<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> 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>
when was the last year the patriots did not make the playoffs
when was the last year the patriots did not make the playoffs
2008
2008