2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 2
Originally scheduled to begin at 4:08 p.m. EDT on October 8, Game 2 was postponed due to rain and rescheduled for 1:08 p.m. EDT on October 9. Retired first baseman and former National Adam LaRoche threw out the ceremonial first pitch, tossing it to his son Drake, who spent a great deal of time with the Nationals during his father's years on the team.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 2
Game 2 began much as Game 1 had: Washington's starting pitcher Tanner Roark, starting Game 2 because Stephen Strasburg remained sidelined with an injury, struggled; for the second game in a row, Los Angeles shortstop Corey Seager hit a first-inning home run in the Dodgers′ second at-bat of the game; and the Dodgers′ starter, Rich Hill, struck out the side in the bottom of the first, as Clayton Kershaw had in Game 1. The Nationals, meanwhile, again missed a chance at a big inning when reserve catcher José Lobatón, starting in the postseason due to the unavailability of the injured Wilson Ramos, hit into a double play with the bases loaded to end the second inning.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 2
The Dodgers added another run in the third inning on an RBI single by right fielder Josh Reddick; Bryce Harper made a good throw to the plate from right field, but Lobatón was unable to tag Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner out at home. Dodgers starter Rich Hill used his curveball very effectively for 3+2⁄3 innings, and Los Angeles held a 2–0 lead in the bottom of the third when Lobatón came to bat again with two outs and Daniel Murphy and Danny Espinosa on base. Lobatón hit only the second postseason home run of his career, and only the second postseason homer by a catcher in the history of the Montreal-Washington franchise, driving in Murphy and Espinosa to give the Nationals a 3–2 lead, the first time they had taken the lead in the series.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 2
Although Roark had an uncharacteristically unsteady outing, the Dodgers were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position during the first five innings even though they had the bases loaded with one out three times, at least in part thanks to good Nationals defensive plays, notably by left fielder Jayson Werth. A tiring Roark left the game in the fifth inning, after 4+1⁄3 innings pitched and 85 pitches, with two Dodgers on base and Washington still holding a 3–2 lead.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 2
After that, Washington's bullpen, a postseason weakness for the 2012 and 2014 teams, held the Dodgers scoreless; Marc Rzepczynski, Sammy Solis, Blake Treinen, Óliver Pérez, and Mark Melancon combined to give up only three walks (all by Rzepczynski) and one hit (a single yielded by Melancon) in the game's remaining 4+2⁄3 innings, striking out five Dodgers. The Dodgers were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position during the game, and by the end of the game, the Nationals′ bullpen had pitched 7+2⁄3 innings in the series without giving up a run.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 2
Meanwhile, Murphy, who went 3-for-3 and scored a run, pushing his offensive output for the series′ first two games to 4-for-6 with two walks, drove in runs with singles in the fifth and seventh innings as Nationals fans in the crowd chanted ""MVP! MVP!" The Nationals went 4-for-8 with runners in scoring position, a turnaround from their previous postseason performance: From Game 5 of the 2012 National League Division Series until Lobatón's homer in the third inning, they had gone only 3-for-35 in the postseason with runners in scoring position.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 2
Washington won 5–2 to even the series at one. It was the Nationals′ first postseason victory at home since a 2–1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4 of the 2012 National League Division Series on October 11, 2012.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 3
As the series crossed the country to Los Angeles, the visiting Nationals put pressure on Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda from the outset, loading the bases in the first inning on a single and two walks; although they did not score, they forced him to throw 28 pitches. In the Dodgers′ half of the first, Nationals starter Gio González walked Justin Turner, followed by  Corey Seager staking L.A. to a 1–0 lead in the first inning, as he had in both previous games of the series, this time with a double.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 3
The Nationals' offense erupted in the third inning. Trea Turner singled and scored as Jayson Werth doubled. Bryce Harper then singled, scoring Werth to give the Nats a 2–1 lead, and Anthony Rendon followed with a 432-foot (132-meter), two-run home run into the left-field seats, putting Washington ahead 4–1. Maeda left the game after the inning, having thrown 68 pitches.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 3
After the Dodgers scored their first-inning run, Gio González retired 11 of the next 12 batters. However, in the fifth inning, he gave up a two-run homer to Dodgers pinch-hitter Carlos Ruiz that narrowed the lead to 4–3. Nationals manager Dusty Baker immediately took out González and, for the second consecutive game, Nationals relievers had to pitch the final 4+2⁄3 innings. Sammy Solis pitched 1+2⁄3 innings, followed by Óliver Pérez for a third-of-an-inning and Shawn Kelley for 1+2⁄3 innings, all scoreless; Kelley retired all five Dodgers, striking out three of them. The Dodgers′ bullpen also blanked the Nationals through the eighth inning, Washington clinging to a 4–3 lead going into the ninth.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 3
Los Angeles closer Kenley Jansen came in to pitch, hoping to give the Dodgers a chance to tie or win the game in the bottom of the inning. But Jayson Werth led off with a 450-foot (137-meter) home run into the left-field stands that gave the Nationals an important insurance run. Jansen then walked second baseman Daniel Murphy, hit Harper with a pitch and, after Rendon popped out, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman doubled off the right field wall, scoring both Murphy and Harper and knocking Jansen out of the game.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 3
By the time Washington pinch-hitter Chris Heisey came to bat with a 7–3 lead, many Dodger fans were leaving the stadium; Heisey capped the inning by scoring Zimmerman with a sacrifice fly to make the score 8–3. Nationals closer Mark Melancon pitched a perfect ninth to seal the victory, completing 4+2⁄3 scoreless innings by the bullpen; in the series thus far, Nationals relievers had pitched 12+1⁄3 innings without yielding a single run, striking out 14 Dodgers.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 3
By the end of the game, Zimmerman was hitting .455 in the series, Werth .417 and Murphy .400. The win gave the Nationals a 2–1 edge, their first lead in a postseason series since the first game of the 2012 National League Division Series.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 4
Facing elimination, the Dodgers opted to have their ace starter Clayton Kershaw pitch again on only three days rest. In the top of the first inning, the Nationals pressed him, with Trea Turner leading off with a walk and Bryce Harper following with a single, after which Daniel Murphy drove in Turner with an RBI single to give the Nationals a run in the first inning for the first time in the series. Nationals starter Joe Ross, however, had a rough first inning himself, hitting Justin Turner with a pitch and giving up a two-run homer to  Adrián González.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 4
With a 2–1 lead, Kershaw then settled down, allowing Washington to tie the game at two in the top of the third with singles by Trea Turner and Jayson Werth and a sacrifice fly by Murphy that drove in Turner, but otherwise keeping the Nationals scoreless until the seventh inning. Ross, meanwhile, struggled.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 4
In the bottom of the third inning, he gave up a lead-off double to Kershaw; after keeping Kershaw at second and recording two outs, he allowed a single by Justin Turner that scored Kershaw, walked Adrián González and Josh Reddick to load the bases, and then hit Joc Pederson with a pitch, forcing Justin Turner home from third. Ross left the game with the Dodgers leading 4–2, having thrown 55 pitches in 2+2⁄3 innings, giving up four runs, all earned, on three hits and two walks, and striking out three.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 4
The Nationals bullpen faced another long outing. They stretched their streak of scoreless innings in the series to 14+1⁄3, but with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Reynaldo López became the first Washington reliever to give up a run in the series when Reddick singled and Pederson drove him in with an RBI double, giving Los Angeles a 5–2 lead. The Nationals′ offense, meanwhile, finally got to Kershaw, staging a comeback in the top of the seventh inning.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 4
Danny Espinosa, who had gone 0-for-10 with nine strikeouts in the series, singled for his first hit of the 2016 postseason. He was still on first with two outs when Trea Turner singled and Harper walked to load the bases, driving Kershaw out of the game after throwing 110 pitches. Dodgers reliever Pedro Baez then hit Werth with a pitch to force Espinosa home, and reliever Luis Avilán gave up a single to Murphy that scored Turner and Harper, tying the game at five, with all five Nationals runs charged to Kershaw.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 4
Pitching the bottom of the eighth for Washington, Blake Treinen got the first two outs, but then hit Andrew Toles with a pitch and gave up a single to pinch-hitter Andre Ethier, followed by a single by Chase Utley that drove in Toles to give the Dodgers a 6–5 lead. Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen secured the Dodgers′ victory with a perfect ninth in which he struck out two Nats, and Los Angeles tied the series at two.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 4
Daniel Murphy's 2-for-3 performance in the game pushed his postseason average for 2016 to .462, and his four RBIs set a new Montreal-Washington franchise record for RBIs by a single player in a postseason game. At the end of the game, the Nationals′ bullpen ERA for the series stood at 1.02, with only two runs given up in 17+2⁄3 innings of work. Washington's starters, in contrast, had pitched only 16+1⁄3 innings and given up 13 runs, with a 7.16 ERA for the series.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 4
When Blake Treinen hit Andrew Toles with a pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning, it set two new Major League Baseball records: It was the first time in history that one team's pitchers hit four batters with pitches in a single postseason game, and it was also the first time that two teams had combined to hit 11 batters with pitches in the course of a single postseason series.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 5
For the fifth and final game of the series, at Nationals Park, Dodgers starter Rich Hill on short rest struggled and didn't make it out of the third inning, yet gave up just one run. Max Scherzer held Los Angeles scoreless for the first six innings. Joc Pederson hit a solo homer to lead off the seventh inning and tie the game. A two-out pinch-hit single by Carlos Ruiz off Sammy Solis put the Dodgers ahead and Justin Turner's two-run triple extended it to 4–1.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 5
A two-run homer by Washington pinch-hitter Chris Heisey off Grant Dayton in the bottom of the inning made it 4–3, with the Dodgers bringing in closer Kenley Jansen to get out of the inning. Jansen threw a career high 51 pitches, working into the ninth inning. In a rare relief appearance, Dodger ace Clayton Kershaw came into the game with one out in the ninth, two days after throwing 110 pitches in Game 4 on short rest. He induced a pop-up by Daniel Murphy and struck out Wilmer Difo swinging to end the game and series. It was Kershaw's first save in the majors; the only save he had in the minors had come in his first professional season for the 2006 Gulf Coast Dodgers, a game in which Jansen was his catcher.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 5
At 4 hours, 32 minutes, this set a record for the longest nine-inning postseason game in Major League history. The seventh inning alone lasted an hour and six minutes, with seven pitching changes, six runs, four pinch-hitters, two pinch-runners, and a double switch. This record would be passed just two years later in Game 4 of the 2018 American League Championship Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Houston Astros, which took 4 hours and 33 minutes to complete.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 5
For the third time in franchise history, the Expos/Nationals blew a 2–1 lead in the postseason, both of the other times coming in 1981. In the 1981 National League Division Series, the then Expos took a 2–0 lead against the Philadelphia Phillies, lost Games 3 and 4 but won Game 5 in Philadelphia. In the ensuing NLCS against the Dodgers, the Expos also blew a 2–1 lead and lost the pennant.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 5
Kenny Albert of Fox Sports, calling the final out of NLDS Game 5.


2016 National League Division Series, Washington vs. Los Angeles, Game 5
With the win, the Dodgers advanced to the NLCS for the first time since 2013, with this being their fourth appearance in nine seasons.


2016 National League Wild Card Game
The 2016 National League Wild Card Game was a play-in game during Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2016 postseason played between the National League's (NL) two wild card teams, the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants. As both teams finished with identical 87–75 records, a tiebreaker was used to determine the host team. In accordance with MLB tiebreaking rules, the Mets earned the right to host the game by winning their season series against the Giants 4–3.


2016 National League Wild Card Game
The game was played on October 5, 2016 at Citi Field in Queens, New York, and the winner advanced to play the first-seeded Chicago Cubs in the NL Division Series. It was televised in the United States on ESPN.


2016 National League Wild Card Game, Background
This was New York's third playoff appearance as a Wild Card team, and their second consecutive postseason appearance after winning the National League pennant the previous season, while it was San Francisco's second appearance since 2014, when they went on to win the World Series. It was the second postseason meeting between the Mets and the Giants, after the 2000 National League Division Series.


2016 National League Wild Card Game, Game results, Line score
With the winner advancing and the loser finished for the year, each team sent its best starting pitcher to the mound, and the game was a pitchers' duel between the Mets' Noah Syndergaard and the Giants' Madison Bumgarner. Syndergaard did not allow a hit until the sixth inning, and finished with seven scoreless innings and ten strikeouts. On the other side, Bumgarner matched zeroes with Syndergaard. In the top of the sixth, with two outs and a runner on second, Curtis Granderson made a solid catch in center field on a drive by Brandon Belt to preserve the shutout.


2016 National League Wild Card Game, Game results, Line score
In the top of the eighth, reliever Addison Reed allowed the Giants to load the bases with two outs on a single and two walks (one intentional), but struck out Hunter Pence to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning, with a runner on second, a hard line drive by Asdrúbal Cabrera right at Bumgarner ended the threat.


2016 National League Wild Card Game, Game results, Line score
In the top of the ninth, Mets closer Jeurys Familia allowed a leadoff double to Brandon Crawford, then after Angel Pagan struck out and Joe Panik walked, journeyman infielder Conor Gillaspie hit a three-run home run to deep right to break the scoreless tie and give the Giants a 3−0 lead. In the bottom of the ninth, Bumgarner returned to the mound and set down the Mets in order for a complete game shutout. Exactly as he had done in the 2014 National League Wild Card Game, Bumgarner had tossed a four-hit shutout to send the Giants to the NLDS.


2016 National League Wild Card Game, In popular culture
The Strokes frontman Julian Casablancas, a lifelong fan of the Mets, wrote the 2020 song "Ode to the Mets" while waiting for the 7 train at Mets-Willets Point station immediately following the game; The song is the closing track on The Strokes' 2020 album The New Abnormal. Fabrizio Moretti, the band's drummer, has stated that both the Mets and the song evoke “something that you set your heart to and that you love unconditionally but that continues to disappoint you.”


2016 National League play-off Final
The 2016 National League play-off Final, known as the 2016 Vanarama National League Promotion Final for sponsorship purposes, was an association football match between Forest Green Rovers and Grimsby Town on 15 May 2016 at Wembley Stadium in London. It was the 14th National League play-off Final, the first under the name National League and the ninth to be played at Wembley. Grimsby won the match 3–1 to earn promotion into League Two, returning into the Football League after a six-year absence.


2016 National League speedway season
The 2016 National League speedway season was the third tier/division of British speedway.


2016 National League speedway season, National League Knockout Cup
The 2016 National League Knockout Cup was the 19th edition of the Knockout Cup for tier three teams. Eastbourne Eagles were the winners for the second successive year.


2016 National Premier Leagues
The 2016 National Premier Leagues was the fourth season of the Australian National Premier Leagues football competition. The league competition was played amongst eight separate divisions, divided by FFA state and territory member federations. The divisions are ACT, NSW, Northern NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.


2016 National Premier Leagues
The winners of each respective divisional league competed in a finals playoff tournament at season end, with Sydney United 58 crowned as Champions, which gave them direct qualification for the 2017 FFA Cup Round of 32.


2016 National Premier Leagues, League tables, Tasmania, Finals
The end of season finals series for the League Cup was held using the same format as the previous year, which included the top six teams from the NPL Tasmania as well as the premiers from the Northern Championship (Somerset) and Southern Championship (Glenorchy Knights). The quarter-final and semi-final matches were decided by random draw. The competition was formerly known as the Victory Cup, but was renamed due to lapsing sponsorship arrangements.


2016 National Premier Leagues, Final Series
The winner of each league competition (top of the table) in the NPL competed in a single match knockout tournament to decide the National Premier Leagues Champion for 2016. Unlike previous years, the participants were not matched up based on geographical proximity, instead an open draw was used to determine the match ups and hosting of quarter finals. Hosting of the semi-finals and final was based on a formula relating to time of winning (normal time, extra time or penalties), goals scored and allowed, and yellow/red cards. The winner also qualified for the 2017 FFA Cup Round of 32.


2016 National Premier Leagues, Individual honours
Glen Trifiro from Sydney United 58 won the John Kosmina Medal for the best player in the NPL Grand Final.


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season
The 2016 National Pro Fastpitch season was the 13th season of professional softball under the name National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) for the only professional women's softball league in the United States. From 1997 to 2002, NPF operated under the names Women's Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL). Each year, the playoff teams battle for the Cowles Cup.


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
The Akron Racers celebrated their 15th season in 2016, the most of any NPF team. They have played in all 13 of the NPF's seasons, as well at the WPSL's last two seasons (1999 and 2000).


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
On October 23, 2015, the NPF announced that the Scrap Yard Dawgs would join the league as an expansion team.


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
On April 11, NPF announced a renewal of their television agreement with CBS Sports Network for 2016. Broadcasts will include the 2016 NPF College Draft, 23 regular-season games, a Championship Series Preview Special, and most of the Championship Series.


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
On June 10, the Pride's Chelsea Thomas and Kelsey Nunley pitched a combined no-hitter against the Dawgs at the Scrap Yard's first-ever home game.


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
On August 11, Lauren Haeger pitched a no-hitter, beating the Chicago Bandits 5-0. The only Bandit to reach base did so via a Charge fielding error.


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
Rawlings announced it would begin awarding a fastpitch softball gold glove to an NPF player, selected by a vote of league coaches and managers. The Racers' AJ Andrews was selected for this award.


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events
Kelly Kretschman became the first NPF player to win the triple crown when she ended the season leading in batting average, home runs, and RBI.


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, Milestones and events, Rule changes
On June 12, in response to online threats made against players, NPF cancelled the mandatory 45-minute autograph session after each game. The following Tuesday, the league reinstated the sessions, but limited the attendees to children.


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, Player acquisition, College draft
The 2016 NPF College Draft is the 13th annual collegiate draft for NPF, and was held on Thursday, April 14, 2016, 7:00 pm CST at the CMA Theater in the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville, Tennessee.


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, Player acquisition, College draft
With the first overall pick, the Pennsylvania Rebellion selected Louisiana-Lafayette catcher Lexie Elkins, who led the NCAA during the 2015–16 season in batting average, slugging percentage and home runs and was also tied for 13th in Division I history with 72 career home runs.


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, League standings
Final two games between Scrap Yard Dawgs and Chicago cancelled as there was no playoff implications


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, NPF Championship
The 2016 NPF Championship was held at Rhoads Stadium on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from August 19–23.


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, Statistical leaders
League Leaders Summary as of August 14, 2016 (All games)


2016 National Pro Fastpitch season, Annual awards
The 2016 NPF Award Banquet was held August 18 at Embassy Suites in Tuscaloosa. In addition to the usual state of annual awards, Kelly Kretschman received a special award for being the first NPF player to win the Triple Crown (lead the league in batting average. home runs, and RBI). NPF also awarded Appreciation Awards to Larry Brushett, softball representative form Mizuno, and Dina Kwit, Chicago Bandits photographer. Rawling presented a Gold Glove to a female athlete, A.J. Andrews of the Akron Racers, for the first time as well.


2016 National Ringette League playoffs
The 2016 National Ringette League Playoffs were the postseason tournament of 2015-16 National Ringette League season. Cambridge Turbos wins the fifth title.


2016 National Ringette League playoffs, Format
In the past, 8 teams from East played, but West became 4 teams, bottom 2 from West will compete in knockout stage.


2016 National Ringette League playoffs, Format
The draws are E3 vs E8, E4 vs E7, E5 vs E6 and W3 vs W4.


2016 National Ringette League playoffs, Elite Eight
All games played at Western Fair Sports Centre and Earl Nichols Park, all located at London, Ontario from April 4 to 8.


2016 National Rugby Championship
The 2016 National Rugby Championship (known as the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the third season of Australia's National Rugby Championship. It involved eight professional rugby union teams, one team fewer than in the previous two seasons. The competition kicked off on 27 August 2016.


2016 National Rugby Championship, Teams
A major change was made for the 2016 season with the scrapping of the Sydney Stars team. The Australian Rugby Union did not renew their licence for the competition to consolidate playing strength of the teams in New South Wales. The North Harbour Rays subsequently changed their name to become the Sydney Rays. Prior to the season it was also reported that the Canberra Vikings would be renamed the Canberra Kookaburras in a return to the traditional name of the ACT team, but this change was postponed until at least the 2017 season.


2016 National Rugby Championship, Teams
The eight teams for the 2016 NRC season include three from New South Wales, two from Queensland, and one each from Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Western Australia:


2016 National Rugby Championship, Television coverage and streaming
Two of the NRC matches each weekend were broadcast live via Fox Sports, with the other matches shown on the Fox Sports streaming platform. Discussion of the NRC competition was included on Fox Sports' review show NRC Extra Time on Monday nights, and the Rugby 360 program on Wednesday evenings.


2016 National Rugby Championship, Experimental Law Variations
The most significant new law variation adopted for the 2016 season was the further change in point scoring values, with tries made worth six points and any form of goal worth two points.


2016 National Rugby Championship, Experimental Law Variations
Two of the scrum law variations trialed since the since the inaugural season of the National Rugby Championship in 2014 were adopted (along with other minor amendments) into World Rugby's laws in 2016 and were thus no longer law variations. These changes to Law 20.1(d) and Law 20.12(c) sanctioned against delay in forming a scrum, and against a scrum half whose team has not won the ball stepping onto the space between the position flanker and No. 8 while the ball is in the scrum.


2016 National Rugby Championship, Experimental Law Variations
The other law variations used in 2014 and 2015, were retained for the 2016 season.


2016 National Rugby Championship, Experimental Law Variations
Also being trialled in New Zealand’s Heartland Championship in 2016.


2016 National Rugby Championship, Regular season
The eight teams compete in a round-robin tournament for the regular season. Each team has four matches at home and four away. The top four teams qualify for the title play-offs with semi-finals and finals.


2016 National Rugby Championship, Regular season
During this section of the tournament, teams can also play for the Horan-Little Shield, a challenge trophy that is played for when a challenge is accepted or offered by the holders.


2016 National Rugby Championship, Regular season, Standings
Source:  • Teams 1 to 4 (Green background) at the end of the preliminary competition rounds qualify for the Title play-offs. HL denotes the holder of the Horan-Little Shield.


2016 National Rugby Championship, Regular season, Standings
Four points for a win, two for a draw, and no points for a bye. One bonus point for the winning team scoring three or more tries than their opponent (TB), one bonus point for losing by eight or less (LB). If teams are level on points in the standings at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order: •  Difference between points for and against •  Match result between tied teams •  Total number of tries scored in the competition


2016 National Rugby Championship, Title play-offs
The top four sides in the regular season advanced to the semifinals of the knock-out stage, which was followed by the final to decide the National Rugby Championship title.


2016 National Rugby Championship, Players
The leading scorers in 2016 over the regular season and finals combined were:


2016 National Rugby Championship, Notes
The venue for the Round 5 fixture between NSW Country Eagles and Perth Spirit was moved from Orange due to heavy rains causing Endeavour Oval to become waterlogged. The match was relocated to Concord Oval in Sydney.


2016 National Society of Film Critics Awards
The 51st National Society of Film Critics Awards, given on 7 January 2017, honored the best in film for 2016.


2016 National Society of Film Critics Awards, Winners
Winners are listed in boldface along with the runner-up positions and counts from the final round:


2016 National Women's League (New Zealand)
The 2016 National Women's League was the fourteenth season of the NWL since its establishment in 2002. Seven teams were involved this season, after being in the competition the last few seasons as preparation for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, the NZ Development Squad wasn't included in the league anymore.


2016 National Women's League (New Zealand), 2016 National Women's League, Teams
Unlike its male counterpart, the ISPS Handa Premiership, the teams are run by the regional federations rather than as collaborative entities between local clubs.


2016 National Women's League (New Zealand), 2016 National Women's League, Matches
Matches for the 2016 season took place between October and November 2016


2016 National Women's League (New Zealand), 2016 National Women's League, Finals series
For the final series, the team that finishes second will play off at home against the team that finishes third, while the team that finishes first has the week off before playing the winner of 2nd v 3rd.


2016 National Women's Open
The 2016 USASA National Women's Open was the 21st staging of the tournament, and the fourth under a new format that eliminates regional qualification. The finals took place from July 14 to 17 with four teams, the first time since 2006 when no Women's Open participants played in either of the active level-two leagues.


2016 National Women's Open
The tournament was won by defending champions Olympic Club, giving the club its third USASA title in as many seasons.


2016 National Women's Soccer League season
The 2016 National Women's Soccer League season was the fourth season of the National Women's Soccer League, the top division of women's soccer in the United States. Including the NWSL's two professional predecessors, Women's Professional Soccer (2009–2011) and the Women's United Soccer Association (2001–2003), it was the tenth overall season of FIFA and USSF-sanctioned top division women's soccer in the United States. The league is operated by the United States Soccer Federation and receives major financial backing from that body. Further financial backing is expected to be provided by the Canadian Soccer Association. Both national federations pay the league salaries of many of their respective national team members in an effort to nurture talent in those nations.


2016 National Women's Soccer League season
To accommodate the 2016 Olympics the league suspended play for most of the month of August. In addition, the league did not schedule games during FIFA windows, leaving the 20-game, 19-week regular season ending in late September for the second year in a row.


2016 National Women's Soccer League season, Teams, stadiums, and personnel, Stadiums and locations
Two teams, the Dash and Reign, do not make their stadiums' entire capacity available for home games, instead restricting ticket sales at a lower level. The full capacities of their venues are included in parentheses and italics.


2016 National Women's Soccer League season, Teams, stadiums, and personnel, Personnel and sponsorship
Note: All of the teams use Nike as their kit manufacturer.


2016 National Women's Soccer League season, League standings, Tiebreakers
The initial determining factor for a team's position in the standings is most points earned, with three points earned for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. If two or more teams tie in point total, when determining rank and playoff qualification and seeding, the NWSL uses the following tiebreaker rules, going down the list until all teams are ranked.


2016 National Women's Soccer League season, League standings, Tiebreakers
NOTE: If two clubs remain tied after another club with the same number of points advances during any step, the tie breaker reverts to step 1 of the two-club format.


2016 National Women's Soccer League season, League standings, Weekly live standings
Considering each week to end on a Sunday. The number of games played by the teams are uneven due to a weather postponement in week 7 (rescheduled as the only game between week 15 and 16) and differing schedules between week 10 and 16.


2016 National Women's Soccer League season, NWSL Playoffs
The top four teams from the regular season will compete for the NWSL Championship.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress
The 2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congresses referred to two party conventions of the Turkish Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), the first of which was held on 19 June 2016, in order to vote on proposed changes to the MHP party constitution and elect a new leader. The congress was initially intended to be held on 15 May 2016 after enough delegates submitted the required signatures, however it was delayed after judiciary conflicts between different courts.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress
After the final decision by Court of Cassation allowing the congress to go ahead, the party executive announced that an extraordinary congress with a leadership election would be held on 10 July while the invitation committee formed by the court declared that the constitutional extraordinary congress would occur on 19 June 2016. Although the MHP executive declared the congress to be against the MHP constitution and legally flawed, the first Congress was held as planned by the inner-party opposition, with a unanimous vote to change the constitution being achieved. The second congress was delayed after judiciary intervention requested by MHP officials, along with a formal request from the Supreme Electoral Council (YSK). The congress was eventually not held, prompting the dissidents to resign and join forces under a new party, namely the İYİ Party.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress
The congress was called for by several inner-party critics of the MHP's current leader Devlet Bahçeli, who had led the party to a heavy defeat in the November 2015 general election. However, since the party constitution did not allow leadership elections at any congress other than the routine ordinary congresses (the next due to take place in 2018), a 'constitutional congress' was required before a leadership vote to amend the constitution and allow an earlier vote to take place. It was therefore expected that the congress due to be held on 15 May would be the first of two MHP party congresses held in the year 2016, the latter featuring a leadership election should constitutional amendments be successful.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress, Background, Coalition process
The MHP, having been projected to win over many disaffected voters from the governing Justice and Development Party (AKP) during the June 2015 general election, managed to win 80 seats in Parliament with 16.29% of the vote. In the same election, the AKP failed to win a parliamentary majority, with many commentators expecting the MHP to join the AKP in a coalition given ideological similarities. The post-election strategy of MHP leader Devlet Bahçeli was heavily criticised for being counterproductive and ideologically baseless, with Bahçeli rejecting almost all offers made to him by other parties.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress, Background, Coalition process
Having rejected a coalition with the AKP and declared support for an early election, he later rejected an offer by the Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu to head a triple-party coalition as Prime Minister. At the same time, Bahçeli was criticised for effectively 'handing over' the June–July 2015 Parliament Speaker election to the AKP candidate by abstaining. Fresh elections were called for November 2015 after all government formation attempts failed.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress, Background, November 2015 election
In the November 2015 general election, the MHP suffered a heavy defeat and halved its parliamentary representation, winning 11.9% of the vote and falling behind the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in terms of seats to become the smallest party in Parliament with just 40 MPs. Bahçeli subsequently came under heavy fire for the poor election result, with prominent party members such as Meral Akşener and Sinan Oğan openly declaring their candidacy to succeed Bahçeli.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress, Background, November 2015 election
Bahçeli subsequently ruled out any prospect of a resignation and declared that the next leadership election would be held as expected in 2018, three years after the previous Ordinary Congress in March 2015. His decision was unable to quell further unrest within the party, with several provincial and district party associations declaring their support for opposing candidates. the party leadership clamped down on dissident party associations by abolishing them and setting up new ones in their place headed by more loyal party members. In the meantime, Ümit Özdağ and Koray Aydın declared their candidacies.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress, Background, Signatures for an Extraordinary Congress
Under the leadership of opposing candidates, delegates critical Bahçeli began collecting signatures to force an Extraordinary Congress. On 15 January 2016, Akşener announced that she had successfully collected over 400 signatures, enough to call a congress. The party leadership staunchly rejected demands for an Extraordinary Congress, resulting in party opposition leaders submitting the signature lists to court. On 19 April, the courts accepted the opposition's call for an Extraordinary Congress. the MHP leadership respected the legal outcome, but stated that they would appeal and not recognise the decision. Following a legal appeal, the courts decided to delay the congress indefinitely while they reviewed the case on 29 April. On 6 May, the courts rejected the MHP leadership's appeal and declared that the congress should go ahead on 15 May.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress, Background, Legal challenges
On 13 May, two days before the proposed congress, the appeals from the opposition were accepted by an Ankara court. However at the same time, a court in the Samsun town of Gemerek ruled that the congress would be illegal following a legal challenge by the town's pro-Bahçeli party association. In response to the apparent confusion, Meral Akşener filed a complaint against Gemerek Judge İlhan Işık to the Supreme Board of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK), accusing the judge of ruling on a case that was beyond the remit of a district court.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress, Background, Legal challenges
Although the party opposition declared their intention to hold the congress on Sunday since all legal challenges had been lifted, lawyers at the party's headquarters declared that it would not be legally possible and that the police should stop any attempts by the opposition to do so. Later on the same day, the Ankara court upheld the Germenek court ruling, again putting the congress on hold. One of the leadership candidates, Ümit Özdağ, claimed that the attempts to stop the congress had been initiated by the Minister of Justice.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress, First Congress
Following the final decision for the Court of Cassation declaring that the congress should go ahead, the MHP national executive declared that the congress would be held on 26 June or 10 July, with Bahçeli standing as a candidate. However, the inner-party opposition declared that the MHP constitution at the time did not allow a leadership election to be held apart from during the routine ordinary congresses every three years, leading to speculation that the MHP executive were planning to hold the congress and then nullifying the result through court order.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress, First Congress
The inner-party opposition also argued that the date of the congress would be determined by the judicially appointed invitation committee, not the executive, while the executive argued that such a congress would be unconstitutional since it wasn't held in central Ankara and would require members of the ruling executive to officially be declared valid.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress, First Congress
The first Congress of 2016 was held on 19 June 2016 as announced by the invitation committee at the Anatolia Hotel Esenboğa Auditorium in Ankara, starting at 10am. Then incumbent party executives and 38 out of 40 MHP PMs boycotted the Congress, Devlet Bahçeli did not attend the event. The opposition declared 752 delegates attended the congress, but Bahçeli's team announced the attendance is much lower, and the Congress did not meet the delegate threshold. The notary officially announced the attendance as 662, making the Congress valid.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress, First Congress
After the Congress, the opposition successfully changes 13 out of 14 articles of party constitution, allowing party leader elections during extraordinary congress and preventing party bans after June 5, 2016. The second Congress is planned for 10 July 2016, the same date as Bahçeli's announcement. Three days after the Congress, MHP parliamentary group leader Oktay Vural resigned.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress, First Congress
The congress was heavily criticised by one of the leadership candidates, Süleyman Servet Sazak, for revolving almost entirely around the frontrunner Meral Akşener, with the other candidates not having any input in the proposed constitutional changes.


2016 Nationalist Movement Party Extraordinary Congress, Potential candidates
Although it is not clear if the Congress has authority to elect a new leader, several people publicly disclosed their candidacy.


2016 Nations Cup
The 2016 Nations Cup is the inaugural edition of the Nations Cup hosted in Malacca City, Malaysia from 3 to 5 June 2016. It is organised by MP & Silva with four under-21 teams: Malaysia U-21, Singapore U-21, Thailand U-21 and the Vietnam U-21 participate in the tournament. All matches were held at the Hang Jebat Stadium.


2016 Nations Cup
Thailand earned the champion title after beating host Malaysia 2–1 in the final.


2016 Naturtex Women's Open
The 2016 Naturtex Women's Open was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts. It was the first edition of the tournament and part of the 2016 ITF Women's Circuit, offering a total of $50,000 in prize money. It took place in Szeged, Hungary, on 13–19 June 2016.


2016 Naturtex Women's Open, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following player received a wildcard into the singles main draw:


2016 Naturtex Women's Open, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following player received entry by a lucky loser spot:


2016 Naturtex Women's Open – Doubles
This was a new event in the ITF Women's Circuit.


2016 Naturtex Women's Open – Doubles
Cristina Dinu and Lina Gjorcheska won the inaugural event, defeating Justyna Jegiołka and Guadalupe Pérez Rojas in the final, 4–6, 6–1, [10–4].


2016 Naturtex Women's Open – Singles
This was a new event to the ITF Women's Circuit.


2016 Naturtex Women's Open – Singles
Viktoriya Tomova won the inaugural title, defeating Maria Sakkari in the final, 4–6, 6–0, 6–4.


2016 Nauruan parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Nauru on 9 July 2016. On 10 June 2016, the Parliament was dissolved by President Baron Waqa after it completed its three-year term. Speaker Ludwig Scotty called the elections for 9 July, with nominations taking place between 19 and 25 June 2016.


2016 Nauruan parliamentary election, Electoral system
The 19 members of Parliament were elected from eight multi-member constituencies using the Dowdall system, a version of ranked voting; voters ranked candidates, with the votes counted as a fraction of 1 divided by the ranking number (e.g. a candidate ranked second will be scored as ½); the candidates with the highest total are elected.


2016 Nauruan parliamentary election, Aftermath
The newly elected Parliament convened on 13 July, with all new members joining the presidential majority, allowing Baron Waqa to be re-elected President by sixteen votes to two against opposition candidate Riddell Akua. Cyril Buraman was elected Speaker. Ludwig Scotty, the speaker of the previous Parliament, had lost his seat in Anabar.


2016 Nauruan presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Nauru on 13 July 2016. Incumbent president Baron Waqa won the election with 88.89 percent of the vote.


2016 Navotas local elections
Local elections in Navotas were held on May 9, 2016 within the Philippine general election. The voters elected for the mayor, vice mayor, one congressman, and the councilors – six in each of the city's two districts.


2016 Navotas local elections, Background
Incumbent Mayor John Rey Tiangco ran again without opponents. Vice Mayor Clint Geronimo also ran unopposed.


2016 Navotas local elections, Background
Navotas Representative Toby Tiangco, who was also the spokesman of the United Nationalist Alliance party of Vice President Jejomar Binay) also sought re-election, and faced independent candidate Dong Luna.


2016 Navy Midshipmen football team
The 2016 Navy Midshipmen football team represented the United States Naval Academy in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Midshipmen were led by ninth-year head coach Ken Niumatalolo and played their home games at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Midshipmen competed as a member of the West Division of the American Athletic Conference, and were second year members of the conference. They finished the season 9–5 overall and 7–1 in American Athletic play to be champions of the West Division. They represented the West Division in The American Athletic Championship Game where they lost to Temple. They were invited to the Armed Forces Bowl where they lost to Louisiana Tech.


2016 Navy Midshipmen football team, Before the season, Previous season
The Navy Midshipmen began the 2015 season with four straight wins, including a win over military rival Air Force, but lost to rival #15 ranked Notre Dame. However, the Midshipmen continued their winning ways with five consecutive victories, including fellow American Conference team #15 ranked Memphis. After falling to conference rival #21 ranked Houston, Navy ended their season with a victory over military rival Army in the 116th Army–Navy Game, their 14th consecutive victory over Army, earning the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. The Midshipmen finished the regular season with a 10–2 record. This earned the Midshipmen an invitation to the Military Bowl, their 12th bowl game in a row, in which they beat the 8–5 Pittsburgh Panthers 44–28.


2016 Navy Midshipmen football team, Schedule
Note: ‡ Game at East Carolina was originally scheduled for Thursday, October 13, but was postponed due to flooding from Hurricane Matthew; it was rescheduled to Saturday, November 19.


2016 Navy Midshipmen football team, Personnel, Roster
Note * Captains Toeno Gulley (#22) and Daniel Gonzalez (#58) switched their jersey numbers to #2 in honor of their starting quarterback Tago Smith who sustained a season-ending injury. Joshua Powell (#48) switched his jersey number to #58 after Daniel Gonzalez also sustained a season-ending injury.


2016 Navy Midshipmen football team, Game summaries, Houston
This game marked Navy Midshipmen's biggest upset victory facing a top-10 ranked opponent in 32 years. (Since 1984 as they won against #2 ranked South Carolina) The game marked Ken Niumatalolo's 4th win over a ranked team.


2016 Navy Midshipmen football team, Game summaries, Memphis
With this victory, Navy has 14th straight home wins, making it the 3rd longest active streak in FBS history. Also their longest at Navy-Marine Stadium since it opened in 1959. Personal player highlights include: wide receiver Jamir Tillman became the 2nd all-time receiver in Naval Academy history with 1,281 career receiving yards, passing Phil McConkey. And quarterback Will Worth had career highs with 201 rushing yards (286 total yards) and 5 touchdowns.


2016 Navy Midshipmen football team, Game summaries, vs. Notre Dame
With this rare victory, Navy beat Notre Dame for only the 4th time in 52 years (1963) in the nation's longest-running intersectional rivalry since 1926 (the 90th year). The Fighting Irish previously won five in a row against the Midshipmen. Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo got this 3rd win over Notre Dame, tying former Navy coach Wayne Hardin from the 1960s, and handing the Fighting Irish their 14th losing season ever. Navy quarterback Will Worth ran for 175 yards with two touchdowns, making it his 9th consecutive game with a rushing score. Worth finished with his 4th straight 100-yard rushing performance (his 5th of the season).


2016 Navy Midshipmen football team, Game summaries, Tulsa
After this win, Navy has 15 straight home victories, making it the second longest winning streak in the FBS. Navy also has the winningest Senior Class in Naval Academy history with 36–13, tying the all-time program record with the class of 1909 (36–7–5) and the class of 2016 (36–16). And 14 straight Senior Day victories. The Midshipmen stand alone in the Western Division in the American Conference. Personal highlights include Navy wide receiver Jamir Tillman who moved to second place on Navy's career receiving yards leaders list with 1,454 catches, passing Phil McConkey with 1,278 catches.


2016 Navy Midshipmen football team, Game summaries, at East Carolina
With this win, Navy clinched the AAC West division title, and will move on to the AAC championship game in only their second year in the conference. They also set some school record season highs; highest point total (66), most rushing touchdowns (9), and rushing yards (456). Personal highlights include Navy quarterback Will Worth becoming just the 5th player in school history with 1,000+ rushing and passing yards in a season. And six straight 100 yard games, ten with a rushing touchdown, which is the longest active streak in the FBS. Worth is tied with Jeremy McNichols from Boise State with 22 rushing touchdowns.


2016 Navy Midshipmen football team, Game summaries, Temple
This game marked the first game, after 136 years of being independent, that Navy was in a conference championship.


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team
The 2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by second-year head coach Mike Riley and played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. They were members of the West Division of the Big Ten Conference.


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Previous season and offseason
In the 2015 Nebraska Cornhuskers football season, the team finished 5–7 in the regular season, their 39–38 win over playoff team Michigan State being the most notable. Though not bowl eligible based on their regular-season record, the Cornhuskers went to the Foster Farms Bowl (as a result of a lack of bowl-eligible teams and their high Academic Progress Rate) and beat UCLA 37–29. The team finished 4th in the Big Ten West division at the end of the season.


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Previous season and offseason
On July 23, 2016, senior punter and returning starter Sam Foltz was killed in a single-car crash in Waukesha County, Wisconsin following serving as staff for a training camp for high school kickers and punters. Former Michigan State punter Mike Sadler was also killed; LSU kicker Colby Delahoussaye was also in the accident but sustained only non-life-threatening injuries.


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Previous season and offseason, Transfers, Incoming
*Player is not eligible to play in 2016 season due to transfer regulations**Son of Nebraska WR coach Keith Williams


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Previous season and offseason, Spring practice
72,992 fans attended the Nebraska spring game, continuing the streak of 60,000+ in attendance for Nebraska spring games since 2008. Unlike previous spring games, the teams did not trade the ball but Team Red was the offense and Team White was the defense for the entire game. Additionally, the scrimmage used a unique scoring system that allowed the defense (White) to score and rewarded plays that would otherwise be non-scoring in a normal football game. At the end of the game, Kyle Kasun intercepted the ball as the time expired, allowing the white team to win. The final score was White 46–41. Tommy Armstrong Jr., Ryker Fyfe and Patrick O'Brien all played at quarterback for team Red.


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Schedule
Nebraska announced its 2016 football schedule on July 11, 2013. The 2016 schedule consists of 7 home and 5 away games in the regular season. The Cornhuskers will host Big Ten opponents Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, and Purdue, and will travel to Indiana, Iowa, Northwestern, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Schedule
The team hosted all three of the non–conference games which are against the Fresno State Bulldogs and the Wyoming Cowboys both from the Mountain West Conference, and the Oregon Ducks from the Pac-12 Conference (Pac-12). This was Nebraska's 7th game against Oregon, and head coach Mike Riley's 13th overall game against Oregon, as he previously coached for Oregon rival Oregon State.


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Fresno State
Nebraska opened the 2016 season with a non-conference matchup against Fresno State at Memorial Stadium. The game marked the start of the second season for head coach Mike Riley. The game marked the completion of a three-game series with Fresno State. The Huskers defeated Fresno State in Lincoln 42–29 in 2011 before winning on the road in Fresno 55–19 in 2014. These three games are the only meetings between the Huskers and Bulldogs in program history. Before the game, there was a tribute to the late Nebraska punter Sam Foltz, who was killed in a car crash in July. Before their first punt, the Huskers observed a moment of silence for Foltz by sending only 10 players onto the field with no punter waiting for the snap. A delay of game penalty was called on the Huskers, which the Bulldogs declined.


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Wyoming
The 2016 edition of the Nebraska–Wyoming series marked the 8th meeting between the two neighboring state programs. Nebraska entered the game with a perfect 7–0 all-time record against the Wyoming Cowboys. Senior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. threw three touchdown passes during this matchup, in which he set the record for most career touchdown passes in the Nebraska program history, surpassing Taylor Martinez's previous record of 56. The Cornhuskers defeated the Cowboys 52–17 in front of a crowd of 89,895, the stadium's 349th consecutive sellout.


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Oregon
Nebraska and Oregon played for the 7th time between the two programs on September 17, 2016 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Ducks went for the two point conversion after every touchdown, only succeeding once, early in the game. Nebraska went on to win the game 35–32, giving Oregon their first loss of the season, and Nebraska their third win to improve their record to 3–0. Nebraska had 428 total offensive yards the whole game, and the Ducks had 482. The Cornhuskers will travel to Eugene, Oregon in the 2017 season to face the Ducks at Autzen Stadium, game 2 of the home-and-home series between the two programs.


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Northwestern
Nebraska opened conference play with their first road game of the season in Evanston, Illinois against Northwestern. The Cornhuskers won the contest by a score of 24–13. Early in the game, I-back Terrell Newby fumbled the ball at the sideline near the end zone, resulting in a touchback, giving Northwestern the ball. In the second quarter, Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson ran the ball 42 yards for a touchdown. Thorson also had a 24-yard touchdown pass to Austin Carr in the 3rd quarter. Nebraska will play the Wildcats at home in 2017 at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Illinois
Nebraska played its second conference game at home against the Illinois Fighting Illini on October 1, 2016. Nebraska beat the Illini by a score of 31–16, claiming their 5th win on the season to make the Cornhuskers 5–0.


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Wisconsin
Nebraska played the Wisconsin Badgers on October 29, 2016 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. The Cornhuskers entered the game ranked at #7 in the AP Poll, while Wisconsin sat not far behind at #11. The game was the 11th game in the series, Wisconsin winning the previous matchup, 23–21 in Lincoln on October 10, 2015. Wisconsin won the game 23–17 in overtime. Wisconsin scored first in overtime, but missed the extra point attempt. Nebraska failed to score after, allowing Wisconsin to win the game. The all-time series record is now 7–4 in Wisconsin's favor.


2016 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team, Game summaries, Maryland
Nebraska went undefeated at home for the first time in 4 years thanks to their win over Maryland.


2016 Nebraska Danger season
The 2016 Nebraska Danger season was the sixth season for the Nebraska Danger as a professional indoor football franchise and their sixth in the Indoor Football League (IFL). One of ten teams competing in the IFL for the 2016 season, the Nebraska Danger were members of the Intense Conference. For the fifth consecutive year, the team played their home games under head coach Mike Davis in the Eihusen Arena at the Heartland Events Center in Grand Island, Nebraska.


2016 Nebraska Democratic presidential caucuses and primary
The 2016 Nebraska Democratic presidential caucuses took place on March 5 in the U.S. state of Nebraska as one of the Democratic Party's primaries ahead of the 2016 presidential election.


2016 Nebraska Democratic presidential caucuses and primary
On the same day, Democratic primaries were held in Kansas and in Louisiana, while the Republican Party held primaries in four states. The Republican Party and Libertarian Party Nebraska primaries were held on May 10.


2016 Nebraska Democratic presidential caucuses and primary, Results
Democratic presidential primary (non-binding)The Nebraska Democratic primary was held on May 10, 2016. The primary does not bind delegates. Delegates were bound by the caucuses on March 5, 2016.


2016 Nebraska Democratic presidential caucuses and primary, Analysis
Bernie Sanders beat Hillary Clinton by a wide margin in Nebraska (as Barack Obama had done in the state eight years earlier). The victory showcased his strength in Great Plains states and in the farm belt, as well as in states that held caucus contests. Sanders won victories in the two biggest cities: Omaha and Lincoln, winning a commanding victory in populous Douglas County. He also swept most of the rural, mostly white and deeply conservative counties of the state, including those in the Nebraska Panhandle and the Rainwater basin which are among the most radically conservative areas of the nation.


2016 Nebraska Republican presidential primary
The 2016 Nebraska Republican presidential primary was held on May 10 in the U.S. state of Nebraska as one of the Republican Party's primaries ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The only candidate on the ballot who did not withdraw was Donald Trump.


2016 Nebraska Republican presidential primary
The Libertarian Party held their own Nebraska primary on the same day. The Democratic Party held their Nebraska caucuses on March 5.


2016 Nebraska–Kearney Lopers football team
The 2016 Nebraska–Kearney Lopers football team represented the University of Nebraska at Kearney in the 2016 NCAA Division II football season. The Lopers played their home games on Foster Field in Ron & Carol Cope Stadium in Kearney, Nebraska, as they have done since 1939. 2016 was the 111th season in school history. The Lopers were led by second-year head coach, Josh Lamberson. Nebraska–Kearney has been a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association since 2012.


2016 Nebraska–Kearney Lopers football team, Preseason
The Lopers entered the 2016 season after finishing with a 0–11 record overall and in conference play, under Lamberson. On August 2, 2016 at the MIAA Football Media Day, the Lopers were chosen to finish in 11th place in the Coaches Poll and 12th place in the Media Poll.


2016 Nelson mayoral election
The 2016 Nelson mayoral election was part of the New Zealand local elections that were be held on 8 October 2016 to elect the Mayor of Nelson, New Zealand.


2016 Nenzing shooting
In the early morning of 22 May 2016, a 27-year-old male named Gregor Schallert committed a mass shooting at a music concert in Nenzing, Austria. He killed two civilians before taking his own life, injuring eleven others. According to media reports, the shooting was triggered by a heated argument between the perpetrator and a woman, allegedly his girlfriend.


2016 Nenzing shooting, Attack
At around 3:00 in the morning, the 27-year-old male got into a fight with a woman at the parking lot next to a music concert in Nenzing, in the Vorarlberg region of Austria, organised by a motorbike club. He then went to his car, got an illegal-obtained Zastava M92 AK-type assault rifle out of it and then moved into the concert crowd, opening fire. According to the police, 150 people were present at the concert ground at that time. After firing into the crowd, the perpetrator returned to the parking lot, where he took his own life. According to media reports, the woman involved in the argument was his girlfriend and remained unhurt. Two people were killed in the attack, while eleven were left injured. Two of the injured suffered life-threatening wounds. The two deceased victims were men, 33 and 48 years old respectively.


2016 Nenzing shooting, Attack
The police told the press that the perpetrator came from the region, but refused to make any statement about a past criminal record or whether he owned a licence for the weapon.


2016 Nepal bus crashes
On 15 August 2016, two separate bus crashes in Nepal led to the deaths of several people; dozens more were injured. There was speculation in the aftermath of the accidents, that miscommunication regarding the availability of government grants may have led to overcrowding on one of the buses. Days of rainfall preceded the accidents.


2016 Nepal bus crashes, First incident
A passenger bus left Kathmandu on the morning of 15 August 2016, en route to Madan Kundari 89 kilometres (55 mi) away in Kavrepalanchok District in central Nepal. Many were survivors of the Nepalese earthquakes of April 2015 and May 2015. Some of them were returning to their village to collect government grants to rebuild their destroyed homes that they mistakenly thought were going to be paid there. Others mistakenly thought they had only a few days left before a deadline to return to their village to sign papers to receive the grants.


2016 Nepal bus crashes, First incident
Overcrowding on Nepalese buses is common; as the bus travelled along its route more people boarded until many were seated on the roof and in the aisle. It was reported that almost 90 people were on the 35-seat bus. At about 1:30 p.m. the bus stalled as it climbed a hill on a muddy road near Birtadeurali and rolled backwards off the road and down the hillside, falling more than 300 metres (980 ft). Some people survived by jumping off the roof before the bus fell. At least 27 to at least 33 people were killed and at least 38 to 42 were injured. The driver of the bus survived and was found in a tree.


2016 Nepal bus crashes, First incident
An investigation was launched to see why the driver lost control and whether the brakes failed.


2016 Nepal bus crashes, Second incident
The second incident occurred near Siddheshwar in Baitadi District, in far-western Nepal. At about 3:30 p.m. on 15 August, another bus slipped off of a high mountain road, falling 200 metres (660 ft) and killing at least three to four people while injuring thirty.


2016 Netball Quad Series
The 2016 Netball Quad Series was the inaugural Netball Quad Series of test matches, contested by four of the five highest ranked nations in netball. Australia were the winners of the series.


2016 Netball Superleague Grand Final
The 2016 Netball Superleague Grand Final featured Surrey Storm and Manchester Thunder. Having previously played each other in 2012 and 2014, this was the third grand final featuring both teams. Thunder had won both the previous encounters. This was also Surrey Storm's third consecutive grand final, having lost to Thunder in 2014, they defeated Hertfordshire Mavericks in 2015.


2016 Netball Superleague Grand Final
In the 2016 grand final Surrey Storm retained the Netball Superleague title after defeating Manchester Thunder by 55–53. Storm had comfortably led Thunder throughout the first three quarters. They headed into the third quarter with a 32–19 advantage. However in the final quarter Thunder staged a comeback. Thunder's Helen Housby reduced the deficit to just one goal with seconds remaining. However Rachel Dunn secured the title for Storm with the final goal of the game.


2016 Netball Superleague Grand Final, Teams
Starting 7:GS Rachel DunnGA Pamela CookeyWA Georgia Lees  C Sophia CandappaWD Amy Flanagan GD Katy HollandGK Hannah Reid (c)


2016 Netball Superleague Grand Final, Teams
Changes:Hannah Reid to GDAmy Flanagan to CSophia Candappa to WA (Q3)Pamela Cookey to GA (Q4)Josie Huckle to GKKathryn Ainsworth to WDKat Hayes to GA


2016 Netball Superleague Grand Final, Teams
Starting 7:GS Eleanor CardwellGA Helen HousbyWA Natalie Haythornthwaite C Sara BaymanWD Laura MalcolmGD Jodie GibsonGK Malysha Kelly


2016 Netball Superleague Grand Final, Teams
Substitutes:Kathryn Turner for Cardwell (HT)Emma DoveyKerry AlmondGabby Marshall for Malcolm


2016 Netball Superleague season
The 2016 Vitality Netball Superleague season saw Surrey Storm retain the title after defeating Manchester Thunder in the grand final. Thunder finished top of the table following the regular season. The league was sponsored by VitalityHealth.


2016 Netball Superleague season, Teams
This was Yorkshire Jets final season in the Netball Superleague. In June 2016 England Netball announced that Jets had lost their place in the league.


2016 Netball Superleague season, Regular season
The opening day of the regular season saw the introduction of Super Saturday. This saw the eight teams play all four Round 1 games at the Genting Arena in front of a 7,500 crowd. During the season Sky Sports broadcast several matches live on Monday nights. Manchester Thunder finished top of the table following the regular season.


2016 Netball Superleague season, Team of the Season
A panel of Sky Sports commentators and pundits including Katharine Merry, Caroline Barker, Karen Atkinson, Tamsin Greenway and Jess Thirlby selected a 2016 Team of the Season.


2016 Neva Cup
The 2016 Neva Cup was a professional tennis tournament played on indoor hard courts. It was the 5th edition of the tournament and part of the 2016 ITF Women's Circuit, offering a total of $100,000 in prize money. It took place in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on 19–25 September 2016.


2016 Neva Cup, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following player received a wildcard into the singles main draw:


2016 Neva Cup – Doubles
Carolin Daniels and Lidziya Marozava were the defending champions, but chose not to participate.


2016 Neva Cup – Doubles
Maria Marfutina and Anna Morgina won the title, defeating Raluca Olaru and Alena Tarasova in the final, 6–2, 6–3.


2016 Neva Cup – Singles
Polina Leykina was the defending champion, but chose to participate in Saint-Malo instead.


2016 Neva Cup – Singles
Natalia Vikhlyantseva won the title, defeating Donna Vekić in the final, 6–1, 6–2.


2016 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses and convention
The 2016 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses took place on February 20 in the U.S. state of Nevada, traditionally marking the Democratic Party's third nominating contest in their series of presidential primaries ahead of the 2016 presidential election. The Republican Party held its South Carolina primary on the same day, while their own Nevada caucuses took place on February 23.


2016 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses and convention
With all other candidates having dropped out of the race ahead of the Nevada caucuses, the two remaining candidates were Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton.


2016 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses and convention, Process
Of the total number of 43 delegates the Nevada Democratic Party may send to the 2016 Democratic National Convention, 35 are pledged and 8 are unpledged.


2016 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses and convention, Process
The delegate selection process is a system with three levels:


2016 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses and convention, State convention
The state convention was held in May as the final stage of the delegate selection process. Supporters of Sanders believed that the convention rules, which had been largely the same for the previous 8 years, gave an unfair amount of power to the convention chair. The rules specifically lay out that all convention votes must be done by voice vote, and that only the convention chair can declare the winner or call for a more specific method of voting among the thousands of delegates.


2016 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses and convention, State convention
During the vote the convention chair, Roberta Lange accepted the "yeas" even though the "nays" were louder than the "yeas" in the room. Both preliminary and final delegate counts showed that Clinton supporters outnumbered Sanders supporters in the room, though many Sanders delegates had left after Lange's decision and did not stay to be counted in the final count. When Lange accepted the "yeas", some Sanders supporters confronted Lange and other members of the party’s executive board on the main stage. The event was quickly shut down after that.


2016 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses and convention, State convention
Casino spokeswoman Jennifer Forkis said the event ran over its allotted time by about four hours, meaning security hired for the event would soon leave their shifts. "Without adequate security personnel, and in consultation with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and event organizers, a decision was made that it was in the best interest of everyone in attendance to end the event," Forkis said in a statement.


2016 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses and convention, Debates and forums, October 2015 debate in Las Vegas
On October 13, 2015, the Democratic Party's very first debate was held at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas. Hosted by Anderson Cooper, it aired on CNN and was broadcast on radio by Westwood One. Participants were the candidates Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Jim Webb, Martin O'Malley, and Lincoln Chafee. It was the first and only debate appearance of Chafee and Webb, who ended their campaigns on October 23 and October 20, respectively.


2016 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses and convention, Debates and forums, February 2016 forum in Las Vegas
On February 18, MSNBC and Telemundo hosted a forum in Las Vegas.


2016 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses and convention, Results
Primary date: February 20, 2016County conventions: April 2, 2016State convention: May 14, 2016National delegates: 43


2016 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses and convention, Analysis
Clinton won the popular vote handily in the Nevada caucus, after a rough start to the primary season. With a razor-thin victory in Iowa and a crushing defeat in New Hampshire, Clinton rebounded to a five-point-win in the Silver State aided by late campaigning among casino workers. As The New York Times describes, "At a caucus at the famed Caesars Palace, blackjack dealers, pit bosses, cooks and housekeepers excitedly declared their support for the former secretary of state."


2016 Nevada Democratic presidential caucuses and convention, Analysis
Clinton had campaigned heavily in the state, airing an ad in which she comforted a young Latina girl who was worried her parents would be deported. Clinton's message appeared to resonate with Hispanic and African American voters, with Clinton winning by large margins in many diverse neighborhoods in populous Clark County, especially in caucuses in Las Vegas.


2016 Nevada Republican presidential caucuses
The 2016 Nevada Republican presidential caucuses took place on February 23 in the U.S. state of Nevada, marking the Republican Party's fourth nominating contest in their series of presidential primaries ahead of the 2016 presidential election.


2016 Nevada Republican presidential caucuses
With the Democratic Party having already held its Nevada caucuses three days earlier on February 20, the Republican caucus in Nevada was the only presidential primary on that day.


2016 Nevada Republican presidential caucuses
During the 2015 legislative session, lawmakers attempted to change the caucus into a regular primary and at a much earlier date, however the bill failed to get to a vote.


2016 Nevada Republican presidential caucuses, Debates and forums
The fifth debate was held on December 15, 2015, at the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the second debate to air on CNN, and was also broadcast by Salem Radio. The debate was moderated solely by Wolf Blitzer with Dana Bash and Hugh Hewitt serving alongside as questioners.


2016 Nevada Republican presidential caucuses, Debates and forums
The debate was split into primetime and pre-primetime groups based on averaged polling numbers; in order to participate in the main debate, candidates had to meet one of three criteria in polls conducted between October 29 and December 13 which were recognized by CNN—either an average of at least 3.5% nationally, or at least 4% in either Iowa or New Hampshire. The secondary debate featured candidates that had reached at least 1% in four separate national, Iowa, or New Hampshire polls that are recognized by CNN. Paul was included in the main debate after not qualifying under the original rules because he received 5% support in Iowa in a Fox News poll.


2016 Nevada Republican presidential caucuses, Debates and forums
The debate lineup was announced on December 13 to include Trump, Cruz, Rubio, Carson, Bush, Fiorina, Christie, Paul, and Kasich in the primetime debate, and Huckabee, Santorum, Graham, and Pataki in the undercard debate. Commentators suggested that the key confrontation would be between Trump and Cruz, based on their respective polling in Iowa.


2016 Nevada Republican presidential caucuses, Debates and forums
Eighteen million people watched the debate, making it the third-largest audience ever for a presidential primary debate. During the debate, the audible coughing was attributed to Ben Carson. His campaign admitted that they all got sick a month prior and Carson had kept the cough for weeks. The cough was "almost gone" and Carson was not really sick at the time.


2016 Nevada Republican presidential caucuses, Debates and forums
The undercard debate was the fourth and final debate appearance of Senator Lindsey Graham and former Governor George Pataki, who suspended their campaigns on December 21 and December 29, respectively.


2016 Nevada Republican presidential caucuses, Endorsements
Having been swept into numerous offices in the previous election, many new Nevada Republican officeholders came out in support of various candidates. Notably, there were splits among different groups of Republicans towards their endorsements. Legislators who had supported a controversial tax hike during the 2015 session came out in support of Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio, while those who opposed it supported Rand Paul, Ted Cruz or Donald Trump.


2016 Nevada Republican presidential caucuses, Endorsements
(Note: This list contains endorsements only for candidates who were still running at the time of the caucuses)


2016 Nevada Republican presidential caucuses, Results
Primary date: February 23, 2016County conventions: March 12 - April 2, 2016 (presumably)State convention: May 7–8, 2016 (presumably)National delegates: 30


2016 Nevada Republican presidential caucuses, Results
Donald Trump received more votes than the combined total of the 2012 Nevada caucuses, while also beating Mitt Romney's previous two records. On the eve of the caucuses, Trump stopped by Palo Verde High School in Summerlin to greet voters.


2016 Nevada State Senate election
The 2016 Nevada State Senate elections took place as part of the biennial United States elections. Nevada voters elected state senators in 11 of the state senate's 21 districts. State senators serve four-year terms in the Nevada State Senate.


2016 Nevada State Senate election
A primary election on June 14, 2016 determined which candidates appear on the November 8 general election ballot. Primary election results can be obtained from the State of Nevada's Secretary of State website.


2016 Nevada State Senate election
On election day 2016, there were 11 Republicans and 10 Democrats in the Nevada Senate; in the 2014 state senate elections, they had gained a one-seat majority. In the 2016 election Democrats flipped it back, winning 11 seats.


2016 Nevada Wolf Pack football team
The 2016 Nevada Wolf Pack football team represented the University of Nevada, Reno in the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Wolf Pack were led by fourth–year head coach Brian Polian and played their home games at Mackay Stadium. They were members of the West Division of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 5–7 and 3–5 in Mountain West play to finish in a three–way tie for third place in the West Division.


2016 Nevada Wolf Pack football team
On November 27, Polian and Nevada agreed to part ways. He finished at Nevada with a four year record of 23–27. Polian later returned to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football as special teams coordinator under head coach Brian Kelly after previously serving under head coach Charlie Weis from 2005 to 2009.


2016 Nevada Wolf Pack football team, Previous season
The Wolf Pack finished the 2015 season 7–6 and 4–4 in Mountain West play to finish in a tie for second place in the West Division and won the Arizona Bowl by 28 to 23 against Colorado State.


2016 Nevada Wolf Pack football team, Preseason, Mountain West media days
The Mountain West media days were held on July 26–27, 2016, at the Cosmopolitan in Paradise, Nevada.


2016 Nevada Wolf Pack football team, Preseason, Media poll
The preseason poll was released on July 26, 2016. The Wolf Pack were predicted to finish in second place in the MW West Division.


2016 Nevada Wolf Pack football team, Preseason, Preseason All–Mountain West Team
The Wolf Pack had one player selected to the preseason All–Mountain West Team; one from the defense.


2016 Nevada elections
The Nevada general election, 2016 was held on Tuesday, November 8, 2016 throughout Nevada.


2016 Nevada elections, United States Senate
Nevada's Class 3 Senate seat is up for election. Harry Reid retired at the end of his 5th term. Democrat Catherine Cortez Masto was elected to replace him.


2016 Nevada elections, United States House of Representatives
All of Nevada's four seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Democrats Dina Titus, Jacklyn Rosen and Ruben Kihuen, and Republican Mark Amodei were elected.


2016 Nevada elections, State Legislature, Nevada Senate
Eleven out of twenty-one seats in the Nevada Senate were up for election in 2016. Seven of the seats were currently held by Democrats and four were held by Republicans. Republicans held a one-seat majority in the State Senate. Democrats flipped one Republican seat and held all of theirs, winning a slim majority.


2016 Nevada elections, State Legislature, Nevada Assembly
All 42 seats in the Nevada Assembly are up for election in 2016. Republicans currently hold 24 seats, Democrats currently hold 16 seats, Libertarians currently hold 1 seat, and there is one vacancy.


2016 New Brunswick Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2016 New Brunswick Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the provincial women's curling championship of New Brunswick was held January 27 to 31 at Curl Moncton in Moncton. The winning Sylvie Robichaud team represented New Brunswick at the 2016 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Grande Prairie, Alberta.


2016 New Brunswick municipal elections
Municipal elections were held in the Canadian province of New Brunswick on May 9, 2016. Here is a summary of the mayoral results in the major communities in the province and the council results for the three largest cities.


2016 New Caledonia Super Ligue
The New Caledonia Super Ligue 2016 was the 43rd season of top-tier Caledonian football. It started on 3 March and ended on 3 December 2016. Thirteen teams took part in the championship. The two teams with the highest number of points were chosen to represent New Caledonia in the group stage of the 2018 OFC Champions League.


2016 New Caledonia Super Ligue, Standings, Relegation play-off
Out of the thirteen teams on the top tier of 2016, eleven are based on Grande Terre, the main island of New Caledonia, while two are from other islands (A.S. Horizon Patho from Maré Island and SC Ne Drehu from Lifou Island). At the end of the season, the worst placed team among the ones which are not based on the main island is either relegated directly (if finishing 8th or lower) or must face a play off against the winner of the Championnat des Îles 2016 (if finishing 7th or higher). Because Ne Drehu finished 4th and Horizon Patho finished 5th (even though they would have finished 4th, hadn't they been deducted 10 points), the latter played against E.S. Wacaelé.


2016 New Caledonia Super Ligue, Standings, Relegation play-off, Second leg
Horizon Patho won 2–1 on aggregate and both clubs therefore remain in their respective tiers for the 2017 season.


2016 New England Black Wolves season
The New England Black Wolves are a lacrosse team based in Uncasville, Connecticut playing in the National Lacrosse League (NLL). The 2016 season will be the team's second season in the league.


2016 New England Black Wolves season, Regular season, Current standings
x: Clinched playoff berth; c: Clinched playoff berth by crossing over to another division; y: Clinched division; z: Clinched best regular season record; GP: Games PlayedW: Wins; L: Losses; GB: Games back; PCT: Win percentage; Home: Record at Home; Road: Record on the Road; GF: Goals scored; GA: Goals allowedDifferential: Difference between goals scored and allowed; GF/GP: Average number of goals scored per game; GA/GP: Average number of goals allowed per game


2016 New England Black Wolves season, Transactions, Entry Draft
The 2015 NLL Entry Draft took place on September 28, 2015. The Black Wolves made the following selections:


2016 New England Patriots season
The 2016 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 47th season in the National Football League, the 57th overall and the 17th under head coach Bill Belichick.


2016 New England Patriots season
The Patriots ended the regular season with a league-best record of 14–2 and reached a number of milestones along the way: they became the first team originating in the American Football League to reach 500 franchise wins, set the record for most consecutive division titles at eight, became the seventh team to go 8–0 on the road, set the record for most pass attempts by a team without an interception to start a season, set the record for fewest interceptions thrown by a team with just 2, and led the league for fewest points allowed (250) for the first time since the 2003 season. Belichick moved into fourth place on the list for most wins as a head coach. Brady set the record for most wins by a starting quarterback and the record for the best touchdown–interception ratio in a single season.


2016 New England Patriots season
Patriots starting quarterback Tom Brady was suspended for the first four games of the season due to his alleged role in the Deflategate scandal, marking the first time since 2008 that Brady didn't start in a game. Under backup quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett, the team went 3–1 during Brady's suspension.


2016 New England Patriots season
In the playoffs, the Patriots appeared in the AFC Championship Game for a record sixth consecutive year and advanced to a record ninth Super Bowl appearance. In Super Bowl LI, the Patriots rallied from a 28–3 deficit – with 2:12 left in the third quarter – to win in overtime, with a score of 34–28 against the Atlanta Falcons. This was the first Super Bowl to be decided in overtime, and was the first time that the winner erased a deficit higher than ten points.


2016 New England Patriots season
It was the franchise's fifth Super Bowl title, where Belichick and Brady set record appearances (7) and wins (5) in the Super Bowl for a head coach and a quarterback respectively. Including the playoffs, the 2016 Patriots had an average per-game point differential of 12 points, still the largest for any of New England's six Super Bowl-winning teams.


2016 New England Patriots season, Roster changes
Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker and 2008 AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Jerod Mayo announced his retirement in February 2016. Linebacker Dane Fletcher also retired. In March, the Patriots released wide receiver Brandon LaFell and tight end Scott Chandler. The Patriots subsequently traded Pro Bowl defensive end Chandler Jones to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for guard Jonathan Cooper and a 2016 second-round draft pick. Days later the Patriots acquired tight end Martellus Bennett from the Chicago Bears via trade.


2016 New England Patriots season, Roster changes
On September 7, the Patriots gained cornerback Eric Rowe in a trade that involved the Patriots giving the Philadelphia Eagles a conditional draft pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. On October 26, 2016, the Patriots traded a 2017 seventh-round draft pick to the Detroit Lions and acquired linebacker Kyle Van Noy, and in the process, released offensive guard Chase Farris, who was later signed to their practice squad. Furthermore, during the month of October, the Patriots traded linebacker Jamie Collins to the Cleveland Browns for a 2017 third round draft pick. Additionally, the Patriots signed wide receiver Michael Floyd on December 15, 2016 after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals because of his DUI incident.


2016 New England Patriots season, Roster changes, Undrafted free agents
All undrafted free agents were signed just after the 2016 NFL draft concluded on April 30, 2016.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals
In a battle of the two conference runners-up from the 2015 season, the New England Patriots entered their first game of the 2016 NFL season against the Arizona Cardinals with starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo replacing Tom Brady, who was serving his four-game suspension, also the first time since 2008 that Brady did not start a game.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals
Following a Cardinals punt on the first possession of the game, the Patriots took their first possession of the season for a touchdown. Garoppolo completed 4 of 5 passes for 75 yards on a 10-play drive, ending with a 37-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chris Hogan. On the Cardinals' next drive, aided by a 39-yard completion from quarterback Carson Palmer to wide receiver John Brown, the Cardinals reached Patriots territory, but were forced to punt. Starting from their own 8-yard line, the Patriots cashed in again.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals
Despite only reaching the Cardinals' 29-yard line, placekicker Stephen Gostkowski nailed a 47-yard field goal for a 10–0 Patriots lead. The Cardinals drove to the Patriots' 31, but on 3rd-and-2, Palmer was sacked for an 8-yard loss. Rather than attempt a 57-yard field goal, the Cardinals punted. On 2nd-and-8, Garoppolo was sacked by linebacker Markus Golden and fumbled, with ex-Patriot Chandler Jones recovering at the Patriots' 39, but a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty sent the Cardinals to their own 46.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals
The field position did not hurt Arizona, as they drove 54 yards in 11 plays, scoring on Palmer's 1-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, trimming the deficit to 10–7. Neither team got a first down for the rest of the half. The Patriots kicked off the second half by storming 75 yards in 9 plays, with Garoppolo converting a 3rd-and-6 with a 10-yard run and a 3rd-and-7 with a 28-yard completion to wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, before running back LeGarrette Blount finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown run, extending the lead to 17–7.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals punted on their next drive, but on the first play of the Patriots' next drive, Blount fumbled, with defensive end Calais Campbell recovering for Arizona at the Patriots' 33. With the good field position, Arizona marched 33 yards in just five plays and running back David Johnson scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, trimming the score to 17–14. The Patriots countered with a 50-yard drive to the Cardinals 25.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals
On 3rd-and-4, Garoppolo hit wide receiver Julian Edelman for a first down, but the play was nullified for a holding penalty on tight end Martellus Bennett and the Patriots settled for 53-yard field goal two plays later. Andre Ellington returned the ensuing kickoff 16 yards to the Cardinals 16. This sparked a 79-yard, 7-play drive, aided by a 45-yard run by Johnson, with Palmer finding Fitzgerald on another 1-yard touchdown pass, giving the Cardinals their first lead at 21–20. Marching 61 yards, Garoppolo converted a 3rd-and-15 with a 32-yard pass to wide receiver Danny Amendola for a first down. “That's the play I remember,” he later told Sports Illustrated. He completed a 3rd-and-3 7-yard pass to running back James White, Blount ran for 13 yards on 3rd-and-11 and the Patriots kicked a 32-yard field goal with 3:44 remaining to retake the lead, 23–21.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 1: at Arizona Cardinals
Starting at their own 8, the Cardinals reached the Patriots' 33 where two costly mistakes occurred. Offensive guard Earl Watford was flagged for holding, moving the ball back to the 43. On the next play, Palmer attempted a screen pass to Andre Ellington, for a four-yard loss, but on 3rd-and-23 at the Patriots 47, Palmer threw a clutch 18-yard pass to Brown to the Patriots' 29-yard line, setting up a game-winning 47-yard field-goal attempt by placekicker Chandler Catanzaro with 36 seconds left. However, rookie long snapper Kameron Canaday delivered a low snap, causing Catanzaro to miss wide left. Garoppolo took a knee and the Patriots got their first win of the season.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins
After taking the opening kickoff, the Patriots stormed 75 yards in just 8 plays, scoring on Jimmy Garoppolo's 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Danny Amendola for an early 7–0 lead. After a Dolphins three-and-out, the Patriots raced 75 yards in just 7 plays, on a nearly identical drive, and Garoppolo found Martellus Bennett on a 20-yard touchdown pass for a 14–0 lead. After the Dolphins failed to move the ball again, the Patriots marched 76 yards in over six minutes, with another Amendola touchdown catch extending the Patriots' lead to 21–0 a few plays into the second quarter.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins
After a series of punts, the Patriots reached their 43, but Amendola fumbled at the Dolphins' 42 after a 15-yard reception, and linebacker Kiko Alonso recovered at the Dolphins' 42. However, two plays later wide receiver Jarvis Landry lost a fumble, with defensive end Chris Long recovering at the Patriots' 48. On the fifth play of the drive, Garoppolo was driven to the ground by Alonso on a completion to wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell and suffered a shoulder injury that required transportation to Massachusetts General Hospital; he finished with 232 yards and three touchdowns.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins
Rookie quarterback Jacoby Brissett took over, and running back LeGarrette Blount drove the Patriots to the Dolphins' 16. Kicker Stephen Gostkowski finished the drive with a 34-yard field goal for a 24–0 lead. Four plays into the Dolphins' next possession, Jamie Collins intercepted quarterback Ryan Tannehill and returned the ball 13 yards to the Dolphins' 49. However, the Dolphins' defense forced the Patriots to go three-and-out and the Dolphins finally got on the board following a quick 77-yard drive that ended with kicker Andrew Franks' 27-yard field goal just before halftime, trimming the deficit to 24–3.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins stormed out of the gate in the second half, reaching the Patriots' 34, but running back Jay Ajayi fumbled and linebacker Jonathan Freeny recovered for the Patriots. The Patriots then raced 68 yards in just five plays to score on a 9-yard touchdown run by Blount, increasing their lead to 31-3 and seemingly put the game away. The Dolphins responded with a 7-play, 75-yard drive capped off by Tannehill's 24-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Kenny Stills, trimming the deficit to 31–10.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins
After a Patriots three-and-out, the Dolphins stormed 88 yards in just five plays, aided by a pass interference penalty on Logan Ryan, and scored on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Tannehill to Jordan Cameron, trimming the deficit to just 31–17 early in the fourth quarter. The Patriots drove to the Dolphins' 35 on their next possession, but a penalty and nearly lost fumble forced the Patriots to punt.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins then went 74 yards and scored on a 7-yard touchdown run by rookie running back Kenyan Drake, reducing a 28-point third-quarter deficit to just seven with 6:06 remaining in the game. The Patriots drove all the way to the Dolphins' 21 on their next drive, but Gostkowski missed a 39-yard field goal wide right that would have put the game away with 1:04 remaining. The Dolphins drove to the Patriots' 29 in the final moments, but Tannehill was intercepted by safety Duron Harmon in the end zone with 0:02 left to seal the win for the Patriots.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 2: vs. Miami Dolphins
With the win, the Patriots improved to 2–0. Tannehill threw for 387 yards, but his two interceptions and Ajayi's fumble proved to be costly. Brissett completed 6 of 9 passes for 92 yards. LeGarrette Blount ran for 123 yards and a touchdown. After the game, it was announced that Garoppolo would miss four to six weeks and that Brissett would start the next two games.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 3: vs. Houston Texans
With Tom Brady in his third game of suspension and Jimmy Garoppolo injured, the Patriots, wearing Color Rush uniforms, started backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 3: vs. Houston Texans
The Houston Texans drove 36 yards to their own 47 on their second drive, but were forced to punt. The Patriots responded by driving 74 yards to 6-yard line, but the drive stalled, and the Patriots settled for a 24-yard field goal by Gostkowski and an early 3–0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Charles James II returned the ball 18 yards to the Texans' 17 and fumbled, but was ruled down by contact. The Patriots challenged and the ruling was changed, with the Patriots in possession at the Houston 22-yard line.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 3: vs. Houston Texans
After a false start penalty on offensive tackle Marcus Cannon, Brissett ran for a 27-yard touchdown, increasing the lead to 10–0. The Texans managed to reach midfield on their next drive, but after an illegal formation penalty moved them 5 yards back, linebacker Jamie Collins intercepted quarterback Brock Osweiler and returned the ball 18 yards to the Texans' 43. The Texans forced a punt and moved the ball on their next drive, but were forced to punt. Late in the half, the Texans once again drove to midfield, but were once again forced to punt.


2016 New England Patriots season, Game Summaries, Week 3: vs. Houston Texans
The Patriots then ran out the clock and took a 10–0 lead to the locker room. The Patriots marched 71 yards in 13 plays to the Texans' 7-yard line on the opening drive of the second half, but the Houston defense kept them out of the end zone and Gostkowski kicked a 25-yard field goal for a 13–0 lead. Once again, the Texans lost a fumble on the kickoff; this time, Tyler Ervin was stripped by Nate Ebner with Jordan Richards recovering at the Patriots' 21.