| PLAYER INACTIVES
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HOT WHEN IT'S COLD
The Patriots are 22-2(.917) since 1993 when the kickoff temperature is 35 degrees or colder. The temperature at Gillette Stadium at 3:00p.m. today was 27 degrees. New England has won 13 consecutive games when the temperature has been 35 or less, including four such victories last season. The last time the Patriots lost a game in temperatures of 35 degrees or below was on Dec. 24, 2000, when they dropped a 27-24 decision to Miami on a 31-degree day at Foxboro Stadium. Also since 1993, the Patriots are 18-1 when the temperature is 34 degrees or colder, and 12-0 when it's 30 degrees or colder.
THE GREATEST SHOW IN SNOW
The Patriots are 8-0 all-time in snowy games in Foxborough, including their 20-3 victory over Indianapolis in the 2004 divisional playoffs.
PATRIOTS TO HONOR TED JOHNSONThe Patriots will honor three-time Super Bowl champion linebacker Ted Johnson during this week's game. Johnson was among a core group of players who helped the Patriots transition into one of the NFL's elite teams following Robert Kraft's purchase of the franchise in 1994. The middle linebacker spent his entire 10-year career in New England - a rarity during the salary cap era - and played in each of the four Super Bowls the Patriots have reached since Kraft bought the team. In the 10 seasons that Johnson spent in Foxborough, the Patriots compiled a 109-66 record, including a 12-3 playoff mark, while winning four AFC Championships and three Super Bowls. The former second-round choice in the 1995 NFL Draft played in 125 regular-season games and 14 playoff games with New England, amassing 865 career tackles, including 11.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries. Last season, Johnson started 15 of 16 games and finished third on the team with 112 tackles, his highest tackle total in six years.
MILESTONE ON THE HORIZONAdam Vinatieri needs just six points to become the Patriots' all-time leading scorer, surpassing Gino Cappelletti on the Patriots all-time list. Entering this week's game against the Jets, Vinatieri has 1,125 career points, trailing Cappelletti's team-record of 1,130 points.
