The game will feature two defensive units who have played major parts of their teams' recent success. The Patriots defense leads the NFL with four defensive touchdowns and held the Giants to just six points last week. The Miami defense enters the game ranked second in the NFL in allowing just 70.8 rushing yards per game and has not given up more than 10 points in a game since the season opener. Both offenses will have their work cut out for them in this battle of defensive strength.
TELEVISION:
This week's game will be televised by CBS. The game can be seen locally on WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston. Dick Enberg will handle the play-by-play duties and Dan Dierdorf will provide analysis. Bonnie Bernstein will deliver reports from the sidelines throughout the game. Immediately following the game, the Fifth Quarter postgame show can be seen on WBZ-TV Channel 4 in Boston.
RADIO:
WBCN 104.1 FM is the flagship station for the Patriots Rock Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Gil Santos is in his 27th season as the voice of the Patriots, and calls the action along with Patriots Hall of Famer Gino Cappelletti. In 2003, Santos and Cappelletti celebrate their 20th season as a broadcast tandem.
PATRIOTS VS. AFC EAST
The Patriots are 10-3 in their last 13 games against AFC East opponents, dating back to the 2001 season. In 2002, the Patriots finished the season with a 4-2 record against their divisional rivals. Since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger, New England has compiled an overall record of 132-132 (.500) against divisional opponents. The Patriots are 33-24 (.579) against the AFC East since the beginning of the 1996 season. The Patriots own the best record against AFC East foes since 2001 with an 11-5 mark. The Jets own the second best mark, going 10-7 against the division since 2001, while Miami is third at 9-7.
STANDING CLOSE
The Patriots face the Dolphins this week with one game or less separating the teams in the standings for the fifth straight time. The Dolphins (4-1) enter the game holding a half-game lead over the Patriots (4-2), and a win would mean an early-season jump into first place for New England.
SERIES HISTORY
The Patriots and Dolphins will meet for the 73rd time in their history. New England trails in the overall series, 44-28, but has split the season series with Miami in each of the past two years. In all, the teams have managed 19 season series splits in the 35 seasons in which they have played twice. The Patriots have defeated the Dolphins in five of their last seven meetings in New England, but have not had as much recent success at Pro Player Stadium. The Patriots have lost five games in a row in South Florida, and have beaten the Dolphins in Miami just twice since 1988. The Patriots' last win in Miami was a 14-12 win on Dec. 22, 1997, that secured the AFC East title for the Patriots. The Patriots' greatest success over the Dolphins has come in the playoffs, where the Patriots own a 2-1 advantage, including wins in the 1997 Wild Card round and in the 1985 AFC Championship at the Orange Bowl.
| | YR | RESULT | /- | | 1966 | NE 20, at Miami 14 | 6 | | 1967 | at NE 41, Miami 10 | 31 | | at Miami 41, NE 32 | -9 | | 1968 | Miami 34, at NE 10 | -24 | | at Miami 38, NE 7 | -31 | | 1969 | Miami 17, at NE 16 | -1 | | NE 38, Miami 23(at Tampa) | 15 | | 1970 | at NE 27, Miami 14 | 13 | | at Miami 37, NE 20 | -17 | | 1971 | at Miami 41, NE 3 | -38 | | at NE 34, Miami 13 | 21 | | 1972 | at Miami 52, NE 0 | -52 | | Miami 37, at NE 21 | -16 | | 1973 | at Miami 44, NE 23 | -21 | | Miami 30, at NE 14 | -16 | | 1974 | at NE 34, Miami 24 | 10 | | at Miami 34, NE 27 | -7 | | 1975 | Miami 22, at NE 14 | -8 | | at Miami 20, NE 7 | -13 | | 1976 | at NE 30, Miami 14 | 16 | | at Miami 10, NE 3 | -7 | | 1977 | at Miami 17, NE 5 | -12 | | at NE 14, Miami 10 | 4 | | 1978 | at NE 33, Miami 24 | 9 | | at Miami 23, NE 3 | -20 | | 1979 | at NE 28, Miami 13 | 15 | | at Miami 39, NE 24 | -15 | | 1980 | at NE 34, Miami 0 | 34 | | at Miami 16, NE 13 (OT) | -3 | | 1981 | Miami 30, at NE 27 (OT) | -3 | | at Miami 24, NE 14 | -10 | | 1982 | at NE 3, Miami 0 | 3 | | 1983 | at Miami 34, NE 24 | -10 | | at NE 17, Miami 6 | 11 | | 1984 | at Miami 28, NE 7 | -21 | | Miami 44, at NE 24 | -20 | | 1985 | at NE 17, Miami 13 | 4 | | at Miami 30, NE 27 | -3 | | 1986 | at NE 34, Miami 7 | 27 | | NE 34, at Miami 27 | 7 | | 1987 | at NE 28, Miami 21 | 7 | | NE 24, at Miami 10 | 14 | | 1988 | at NE 21, Miami 10 | 11 | | NE 6, at Miami 3 | 3 | | 1989 | Miami 24, at NE 10 | -14 | | at Miami 31, NE 10 | -21 | | 1990 | Miami 27, at NE 24 | -3 | | at Miami 17, NE 10 | -7 | | 1991 | Miami 20, at NE 10 | -10 | | at Miami 30, NE 20 | -10 | | 1992 | at Miami 38, NE 17 | -21 | | Miami 16, at NE 13 (OT) | -3 | | 1993 | at Miami 17, NE 13 | -4 | | at NE 33, Miami 27 (OT) | 6 | | 1994 | at Miami 39, NE 35 | -4 | | Miami 23, at NE 3 | -20 | | 1995 | Miami 20, at NE 3 | -17 | | NE 34, at Miami 17 | 17 | | 1996 | at Miami 24, NE 10 | -14 | | at NE 42, Miami 23 | 19 | | 1997 | at NE 27, Miami 24 | 3 | | NE 14, at Miami 12 | 2 | | 1998 | at Miami 12, NE 9 | -3 | | at NE 26, Miami 23 | 3 | | 1999 | Miami 31, at NE 30 | -1 | | at Miami 27, NE 17 | -10 | | 2000 | at Miami 10, NE 3 | -7 | | Miami 27, at NE 24 | -3 | | 2001 | at Miami 30, NE 10 | -20 | | at NE 20, Miami 13 | 7 | | 2002 | at Miami 26, NE 13 | -13 | | at NE 27, Miami 24 (OT) | 3 | |
