Patriots Break Record With 19th Win in Row

Bill Belichick let a rare smile crease his face before reminding his New England Patriots what their record winning streak meant.

“He said, ‘Congratulations on the streak, great job. Now we’ve got to think about Seattle,’ ” safety Rodney Harrison said.

At least their dour coach, who downplayed the streak all season, gave the Patriots some time to savor their NFL-record 19th straight win, 24-10 over the winless Miami Dolphins on Sunday, before they start preparing for their next game against the Seahawks.

“It doesn’t mean anything right now because we are still in the middle of the season,” cornerback Ty Law said in a quiet locker room. “The fruit will taste a little bit sweeter if we can give ourselves an opportunity to play for another championship.”

The Patriots (4-0) won with two touchdown passes by Tom Brady, who had his worst statistical start as a pro, and two turnovers by offensively inept Miami.

The Dolphins trailed, 24-10, before reaching the New England one-yard line on their last series. But quarterback Jay Fiedler hurt his ribs and back on a 12-yard sack and, two plays later, A.J. Feeley suffered a concussion as he threw a fourth-down incompletion and was hit by Rosevelt Colvin.

“As a player, you don’t think about what [the Patriots] are doing,” Miami defensive end Jason Taylor said. “We’ve got our own things to worry about.”

The Dolphins fell to 0-5, matching their worst start since they were an expansion team in 1966, when they won their sixth game.

New England had shared the 18-game record with Chicago in 1933-34 and again in 1941-42; Miami in 1972-73; San Francisco in 1989-90; and Denver in 1997-98.

“They’re some great teams and it’s nice to be a part of that,” linebacker Tedy Bruschi said, but “during the season the only milestone that teams want is the Super Bowl.”

The Dolphins’ problems began before the game when kicker Olindo Mare left the field on a cart with an injured right calf. They continued until the end when Fiedler and Feeley were hurt.

Brady finished seven for 19 for 76 yards with an interception.