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BOSTON PATRIOTS(3-1) atDENVER BRONCOS* (4-0)
*Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009 - Invesco Field at Mile High (76,125) - 4:15 p.m. EDT
The Boston Patriots travel to Denver to face the Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High this week. Excluding the first week of the season, Sunday's game will be the fourth straight game that the Patriots have faced an undefeated team after playing the 1-0 New York Jets, 2-0 Falcons and 3-0 Ravens in each of the last three weeks. The Patriots are the second team since the NFL merger to play four straight games against an undefeated team (excluding the first game of the season). The only other team to face four consecutive undefeated teams was the 1986 Philadelphia Eagles.
This week's matchup will be the 43rd time the two teams have squared off. The Patriots have played more games against the Broncos than any other team that has never been in Boston's division.
The history between the teams dates back to the first days of the American Football League in 1960. The Patriots played the Broncos in the inaugural game of each franchise, a 13-10 Denver win on Sept. 9, 1960 at B.U. Field. The teams squared off twice a year in the decade prior to the AFL-NFL merger, with the Patriots taking a 10-7 advantage out of those games.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION: This week's game will be broadcast to a regional audience by CBS and can be seen in Boston on WBZ-TV Channel 4. Jim Nantz will handle play-byplay duties with Phil Simms providing color.
NATIONAL RADIO: This week's game will be broadcast to a national audience by Westwood One. Kevin Kugler and Mark Malone will call the game with Scott Graham will host the pregame and halftime shows.
RADIO: 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. A complete listing of the network's 36 stations can be found here. Play-by-play broadcaster Gil Santos is in his 33rd season as the voice of the Patriots and will call the action along with Patriots Hall of Famer Gino Cappelletti. Santos and Cappelletti are celebrating their 26th season as a tandem.
AFL LEGACY GAMES
This season marks the 50th anniversary of the American Football League (AFL), of which the Patriots and Broncos were original members. The Boston Patriots hosted the AFL's first regular season game on September 9, 1960 at Boston University Field against the Denver Broncos. Both teams will wear their throwback uniforms this Sunday. The Patriots will wear red and white uniforms, replicating the ones worn by the 1963 team that claimed the franchise's first division title and competed in the team's first league championship game. In honor of the 50th Anniversary, the Patriots will be the Boston Patriots for the four legacy games.
SERIES HISTORY
The Patriots and Broncos will meet for the 43rd time in series history and for the 16th time in the last 18 years. The Broncos have won five of the last seven regular-season and playoff contests, but had a three-game winning streak snapped last season on Monday Night Football when the Patriots beat Denver 41-7 on October 20.
The Broncos own a 26-16 advantage in the series, including a 2-0 mark in the playoffs. New England lost a Divisional playoff game at Denver during the 1986 and 2005 playoffs. Of the 42 previous games in the series, 25 have been played in Denver. The Patriots have played more games against the Broncos than any other team that has never been in New England's division. The Patriots are 1-3 all time at Invesco Field.
The history between the teams dates back to the first days of the American Football League in 1960. The Patriots played the Broncos in the inaugural game of each franchise, a 13-10 Denver win on Sept. 9, 1960 at B.U. Field. The teams squared off twice a year in the decade prior to the AFL-NFL merger, with the Patriots taking a 10-7 advantage out of those games.
QUICK HITS
- The Broncos are the only team the Patriots have lost to twice in the playoffs (1986 and 2005). New England's 11 other playoff losses have been to 11 different clubs.
- The Patriots rushed for 257 yards and a 6.8-yard average in last year's 41-7 win.
- RB Sammy Morris set a personal-best with 138 yards rushing on 16 carries for an average of 8.6 yards last year against Denver.
- RB Laurence Maroney had a career-high with five receptions vs. Denver (9/24/06).
- In Belichick's only two wins at Denver (10/1/00 and 11/3/03) he took intentional safeties in the second half to help secure the win.
BRADY VS. DENVER
Tom Brady is 1-4 against the Broncos in the regular season. Denver is the only team that Brady has a losing record against.
CONNECTIONS
- Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was the assistant special teams coach and assistant to the defensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos in 1978.
- Patriots special teams coach Scott O'Brien served as special teams coordinator for the Denver Broncos from 2007-08.
- Broncos first year head coach Josh McDaniels was a member of the Patriots coaching staff from 2001- 2008. He began with the organization from 2001-03 as a personnel assistant/coaching assistant before coaching quarterbacks in 2004-2005. McDaniels eventually became Off. Coor/QBS coach from 2006-08.
- Broncos director of pro personnel Keith Kidd was assistant director of pro personnel with the Patriots from 2002-04.
- Broncos director of college scouting Matt Russell worked on the Patriots staff from 2000-05. Russell was a pro scout through the 2002 season and as an area scout from 2003-05.
- Broncos assistant linebackers coach Roman Phifer spent four seasons with the Patriots as a player from 2001-04.
- Broncos western regional scout Adam Peters spent six seasons (2003-08) in the Patriots personnel department, including the last three as an area scout.
- Broncos T Brandon Gorin spent three seasons on the Patriots (2003-05) and was college teammates with Patriots LT Matt Light from 1997-2000 at Purdue.
- Patriots RT Nick Kaczur and Broncos P Brett Kern were teammates at Toledo in 2004.
- Patriots rookie S Patrick Chung and Broncos DL Ryan McBean were both born in Kingston, Jamaica.
- Patriots NT Vince Wilfork and Broncos ILB D.J. Williams were teammates at Miami from 2001-03. Patriots S Brandon Meriweather was also their teammate for the 2003 season.
- Patriots rookie DL Myron Pryor and Broncos ILB Wesley Woodyard were teammates at Kentucky from 2005-07.
- Patriots LB Jerod Mayo and Broncos OLB/DE Robert Ayers were teammates at Tennessee from 2005-07.
- Patriots LB Derrick Burgess and Broncos RB Correll Buckhalter and S Brian Dawkins were teammates with the Philadelphia Eagles from 2001-04
- Patriots WR Wes Welker and Broncos CB André Goodman were teammates in the Miami Dolphins organization in 2006.
- The following Denver Broncos players are former members of the Patriots:
* WR Jabar Gafney- 2006-08
* T Brandon Gorin- 2003-05
* TE Daniel Graham- 2002-06
* RB Lamont Jordan- 2008
* LS Lonie Paxton- 2000-08
* OL Russ Hochstein- 2002-08
* DL Le Kevin Smith- 2006-08
- Patriots WR Sam Aiken and Broncos LB Mario Haggan were teammates with Buffalo from 2003-07.
- Patriots DL Terdell Sands, LB Derrick Burgess, WR Randy Moss and Broncos S Renaldo Hill and RB Lamont Jordan played for Oakland together in 2005.
- Patriots P Chris Hanson was teammates with Broncos RB Lamont Jordan for the New York Jets from 2002-04. .
- Patriots LB Adalius Thomas and Broncos WR Brandon Stokley were teammates in Baltimore from 2000-02. Patriots WR Joey Galloway and Broncos QB Chris Simms played for Tampa Bay together from 2004-07.
