1988 New England Patriots Team Season Highlights "A Team Of Character"

[Music] [Applause] [Music] this film is brought to you by New York Life and it's over 11,000 agents and representatives who offer you quality financial products and services to help you get the most out of life for coach Raymond Berry's New England Patriots the 1988 season began with a warm welcome home for returning tight end Russ Francis as New England has celebrated the return of a favorite Sun on a dark and stormy afternoon there was a different sort of reception arranged by Steve Groban for the archrival New York Jets in his club record 14th consecutive season Grogan added to his team passing records with 16 completions mostly to his wideouts Stanley Morgan the club's all-time leading receiver ceedric Jones the shore handed third down possession receiver and game breaker Irving fryer who caught six passes and got deep for two quick strike touchdowns on a day when remaining upright was a decided challenge the Patriots cavorted amongst the raindrops and danced their way to victory after an early field goal by New York the Patriots poured on 28 straight points including a perfectly executed draw play for a touchdown by Craig James the defense was missing injured linebacker ed Williams but led by first-time starter Johnny Ren Burt's rambunctious play the Patriots blitzed the Jets for a total of five sacks and kept the pressure on throughout the game [Music] number 77 defensive end Kenneth Sims contributed several key plays including five tackles and an important fumble recovery before and injured Achilles tendon sidelined him for the rest of the season a season which began with a bang but a season during which injuries and strange incidents didn't just rain they poured it would prove to be a challenging test for a team of character [Music] facing one of the NFL's toughest schedules the Patriots first trip was to Minnesota where five turnovers and other assorted indignities enabled the playoff bound Vikings to turn the Metro domes lights out on the Patriots back home for week three Steve Brogan readeth the scoreboard against Buffalo with two more touchdown passes one to Stanley Morgan and the other a bomb de ceedric Jones as the Patriots built a 14 to furry halftime lead [Music] but the news was not all good news as number 56 perennial all-pro quarterback terrorist Andre tippet became the Patriots second starting linebacker to join the injured list and a field goal with just 11 seconds left won the game for the bills the next week in Houston's House of Pain new england again led early but six more turnovers helped the playoff bound Oilers in prolonging the Patriots tailspin [Music] in Week five the New England faithful urged their team to another early lead with the offensive line hurting Tom Ramsey started at quarterback and fullback Robert Perriman sword to his first pro score but still another element was needed to upset the Colts in the fourth quarter enter number 2 a young quarterback from Boston College by the name of Doug Flutie now as everyone knows Flutie is not a prototypical Pro quarterback but he has the innate ability to move in any direction and somehow to get the ball to an open receiver when least expected against the courts Flutie led the Patriots through two fourth-quarter touchdowns and a much-needed victory [Applause] naked [Applause] the excitement is back in Sullivan Stadium [Applause] [Applause] Doug Flutie was named AFC Player of the Week but the next week the Patriots made the previously winless Green Bay Packers look like Vince Lombardi's best as coach berry stated our team somehow never lost belief in itself they just sucked it up and went right at the league's best offense the previously unbeaten Super Bowl bound Cincinnati Bengals Patriot pressure turned touchdowns into turnovers six of them in all led by the AFC's Defensive Player of the Week Johnny Rembert five interceptions by five different Patriot defenders including Fred Marion Jim Bollman Tim Jordan and rod McSwain set up four touchdowns for the running game including one on a fortuitous bounce in the endzone goal-line offense and defense second goal from the one Jones in motion handoff merriment [Applause] rookie John Stevens first throw touchdown started off New England scoring parade which culminated with two touchdowns and a near touchdown by number 21 Reggie do five Doug Flutie's first Pro started Sullivan Stadium consisted mainly of finishing off the scoring drives which the defense had initiated in a satisfying 27 to 21 victory over the AFC champions to be as the season rolled toward November and the halfway point doug flutie led the Patriots to another early lead over the bills this time in Buffalo while the passing game had enjoyed its moments of glory during the season's first half it had also been somewhat inconsistent and more and more the offense became centered upon a down to earth running attack which gained strength and momentum with the rapid development of tailback John Stevens who thundered for 134 yards against the bills the first 100-yard rushing performance by a patriot in more than two years on defense Andre tippet returned from a month of inactivity but defensive end Garen varus went down the fourth defensive starter to be lost to injury still the Patriots gutty defense forced four turnovers including an interception by Raymond Claiborne which set up a fourth-quarter tie but once again the last-second buffalo field gold nipped the Patriots at the wire and propelled the bills toward the AFC Championship game while New England nursed a three and five record at big season the season second half began with Victor Kai am assuming team ownership from Billy Sullivan but the man behind the men on the field remained Raymond berry the winningest coach in Patriots history who planned the first place a prize for Doug Flutie's former team the Chicago Bears and Flutie had more surprises for his ex teammates Flutie fakes the handoff bootlegs right now locked up to the end ends more surprises Flutie back to pass Lin Dawson's two scores help New England to a 20 to 7 lead at the half while the Patriots patched-up defense held the dangerous bears to barely 200 yards of offense Doug Flutie completed just six of 18 passes but four of them were for touchdowns as the Patriots dominated the NFL's best defense from the game's very first play in a landslide 32 7 victory the following week it was the Miami Dolphins and Dan Marino's turned to test one of the few teams with the speed tenacity and toughness in the secondary to play nose to nose with the Dolphins receivers Moreno through 51 times but the Dolphins scored just 10 points while the Patriots through 14 times and scored 21 John Stephens with 85 carries in three weeks had his third straight 100-yard game and carried the Patriots to their 200th regular season wins [Music] it was fittingly pouring in the Meadowlands for the rematch of the rain-soaked opener against the Jets and again the New England defense poured in on New York Doug Flutie also rained on the Jets parade completing just six passes but as usual at least one was for a touchdown mostly Flutie handed off to John Stephens who slugged 487 more yards despite the slippery conditions and a New York defense which followed him everywhere the game's biggest play came on third and eight when Doug Flutie found Robert Perriman for an 18-yard gain to the New York 3 which set up a clinching fourth quarter touchdown by John Stephens in a 14 to 13 victory over the Jets the next week in Miami the Patriots held the men of Marino to three points and just 13 in two games before heading into Indianapolis for the kickoff of week 13 [Applause] the first kickoff return in the career of Sammy Martin including high school college or pro jump started the Patriots and the defense shut down another star performer holding Eric Dickerson to just 45 yards Russ Francis looked like his old all world self with two key catches and with Lin Dawson Steve Johnson and the return of injured backup Willie Scott New England enjoys quality depth at the tight end position although the Patriots out gain the Colts three turnovers and two missed field goals halted New England's win streak at four [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] back home for week 14 Stanley Morgan latched on to his team record 500th career reception to go with his club records in receiving yardage and touchdowns the defense also set records holding the Seattle Seahawks to just 65 yards and only two first downs New England controlled the ball for more than 41 minutes thanks in good part to John Stephens who became the fifth player and Patriots history to rush for more than a thousand yards it was the fifth win in six games for the Patriots their third over a division champion and a Tran Doug Flutie's record in Sullivan Stadium 210 and OH after a year and a half's absence Tony Eason returned to the lineup in week 15 against Tampa Bay with a windchill of 25 below each team was limited to just one touchdown during regulation time but during a frigid sudden-death period Eason led the Patriots to their first-ever overtime victory back to past 36 Eason lets it go long near sideline ball is down kick is up Jayson starsky's kick gave the Patriots their sixth victory in seven games but in Denver for the season's final game the Patriots needed one more win in order to make the playoffs before a national television audience John Stephens burst free for 130 yards his fifth 100-yard game and he came within three carries of Jim Nancy's club record of 299 in a season which didn't at all or his chances for winning Rookie of the Year honors the seasons quarterback Odyssey ended with the re-emergence of Steve Grogan who replaced the re-injured Tony Eason the Patriots outgained the Broncos everywhere but on the scoreboard and they had to find solace and having overcome a bizarre first half of the season two gangly remain in the race until the season's final moments the Patriots special teams featured the punt returns of wide receiver Irving fryer the team's career record holder in punt return yardage who finished third in the AFC for the season and the kickoff returns of number 82 rookie Sammy Martin from LSU another breakaway wide receiver who adds a hold your breath dimension to New England's kick return teams at the other end of the kicking game another lucky Miami free agent Jeff FICO's punted long and high enabling the coverage team to place second in the entire league led by mozi to to pool Jim Bollman Darryl Holmes Vincent Brahm rod McSwain Danny BIA and rookie special team star Marvin Allen the Patriots repeatedly down the ball near their opponent's goal line or punished Andy runner who tried to escape his own goal line they trapped in swarm the returned man or forced him into a fruitless path of retreat or better still forced him to cough up the football [Music] despite the team struggles during the season's first half the red white and bruised defense finished second in the AFC allow the fewest first downs in the AFC was first in the NFL and third down defense and in six games limited the opposition to just one touchdown and/or one field goal number 72 rookie nose tackle Tim goat from North Carolina played like a veteran as he occupied two blockers clocked up the middle and was named the team's best defensive lineman another of the team's best linemen Garen Barris was limited to half a season so number 96 defensive end Brent Williams stepped forward and led the team in sacks and if he happened to mrs. mann number 97 Milford Hodge was there [Music] with an eye toward the future the linebacking core featured young hitters like number 59 cookie Vincent Brown and second-year man Tim Jordan number 93 in his first year as a starter inside backer at Reynolds number 95 was third on the team and tackles while number 50 Lawrence McGrew successfully switched from the inside to the outside number 56 andre tippet added to his career record sack totals and for the fifth consecutive season was voted to the Pro Bowl also voted to the Pro Bowl in his first year as a starter was number 52 Johnny Rembert who devastated the best offensive players any team can throw at a linebacker with tip it on the outside and rembered on the inside the Patriots defense revolves about a matchless set of Pro Bowl linebackers the Patriots defensive back field has been together since 1984 and since then has collected a total of more than 100 interceptions Nickelback rod McSwain contributed his share of big plays while free safety Fred Marion number 31 led the team in tackles and tied for the lead in interceptions with strong safety role in James among the leaders in passes defensed was cornerback Ronnie lipet while expertly patrolling the other corner was the team's all-time leader in takeaways Raymond Claiborne with 35 career interceptions offensive lineman Mike bad Sean Farrell Ron Wooten Bruce Armstrong Danny BIA Trevor Manish Paul fair cha and Tom Rader will be attempting to protect and keep healthy quarterbacks Doug Flutie Tony Eason Steve Grogan and newly acquired Mark Wilson a rebuilt offensive line made possible a simplified offensive game plan which included fullback Robert Pera man's hard-nosed power as well as the proven scoring punch of fullback MOSI 2-tuples [Music] tailback Reggie do part led the team in receptions while most eyes were focused on the other tailback John Stevens and off Stevens cuts it to the outside on the left get some Running Room he could be gone top draft choice John Stephens of Northwestern Louisiana state was second only to Eric Dickerson in AFC rushing and started in the Pro Bowl no one appreciated his abilities more than offensive lineman of the year Sean Farrell and tackle Bruce Armstrong he's a great open field runner and he runs through traffic real well the ability to exploit holes real quickly with office alignment really like so if he does get a good block he'll get you eight ten twelve yards and then that makes blocking lots more fun I know he'd be a great back I thought everybody else felt the same way everybody indicated that they wanted to see Johnny get the ball 25 to 30 times he came in Johnson number two in the AFC in rushing and it really it's been the bulk of our offense then that's quite a tribute to him he'd be might their graves directly the year he's not playing like a rookie anymore I think originally when they first started playing his quickness through holes was nice to see but the thing that amazed people was when he'd put his shoulder down into a linebacker or put his shoulder down into a defensive back the other guy wound up on his back and John kept running it was a sight to say if I saw the film of that and he broke some runs in that film that made my mouth drool John's got a great chance to be one of the better running backs ever playing the game I truly believe that with young stars like Rookie of the Year John Stephens and a physical team of battle-hardened young veterans to lead the way there is good reason for the optimism that shines among coach Raymond Barry's team of character [Music] this video is part of a complete blockbuster lineup of NFL Films capturing go football's greatest plays and biggest heroes with crunching follies highlights and Superbowl hits plus new releases each season we've got action back videos of every superstar team in the NFL call 1-800 NFL tape now for a free catalog and order your NFL hits a day or look for NFL Films at your nearby video store the seasons never over with NFL Films and Fox Hills video

Channel: Sports Odyssey

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Rating: 4.8904109 out of 5

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Id: _muewXc-oYI

Length: 23min 37sec (1417 seconds)

Published: Sun May 05 2019