They finished the season with a 10–6 record and a division title but lost in the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In January, when the Patriots were preparing to face the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI, it was suspected head coach Bill Parcells was looking to move to another team after the game where he would have more say over personnel matters.
[3] Taking Parcells' place with the Patriots was Pete Carroll, who had coincidentally been the Jets' head coach in 1994.
The Patriots managed to finish 10–6 and first in the AFC East for the second straight season.
The first game between the last two unbeaten NFL teams since 1973[5] after the Buccaneers lost on Sunday, the Broncos won for the tenth straight time over the Patriots, 34–13.