CONNECTIONS
- Patriots head coach Bill Belichick's defensive game plan from the Giants' Super Bowl XXV win over the Buffalo Bills is permanently on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- While Belichick was the head coach at Cleveland, he hired Don Blackmon as the linebackers coach. Blackmon is currently the linebackers coach for Buffalo. Blackmon also played for the Patriots for eight seasons (1981-87).
- Bills linebacker London Fletcher was a college teammate of Patriots quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels and Patriots director of pro personnel Nick Caserio at John Carroll University in 1996 and 1997.
- Patriots wide receivers coach Brian Daboll attended St. Francis High in Buffalo where he lettered in football. He also was a two-year starter at free safety at the University of Rochester.
- Bills defensive backs coach Steve Szabo was a volunteer coach for the Patriots in 2003.
- Patriots running back Kevin Faulk had a career-long, 45-yard touchdown run against the Bills on New England's first possession of the third quarter in a 38-7 win (11/03/02).
- Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, while playing for the Chargers, had a career-high three sacks in a 16-14 win over Buffalo in the 1998 season opener (09/06/98).
- Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson recorded a career-high 17 tackles against Buffalo on Nov. 15, 1998.
- Bills defensive tackle Sam Adams' father, Sam Adams, Sr., played for the Patriots for nine seasons (1972-80).
- Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe was drafted by the Patriots with the first overall selection in the 1993 NFL draft. He spent nine seasons with New England and earned three Pro Bowl selections.
- Bills safety Lawyer Milloy was drafted by the Patriots in the second round (36th overall) in the 1996 NFL draft. He played in 112 games in eight seasons in New England and earned four Pro Bowl nods.
- Bills wide receiver Josh Reed was a teammate of Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green and quarterback Rohan Davey at LSU.
PATRIOTS – BILLS QUICK HITS
- The Patriots have recorded 48 wins against the Bills, their most against any opponent.
- Bill Belichick holds a 7-3 career record against Buffalo, including a 7-2 record as head coach of the Patriots.
- Six of the last 13 games in the series have been decided by four points or fewer (NE 3-3).
- The Patriots and Bills have played in 19 games decided by three points or fewer since 1972.
- The Patriots are 14-6 against the Bills in their last 20 meetings.
- Since 1993, the two teams have played five overtime games, good for a total of 51:49 of extra time, almost equaling an entire game.
SERIES HISTORY
This week, the Patriots and Bills will meet for the 90th time since the series between the AFC East rivals began in 1960. The Patriots lead the series 48-40, with one tie. The Patriots' 48 wins over Buffalo are their most over any opponent, five more than they own over Indianapolis (42). New England has won six of its last seven games against Buffalo, dating back to the 2000 season. The teams have had many memorable matchups over the years, including a five-game span from 1999 to 2001 where four of the five contests were decided in overtime.
STANDING TALL
The Patriots are tied for the best record in the NFL with a 7-1 mark to begin the 2004 season. The AFC East leaders are tied with the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers for tops in the league. Last season, New England finished with a franchise-best and NFL-best 14-2 record.
THE KRAFT ERA
100
The number of regular-season victories the Patriots have recorded since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994.
110
The number of consecutive Patriots preseason, regular-season and postseason home games that have been sold out since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994.
228
The number of consecutive Patriots games that have been televised locally.
78-34
The Patriots record at home since 1994, including preseason, regular-season and postseason games.
19-3
The Patriots' record at Gillette Stadium, including regular-season and postseason games (.864 win pct).
SEVEN-PLUS SOLID SEASONS
115-66
The Patriots' record in preseason, regular-season and postseason games since 1996 (.635 win pct.).
84-52
The Patriots' regular-season record since 1996 (.618 win pct).
9-3
The Patriots' postseason record since 1996 (.750 win pct).
22-12
The Patriots' preseason record since 1996 (.647 win pct).
TOMMY GUN
41-13
Tom Brady's record as a starting quarterback in the NFL in the regular season.
.759
Brady's winning percentage as a starter.
1
Brady's rank on the NFL's all-time winningest quarterbacks list during the Super Bowl Era (since 1966).
30
The number of touchdowns Brady is on pace to throw this season, a mark which would surpass his career high of 28, set in 2002.
3,788
The number of passing yards Brady is on pace to record this season, a total that would set a new career high.
CONSECUTIVE STREAKS
15
The number of consecutive regular-season and postseason games the Patriots have won at Gillette Stadium, dating back to the 2002 season finale.
16
The number of consecutive games, including playoffs, in which the Patriots have scored first.
14
The number of consecutive games, including playoffs, in which Tom Brady has thrown a touchdown pass.
12
The number of consecutive games the Patriots have won when they have had a 100-yard rusher, dating back to the 1999 season.
GIVENS RECEIVES ACCOLADES
4
The number of games this season in which David Givens has exceeded the 100-yard mark for receiving yards.
4
The number of 100-yard receiving games the Patriots had all of last season.
1999
The last year in which a Patriot recorded four 100-yard games in a single season, when Terry Glenn accomplished the feat.
SACK ATTACK
23
The number of sacks the Patriots have recorded through eight games.
46
The number of sacks the Patriots are on pace to record this season, a total that would be the most by the team since 1986, when they recorded 48 sacks.
THIRD DOWN DOMINANCE
44.7
The Patriots' offensive third-down conversion percentage this season (44 conversions in 98 tries).
24
The number of seasons since the Patriots ended a campaign with a third-down conversion rate as high as 44.7 percent, dating back to the 1980 team's 46.7 percent conversion rate.
