DID YOU KNOW?
- The New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers are two of only three NFL teams that are not named after a specific city or state. The other such team is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
- In many years, teams use the third preseason game to play their starters more than any other exhibition contest. The Patriots have won their third preseason game four times in the last five seasons, including a 41-0 victory over Washington in 2006 and a 27-3 win at Green Bay in 2005.
PRESEASON HISTORYThe Patriots are 32-24 (.571) in the preseason since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. New England has had a record of .500 or better in nine of its last 11 preseasons. Prior to 1994, the Patriots were 60-96-1 (.385) in the preseason. New England enters this week's game with an all-time preseason mark of 92- 120-1.
ROSTER REDUCTION DATES
The first mandatory roster reduction date is August 28, two days prior to the Patriots' final preseason game. On that date, rosters must be reduced to 75 players. On Saturday, Sept. 1, rosters must be reduced to the regular-season limit of 53 players. On Sept. 2, clubs may establish an eight-man practice squad.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
ROSTER RUNDOWN
83The number of players on the Patriots' roster as of Aug. 20.
12
The number of players on the Patriots' roster who were drafted in the first round of the NFL draft in their respective seasons.
17
The number of rookies and first-year players on the Patriots' roster.
23
The number of players on the Patriots' roster who were drafted by the team in the last four drafts (2004-07).
45
The number of players on the Patriots' roster who have accrued three or more seasons of NFL experience entering 2007.
27The average age of players on the Patriots' roster.
6The number of players on the Patriots' roster from the University of Miami, the most of any college or university.
THE HEAD COACH
87-39
Bill Belichick's overall record as head coach of the Patriots, including the regular season and the playoffs, the best head coaching record in franchise history.
82-28Bill Belichick's record since 2001, making him the winningest head coach in over the last six seasons.
13-3
Coach Belichick's career record in playoff games. His winning percentage of .813 ranks second in NFL history to Vince Lombardi (9-1, .900), and his 13 total playoff wins are the fifth highest total of all time.
12The number of division titles Bill Belichick has contributed to as a coach, including five of the last six AFC East titles as head coach of the Patriots.
9
The number of head coaches who have won three or more NFL championships since the postseason era began in 1933. Belichick joined that elite club with a victory in Super Bowl XXXIX.
STREAKING
4
The number of consecutive AFC East titles for the Patriots.
4
The number of consecutive seasons in which the Patriots have won a playoff game. No other team has had a victory in more than two consecutive seasons.
5
The number of consecutive Pro Bowl teams to which Richard Seymour has been voted.
6
The number of consecutive seasons in which the Patriots have recorded nine or more wins, the longest such streak in the NFL.
8The number of consecutive Patriots' overtime victories, the longest current streak in the NFL.
32
The number of consecutive seasons Bill Belichick has coached in the NFL, the longest coaching tenure in the league.
108
The number of consecutive games, including playoffs, that Tom Brady has started at quarterback.
2007 MILESTONES
1
The number of victories Bill Belichick needs to reach 125 wins in his head coaching career.
4
The number of games played Troy Brown (currently ranked 4th) needs to pass Mosi Tatupu (194) and move into third on the franchise's games played list.
14The number of seasons, entering 2007, that Troy Brown has logged as a Patriots, representing the third longest current tenure with the same team (Brett Favre, GB, 15; Jason Hanson, DET, 15)
20
Number of passing touchdowns Tom Brady (currently ranked 3rd) needs to pass Drew Bledsoe (166) and move into second on the franchise's career passing touchdowns list behind leader Steve Grogan (182).
72The number of yards rushing that Kevin Faulk (currently ranked 13th) needs to move ahead of Mosi Tatupu (2,415), Leonard Russell (2,437) and Craig James (2,469) into 10th place on the Patriots all-time rushing list.
529
The number of passing attempts Tom Brady (currently ranked 3rd) needs to pass Steve Grogan (3,593) for second place on the franchise's career passing attempts list.
THE KRAFT ERA
144
The number of regular-season and playoff victories the Patriots have earned since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. That mark is the highest total in the NFL over that span.
.629
The Patriots' NFL-best winning percentage in regular-season and playoff games since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994. The team has recorded a 144-85 record in that span after going 19- 61 in the five years prior (1989-93).
4
The number of times the Patriots have appeared in the Super Bowl since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994. No other team has made more than two Super Bowl appearances in that span.
15
The number of playoff games the Patriots have won since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994. That mark leads the NFL over that span (Pittsburgh, 12).
9
The number of playoff seasons in which the Patriots have qualified for the playoffs since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994. That mark leads the NFL over that span.
80-33
The Patriots' record at home since 1994, including regular season and postseason games, a winning percentage of .707.
7
The number of AFC East titles the Patriots have won since 1996. No other NFL team has won more than five division titles over that span.
138
The number of consecutive regular-season, preseason and playoff games that have been sold out in Foxborough. The streak began with the 1994 season opener and includes this week's game.
281The number of consecutive Patriots games that have been televised locally, including this week's game.
