HISTORICAL HITS

• Seattle is one of just two teams the Patriots have yet to play in the Bill Belichick Era in Foxborough (since 2000). New England also has not played the San Francisco 49ers.

• The Patriots and Seahawks played 12 times in a 14-year span from 1980-93, but have not played in 11 years.

• New England and Seattle played six times over a six-year span from 1988-93.

• The Seahawks are the only non-divisional team that the Patriots have played twice in the regular season in the same year. That scheduling oddity took place during the 1993 season, the only year in which the league's 16-game schedule was played over an 18-week span and each team was allotted two bye weeks.

• The Seahawks are the only NFL team that the Patriots have not played since Robert Kraft purchased the team in 1994. The last time the two teams squared off, James Busch Orthwein owned the Patriots and the team's future in New England was severely in doubt.

• Seattle will be the most-traveled team in the NFL during the 2004 regular season, with seven of its eight road games requiring a round trip of at least 2,220 air miles.

• Including this week's game, seven of the last eight games between the Patriots and Seahawks will have taken place in New England. The Patriots have traveled to Seattle just once since their Super Bowl XX season of 1985 (on Oct. 24, 1993).

CONNECTIONS

• Patriots tight end Christian Fauria spent seven seasons with the Seahawks before arriving in New England in 2002.

• Seahawks defensive end Brandon Mitchell spent five seasons with the Patriots before arriving in Seattle in 2002. Mitchell's last game in a Patriots uniform came when he earned the starting assignment at defensive end in Super Bowl XXXVI.

• Patriots running back Corey Dillon was born in Seattle and played college football for the University of Washington.

• Corey Dillon played for the Washington Huskies in 1996, during which time Seahawks assistant strength and conditioning coach Bill Gillespie served in the same position at the university. Gillespie was the strength and conditioning assistant from 1991-98 before serving as director of strength and conditioning from 1999-2001.

• Defensive lineman Ty Warren and wide receiver Bethel Johnson attended Texas A&M where they were teammates of Seattle defensive tackle Rocky Bernard.

• Linebacker Ted Johnson and tight end Christian Fauria were teammates at Colorado where they also shared some time in the locker room with Seahawks linebacker Chad Brown.

• Patriots guard Russ Hochstein played college football at Nebraska from 1997-2000 while Seattle kicker Josh Brown kicked for the Cornhuskers from 1998-2002.

• Patriots rookie wide receiver P. K. Sam and Seahawks rookie safety Michael Boulware were teammates at Florida State from 2001-03.

• Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is originally from Westwood, Mass., and he attended Boston College where he was the starting quarterback for two years.

• Seahawks backup quarterback Brock Huard was quarterback for the Washington Huskies in 1996, the one year that Corey Dillon played running back for the Huskies.

• Linebacker Tully Banta-Cain was a teammate of Seahawks tackle Wayne Hunter at Cal before Hunter transferred to Hawaii.

• Quarterback Tom Brady and Seahawks guard Steve Hutchinson were both Michigan Wolverines from 1997-99.

• Seattle defensive end Chike Okeafor went to Purdue where he was a teammate of three Patriots: tackle Matt Light, linebacker Rosevelt Colvin and tackle Brandon Gorin.

• Patriots punter Josh Miller and Seattle punter Tom Rouen both assumed punting duties for the Steelers in 2002.

• Patriots linebacker Don Davis and Seattle defensive end Grant Wistrom were teammates with the St. Louis Rams in 2001 and 2002. Both were in the starting lineup for the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI when New England defeated St. Louis, 20-17.

THEN AND NOW

THEN: 3-26 over a 29-game span from 1990-93

NOW: 25-4 over a 29-game span from 2002-04

The last time the Patriots and Seahawks played on Oct. 24, 1993 the franchise from Foxborough resembled its current incarnation in absolutely no respects. At that time, New England was kicking off a seven-game losing streak as part of a run of futility that touched three different seasons (1990-93) and saw the Patriots compile a 3-26 record over a 29-game span. Compare that to the most recent 29 games in the franchise's history, a span over which the Patriots are 25-4 since Week 12 of the 2002 season. New England's 3-26 run spanned from the final week of the 1990 season through an entire 2-14 season in 1992 and through a 1-11 start to the 1993 season. Over that span, the Patriots' most common non-divisional opponent was Seattle, a team that dealt the Patriots three losses in that time frame.

THE LAST TIME

Seahawks 10, Patriots 9

Oct. 24, 1993 - Kingdome - Seattle, Wash.

The last time New England and Seattle met, a touchdown pass from the Seahawks' Rick Mirer to Brian Blades with 25 seconds left in the game erased a 9-3 Patriots lead and gave Seattle a 10-9 win. The loss was the Patriots' 21st defeat in 24 games. Scott Sisson nailed three-of-five field goal attempts to account for New England's scoring on the day.

After a scoreless first quarter, Seattle took a 3-0 lead when John Kasay kicked a 30-yard field goal that capped a seven-play, 49-yard drive. The Patriots, who outgained Seattle by 41 yards in the first half, missed two field goals in the second quarter to remain scoreless at the half.

The Patriots tied the game at three when Sisson kicked a 36-yard field goal that capped an eight-play, 48-yard drive in the third quarter. Sisson kicked a 25-yard field goal early in the final stanza, followed by a 19-yarder with 9:07 remaining, to put the Patriots up, 9-3. The Seahawks rallied with a 14-play, 54-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard pass from rookie quarterback Rick Mirer to receiver Brian Blades with just 25 seconds to play. The touchdown held up, and the Seahawks were victorious by a score of 10-9.

PATRIOTS-SEAHAWKS PLAYER NOTES - 10/24/93

• Scott Secules started at quarterback for the Patriots in place of injured rookie Drew Bledsoe and completed 15 of 30 passes for 129 yards, throwing no touchdowns and two interceptions.

• Leonard Russell was the Patriots' leading rusher, gaining 97 yards on 21 carries.

• Rookie Troy Brown, an eighth-round draft choice, returned three punts for 54 yards and returned a kickoff 15 yards.

• Seattle quarterback Rick Mirer, chosen second overall behind Bledsoe in the 1993 NFL Draft, completed 22 of 43 passes for 203 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

THIS WEEK IN PATRIOTS HISTORY

OCTOBER 10 - OCTOBER 17

October 11, 1963: The Boston Patriots played their first game in Fenway Park, notching a 20-14 victory over the Raiders.

October 13, 1974: New England blanked the New York Jets 24-0 at Shea Stadium to improve to 5-0 on the season. The five wins to begin the 1974 campaign are the most to start a season in franchise history.

October 13, 1985: Patriots cornerback Raymond Clayborn established a new team record for consecutive starts when he started his 111th straight game. Ray Hamilton had the old mark of 110 starts (set Sept. 16, 1973 to Oct. 26, 1980). Clayborn celebrated the record-setting day by scoring his first professional touchdown on a 27-yard interception return.

October 14, 2001: The Patriots rallied from a 26-16 deficit with less than five minutes to go in the game to post a 29-26 overtime win against San Diego at Foxboro Stadium. The win was the first in a series of 10 wins in 12 games en route to an 11-5 record in the Patriots' first championship season.

CHANGING PLACES

Since the Patriots last played the Seahawks in 1993, much has changed both in the NFL world and in the world in general. Here is a snapshot of a few developments from the last 11 years.

In the NFL...

• The L.A. Rams moved to St. Louis (1995), the L.A. Raiders moved back to Oakland (1995), the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore (1996) and the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee (1997).

• The league added four teams, growing from 28 to 32 clubs. Added were Carolina (1995), Jacksonville (1995), the expansion Cleveland Browns (1999) and Houston (2002).

• NFL active rosters grew from 47 players to 53 players.

In the World...

• The U.S. participated in six Olympic Games.

• The U.S. had two presidential elections (1996, 2000) and is about to have a third (Nov. 2).

• Dolly the sheep, the first animal cloned from adult cells was born (1996).

• The European Union adopted the Euro as the official currency of 12 countries in Europe (2001).

• The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was implemented (1994).

REGULAR-SEASON RECORD

New England is one victory shy of the NFL's all-time regular-season record of 17 consecutive victories, set by the 1933-34 Chicago Bears. Last week against Miami, the Patriots tied the post-merger record of 16 consecutive regular-season victories. The Patriots join the 1971-73 Dolphins and the 1983-84 Dolphins as the only post-1970 teams to win as many as 16 consecutive games in the regular season. The only team in NFL history to have won more consecutive regular-season games than the Patriots was the 1933-34 Chicago Bears, coached by the legendary George S. Halas, one of the NFL's founding fathers.

HOME SWEET HOME

The Patriots enter this week's game sporting a 17-3 (.850) all-time record at Gillette Stadium, including regular-season and postseason games. New England has won an NFL-best 13 consecutive regular-season and postseason contests at home, with its last defeat coming in a 30-14 regular-season loss to the New York Jets on Dec. 22, 2002. Last season, the Patriots were undefeated at home for the first time in team history, winning all eight regular-season games and two postseason games in Foxborough. The Patriots' .850 winning percentage at Gillette Stadium is the highest of any NFL team at its current home stadium.

MAJOR CONTRASTS

3-26

The Patriots' record over a 29-game span from 1990-93, a stretch that included three losses to Seattle, a team the Patriots have not played since 1993.

25-4

The Patriots record over their last 29 games, a figure that nearly reverses the futile stretch they were enduring the last time they played the Seahawks.

5-14

The cumulative record of the Patriots' first four opponents of the 2004 season.

14-4

The cumulative record of the Patriots' next four opponents.

RECORD STREAK

19

The number of consecutive games the Patriots have won (including the postseason), an all-time professional football record.

384

The number of days since the Patriots suffered their last loss, as of Oct. 17.

282

The number of NFL games that have been played since the Patriots last lost a contest (including the postseason).

16-3

The Philadelphia Eagles' record over their last 18 regular-season and playoff games, ranking second behind the Patriots among NFL teams over their most recent 18-game span.

THE KRAFT ERA

108

The number of consecutive Patriots preseason, regular-season and postseason home games that have been sold out since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994.

224

The number of consecutive Patriots games that have been televised locally.

76-34

The Patriots record at home since 1994, including preseason, regular-season and postseason games.

17-3

The Patriots' record at Gillette Stadium, including regular-season and postseason games (.850 win pct).

13

The number of consecutive regular-season and postseason games the Patriots have won at Gillette Stadium, dating back to the 2002 season finale.

NOT HALF BAD

26

The number of consecutive regular-season and postseason games the Patriots have won when leading at halftime.

31-1

Their record in their last 32 games when leading at halftime.

30

The number of consecutive regular-season games the Patriots have won when leading after three quarters, leading the NFL.

SEVEN-PLUS SOLID SEASONS

112-65

The Patriots' record in preseason, regular-season and postseason games since 1996 (.633 win pct.).

81-51

The Patriots' regular-season record since 1996 (.614 win pct).

9-3

The Patriots' postseason record since 1996 (.750 win pct).

22-12

The Patriots' preseason record since 1996 (.647 win pct).

THE BELICHICK ERA

49-25

Bill Belichick's overall record as head coach of the Patriots, including the regular season and the playoffs.

.662

Belichick's overall winning percentage as Patriots head coach, establishing the highest winning percentage of any coach in franchise history, including postseason games.

34-2

Belichick's record in New England when his team scores 21 points or more.

TOMMY GUN

38-12

Tom Brady's record as a starting quarterback in the NFL in the regular season.

.760

Brady's winning percentage as a starter.

1

Brady's rank on the NFL's all-time winningest quarterbacks list during the Super Bowl Era (since 1966).

4

The number of quarterbacks in the Super Bowl Era who own a career regular-season winning percentage above .700 (Brady, Roger Staubach, Joe Montana, Kurt Warner).

THEN AND NOW

The last time the Patriots played the Seahawks in 1993, many now-familiar faces were in different places.

Robert Kraft

Owned Foxboro Stadium and was a longtime Patriots season-ticket holder.

Bill Belichick

Was in his third season as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Romeo Crennel

Was the Patriots' defensive line coach.

Charlie Weis

Was the Patriots tight ends coach.

Dante Scarnecchia

Was a special assistant on the Patriots' coaching staff.

Scott Pioli

Was in his second season as a pro personnel assistant for the Browns.

Tom Brady

Was a 16-year-old junior at Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, Calif.

Troy Brown

Was an eighth-round draft pick working hard to remain on the Patriots roster.

Tedy Bruschi

Was a second-team All-America selection at Arizona and set a school record with 19 sacks as a sophomore.

Rodney Harrison

Was a first-team All-America pick as a senior at Western Illinois.

Ty Law

Was a sophomore at Michigan and led the team with six interceptions.