The Patriots (1-1) will welcome the New York Jets (0-2) to Gillette Stadium this Sunday, opening their 2003 home schedule. New England is coming off of an impressive 31-10 win in Philadelphia that evened their record on the young season and proved their mettle as they rebounded from a season-opening loss. The Patriots have won five of their last seven home openers and are 9-3 (.750) all-time at Gillette Stadium.
New England will try to prove that its Week Two win showed fans what they can expect to see on a regular basis this season. The Patriots will try to keep up the momentum generated in Philadelphia by grabbing their first division victory and putting on a show for the home crowd. Despite recent success against AFC East teams (a division-best 10-5 since 2001) and their strong play at home, the Patriots will face a formidable challenge in the Jets, who have won in New England each of the past two seasons. Having split their season series with the Jets in each of the past two seasons, the Week Three battle in the Patriots home opener promises to be a hard-fought contest between divisional rivals.
TELEVISION: This week's game will be televised by CBS. The game can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston. Dick Enberg will handle the play-by-play duties and Dan Dierdorf will provide analysis. Bonnie Bernstein will deliver reports from the sidelines throughout the game. Immediately following the game, the Fifth Quarter postgame show can be seen on WSBK-TV Channel 38 in Boston.
RADIO: WBCN 104.1 FM is the flagship station for the Patriots Rock Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Gil Santos is in his 27th season as the voice of the Patriots, and calls the action along with Patriots Hall of Famer Gino Cappelletti. In 2003, Santos and Cappelletti celebrate their 20th season as a broadcast tandem.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Patriots will play their home opener at Gillette Stadium against the Jets this week. Since moving into the state-of-the-art facility in 2002, the Patriots have compiled a 9-3 record, including preseason games. Dating back to the 2001 season, the Patriots have won 13 of their last 16 games at home, including preseason and postseason contests.
PATRIOTS VS. AFC EAST
The Patriots are 9-3 in their last 12 games against AFC East opponents, dating back to the 2001 season. In 2002, the Patriots finished the season with a 4-2 record against their divisional rivals. Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, New England has compiled an overall record of 131-132-0 (.498) against divisional opponents. The Patriots are 32-24 (.571) against the AFC East since the beginning of the 1996 season. The Patriots own the best record against AFC East foes since 2001 with a 10-5 mark. The Jets have the second best mark, going 9-6 against the division since 2001.
SWAT TEAM
The Patriots defense recorded 16 pass breakups last weekend in Philadelphia, the most since they batted away 16 passes on Nov. 11, 1984 in a 38-10 win over Buffalo and quarterback Joe Ferguson. Last weekend, Patriots defenders were consistently in position to break up Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb's pass attempts, holding him to a career-low 39.1 percent completion rate (18-46). Tedy Bruschi led the swat team with five passes defensed, including an interception that he returned 18 yards for a touchdown.
SERIES HISTORY
The Patriots and Jets will meet for the 87th time since the series between the AFC East rivals began in 1960. The Patriots have won two of the last three games between the teams, with both victories coming at the Meadowlands. The Jets hold an overall edge in the series, but the two teams have each won nine games against each other since Robert Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994. The teams have split the season series each of the past two years, with all games being won by the visiting team in both 2001 and 2002. Last season, the teams split their two games, with the Patriots taking a 44-7 win away from the Meadowlands on Sept. 14 and the Jets posting a 30-17 victory at Gillette Stadium on Dec. 22. The teams also split their series in 2001, as the Jets won 10-3 at Foxboro Stadium and the Patriots were victorious at the Meadowlands, 17-16. The Patriots' longest winning streak against the Jets came when they won six straight games from 1994-97.
| **Date** | **Result** | **/-** |
| 1960 | Patriots 28, at Jets 24 | 4 |
| at Patriots 38, Jets 21 | 17 | |
| 1961 | Jets 21, at Patriots 20 | -1 |
| at Jets 37, Patriots 30 | -7 | |
| 1962 | Patriots 43, at Jets 14 | 29 |
| at Patriots 24, Jets 17 | 7 | |
| 1963 | at Patriots 38, Jets 14 | 24 |
| at Jets 31, Patriots 24 | -7 | |
| 1964 | at Patriots 26, Jets 10 | 16 |
| at Jets 35, Patriots 14 | -21 | |
| 1965 | Jets 30, at Patriots 20 | -10 |
| Patriots 27, at Jets 23 | 4 | |
| 1966 | at Patriots 24, Jets 24 | tie |
| at Jets 38, Patriots 28 | -10 | |
| 1967 | at Jets 30, Patriots 23 | -7 |
| Jets 29, at Patriots 24 | -5 | |
| 1968 | at Jets 47, Patriots 31 | -16 |
| at Jets 48, Patriots 14 | -34 | |
| 1969 | Jets 23, at Patriots 14 | -9 |
| at Jets 23, Patriots 17 | -6 | |
| 1970 | Jets 31, at Patriots 21 | -10 |
| at Jets 17, Patriots 3 | -14 | |
| 1971 | at Patriots 20, Jets 0 | 20 |
| at Jets 13, Patriots 6 | -7 | |
| 1972 | Jets 41, at Patriots 13 | -28 |
| at Jets 34, Patriots 10 | -24 | |
| 1973 | Jets 9, at Patriots 7 | -2 |
| at Jets 33, Patriots 13 | -20 | |
| 1974 | Patriots 24, at Jets 0 | 24 |
| Jets 21, at Patriots 16 | -5 | |
| 1975 | at Jets 36, Patriots 7 | -29 |
| Jets 30, at Patriots 28 | -2 | |
| 1976 | at Patriots 41, Jets 7 | 34 |
| Patriots 38, at Jets 24 | 14 | |
| 1977 | at Jets 30, Patriots 27 | -3 |
| at Patriots 24, Jets 13 | 11 | |
| 1978 | at Patriots 55, Jets 21 | 34 |
| Patriots 19, at Jets 17 | 2 | |
| 1979 | at Patriots 56, Jets 3 | 53 |
| at Jets 27, Patriots 26 | -1 | |
| 1980 | Patriots 21, at Jets 11 | 10 |
| at Patriots 34, Jets 21 | 13 | |
| 1981 | at Jets 28, Patriots 24 | -4 |
| Jets 17, at Patriots 6 | -11 | |
| 1982 | Jets 31, at Patriots 7 | -24 |
| 1983 | at Patriots 23, Jets 13 | 10 |
| at Jets 26, Patriots 3 | -23 | |
| 1984 | Patriots 28, at Jets 21 | 7 |
| at Patriots 30, Jets 20 | 10 | |
| 1985 | at Patriots 20, Jets 13 | 7 |
| at Jets 16, Patriots 13 ot | -3 | |
| 1986 | Patriots 20, at Jets 6 | 14 |
| Jets 31, at Patriots 24 | -7 | |
| 1987 | at Jets 43, Patriots 24 | -19 |
| at Patriots 42, Jets 20 | 22 | |
| 1988 | at Patriots 28, Jets 3 | 25 |
| Patriots 14, at Jets 13 | 1 | |
| 1989 | Patriots 27, at Jets 24 | 3 |
| Jets 27, at Patriots 26 | -1 | |
| 1990 | Jets 37, at Patriots 13 | -24 |
| at Jets 42, Patriots 7 | -35 | |
| 1991 | Jets 28, at Patriots 21 | -7 |
| Patriots 6, at Jets 3 | 3 | |
| 1992 | at Jets 30, Patriots 21 | -9 |
| at Patriots 24, Jets 3 | 21 | |
| 1993 | at Jets 45, Patriots 7 | -38 |
| Jets 6, at Patriots 0 | -6 | |
| 1994 | at Jets 24, Patriots 17 | -7 |
| at Patriots 24, Jets 13 | 11 | |
| 1995 | Patriots 20, at Jets 7 | 13 |
| at Patriots 31, Jets 28 | 3 | |
| 1996 | Patriots 31, at Jets 27 | 4 |
| at Patriots 34, Jets 10 | 24 | |
| 1997 | at Patriots 27, Jets 24 ot | 3 |
| at Jets 24, Patriots 19 | -5 | |
| 1998 | Jets 24, at Patriots 14 | -10 |
| at Jets 31, Patriots 10 | -21 | |
| 1999 | Patriots 30, at Jets 28 | 2 |
| Jets 24, at Patriots 17 | -7 | |
| 2000 | at Jets 20, Patriots 19 | -1 |
| Jets 34, at Patriots 17 | -17 | |
| 2001 | Jets 10, at Patriots 3 | -7 |
| Patriots 17, at Jets 16 | 1 | |
| 2002 | Patriots 44, at Jets 7 | 37 |
| Jets 30, at Patriots 17 | -13 | |
| 1985 | Patriots 26, at Jets 14* | 12 |
| *-AFC playoff game | ||
SERIES TRENDS
| Overall Record in Series | 38 wins, 47 losses - 1 tie |
| Total Points | Jets 1,919, Patriots 1,891 |
| Record in playoffs | 1 win, 0 losses |
| Record in New England | 20 wins, 21 losses - 1 tie |
| Record in New York | 18 wins, 25 losses |
| Neutral Sites | 0 wins, 1 loss |
| Longest winning streak | 6 games (12/4/94 - 9/14/97) |
| Longest losing streak | 9 games (12/17/66 - 11/22/70) |
| Seasonal Sweeps | Jets 14 (most recent '00), Patriots 9 ('96) |
TALE OF THE TAPE
| 2003 Regular Season | New England | New York |
| Record | 1-1 | 0-2 |
| Divisional Standings | T-2nd | 4th |
| Total Yards Gained | 548 | 545 |
| Total Offense (Rank) | 274.0 (25) | 272.5 (26) |
| Rush Offense | 83.5 (23) | 39.0 (32) |
| Pass Offense | 190.5 (T-19) | 233.5 (10) |
| Points Per Game | 15.5 | 11.5 |
| Total Yards Allowed | 587 | 703 |
| Total Defense | 293.5 (13) | 351.5 (23) |
| Rush Defense | 101.5 (20) | 173.5 (30) |
| Pass Defense | 192.0 (13) | 178.0 (9) |
| Points Allowed/Game | 20.5 | 18.5 |
| Possession Avg. | 31:22 | 24:44 |
| Sacks Allowed/Yards Lost | 4/28 | 2/11 |
| Sacks Made/Yards | 9/57 | 5/19 |
| Interceptions By | 3 | 1 |
| Penalties Against/Yards | 20/205 | 8/57 |
| Punts/Avg. | 15/39.8 | 10/35.5 |
| Takeaway/Giveaway Ratio | 4 | 2 |
CONNECTIONS
- Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was the Jets' Assistant Head Coach/Secondary for three seasons (1997-99).
- As head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Belichick hired Mike Tannenbaum as a personnel intern. He is now the Jets' Assistant G.M./Director of Player Personnel.
- Defensive Coordinator Romeo Crennel was the defensive line coach for the Jets from 1997-99.
- Inside Linebackers coach Pepper Johnson played for two seasons with the Jets, before retiring in 1999. In his first season with the Jets, he was voted captain before the start of the regular season.
- Defensive Backs coach Eric Mangini served as the Jets Defensive Assistant/Quality Control coach from 1997-99.
- Special Teams coach Brad Seely held the same position with the Jets in 1994.
- Offensive Coordinator Charlie Weis coached for three seasons with the Jets (1997-Wide Receivers, 1998-Offensive Coordinator/WRs, 1999-Offensive Coordinator/FBs).
- Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli was the Director of Pro Personnel for the Jets from 1997-1999.
- Patriots Guard Joe Andruzzi is from Staten Island, N.Y., where he was an offensive and defensive tackle at Tottenville High School.
- Patriots Tight End Fred Baxter was originally drafted in the fifth round of the 1993 NFL Draft (115th overall) by the Jets, for whom he played for eight seasons.
- Patriots Linebacker Don Davis originally signed with the Jets as a rookie free agent in the spring of 1995.
- Patriots Running Back Kevin Faulk set a career-high with a 95-yard kickoff return vs. the Jets (11/15/99). It was the eighth longest return – and the longest non-scoring return – in franchise history.
- Patriots defensive end Bobby Hamilton was signed by the Jets as a free agent and participated on their practice squad for the first season before being activated and staying with the organization for another four years.
- Patriots quarterback Damon Huard made his NFL debut against the Jets, while he was playing for the Dolphins, and connected on two-of-three passes for 21 yards.
- Patriots cornerback Ty Law scored his first touchdown, a 38-yard interception return against the Jets (12/8/96), as well as his first career fumble recovery (9/14/97).
- Patriots defensive lineman Rick Lyle signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent in March of 1997, where he remained for five seasons.
- Patriots linebacker Roman Phifer signed with the Jets as an unrestricted free agent on March 5, 1999, and stayed with the organization for two seasons.
- Patriots defensive end Anthony Pleasant played for the Jets for two seasons, during which time he recorded 31 starts out of his 32 appearances, 97 tackles, and 8.0 sacks for 63 yards.
- While playing for the Carolina Panthers, Patriots cornerback Tyrone Poole snagged his first career interception in the franchise's first win, 26-15 over the Jets (10/15/95).
- Jets Assistant Head Coach/Senior Offensive Assistant Jimmy Raye was the offensive coordinator for the Patriots in 1990.
- Jets defensive back Jamie Henderson was drafted in the fourth round (101st overall) of the 2001 draft in a selection from the Patriots as part of the compensation package for Head Coach Bill Belichick.
- Jets quarterback Vinny Testaverde started 31 games at quarterback for the Cleveland Browns from 1993-95, when Bill Belichick was the team's head coach.
- Jets running back Curtis Martin was originally drafted by the Patriots in the third round (74th overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft; in his three seasons with New England, Martin appeared in 45 games with 43 starts.
PATRIOTS – JETS QUICK HITS
- The Patriots have five former Jets on their roster (Rick Lyle, Anthony Pleasant, Roman Phifer, Bobby Hamilton and Fred Baxter).
- Five Patriots coaches have also coached for the Jets (Bill Belichick, Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis, Brad Seely, Eric Mangini).
- The teams have each won nine games in the series since Robert Kraft bought the Patriots in 1994.
- Bill Belichick is 3-5 all-time against the Jets, including a record of 2-4 as head coach of the Patriots.
- Herman Edwards is 2-2 in his career against the Patriots.
- Tom Brady is 2-1 as a starter against the Jets.
- Vinny Testaverde is 5-7 against the Patriots in the regular season and 1-0 in the playoffs.
- The Patriots have a 10-5 record against the AFC East since the beginning of the 2001 season. It's the best record among AFC East teams over that span.
- The Jets have the second best record against the AFC East since 2001, compiling a 9-6 mark.
