four teams, meanwhile, won 16 straight regular-season games:
- 1941-42 Bears
- 1971-73 Dolphins
- 1983-84 Dolphins
- 2004-05 Steelers
New England can join that list with wins over Baltimore Monday night and Pittsburgh the following Sunday.
A very likely win after that at home against the Jets would put the 2006-07 Patriots in a tie with the 1933-34 Bears for the second longest win streak (17) in history, behind only the 2003-04 Patriots.
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