Here are some 2012 Super Bowl facts and figures about the New England Patriots, courtesy of the NFL PR Department.
The Patriots advanced to Super Bowl for 7th time in franchise history (3-3)…With win in Super Bowl XLVI, head coach BILL BELICHICK (3) can tie HOFer CHUCK NOLL (4) for most SB wins by head coach in NFL history. Belichick & QB TOM BRADY will make 5th SB appearance together, most by head coach-quarterback duo all-time. Belichick & Brady (16) have most postseason wins by QB-head coach duo. Belichick (17) is tied with HOFer JOE GIBBS (17) for 3rd-most playoff wins all-time, trailing only HOFers TOM LANDRY (20) & DON SHULA (19)…
Brady’s 16 postseason wins are tied with HOFer JOE MONTANA for most playoffs wins by QB in NFL history. Brady has 1,001 passing yards in 4 Super Bowls, 4th-most SB career passing yards (KURT WARNER, 1,156; Montana, 1,142; Elway, 1,128). Brady has 7 career SB TD passes, 4th most all-time. Brady (5,009) needs 381 passing yards to surpass PEYTON MANNING (5,389) for 3rd-most postseason passing yards in NFL history. Brady (36) needs 4 TD passes to join Montana (45) & BRETT FAVRE (44) as only QBs to reach 40 postseason TD passes all-time. Brady (472) needs 10 completions to surpass Favre (481) for most career postseason completions all-time. Has 16-5 (.762) playoff record, best postseason record as starting QB in NFL history (min. 15 starts). Named MVP of SBs XXXVI & XXXVIII. Brady will tie Elway (5) for most SB appearances by QB in NFL history. In 4 career games vs. NYG (incl. SB XLII), Brady has completed 97 of 160 passes (60.6 pct.) for 1,076 yards with 5 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 85.8 passer rating. Brady had 5,235 passing yards in ’11, 2nd-most passing yards in season in NFL history, trailing only DREW BREES (5,476) in ’11…
RB BEN JARVUS GREEN-ELLIS registered 1st career postseason rush TD last week. Green-Ellis reached 10+ rush TDs in consecutive seasons (13 in ’10; 11 in ’11)…WR WES WELKER has 46 receptions in 6 career playoff games. Welker had 11 receptions for 103 yards in only career SB appearance (SB XLII vs. NYG). Welker joined CRIS CARTER (122 in ’94 & ’95) as only players to have 120+ receptions twice in career (123 in ’09; 122 in ’11). Joined HOFer JERRY RICE & MARVIN HARRISON as only players to have 4 100-catch seasons. WR DEION BRANCH was named MVP of SB XXXIX. Has 21 career SB receptions, 3rd-most all-time, trailing on HOFer JERRY RICE (33) & ANDRE REED (27). Branch (791) has most career postseason receiving yards in Patriots history…TE ROB GRONKOWSKI has 15 receptions for 232 yards with 3 TD catches in ’11 postseason. Had 8 catches for 101 receiving yards with 1 TD in only meeting vs. NYG (11/6/11). Gronkowski set single-season record for TEs in receiving yards (1,327) & TD receptions (17) in ’11. Became 1st TE in NFL history to lead league in TD catches. TE AARON HERNANDEZ has totaled 191 scrimmage yards (121 receiving, 70 rushing) in past 2 playoff games. Had career-best in catches (79), receiving yards (910) & TDs (7) in ’11…
LB JEROD MAYO led club with 95 tackles in ’11. LB BRANDON SPIKES posted 1st career postseason INT last week. LB ROB NINKOVICH had career-best 6.5 sacks this season…DT VINCE WILFORK has 2.5 sacks in past 2 playoff games…CB KYLE ARRINGTON tied for NFL-best with 7 INTs.