To properly appreciate the Patriots’ record streak of eight straight appearances in the AFC Championship game, it’s helpful to remember what happened the last time they didn’t make it, as well as the history since the streak began.
Consider: The last time the Patriots failed to reach the AFC title game — or the NFL’s version of the final four — was in 2010, when a talent-rich roster that went 14-2 in the regular season met an abrupt and stunning ending with a 28-21 loss to the Jets at Gillette Stadium in the divisional round.
The Patriots, let by 33-year-old Tom Brady and a dynamic receiving corps that included Wes Welker, Deion Branch, and rookie tight ends Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, had scored at least 31 points in each of their last eight regular season games, including 45 in a Week 13 throttling of the Jets on “Monday Night Football.