SERIES HISTORY
The Patriots and Jets will meet for the 90th time since the series between the AFC East rivals began in 1960. The Patriots have won five of the last six games between the teams, including a sweep of the two games last season. The Jets hold an overall edge in the series, but the Patriots lead the series 12-9 since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. The teams split the season series in 2001 and 2002, with all games being won by the visiting team in those years. New England will bid for its second consecutive season sweep of New York. If the Patriots defeat the Jets, it would mark just the second time in team history that they would own back-to-back sweeps over their rivals (also 1995-96). With their 90th meeting this week, the Jets tie the Buffalo Bills as the most frequent opponent in Patriots history. New England's 41 victories over the Jets (including one playoff win) are the third most over any single opponent, trailing only Buffalo (49 all-time wins) and Indianapolis (42).
PATRIOTS-JETS QUICK HITS
- Five Patriots coaches have also served coaching tenures with the Jets (Bill Belichick, Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weis, Brad Seely and Eric Mangini).
- Last season, five Patriots players were also former Jets. In 2004, only one former Jet remains on the Patriots' roster: LB Roman Phifer.
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.
- Defensive line 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 - WRs, 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 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 cornerback Ty Law scored his first touchdown, a 38-yard interception return against the Jets (12/08/96). He also recorded his first career fumble recovery (09/14/97) against the Jets.
- 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.
- 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 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.
- 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 Quincy Carter and Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour and Patriots rookie tight end Benjamin Watson played their collegiate football together at the University of Georgia.
- Jets assistant special teams and assistant defensive backs coach Corwin Brown played safety for the Patriots from 1993-96 and was a member of the Patriots Super Bowl XXXI team.
- Patriots rookie defensive end Vince Wilfork and Jets rookie linebackers Darrell McClover and Jonathan Vilma played their collegiate football together on the University of Miami defensive unit.
- Injured Patriots defensive lineman Dan Klecko and Jets guard Dave Yovanavits both played at Temple before entering the NFL in 2003.
- Patriots second-year cornerback Asante Samuel recorded his first career interception when he picked off Vinny Testaverde and returned it 55 yards for the game-winning touchdown on Sept. 21, 2003.
BEAST OF THE EAST
New England has the best record among AFC East teams in division games since the beginning of the 2001 season (19-6). The New York Jets rank second with a 13-12 record and Miami is third with a 12-14 mark. Buffalo has an 8-18 record. In their last 22 divisional games, the Patriots are 18-4.
FOURTEEN-GAME MARK
The Patriots have recorded a 12-2 mark in 2004, tying the best mark in franchise history through 14 games.
FANTASTIC FINISHES
One of the oldest mantras in sports is that it doesn't matter where you start a season, but it does matter where you finish it. The Patriots have done a remarkable job of finishing strong over the past two-plus seasons, as they have compiled a 34-5 (.872) record after November 1 since the 2001 season.
THE KRAFT ERA
82-34
The Patriots record at home since 1994, including preseason, regular-season and postseason games.
22-3
The Patriots' record at Gillette Stadium, including regular-season and postseason games (.880 win pct).
120-67
The Patriots' record in preseason, regular-season and postseason games since 1996 (.642 win pct).
89-53
The Patriots' regular-season record since 1996 (.627 win pct).
9-3
The Patriots' postseason record since 1996 (.750 win pct).
DILLON DOMINATES
1,430
The number of yards rushing Corey Dillon has gained so far this season, placing him fourth in the NFL despite having played in 13 of 14 games this season.
6
The number of yards Dillon still needs to gain to set a new career high (1,435 yards in 2000).
58
The number of yards Dillon still needs to gain to set the Patriots' franchise single-season rushing record (Curtis Martin 1,487 yards in 1995).
8
The number of games this season in which Dillon has passed the century mark in rushing yards, tying for the NFL lead and establishing a career high.
9
The number of 100-yard games Martin recorded in 1995, establishing a Patriots record.
110.0
The average number of yards Dillon has gained in the 13 games he has played this season, giving him the best yards-per-game played average among currently active NFL rushers.
11
The number of touchdowns Dillon has recorded in 2004 setting a career high.
1,650
The number of rushing yards Dillon is on pace to record this season, a total that would top Curtis Martin's franchise-best season total of 1,487 yards in 1995.
345
The number of rushing attempts Dillon is on pace to record in 2004, which would be a career high and would place him second in Patriots' history.
HOMELAND DEFENSE
14.0
The average number of points the Patriots have allowed through seven games at Gillette Stadium this season.
41.0
The number of sacks the Patriots have registered so far this season.
46.5
The number of sacks the Patriots will notch on the season if they continue at their current pace, the most since New England registered 48.0 sacks in 1986.
12
The number of Patriots defenders who have registered at least one sack on the season.
8
The number of games this season in which the Patriots have held opponents to fewer than 300 net yards.
THE BELICHICK ERA
57-27
Bill Belichick's overall record as head coach of the Patriots, including the regular season and the playoffs.
30-1
Belichick's record in New England when his team scores 25 points or more.
43-3
Belichick's record in New England when his team scores 21 points or more.
CONSECUTIVE STREAKS
60
Consecutive games in which Tom Brady has started at quarterback.
22
Consecutive victories when producing a positive turnover differential.
21
Consecutive field goals Adam Vinatieri has made.
19
Consecutive games in which the Patriots have scored first (22 games including playoffs).
16
Consecutive victories at Gillette Stadium (18 games including playoffs).
16
Consecutive games in which the Patriots have scored in the second quarter.
7
Consecutive overtime wins (8 games including playoffs).
234
Consecutive Patriots games televised locally, including preseason, regular-season and postseason games.
113
Consecutive sellouts in Foxborough, including preseason, regular-season and postseason games.
NOTE: All of the above streaks include regular-season games only, unless noted.
SCORING FIRST STREAK
22
The number of consecutive games in which the Patriots have scored first, including playoffs.
14
The number of times during the streak that the Patriots have scored first with a touchdown.
4
The number of times during the streak that the Patriots have scored first with a Corey Dillon rushing touchdown.
4
The number of times during the streak that he Patriots have scored first with a Daniel Graham receiving touchdown.
8
The number of times during the streak that the Patriots have scored first with an Adam Vinatieri field goal.
17
The number of times during the streak that the Patriots have scored on their first possession (11 TDs/6 FGs).
12
The number of times during the streak that the Patriots have scored after their opponent has had at least one possession.
10
The number of times during the streak that the Patriots have scored on the opening possession of the game.