Jan. 5, 1964, at San Diego, AFL Championship, San Diego 51, Boston 10: One week after stuffing the Bills, the Patriots could not stop the Chargers’ ground attack. San Diego’s Keith Lincoln amassed 206 yards on 13 carries (15.8-yard average) and the Chargers put up 610 total yards.
Dec. 18, 1976, at Oakland, AFC divisional playoff, Oakland 24, New England 21: The Patriots appeared to have the game in the bag with a 21-17 lead late in the fourth quarter when a Ken Stabler pass on third and 18 fell incomplete. However, referee Ben Dreith made a controversial roughing-the-passer call on Ray Hamilton that gave the Raiders a new set of downs on the 13-yard line. Stabler eventually ran in for the go-ahead touchdown.
Dec. 31, 1978, at Foxborough. AFC divisional playoff, Houston 31, New England 14: Oilers quarterback Dan Pastorini threw three touchdown passes in the second quarter, and that was enough to defeat the Patriots in their first home playoff game.
Jan. 8, 1983, at Miami, first round, Miami 28, New England 13: Dolphins quarterback David Woodley completed 16 of 19 passes for 246 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Andra Franklin rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown as Miami beat the Patriots in the first round of the strike-shortened season’s “Super Bowl Tournament.”
Dec. 28, 1985, at East Rutherford, N.J., AFC wild card, New England 26, NY Jets 14: Defensive end Garin Veris recorded three sacks and an interception to help the Patriots to their first playoff win in 22 years. Tony Franklin tied the team playoff record with four field goals.
Jan. 5, 1986, at Los Angeles, AFC divisional playoff, New England 27, LA Raiders 20: The defense shined in front of a Coliseum crowd of 88,936, as the Patriots forced three fumbles and intercepted quarterback Marc Wilson three times. The Patriots scored 20 of their 27 points following turnovers. The victory was marred by a postgame fracas involving Patriots general manager Patrick Sullivan and Raiders linebacker Matt Millen.
