The 2010 New England Patriots season was the 41st season for the team in the National Football League and 51st season overall. The Patriots improved on their 10–6 record from 2009 by finishing with a league-best 14–2 record and clinching the top seed in the AFC, before losing to the New York Jets in the playoffs. In their Divisional playoff game against the Jets, the Patriots could not recover from a 14–3 halftime deficit, dropping the contest 28–21 to the underdog Jets. __TOC__