1998 New England Patriots season

39th season in franchise history November 2013 March 2026 New England Patriots 1998 9–7 4th AFC East Pete Carroll Robert Kraft Foxboro Stadium Lost Wild Card Playoffs(at Jaguars) 10–25 TE Ben CoatesCB Ty LawSS Lawyer Milloy CB Ty Law (1st team) TE Ben Coates (2nd team) SS Lawyer Milloy (2nd team) Patriots seasons The 1998 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 29th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 39th overall. They finished with a 9–7 record, losing in the first round of the playoffs to the Jacksonville Jaguars. In the offseason, the Patriots tendered restricted free agent running back Curtis Martin with the highest possible tender, which would return the Patriots first- and third-round draft picks if any team were to sign him and the Patriots were to decide not to match the offer. Fueling the rivalry between the two teams, the New York Jets and head coach Bill Parcells, who had resigned from the Patriots two years earlier, signed Martin, the 1995 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and per restricted free agency rules ceded their first- and third-round picks in the 1998 NFL draft to the Patriots.Take That! (p. 2) Football Digest December 2000 Barry 4 30 Wilner With the first-round pick the Patriots selected another running back Robert Edwards, who rushed for over 1,000 yards in his rookie campaign. Suffering a broken finger in November,https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-nov-30-sp-49235-story.html Bledsoe Motto: If It's Broke, Don't Fix It Los Angeles Times November 30, 1998 June 17, 2009 veteran quarterback Drew Bledsoe was unable to start the team's final two regular season games and was replaced by Scott Zolak.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/1998/12/20/patriots_49ers/ https://web.archive.org/web/20121024224258/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/news/1998/12/20/patriots_49ers/ dead October 24, 2012 Great Scott Associated Press Sports Illustrated December 21, 1998 June 17, 2009 With a 9–7 record the Patriots finished fourth in the AFC East but earned a sixth seed in the AFC playoffs. With Zolak still at the helm, the Patriots were defeated on the road by the Jacksonville Jaguars, the second straight playoff defeat for second-year head coach Pete Carroll, and is one of only three games the Patriots have ever lost to the Jaguars, with the other two being in 2018 and 2024 respectively.New England Patriots versus Jacksonville Jaguars As of the 2025 NFL season, this remains the last time that a team with a fourth-place finish in its division made the playoffs. Offseason Additions SubtractionsRB Tony Carter (Bears) RB Curtis Martin (Jets) RB Dave Meggett (Jets) WR Dietrich Jells (Eagles) 1998 NFL draft 1998 NFL draft 1998 New England Patriots 1 18 Robert Edwards Running back Georgia from N. Y. JetsDraft pick received with a 1998 third-round pick from the New York Jets in compensation for restricted free agent Curtis Martin. https://web.archive.org/web/20110519102548/http://www.patriots.com/history/index.cfm?ac=DraftTrade&year=1998&draft=yes&submit=Submit May 19, 2011 yes 1 22 Tebucky Jones Safety Georgia yes 2 52 Tony Simmons Wide receiver Wisconsin from N. Y. JetsDraft pick received with a 1997 third-round pick, 1997 fourth-round pick, and 1999 first-round pick from the New York Jets in compensation for Bill Parcells in 1997. https://web.archive.org/web/20110519102548/http://www.patriots.com/history/index.cfm?ac=DraftTrade&year=1998&draft=yes&submit=Submit May 19, 2011 yes 2 54 Rod Rutledge Tight end Alabama yes 3 81 Chris Floyd Fullback Michigan from N. Y. JetsDraft pick received with a 1998 first-round pick from the New York Jets in compensation for restricted free agent Curtis Martin. https://web.archive.org/web/20110519102548/http://www.patriots.com/history/index.cfm?ac=DraftTrade&year=1998&draft=yes&submit=Submit May 19, 2011 yes 3 83 Greg Spires Defensive end Florida State yes 4 115 Leonta Rheams Defensive tackle Houston yes 5 145 Ron Merkerson Linebacker Colorado yes 6 176 Harold Shaw Fullback Southern Miss yes 7 211 Jason Andersen Offensive guard BYU yes no no Undrafted free agents + 1998 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeTerry Billups CornerbackNorth CarolinaJeff CompasSafetyHarvardMatt CoxGuardBYUScott DragosFullbackBoston CollegeMike GeterRunning backNorth CarolinaBlake IrwinLinebackerNew MexicoBrian LeeSafetyWyomingJim MurphyQuarterbackNortheasternKato SerwangaCornerbackCalifornia Staff 1998 New England Patriots staff Front office Chairman/CEO – Robert Kraft Vice president – Jonathan Kraft Vice president of business operations – Andy Wasynczuk Vice president of player personnel – Bobby Grier Director of college scouting – Larry Cook Director of pro scouting – Dave Uyrus Assistant director of pro scouting – Andre Tippett Head coaches Head coach – Pete Carroll Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Ernie Zampese Quarterbacks – Jack Reilly Running backs – Kirby Wilson Wide receivers – Steve Walters Tight ends – Carl Smith Offensive line – Paul Boudreau Offensive line assistant – Jeff Davidson Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Steve Sidwell Defensive line – Ray Hamilton Linebackers – Bo Pelini Defensive backs – Ron Lynn Defensive assistant/secondary – DeWayne Walker Special teams coaches Special teams – Dante Scarnecchia Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Johnny Parker Final roster 1998 New England Patriots 53 7 3 11 Drew Bledsoe  7 Jim Murphy American football y 16 Scott Zolak 30 Tony Carter running back FB 29 Derrick Cullors 47 Robert Edwards gridiron football y 37 Chris Floyd FB y 44 Harold Shaw American football FB y 23 Sedrick Shaw 80 Troy Brown 84 Shawn Jefferson 18 Anthony Ladd 81 Tony Simmons wide receiver y 87 Ben Coates 85 Lovett Purnell 83 Rod Rutledge y 67 Jason Andersen C y 78 Bruce Armstrong T 61 Damon Denson G 66 Ed Ellis T 63 Heath Irwin G 68 Max Lane T 77 Zefross Moss T 60 Scott Rehberg T 71 Todd Rucci G 64 Dave Wohlabaugh C 92 Ferric Collons DE 90 Chad Eaton DT 55 Willie McGinest DE 75 Leonta Rheams DT y 94 Greg Spires DE y 74 Chris Sullivan American football DE 95 Henry Thomas American football DT 97 Mark Wheeler DT 54 Tedy Bruschi OLB 59 Todd Collins linebacker OLB 45 Dana Cottrell OLB y 99 Vernon Crawford OLB 58 Marty Moore MLB 53 Chris Slade American football OLB 93 Shawn Stuckey MLB y 26 Chris Canty defensive back CB/KR/PR 42 Chris Carter defensive back FS 32 Willie Clay FS 21 Steve Israel American football CB 34 Tebucky Jones CB y 24 Ty Law CB 36 Lawyer Milloy SS 31 Kato Serwanga CB y 25 Larry Whigham FS 86 Mike Bartrum LS 19 Tom Tupa P  4 Adam Vinatieri K 82 Vincent Brisby WR IR 88 Terry Glenn WR IR 52 Ted Johnson LB IR 50 Ron Merkerson LB y IR 96 Brandon Mitchell defensive end DE IR 51 Bernard Russ LB IR 72 Devin Wyman DT IR 10 Phil Dawson y K 91 James Grier American football y DT 15 Sir Mawn Wilson WR Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 7 at Denver Broncos L 21–27 0–1 Mile High Stadium 74,745 2 September 13 Indianapolis Colts W 29–6 1–1 Foxboro Stadium 60,068 3 September 20 Tennessee Oilers W 27–16 2–1 Foxboro Stadium 59,973 4 Bye 5 October 4 at New Orleans Saints W 30–27 3–1 Louisiana Superdome 56,172 6 October 11 Kansas City Chiefs W 40–10 4–1 Foxboro Stadium 59,749 7 October 19 New York Jets L 14–24 4–2 Foxboro Stadium 60,062 8 October 25 at Miami Dolphins L 9–12 (OT) 4–3 Pro Player Stadium 73,973 9 November 1 at Indianapolis Colts W 21–16 5–3 RCA Dome 58,056 10 November 8 Atlanta Falcons L 10–41 5–4 Foxboro Stadium 59,790 11 November 15 at Buffalo Bills L 10–13 5–5 Ralph Wilson Stadium 72,020 12 November 23 Miami Dolphins W 26–23 6–5 Foxboro Stadium 58,729 13 November 29 Buffalo Bills W 25–21 7–5 Foxboro Stadium 58,304 14 December 6 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 23–9 8–5 Three Rivers Stadium 58,632 15 December 13 at St. Louis Rams L 18–32 8–6 TWA Dome 48,946 16 December 20 San Francisco 49ers W 24–21 9–6 Foxboro Stadium 59,153 17 December 27 at New York Jets L 10–31 9–7 Giants Stadium 74,302 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Standings Playoffs Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance Wildcard January 3, 1999 at Jacksonville Jaguars (3) L 10–25 0–1 Alltel Stadium 71,139 Notable games September 13 vs. Indianapolis Colts: The Peyton Manning/New England Patriots rivalry kicked off with a 29–6 rout of Manning's Colts. Ty Law ran back a first-quarter interception 59 yards for the game's first touchdown, while Terry Glenn's three-yard catch and Robert Edwards' one-yard run went with three field goals by future Colt Adam Vinatieri for the Pats. Torrance Small caught a touchdown from Manning in the final five minutes for the only score by the Colts. Manning ended the day with three picks returned for 71 yards. September 20 vs. Tennessee Oilers: In their final season using the team nickname "Oilers", the future Tennessee Titans put on a hard challenge for the Patriots, as Eddie George rushed for 100 yards and caught a 22-yard touchdown from Steve McNair. Al Del Greco and Adam Vinatieri exchanged field goals in the first half and the game lead tied or changed seven times before Lawyer Milloy picked off McNair for a 30-yard fourth-quarter touchdown sealing a 27–16 Patriots win. October 4 at New Orleans Saints: Two seasons since losing Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans the Patriots made their first trip to the Louisiana Superdome; coincidentally, the coach they were facing was the one who'd crushed them in Super Bowl XX in that same building – Mike Ditka. Drew Bledsoe overcame three interceptions and led the Patriots to a 27–24 lead in the game's final four minutes. On a Patriots punt Tebucky Jones of the Patriots tried to down the ball before it went into the endzone; Earl Little of the Saints grabbed it in the endzone but as he went to his knees his teammate Andre Hastings yanked it out of his hands and returned the kick 76 yards, setting up the tying field goal with 1:29 left in regulation. Bledsoe then led the Patriots downfield and Adam Vinatieri kicked the game-winning field goal with three seconds left in a 30–27 Patriots win. November 23 vs. Miami Dolphins: Several days before this Monday Night Football matchup came word that team owner Robert Kraft had secured a stadium deal in Hartford, Connecticut for 2001 (a deal subsequently aborted when a deal to build Gillette Stadium was completed). Though the fanbase was displeased, their support for the team didn't waver even as the Patriots fell behind 23–19 with 3:22 left in the fourth after a Karim Abdul-Jabbar rushing touchdown. On the ensuing Patriots possession, Bledsoe completed a first-down pass on fourth and ten, but later broke the index finger on his throwing hand after striking Todd Rucci's helmet; on another fourth-and-ten on the Dolphins 35-yard-line coach Pete Carroll tried to call timeout, but the Patriots didn't see him and Bledsoe completed the first-down throw to Ben Coates. He then found Shawn Jefferson for the game-winning touchdown with 29 seconds remaining, in a 26–23 Patriots final score. November 29 vs. Buffalo Bills: Local hero Doug Flutie made his first visit to Foxboro Stadium since his days as Patriots quarterback, where he'd won all five starts there. Directing the Bills he threw for 339 yards and rushed for 30 more, leading the Bills to a 21–17 lead in the game's final minute. From there, and despite still nursing a broken finger on his throwing hand, Drew Bledsoe led the Patriots downfield and completed a fourth-down throw to the Bills 26 to Shawn Jefferson with six seconds remaining. There was a referee conference after the play regarding the spot of the ball, at which point one of the referees was heard to say "just give it to them", in reference to the first down.http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2008/10/31/fan-friday-3/ Fan Friday BuffaloBills.com October 31, 2008 December 8, 2009 October 6, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111006121903/http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2008/10/31/fan-friday-3/ dead Bledsoe threw for the endzone on the next play but the ball fell incomplete; the Bills were flagged for pass interference, extending the game by one untimed down, and from the one-yard line Bledsoe lofted a play-action pass to Ben Coates for the winning touchdown. The disgusted Bills (who felt Jefferson was out of bounds on the catch at the 26) went to the locker room even though the extra point still had to be kicked; Adam Vinatieri thus ran in an unopposed two-point conversion for a 25–21 Patriots win, the first career loss in Foxboro for Flutie. The NFL later stated that the game-extending pass interference call was an erroneous decision by the referees. December 13 at St. Louis Rams: Drew Bledsoe's season ended in a 32–18 loss at St. Louis. Bledsoe played the entire game other than several series to get the splint on his broken finger replaced; he completed only 11 of 35 passes; a pass in the first quarter bounced off Lovett Purnell and was intercepted by Todd Lyght. Scott Zolak was sacked and fumbled to former Patriot Ray Agnew. The game was costly for both teams as Terry Glenn and Rams quarterback Tony Banks were lost to injuries. References External links Season page on Pro Football Reference New England Patriots Category:New England Patriots seasons New England Patriots Category:Sports competitions in Foxborough, Massachusetts