This Week: The New England Patriots (3-2) will return home to the friendly confines of Gillette Stadium (68,436 capacity) this week to face the Green Bay Packers (4-1). Kickoff will be at 1:02 p.m. This will be the first meeting between the two clubs since Oct. 27, 1997 when the Packers defeated the Patriots 28-10.
Television: This week's game will be broadcast nationally on FOX (locally on WFXT Channel 25). The play-by-play duties will be handled by Dick Stockton, who will be joined in the booth by Troy Aikman and Cris Collinsworth. Pam Oliver will provide sideline reports throughout the game.
Radio: Every Patriots game can be heard in stereo on the Patriots official flagship station WBCN 104.1 FM. Gil Santos, now in his 26th season as the voice of the Patriots, will call the game along with Patriots Hall of Famer Gino Cappelletti, who will provide indepth analysis for his 22nd season. A complete list of the Patriots WBCN Rock Radio Network can be found on pages 462-463 of the 2002 Patriots media guide or at www.patriots.com.
Versus the NFC: The Patriots will face their first NFC opponent of the season this weekend when the Packers visit Gillette Stadium. Last season, the Patriots won three of their four games against the NFC during the regular season. Their only loss came to the St. Louis Rams (11/18). The Patriots avenged that loss with a 20-17 victory in Super Bowl XXXVI.
Tom Brady: Brady leads the NFL with 13 touchdown passes and has completed at least two scoring throws in each of the first five games this season. He's the first Patriot to accomplish that feat and the first Patriot to throw for at least two touchdowns in five straight games in a single season since Butch Songin (10/23/60-11/18/60).
Looking Sharp at Gillette: The Patriots have won eight of their last nine games at home, including five in a row. Their last loss at home was on Nov. 18, 2001, when the Rams defeated the Patriots 24-17. Foxborough has been a wonderful home to the Patriots since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. The team has compiled a 58-28 (.671) overall record at home during that time span. This week's game will be the 87th consecutive sellout at Foxboro.
Home Field Advantage: After scoring a combined 27 points at San Diego and at Miami the past two weeks, the Patriots return home to Gillette Stadium where they are undefeated and averaging 35.5 points per game. The Patriots opened the season with an impressive 30-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers and returned home in Week 3 to record a thrilling 41-38 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in overtime. Thirty one of those 71 points were converted from turnovers. The Patriots have forced eight turnovers in two games at home and just four turnovers in three games on the road this year. The Patriots enter this week's game with a 6 turnover ratio at home and a -5 turnover ratio on the road.
