This week's match-up will be the fifth meeting between the Buccaneers and the Patriots in the preseason. The Bucs hold a 3-1 preseason series advantage, while the Patriots hold a 3-1 advantage in the regular season. Tampa Bay took last year's preseason contest by a count of 45-14. The Patriots claimed victory in the first game of the series on August 15, 1981 by a score of 17-16. The results from the preseason and regular season are listed below:
| **DATE** | **RESULT** | **/-** | **SITE** |
| Aug. 15, 1981 | NE 17, Buccaneers 16 | 1 | Tampa Bay |
| Aug. 26, 1983 | Buccaneers 41, NE 21 | -24 | Tampa Bay |
| Aug. 18, 1990 | Buccaneers 44, NE 10 | -34 | Jacksonville |
| Aug. 28, 1999 | Buccaneers 45, Patriots 14 | -31 | Tampa Bay |
| **DATE** | **RESULT** | **/-** | **SITE** |
| Dec. 12, 1976 | NE 31, Tampa Bay 14 | 17 | Tampa Bay |
| Oct. 12, 1985 | NE 32, Tampa Bay 14 | 18 | Tampa Bay |
| Dec. 11, 1988 | NE 10, Tampa Bay 7 (OT) | 3 | Foxboro |
| Nov. 16, 1997 | Tampa Bay 27, NE 7 | -20 | Tampa Bay |
