History is not on the Patriots' side. Each time they've entered the last week of a season needing outside help to make the playoffs, they've never gotten any.

1977

AT STAKE: AFC East title

WHAT THEY NEEDED: The Dolphins to lose to the Bills on Saturday, while they beat the Colts on Sunday.

WHAT HAPPENED: Dolphins 31, Bills 14

1980

AT STAKE: Wildcard berth

WHAT THEY NEEDED:

The Steelers to beat the Chargers in the final Monday night game of the season, after the Pats had completed their regular schedule.

WHAT HAPPENED: Chargers 26, Steelers 17

1983

AT STAKE: Wildcard berth

WHAT THEY NEEDED: The Browns to lose to the Steelers or, if Cleveland won, the Bills to beat the Falcons while they beat the Seahawks.

WHAT HAPPENED: Browns 30, Steelers 17 and Falcons 31, Bills 14

1987

AT STAKE: AFC East title and wildcard berth

WHAT THEY NEEDED: To win the division, they needed the Bucs to beat the Colts. If they didn't win the division, they needed both the Chargers and the Oilers to lose to earn a wildcard berth.

WHAT HAPPENED: Colts 24, Bucs 6 and Oilers 21, Bengals 17. (The Chargers did lose, but the Pats needed Houston to lose, as well.)

1988

AT STAKE: Wildcard berth

WHAT THEY NEEDED:

The Pats could have clinched by beating the Broncos on Saturday. But they lost, meaning they needed the Colts and Browns to lose on Sunday.

WHAT HAPPENED: Colts 17, Bills 14 and Browns 28, Oilers 23. To make it worse, the Colts trailed 14-3 early in the fourth quarter and the Oilers trailed 23-7 in the third quarter.

2002

AT STAKE: AFC East title

WHAT THEY NEEDED: After beating the Dolphins in a 1 p.m. game, they needed the Packers to beat the Jets in a 4:15 p.m. game.

WHAT HAPPENED: Jets 42, Packers 17