INSIDE THE NUMBERS
SEVEN YEARS AND COUNTING 103-63 The Patriots' record in preseason, regular-season and postseason games since 1996 (.620 win pct.). 76-51 The Patriots' regular-season record since 1996 (.598 win pct). 6-3 The Patriots' postseason record since 1996 (.667 win pct). 21-9 The Patriots' preseason record since 1996 (.700 win pct). NO PASSING ZONE THE KRAFT ERA THE BELICHICK ERA ROLLING START FLYING HIGH NOT HALF BAD THIRD DOWN DOMINANCE TURNING OVER WINS |
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).
- Patriots running back Antowain Smith was originally drafted by the Bills in the first round (23rd overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft. Smith spent four seasons with the Bills (1997-2000) and gained 2,932 yards on 760 carries and scored 26 touchdowns.
- 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, where he recorded three interceptions in one game during his senior year.
- Patriots fullback Larry Centers played for the Bills from 2001-02, and had 123 catches for 1,008 yards with Buffalo.
- Patriots nose tackle Ted Washington played for the Bills from 1995-2000 and earned three Pro Bowl nods in a Buffalo uniform.
- 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 (9/6/98).
- Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson recorded a career-high 17 tackles against Buffalo on Nov. 15, 1998.
- Bills offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride was born in New Haven, Conn., and earned a degree in physical education at Southern Connecticut State University. Gilbride was a linebackers coach at Tufts University (1976-77) and a head coach at Southern Connecticut (1980-84).
- Bills running backs coach Les Steckel served as the Patriots quarterbacks/wide receivers coach for four seasons (1985-88).
- Bills defensive tackle Sam Adams' father, Sam Adams, Sr., played guard 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 fullback Sam Gash was the Patriots eighth round selection (205th overall) in the 1992 NFL draft. Gash appeared in 88 contests as a Patriot, including 36 starts.
- Bills wide receiver Josh Reed was teammates with Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green and quarterback Rohan Davey at LSU.