Despite several setbacks throughout the season, including a blowout loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in week four and the highly publicized Deflategate scandal, the Patriots rode the momentum of a 10–2 finish to a Super Bowl championship.

After a disappointing loss to the Miami Dolphins, the Patriots looked to bounce back against the lowly Vikings who were without Adrian Peterson who was suspended, but were led by ex-Patriot Matt Cassel at quarterback.

After both teams punted again, the Patriots embarked on a 15-play, 84-yard drive, converting four third-downs, and scoring on Brady's 6-yard touchdown pass to Gronkowski midway through the second quarter to take a 7–3 lead.

Kansas City answered right back, marching 80 yards in 12 plays, converting two third-and-longs in the process, and scoring on Smith's two-yard touchdown strike to Kelce, extending the lead to 34–7, and killing any hope of a Patriots' comeback.

After receiving the opening kickoff of the second half the Patriots reached the Bills 43 in just five plays before Brady launched a bomb to Brian Tyms for a 43-yard touchdown, increasing the New England lead to 20–7.

After a Bills punt Brady led the Patriots down the field and, with just over 6 minutes remaining, found his favorite target, Gronkowski, for a 17-yard touchdown, but the play was nullified for an offensive holding penalty on Jordan Devey.

Kyle Orton calmly engineered an 8-play, 80-yard drive, aided by a 35-yard completion on 4th-and-2, that ended in his 8-yard touchdown pass to Chris Hogan, with a successful two-point conversion, trimming the deficit to one possession, 30–22.

Geno Smith engineered a 12-play, 86-yard drive, finding tight end Jeff Cumberland for a 10-yard TD pass to cut the Patriots' lead to two points with 2:31 remaining.

On the first play of the ensuing Chicago possession, Cutler was strip-sacked by rookie defensive end Zach Moore with Rob Ninkovich recovering and returning it 15 yards for a touchdown, giving the Patriots a 38–7 blowout lead.

Denver countered, storming 80 yards in just 9 plays, aided by a pass-interference penalty on Brandon Browner, on 3rd-and-10 before Ronnie Hillman punched in a 1-yard touchdown run for a 7–3 Broncos lead.

With the fabulous field position, it took the Colts just three plays for Luck to find Hakeem Nicks on a 10-yard touchdown pass, making the score 14–10 with less than a minute remaining in the first half.

Despite the effort from Luck and the offense, the Colt defense had no answer for the Patriots, with them driving 80 more yards in 10 more plays, scoring on Gray's 1-yard touchdown run, his fourth, increasing the lead to 35–20 with just 8:43 remaining.

After two three-yard runs by Gray, Tom Brady threw a short pass to Gronkowski who broke it off for a 26-yard touchdown, effectively ending the game and clinching the Patriots' sixth straight win.

On the opening possession of the game Matthew Stafford hit Golden Tate for gains of 24 and 17 yards en route to the Patriots 34, but could only settle for a Matt Prater 48-yard field goal.

The Packers countered, reaching the Patriots 10, but Adams dropped a sure touchdown on a wide-open slant on 3rd-and-5, but Crosby kicked a 28-yard field goal, making the score 26–21 with 8:41 remaining.

Three plays later, Brady dropped a pass into the arms of Rob Gronkowski who caught the ball momentarily, but Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix punched it out before it could be ruled a catch, wiping out a touchdown.

On the fourth play of the Patriots next drive, Brady threw a two-yard pass to LaFell, who was stripped by Jahleel Addae with Darrell Stuckey picking up the fumble and rumbling 53 yards for a touchdown and a 14–3 Chargers lead.

Midway through the third quarter, Devin McCourty intercepted Rivers at the Patriots 44 and returned it 56 yards for a touchdown, but a helmet-to-helmet hit by Browner on Ladarius Green nullified the score.

After the next three drives ended in punts, with the first half winding down, Tannehill connected with Wallace on a 32-yard touchdown bomb with 0:05 left to trim the score to 14–13 on a play that was initially ruled a drop.

The Jets drove 59 yards to the Patriots 10, but on 2nd-and-8, Smith was sacked by Sealver Siliga for a 9-yard loss and an incomplete pass on 3rd-and-17 forced them to settle for a 37-yard field goal by Folk, trimming the deficit to 17–16 with 7:53 remaining.

With the AFC East division title and home field advantage wrapped up, the Patriots rested many players, including tight end Rob Gronkowski and wide receiver Julian Edelman in the final game of the regular season.

On the opening possession of the game, The Ravens stormed 71 yards in under three minutes to take a 7–0 lead, with Joe Flacco hitting rookie wide receiver Kamar Aiken on a 19-yard touchdown pass.

After a Patriots three-and-out, Flacco drove the Ravens down the field once again, this time 79 yards in exactly six minutes, capping the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith, giving Baltimore a surprising 14–0 lead.

Midway through the second quarter, the Patriots marched 67 yards in three-and-a half minutes to tie the game at 14–14 with a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Danny Amendola.

On third down, Daniels dropped a pass in the end zone from Flacco, thanks to excellent coverage by Patrick Chung, who was having a renaissance season, and the Ravens settled for a 25-yard field goal from Justin Tucker, taking a 31–28 lead fairly early in the fourth quarter.

With great field position at the Colts 47, aided by a 30-yard catch by Vereen, the Patriots took a 14–0 lead when Tom Brady hit fullback James Develin for a 1-yard touchdown late in the first quarter.

Taking over at their own 35, the Patriots struck first blood, marching 65 yards in 9 plays, converting a 3rd-and-9 with a 23-yard catch by Edelman, culminating with Brady hitting Brandon LaFell on an 11-yard touchdown pass.

Facing their largest 4th quarter deficit in a Super Bowl during the Brady-Belichick era, the Patriots appeared finished, but Rob Ninkovich sacked Wilson for an 8-yard loss on 3rd-and-7, forcing Seattle to punt.

On the next play with 1:13 remaining, Kearse caught a 33-yard pass that bounced off of his body multiple times (which has been compared to the David Tyree helmet catch which also came against the Patriots at University of Phoenix Stadium).

On the next play, Wilson's pass, intended for Ricardo Lockette, was intercepted by undrafted free-agent rookie Malcolm Butler on the goal line with 20 seconds remaining.