This Week:
The New England Patriots (3-3) will return to the field this weekend when they host the Denver Broncos at Gillette Stadium (capacity, 68,436) on Oct. 27 at 4:15 p.m.
Television:
This week's game will be broadcast nationally on CBS (locally on WBZ Channel 4). The play-by-play duties will be handled by Greg Gumbel, who will be joined in the booth by Phil Simms. Armen Keteyian will provide sideline reports throughout the game.
Radio:
Every Patriots game can be heard in stereo on the Patriots official flagship station WBCN 104.1 FM. Gil Santos, now in his 26th season as the voice of the Patriots, will call the game along with Patriots Hall of Famer Gino Cappelletti, who will provide in-depth analysis for his 22nd season. A complete list of the Patriots WBCN Rock Radio Network can be found on pages 462-463 of the 2002 Patriots media guide or at www.patriots.com.
National Radio:
This week's game can also be heard nationally on CBS Radio. Dave Sims and John Dockery will be calling the play-by-play.
By the Bye:
Since the inception of the bye week in 1990, the Patriots have a 5-8 record in games following the bye. They have won three of their last six following a week off, including a 38-6 victory last year against the Carolina Panthers. Bill Belichick's teams have an 8-5 record following their bye and have won six of their last eight contests. This season in the NFL, teams coming off of the bye week have an 11-5 record.
Turnovers:
The Patriots have totaled a -8 turnover ratio over the past three games, all losses. The Patriots have recorded a 0-3 record this season with a negative turnover ratio and they are 12-15 since 1996. The Patriots are 2-0 this year and 36-10 since 1996 when they have a positive turnover ratio. During their current three-game losing streak, Patriots opponents have scored 27 points off of turnovers and they've defeated the Patriots by a total of 38 points.
Touchdown Streak:
Quarterback Tom Brady extended his consecutive games with a touchdown pass streak to eight games against Green Bay. It's the longest streak by a Patriots quarterback since Drew Bledsoe connected on a touchdown in nine straight games (11/1/98 - 9/19/99). Brady has thrown 14 touchdown passes through the first six games this year. He totaled 18 during 15 games last season.
Looking Sharp at Gillette:
The Patriots have won eight of their last nine games at home (including preseason and postseason). The 28-10 loss to Green Bay was the Patriots first at Gillette Stadium. Foxborough has been a wonderful home to the Patriots since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. The team has compiled a 58-29 (.667) overall record at home during that time span. This week's game against the Broncos (10/27) will be the 88th consecutive sellout at Foxborough.
A Year Ago:
Through the first six games of this season the New England Patriots are 3-3. Last year, the Patriots started 3-3, but won 11 of their next 13 games, including Super Bowl XXXVI. While the 2002 Patriots have allowed 37 more rushing yards than they did at this point last year, they have yielded 242 fewer total yards than in 2001. Also similar to last year, the Patriots have allowed four different running backs to eclipse the 100-yard mark through the first six games of the year. In 2001 the Patriots did not allow another opposing running back gain 100 rushing yards until the final game of the regular season.
