# 2003 New England Patriots season
The 2003 [New England Patriots](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-england-patriots) season was the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league) franchise's 34th season, in which the team finished 14-2, the best record in the NFL, and won [Super Bowl XXXVIII](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-xxxviii) 32-29 over the Carolina Panthers for its second championship in three years.[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/2003/reg) • [2](https://as.com/masdeporte/2018/01/24/nfl/1516764864_616002.html) Head coach Bill Belichick and second-year starting quarterback Tom Brady led a team built around a league-best defense and a ball-control offense.[3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/) • [2](https://as.com/masdeporte/2018/01/24/nfl/1516764864_616002.html)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Regular-season record | 14-2, the best mark in the NFL and then the best regular season in franchise history[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/2003/reg) • [4](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/v1596583660/league/t593ytg5tznazrtqanlu.pdf) |
| Points | 348 scored, 238 allowed, a differential of +110[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/2003/reg) |
| Streaks | Ended the regular season on a 12-game winning streak; 8-0 at home and 6-2 on the road[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/2003/reg) |
| Turnovers | +17 turnover differential, the highest in team history; 11-0 when positive or even, 3-2 when negative[5](https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-season-notes-125676) |
| Playoffs | Beat Tennessee 17-14 in the divisional round and Indianapolis 24-14 in the AFC Championship Game[6](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2003/by-team/new-england-patriots) • [7](https://as.com/us/nfl/colts-patriots-una-rivalidad-epica-convertida-en-ordinaria-n/) |
| Super Bowl XXXVIII | Defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-29 on February 1, 2004[6](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2003/by-team/new-england-patriots) |
| Aftermath | The win extended into a 21-game consecutive winning streak spanning the 2003 and 2004 seasons, including playoffs[8](https://as.com/us/nfl/el-record-de-tom-brady-que-no-pudo-igualar-patrick-mahomes-n/) |
## Regular season
New England opened with a 31-0 loss to the [Buffalo Bills](https://www.edgepedia.org/buffalo-bills) on September 7 and a 20-17 loss at Washington in Week 4, the only two defeats of the year.[6](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2003/by-team/new-england-patriots) From Week 5 onward the team did not lose again, closing the season on a 12-game winning streak that included a 31-0 shutout of Buffalo in the finale, a result that gave the Patriots the then-best regular season in franchise history at 14-2, the best mark in the NFL.[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/2003/reg) • [4](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/v1596583660/league/t593ytg5tznazrtqanlu.pdf)
The team was markedly stronger at home, going 8-0 at [Gillette Stadium](https://www.edgepedia.org/gillette-stadium) against 6-2 on the road, and went 5-1 in the [AFC East](https://www.edgepedia.org/afc-east) and 11-1 in conference play.[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/2003/reg) Notable wins included a 38-34 defeat of the [Indianapolis Colts](https://www.edgepedia.org/indianapolis-colts) in Week 13 and low-scoring defensive victories such as 12-0 over Dallas and 12-0 over Miami.[6](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2003/by-team/new-england-patriots)
**Turnovers and defense.** The Patriots recorded a +17 turnover differential, the highest in team history, and were 11-0 in games with a positive or even turnover ratio and 3-2 when negative.[5](https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-season-notes-125676) Spanish-language coverage of the era describes the 2003 Patriots as the best defensive team in the league while ranking only about middle of the pack on offense, with second-year receiver [Deion Branch](https://www.edgepedia.org/deion-branch) as Brady's top target alongside David Givens and a declining [Troy Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/troy-brown).[9](https://as.com/us/us/2017/05/29/nfl/1496041275_051296.html)
## Roster construction
Belichick and personnel executive [Scott Pioli](https://www.edgepedia.org/scott-pioli) reshaped the defending-era roster through free agency, signing linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, safety [Rodney Harrison](https://www.edgepedia.org/rodney-harrison), and cornerback Tyrone Poole to strengthen the defense, while releasing veterans from the first two title teams including offensive linemen Mike Compton and [Damien Woody](https://www.edgepedia.org/damien-woody), running back Antowain Smith, receiver Dedric Ward, and nose tackle Ted Washington.[2](https://as.com/masdeporte/2018/01/24/nfl/1516764864_616002.html) Colvin suffered a hip injury early in the 2003 campaign that ended his season, but Harrison and Poole started in Super Bowl XXXVIII.[2](https://as.com/masdeporte/2018/01/24/nfl/1516764864_616002.html)
## Playoffs
As the AFC's top seed, New England hosted a divisional playoff game against the [Tennessee Titans](https://www.edgepedia.org/tennessee-titans) and won 17-14 on January 10, 2004, a three-point margin in keeping with the franchise's recent close playoff contests.[6](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2003/by-team/new-england-patriots) • [10](https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-vs-colts-divisional-playoff-pre-game-notes-129681) In the [AFC Championship Game](https://www.edgepedia.org/afc-championship-game) on January 18, the Patriots beat [Peyton Manning](https://www.edgepedia.org/peyton-manning)'s Colts 24-14 after four interceptions of the Indianapolis quarterback.[6](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2003/by-team/new-england-patriots) • [7](https://as.com/us/nfl/colts-patriots-una-rivalidad-epica-convertida-en-ordinaria-n/) The win gave New England a 6-0 record against AFC South teams in 2003, having swept the division in the regular season and beaten both Tennessee and Indianapolis in the playoffs.[10](https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-vs-colts-divisional-playoff-pre-game-notes-129681)
In Super Bowl XXXVIII at Houston on February 1, 2004, the Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers 32-29, wearing blue jerseys for the second of their championship appearances in that uniform.[6](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2003/by-team/new-england-patriots) • [11](https://www.patriots.com/news/gearing-up-for-the-big-game-on-sunday-136261) The victory was the franchise's second Super Bowl title, after XXXVI following the 2001 season.[2](https://as.com/masdeporte/2018/01/24/nfl/1516764864_616002.html)
## Place in the dynasty
The 2003 championship began a stretch in which New England won 21 consecutive games across the 2003 and 2004 seasons, including playoffs, a record that stood as the longest consecutive winning streak associated with Tom Brady's Patriots.[8](https://as.com/us/nfl/el-record-de-tom-brady-que-no-pudo-igualar-patrick-mahomes-n/) Between the 2001 and 2004 seasons the franchise went 57-16 in regular-season and playoff games combined.[12](https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/patriots-2001-to-2004-including-playoffs-record) The 2003 and 2004 teams are remembered as the defensive core of the early dynasty, in contrast to the free-agent-built 2001 champions and the more offense-oriented later squads.[13](https://www.nfl.com/news/how-the-new-england-patriots-were-built-0ap3000000463391) • [9](https://as.com/us/us/2017/05/29/nfl/1496041275_051296.html)
## References
1. [2003 NFL Division Standings, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/standings/division/2003/reg)
2. [El origen del "Patriot Way", AS.com](https://as.com/masdeporte/2018/01/24/nfl/1516764864_616002.html)
3. [New England Patriots Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nwe/)
4. [Historical Timeline: 2003-05, NFL.com](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/upload/v1596583660/league/t593ytg5tznazrtqanlu.pdf)
5. [Patriots Season Notes, Patriots.com](https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-season-notes-125676)
6. [NFL 2003 New England Patriots Schedule, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2003/by-team/new-england-patriots)
7. [Colts - Patriots, una rivalidad épica convertida en ordinaria, AS.com](https://as.com/us/nfl/colts-patriots-una-rivalidad-epica-convertida-en-ordinaria-n/)
8. [El récord de Tom Brady que no pudo igualar Patrick Mahomes, AS.com](https://as.com/us/nfl/el-record-de-tom-brady-que-no-pudo-igualar-patrick-mahomes-n/)
9. [Los Patriots de Belichick nunca tuvieron tantas armas, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2017/05/29/nfl/1496041275_051296.html)
10. [Patriots vs Colts Divisional Playoff Pre-Game Notes, Patriots.com](https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-vs-colts-divisional-playoff-pre-game-notes-129681)
11. [Gearing up for the Big Game on Sunday, Patriots.com](https://www.patriots.com/news/gearing-up-for-the-big-game-on-sunday-136261)
12. [Patriots 2001 to 2004 Including Playoffs Record, StatMuse](https://www.statmuse.com/nfl/ask/patriots-2001-to-2004-including-playoffs-record)
13. [How the New England Patriots were built, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/how-the-new-england-patriots-were-built-0ap3000000463391)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › National Football League › NFL teams and franchises › NFL team seasons 2010 to 2019*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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