DATE:
September 23, 2001
SITE:
Foxboro Stadium (62,292) - Grass
TIME:
4:00 p.m. EDT
TELEVISON:
This week's game will be broadcast regionally on CBS (locally on WBZ Channel 4 in Boston). Dick Enberg will provide the play-by-play detail and will be joined by broadcast partner Dan Dierdorf. They will be joined by Bonnie Bernstein, who will report from the sidelines.
RADIO:
WBCN's Rock Radio Network 104.1 FM. Gil Santos, now in his 25th season as voice of the Patriots, will call the action along with former Patriots center Peter Brock.
The New England Patriots (0-1) will host their division rival New York Jets (0-1) this Sunday in their 2001 home opener at Foxboro Stadium. It is an important game for both teams, each in need of a win to avoid an 0-2 start. The Patriots opened the season at Cincinnati, where they were defeated 23-17. The Jets opened the season hosting the Indianapolis Colts and were defeated 45-24.
This week, the NFL resumes its full schedule of games after postponing all games scheduled for Week 2. Both the Patriots and the Jets were scheduled for road games last week, with the Patriots in Carolina and the Jets traveling to Oakland.
For the Patriots, this week's game will also represent the official kickoff of their final season in Foxboro Stadium. The Patriots have won five of their last six home openers, but are only 14-16 in home openers since moving to Foxboro in 1971. Next year, the Patriots will open the season in their first state-of-the-art facility, the 68,000-seat CMGI Field.
The Patriots will host three of their next four games at Foxboro Stadium and three consecutive games against AFC East division rivals. After the Jets, the Patriots will host the defending division champion Indianapolis Colts before traveling to Miami to play the Dolphins on Oct. 7. The Patriots return home to host the San Diego Chargers on Oct. 14, but will then be on the road for three consecutive weeks at Indianapolis (10/21), Denver (10/28) and Atlanta (11/4).
Since 1994, the Patriots have enjoyed great success at Foxboro Stadium, compiling a 47-26 (.644) record. Each of those 73 home games have been sold out, assuring that all Patriots games home and away are televised locally. The Patriots have now appeared on local television each of their last 157 consecutive games. The streak includes preseason, regular season and postseason games.
In 1979, the Patriots celebrated one of their most memorable moments in Foxboro Stadium history when they defeated the Jets 56-3 on Sept. 9. It remains the most lopsided victory in franchise history.
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