| **DATE:** | Thursday, November 23, 2000 |
| **SITE:** | Pontiac Silverdome (80,311)- Turf |
| **TIME:** | 12:30 p.m. EDT |
| **TELEVISION:** | This week's game will be broadcast nationally on CBS (locally on WBZ Channel 4 in Boston). Greg Gumbel will provide the play-by-play detail and will be joined by broadcast partner Phil Simms. The tandem will be joined by Armen Keteyian from the sidelines. |
| **RADIO:** | WBCN's Rock Radio Network 104.1 FM. Gil Santos, now in his 24th season as voice of the Patriots, will call the action along with Gino Cappelletti. The tandem is enjoying their 17th season together. |
The New England Patriots (3-8) will have a short week as they prepare to travel to Detroit where they will battle the Lions (7-4) before a nationally televised audience on Thanksgiving Day. It will be just the second time in franchise history the Patriots have been showcased in a Thanksgiving Day game. The first was against the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 22, 1984. The Cowboys claimed a 20-17 victory over the Patriots that day.
The Patriots will have just two days to prepare for the Lions, practicing Tuesday and Wednesday morning before leaving for Detroit Wednesday afternoon. It is the third time this year that the Patriots have had just four days between games. The first two exercises of the drill came during the preseason. The Patriots opened the 2000 preseason in a Monday night game against the San Francisco 49ers in the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio. They played just four days later when they traveled to Detroit to play the Lions. The Patriots were victorious in both games. They closed out the five-game preseason schedule repeating the exercise when they hosted the Buccaneers on a Sunday and the Carolina Panthers just four days later. Both times, the Patriots won the game, despite the short week of preparation.
Although the two played earlier this year during the preseason, the Patriots and the Lions have not met during the regular season in six years. In 1994, the Patriots claimed a 23-17 victory over the Lions in Detroit. The Patriots have won three of their last four games in the series. The series is now tied at three wins apiece.
Last week, the Patriots claimed a 16-13 victory over the Bengals in Foxboro. It was their ninth game that has been decided by eight points or less and their first victory to be decided by a field goal. It was also the first time this year that the Patriots scored less than 20 points and won the game. Since 1996, when the Patriots score 20 points or more, they have been dominant, winning 36 of 41 (.878) games. Conversely, the Patriots are now just 5-28 in games that they score less than 20.
If history is an indicator, expect the Patriots victory over the Bengals to ignite a win streak. The last two times the Patriots defeated the Bengals, the win sparked three and four game win streaks, respectively. In 1993, the Patriots were 1-11 through 12 games, but a 7-2 victory over the Bengals ignited a four-game win streak to close out the season and the Patriots finished 5-11.
