| **DATE:** | Friday, August 11, 2000 |
| **SITE:** | FedEx Field (85,407) - Grass |
| **TIME:** | 8:00 p.m., EDT |
| **TELEVISION:** | This week's game will be broadcast locally on WCVB Channel 5 in Boston. For the sixth consecutive year, Don Criqui will provide the play-by-play detail and will be joined by broadcast partner Jerry Glanville. They will be joined by Mike Lynch from the sidelines. All games will also be televised in Providence on WNAC (Channel 64), WTXX in Hartford, Conn. (Ch. 20) and WMTW in Portland, Maine (Ch 8). |
| **RADIO:** | WBCN's Rock Radio Network 104.1 FM. Gil Santos, who enters his 24th season as voice of the Patriots, will call the action along with Gino Cappelletti. The tandem is entering their 17th year together. |
The New England Patriots remain undefeated during the Bill Belichick era and hope to extend that streak to three games when they travel to the nation's capitol this week to battle the Washington Redskins on Friday, Aug. 11. A victory over the Redskins would give Coach Belichick a 3-0 record as the Patriots head coach. None of Belichick's 13 Patriots predecessors won their first three games. In fact, the only other coach to win his first two games with the Patriots was Lou Saban, the franchise's first head coach in 1960.
A 13-10 victory over the Lions in Detroit last week gave the Patriots their first 2-0 start in the preseason since 1994 and just their second 2-0 start since 1986. In both the 1994 and 1986 preseasons, the Patriots won their first three games before suffering their first loss. The Patriots have not had an undefeated preseason since 1981 when they won all four of their games.
Through the first two games, the Patriots defense has been dominant. After shutting out the 49ers in the preseason opener, the defense allowed just 10 points last week in Detroit and scored the only Patriots touchdown of the game when Willie McGinest intercepted a pass and returned it 49 yards for a touchdown. McGinest has scored three regular season touchdowns during his career, including a 46-yard interception return vs. Buffalo in 1996. The 49-yard touchdown return was the longest of his career. The defense has applied constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks, having already compiled 11 sacks in two games. McGinest and Chad Eaton have led the defensive charge with two sacks apiece.
The Patriots best test of the preseason should come this week against the Redskins, a team many are predicting to take the NFC title this year. Washington had the league's second-ranked offense a year ago and have added depth with rookie offensive tackle Chris Samuels and quarterback Jeff George. Last year, running back Stephen Davis led the NFL with 17 rushing touchdowns and led the NFC with 1,405 rushing yards to power an offense that included a 4,000-yard season from quarterback Brad Johnson. Defensively, the Redskins have added Bruce Smith and LaVar Arrington to their line and Deion Sanders to their secondary.
When the Patriots take the field Friday night, it will be their third game in 12 days (all on the road). After Friday night's game, the Patriots will have nine days to prepare for their first home game of the season, a nationally televised game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, August 20.
