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AFC East champs

By Mike Reiss, Globe Staff November 25, 07 04:13 PM

The Patriots have won the AFC East division championship today, by virtue of the Buffalo Bills losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars, 36-14.

The Patriots have now won five straight division titles, and have captured six of the last seven crowns. The five straight division titles set a record for most consecutive division crowns in AFC East history.

The Patriots tie for the earliest division clinch since the NFL established the 16-game schedule in 1978. Three other teams clinched their division during the weekend of their 11th game since 1978 -- the 1985 Chicago Bears, the 1997 San Francisco 49ers and the 2004 Philadelphia Eagles.

22 comments so far...
  1. Congrulations Patriots !!!!!! Thank you for playing great football..

    Posted by Pawan November 25, 07 04:56 PM
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  1. I wonder if any of them won it without having to take the field. I know this is due to game time schedules, but I am curious about it and cannot find that information.

    Posted by Tony November 25, 07 05:01 PM
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  1. The Patriots are setting a new standard for professional football, and what amazes me is they still have to fight for respect. Go Pats!

    Posted by Larry November 25, 07 05:31 PM
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  1. Who cares right??? Luckily the Colts have injuries because if the Pats had to play them in INDY with a healthy Marvin and Freeney we would lose.

    Posted by Todd November 25, 07 05:40 PM
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  1. The Patriots earned this division title in a big way, but it's hard to not at least acknowledge how weak the rest of the division is. The Bills are overachieving, and the other two teams are just plain awful this season.

    I'll be rooting a bit for the Cardinals today too, to help strengthen our draft-day trade (I presume the team will not over-pay for a marginal high first-round player and instead trade down to mid to lower 1st round and probably get at least 1 additional pick with it).

    Posted by Jim November 25, 07 05:44 PM
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  1. I would like to say congratulations but in keeping with the Belichick philosophy I must say "It's not over yet." "There are still six teams to beat." "You are not perfect till 16-0." "You are still giving up too many points." "The 1972 Dolphins have a better record right now." "You are 0-1 against Green Bay in the Super Bowl." "The Jets don't like you." "Dallas wants you again so they can kick your a--." Is that enough bulletin board material to motivate the team the rest of the way?

    Posted by BJ November 25, 07 05:49 PM
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  1. GREAT JOB PATS ,KEEP IT GOING!!!

    Posted by ROGB November 25, 07 05:55 PM
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  1. Go-Pats!!!!!!!

    Posted by billybobjoefrankpaulevan November 25, 07 06:08 PM
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  1. Did we just win thte Superbowl? Who cares - they better win tonight.

    Posted by Tron November 25, 07 06:17 PM
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  1. Remember ALL of the years our team was called the "Patsies"
    Next time anyone complains we are too good-remember that.

    Posted by Bob November 25, 07 06:21 PM
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  1. Freeney played against the Pats this season when the Colts were beat, so all of you Colts fans quit your crying.

    Everybody wants to talk about the poor Colts and all their injuries.
    Question, what team set an NFL record with 43 different starters? Answer: The 2004 Patriots. Seems I rememeber them hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season.
    Brady to Moss, if they stay healthy, are going to raise the bar of QB-WR combos!

    Posted by PATS12 November 25, 07 06:30 PM
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  1. the pats rule - its about time..they suffered enough losing seasons in the ealry nintiees

    Posted by john campanale November 25, 07 06:38 PM
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  1. Go Tom, you know we got it

    Posted by Laurie November 25, 07 06:44 PM
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  1. After watching so many games in past years that had me buying and gulping a lot of Maalox,it is an absolute pleasure knowing what the outcome is going to be.Keep kicking all their whinning butts!

    Posted by Ray Morin November 25, 07 06:55 PM
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  1. I think that Bill would tell them, " This means nothing, we have a game today with the Eagles, let's just go out there and win that. "

    That will have more meaning.

    It was a forgone conclusion a few weeks ago, only the timing of it was in question.

    Go Patriots, take the Eagles. BD

    Posted by Bikerdude November 25, 07 07:14 PM
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  1. Who cares??? Real Pats fans care! Hey Todd, the first time we played the
    Colts Freeney was playing and while Harrison was injured, he isn't half the player he used to be. The Patriots played there worst game of the year for three quarters and had some of the worst officiating witnessed so far this season and still pulled out that game. Manning's finally getting a taste of what Brady's been facing for years, as in performing with a subpar receiving corps. What goes around comes around. I wonder what rules Bill Polian wil come up with this offseason to try and stop us.
    Go Pats! Keep it up!

    Posted by Greg November 25, 07 07:20 PM
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  1. Dear Patriots,

    Please give us our Mojo back.

    Sincerely,
    The New York Yankees

    Posted by Derald November 25, 07 07:46 PM
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  1. Pats have to keep their edge. Go Pats!

    Crush, Kill, Destroy. Just get the next 7 points.

    Posted by KA November 25, 07 08:06 PM
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  1. I remember someone stating that the Patriots are becoming "Colts-Like" in the way they are playing this year. Excuse me? If I remember correctly, the Pats have won 3 SB's lately while the Colts have won 1. I don't remember people complaining a couple of years ago when the Colts where "running up the score". I think the Pats will always be overlooked while Manning is with the Colts. Remember, Manning is a #1 draft pick with 1 SB win while Brady is a 6th round draft pick with 3 SB wins. I cannot believe that people actually believe that Manning is a better QB than Brady. I guess that is what happens when you actually have receivers to throw to.

    Posted by Iainn November 25, 07 08:09 PM
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  1. The team's greatest asset is money. The overcharged fans are so bereft of conscious pursuit in their lives that they do not realize they're paying far too much in time and coin for an overstuffed sausage. Oh yeah, and the stadium food is overpriced, as well.

    Posted by John B November 25, 07 10:29 PM
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  1. I wish everyone would quit the 16-0 and 19-0 talk and just concentrate on getting through the next game. Their vaunted defense gave up 28 points tonight to a team that didn't have a starting QB. If they don't stop reading the press clippings constantly crowing about how unbeatable they are, it's gonna take more than 3 picks off a second string quarterback to keep them on the straight and narrow.

    Posted by sanwon November 26, 07 12:37 AM
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  1. Wow....Pats almost lost the game against the Eagles....Bill is right, one game at at time....now that Brady says he wants to "kill" all the teams, I am sure he is rethinking that now....OUCH Pats!

    Posted by Bill Scoberlay November 26, 07 06:25 PM
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