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NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (8-5) at BUFFALO BILLS (5-8)
*Sunday, Dec. 20, 2009 - Ralph Wilson Stadium (73,967) 1:00 p.m. EDT
The New England Patriots will attempt to sweep the Buffalo Bills for the sixth straight season when they travel to take on their AFC east rivals. The Patriots battled back from a 24-13 fourth-quarter deficit to pull out a 25-24 victory on Monday Night Football in the first meeting with Buffalo in Week 1. The victory extended the Patriots winning streak to 12 straight over Buffalo.
Since the beginning of December 2003, the Patriots have compiled a 25-3 record in the 12th month. The Patriots will look to improve their NFL-best record in December games over the last seven years.
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. Greg Gumbel will handle play-by-play duties with Dan Dierdorf providing color.
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.
SERIES HISTORYThe Patriots and Bills will meet for the 100th time, with New England holding a 58-40-1 edge following a 25-24 come-from-behind win on Monday Night Football in Week 1. The series between the AFC East rivals began in 1960. The Patriots' 58 wins over the Bills are their highest victory total over any opponent, eight more than they own over the New York Jets (50). New England has won 12 straight games in the series and has won 17 of its last 19 games against Buffalo dating back to the 2000 season. The Patriots have swept the season series from the Bills in five straight years and have achieved the feat seven of the last eight years. The Patriots have won by an average margin of 19 points per game during their current 12-game win streak. The Patriots are 27-21 all-time in Buffalo, including 20-15 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Patriots beat the Bills last season at Ralph Wilson Stadium by a 13-0 score. The teams have had many memorable matchups over the years, including a five-game span from 1999 to 2001 where four of the five contests were decided in overtime.
SERIES SUCCESSThe Patriots have won 12 straight games against the Bills, which is the longest regular-season winning streak against an opponent in team history.
SERIES TRENDS
- Home Record, 31-19
- Record in Foxborough, 25-14
- Foxboro Stadium, 17-14
- Gillette Stadium, 8-0
- Record in Boston, 6-5
* Away Record, 27-21-1
- War Memorial Stadium, 7-6-1
- Ralph Wilson/Rich Stadium, 20-15
* Largest Margin of Victory, 46 pts (2007) * Largest Margin of Defeat, 35 points (1970) * Longest Win Streak, 12 games (current streak) * Bill Belichick vs. Buffalo Bills, 17-3 (17-2 with N.E)
PATRIOTS - BILLS QUICK HITS
- The Patriots have won five straight games in Buffalo.
- The Patriots have recorded 58 wins over the Bills, the most by the Patriots against any one opponent.
- New England has won 12 straight games against Buffalo, the longest series winning streak against an opponent.
- The Patriots have defeated the Bills 17 times in the last 19 games between the teams.
CONNECTIONS
- Patriots veteran RB Fred Taylor and Bills CB Drayton Florence were 2008 teammates on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Florence was also teammates with Patriots WR Wes Welker in 2004 on the San Diego Chargers.
- Bills OL Geoff Hangartnerplayed his college ball at Texas A&M and was teammates with DL Ty Warren (2001-02).
- Patriots rookie DL Myron Pryorand Bills WR Steve Johnson were teammates at Kentucky from 2005-2007. Patriots DB Shawn Springsand Bills Rian Lindell were teammates on the Seattle Seahawks from 2000-2002.
- Patriots CB Leigh Bodden and Bills FB Corey McIntyre played for the Browns during the 2005 campaign
- Bills WR/PR Roscoe Parrish and Patriots S Brandon Meriweather were teammates at the University of Miami in 2003 & 2004. Meriweather and Parrish were also teammates with Patriots NT Vince Wilfork in 2003.
- DT Marcus Stroudplayed for the Jaguars from 2001-2007. He was teammates with RB Fred Taylor and P Chris Hanson from 2001-2006.
- Patriots LB Pierre Woodsand Bills SDonte Whitnerwere high school teammates at Glenville High School (OH) and played against each other in college football's biggest rivalry. Whitner attended Ohio State (2003-2006) and Woods played at Michigan (2002-2006).
- Bills RB Justise Hairston hails from New Britain, Conn. And transferred to Central Connecticut from Rutgers for his senior season in 2006. Hairston also spent the 2007 season as a member of the New England Patriots practice squad.
- Bills TE Jonathan Stupar originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Patriots in 2008.
- Patriots rookie OL Rich Ohrnbergerand Bills rookie DE Aaron Maybin were teammates at Penn State from 2006-2008.
- Patriots rookie S Pat Chung and Bills rookie CB Jairus Byrdpatrolled the secondary together at Oregon for three years, from 2006-2008.
- Patriots WR Sam Aiken played for the Bills from 2003-2007.
- Patriots RB Sammy Morris played for the Bills from 2000-2003.
- Bills G Kendall Simmons spent seven weeks with New England in 2009
DIVISIONAL DOMINANCEThe New England Patriots own a 42-13 (.764) record in regular season AFC East games since the beginning of the 2001 season, compiling the best intra-division record of any team in the NFL over the last eight seasons. The Patriots are 3-2 in the division in 2009.
PASSING PERFORMANCES
Tom Brady is slated to start against Buffalo for the 16th time in his career. The Patriots signal caller has led the Patriots to 14 regular season victories over the Bills, recording his highest regular season victory total over any opponent. Brady has compiled 10 consecutive victories over the Bills, marking his longest regular-season winning streak over any opponent. Additionally, Brady has thrown for more touchdowns (32) against Buffalo than any other opponent.
STRONG IN THE SECOND HALF
Since 2001, New England has done a remarkable job of finishing the season strong, compiling a 73-20 (.785) record after Nov. 1, including playoff games.
