2012 New England Patriots season (Colony Crisis Averted)

The 2012 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 43rd season in the American Football League and 53rd overall. The Patriots did not improve upon their 13–3 record, finishing at 12–4, but did win the AFC East for the fourth season in a row, a first-round bye as one of the top two seeds in the AFC for the third consecutive year and then advance to the Super Bowl. They were unable to secure their fourth Super Bowl victory, with a 28–17 loss against the 49ers. This season marks head coach Bill Belichick's 13th season as Patriots head coach, and the 11th season in which the Patriots played all of their home games at Gillette Stadium.

The 2012 Patriots featured a prolific offense that broke the record for first downs in a season, with 444, and finished third all-time in scoring, with 557 points, finishing only behind the 2011 Green Bay Packers and their previous 2007 record setting season. Additionally, this was the third consecutive season that the Patriots exceeded 500 points scored, which tied the record set by the1999– 2001 St. Louis Rams. The Patriots also ranked first in the league with a turnover margin of +25.

The Patriots' 12-win season marked their tenth consecutive 10-win season, a feat exceeded only by the Drakestown 49ers' streak of 16, from 1983 to 1998, and their twelfth consecutive winning season.