| 1996 New England Patriots season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Robert Kraft |
| Head coach | Bill Parcells |
| Home field | Foxboro Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 11–5 |
| Division place | 1st AFC East |
| Playoff finish | Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Steelers) 28–3 Won AFC Championship (vs. Jaguars) 20–6 Lost Super Bowl XXXI (vs. Packers) 21–35 |
| Pro Bowlers | T Bruce Armstrong QB Drew Bledsoe TE Ben Coates RB Curtis Martin DE Willie McGinest KR Dave Meggett |
| AP All-Pros | T Bruce Armstrong (2nd team) KR Dave Meggett (2nd team) |
The 1996 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 27th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 37th overall. They finished with a record of eleven wins and five losses, and finished first in the AFC East division. After a disappointing 1995 season, Drew Bledsoe bounced back with 4,086 passing yards and threw 27 touchdown passes to 15 interceptions while Curtis Martin had another Pro Bowl season. The team would win the divisional playoff—only the second home playoff game in franchise history—and conference championship by double-digit margins. They lost Super Bowl XXXI to the Green Bay Packers 35–21.