| **DATE:** | Monday, December 4, 2000 |
| **SITE:** | Foxboro Stadium (60,292)- Grass |
| **TIME:** | 9:00 p.m. EDT |
| **TELEVISION:** | This week's game will be broadcast nationally on ABC (locally on WCVB Channel 5 in Boston). Al Michaels will provide the play-by-play detail and will be joined by broadcast partners Dan Fouts and Dennis Miller. They will be joined by Eric Dickerson and Melissa Stark 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. |
| **CBS RADIO:** | This week's game will be broadcast nationwide on CBS Radio. Howard David will call the play-by-play and will be joined by Matt Millen and Boomer Esiason. |
After an 11-day respite, the New England Patriots (3-9) return to action on ABC's Monday Night Football on Dec. 4 when they host the Kansas City Chiefs (5-7) in Foxboro Stadium. It will be the Patriots' second consecutive game played before a national audience and will afford them a chance for redemption after a disappointing performance against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day when the Patriots were dealt their most lopsided defeat of the season, 34-9. The Chiefs shared an equally disappointing Week 13 experience, dropping a 17-16 decision to the San Diego Chargers. It was the Chargers' first win of the season.
This week's game against the Kansas City Chiefs will be the Patriots' fifth game played before a national audience this season. The Patriots kicked off the 2000 season featured in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on July 31. It was ABC's debut of their 2000 broadcast team of Al Michaels, Dan Fouts and Dennis Miller. Three weeks later, the Patriots preseason home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 20 was also broadcast nationally on FOX. The Patriots claimed victories in both of those games. During the regular season, the Patriots are 0-2 in games played before a national audience, having lost to the Jets on Monday Night on Sept. 11 and to Detroit last week.
Entering the season, the Patriots knew that they were going to face one of the league's most difficult schedules. The evidence of that is clear, as 10 of their first 12 opponents have posted at least seven wins (.583 winning percentage). The final month of the season doesn't get any easier, as the Patriots prepare for a month of cold-weather contests. They kickoff the month with this week's Monday Night matchup against the Chiefs, followed by games at Chicago (12/10) and at Buffalo (12/17) before wrapping up the season on Christmas Eve when they host the Dolphins.
Drew Bledsoe enters the final month of the season with a 17-10 (.630) career record during December. His favorite target this season continues to be wide receiver Terry Glenn, whose 64 receptions ranks seventh in the AFC. He is on pace to finish the season with 85 receptions, just five shy of his career high of 90 receptions as a rookie in 1996.
Adam Vinatieri enters December with 14 consecutive field goals, the second-longest active streak in the NFL and the second-longest consecutive streak in franchise history. He owns the franchise record with 25 consecutive field goals made.
