<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <Ul> <Li> ← 2007 </Li> <Li> Patriots seasons </Li> <Li> 2009 → </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> ← 2007 </Li> <Li> Patriots seasons </Li> <Li> 2009 → </Li> </Ul> <P> The 2008 New England Patriots season was the 39th season for the team in the National Football League and 49th season overall . The Patriots were defending AFC champions . Despite finishing the regular season with an 11--5 record, the Patriots did not qualify for the playoffs--becoming the first 11 - win team since the expansion to a 12 - team playoff in 1990 to not make the playoffs, as well as only the second team (after the 1985 Denver Broncos) since the NFL expanded to a 16 - game regular season in 1978 . This came just one year after finishing with the only 16--0 regular - season record in NFL history . </P> <P> In the season opener, quarterback Tom Brady, the NFL's MVP in 2007, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament against the Chiefs and missed the remainder of the season . Backup quarterback Matt Cassel replaced Brady . Cassel's led the team to a win in Week 2 against the New York Jets, his first start since high school . A loss the following week against the Miami Dolphins ended the Pats' record 21 game regular - season winning streak . This record was broken by the Indianapolis Colts in 2009 . </P>

When was the last year the patriots did not make the playoffs