Patriots 2011-2012 Season Highlights

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The%20Patriots%20cruised%20to%20a%2035-21%20win%20over%20the%20San%20Diego%20Chargers%20on%20another%20huge%20passing%20day%20from%20Tom%20Brady.%20He%20put%20up%20423%20yards%20and%20three%20touchdowns%2C%20giving%20him%20a%20NFL%20record%20940%20passing%20yards%20through%20two%20weeks.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%28Photo%20by%20Elsa%2FGetty%20Images%29

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Rookie%20running%20back%20Stevan%20Ridley%20had%20a%20breakout%20game%20in%20New%20England%E2%80%99s%2031-19%20win%20over%20the%20Raiders%20in%20Oakland.%20Ridley%20ran%20for%2097%20yards%20on%2010%20carries%2C%20including%20a%2033-yard%20touchdown%20run%20in%20the%20third%20quarter%20for%20his%20first%20career%20score.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%28Photo%20by%20Ezra%20Shaw%2FGetty%20Images%29

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Eli%20Manning%20led%20the%20Giants%20to%20two%20touchdowns%20in%20the%20final%20three%20minutes%2C%20including%20a%20touchdown%20to%20tight%20end%20Jake%20Ballard%20with%2015%20seconds%20left%20to%20give%20them%20a%2024-20%20victory.%20%28Photo%20by%20Jim%20Rogash%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Patriots%20got%20back%20to%20their%20winning%20ways%20by%20beating%20the%20Jets%2037-16%20in%20the%20Meadowlands.%20The%20Pats%20got%20a%20pair%20of%20touchdowns%20from%20Rob%20Gronkowski%2C%20and%20put%20the%20game%20out%20of%20reach%20with%20an%2084-yard%20fourth%20quarter%20drive%20capped%20off%20by%20a%20Deion%20Branch%20touchdown%20to%20make%20it%2030-16%20New%20England.%20The%20Pats%20swept%20the%20regular%20season%20series%20with%20the%20Jets%20for%20the%20first%20time%20since%20Rex%20Ryan%20took%20over%20three%20years%20ago.%20%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%28Photo%20by%20Jim%20Rogash%2FGetty%20Images%29

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After%20spotting%20Philadelphia%20an%20early%2010-0%20lead%2C%20New%20England%20started%20a%20string%20of%20comebacks%20thanks%20to%20a%20big%20day%20for%20receiver%20Wes%20Welker.%20He%20had%20eight%20receptions%20for%20115%20yards%2C%20including%20two%20touchdowns.%20His%2041-yard%20score%20in%20the%20second%20quarter%20put%20the%20Pats%20on%20top%2021-10%2C%20and%20a%20nine-yard%20touchdown%20in%20the%20third%20%28pictured%29%20put%20the%20Eagles%20away%20for%20good.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%28Photo%20by%20Patrick%20McDermott%2FGetty%20Images%29

The%20Pats%20had%20some%20trouble%20shaking%20the%20Redskins%2C%20but%20got%20a%20touchdown%20from%20Wes%20Welker%20with%20just%20over%20four%20minutes%20to%20go%20in%20the%20game%20to%20break%20a%2027-27%20tie.%20Rob%20Gronkowski%20added%20two%20more%20touchdowns%20to%20his%20resume%2C%20giving%20him%20the%20most%20receiving%20touchdowns%20by%20a%20tight%20end%20in%20NFL%20history.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%28Photo%20by%20Patrick%20McDermott%2FGetty%20Images%29

After%20giving%20up%20167%20rushing%20yards%20to%20Denver%20in%20the%20first%20quarter%2C%20New%20England%20took%20control%20and%20contained%20Tim%20Tebow%20and%20Co.%20the%20rest%20of%20the%20way.%20Aaron%20Hernandez%20had%20the%20big%20day%2C%20hauling%20in%20nine%20receptions%20for%20192%20yards%20and%20a%20touchdown.%20It%20was%20a%20hat%20and%20t-shirt%20day%20for%20New%20England%2C%20as%20they%20clinched%20the%20AFC%20East%20with%20the%20win.%20%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%28Photo%20by%20Marc%20Piscotty%2FGetty%20Images%29

After%20falling%20into%20a%2021-0%20halftime%20hole%2C%20the%20Patriots%20woke%20up%20in%20the%20second%20half%20to%20beat%20the%20Dolphins%2027-24.%20Tom%20Brady%20threw%20for%20304%20yards%20and%20a%20touchdown%2C%20but%20ran%20in%20two%20scores%20as%20the%20Pats%20clinched%20a%20first-round%20bye%20in%20the%20playoffs.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%28Photo%20by%20Winslow%20Townson%2FGetty%20Images%29

Once%20again%20the%20Patriots%20fell%20into%20an%20early%20hole%2C%20letting%20Buffalo%20take%20a%2021-0%20lead%20on%20their%20first%20three%20possessions%2C%20but%20came%20storming%20back.%20New%20England%20scored%2049%20unanswered%20points%2C%20with%20Tom%20Brady%20%20throwing%20three%20touchdowns%20and%20the%20defense%20picking%20off%20Ryan%20Fitzpatrick%20four%20times.%20Sterling%20Moore%20had%20two%20of%20those%20picks%2C%20returning%20his%20second%20one%20for%20a%20touchdown%20in%20the%20fourth%20quarter.%20The%20Patriots%20locked%20up%20the%20top%20seed%20in%20the%20AFC%2C%20and%20home%20field%20advantage%20throughout%20the%20playoffs%2C%20with%20the%20victory.%3Cbr%20%2F%3E%28Photo%20by%20Jim%20Rogash%2FGetty%20Images%29