| **DATE:** | Sunday, October 22, 2000 |
| **SITE:** | RCA Dome (56,172) - Grass |
| **TIME:** | 1:00 p.m. EDT |
| **TELEVISION:** | This week's game will be broadcast nationally on CBS (locally on WBZ Channel 4 in Boston). Gus Johnson will provide the play-by-play detail and will be joined by broadcast partner Brent Jones. |
| **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 (2-5) travel to Indianapolis this week to battle the defending AFC East division champion Colts (4-2). It will be the second time the two teams have squared off in three weeks. In their first meeting, the Patriots dealt the Colts their second loss of the season, a 24-16 decision on October 8 in Foxboro. It gave the Patriots their second consecutive victory and their first divisional triumph of the season. The Patriots last two divisional victories have come against the Colts. Both of those games were played at Foxboro Stadium.
The Patriots own a 37-23 (.617) series advantage over the Colts and have won 25 of the 33 games (.758) since the Colts moved to Indianapolis in 1984. The Colts last victory over the Patriots was last year in Indianapolis, where the Colts scored a 20-15 victory. It was the Colts' first victory over the Patriots since 1995. With their victory two weeks ago, the Patriots now own an 8-1 series advantage over the Colts since 1996.
Last week, the Patriots were grounded by the Jets' running game, which rushed 43 times for 164 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-17 win. Curtis Martin became the first Patriots opponent to rush for 100 yards this year and the first since Edgerrin James rushed for 101 yards to lead the Colts to a 20-15 win last season (12/12/99). James, who rushed for a franchise-record 219 yards last week against Seattle, eclipsed the 100-yard plateau in each of his first two games against the Patriots, but was held to just 75 yards in his last game against the Patriots.
Through the first six weeks of the season, the Patriots surrendered just five turnovers all season. Last week against the Jets, the Patriots turned the ball over six times. Those turnovers led to 20 Jets points, contributing to the Jets 17-point victory.
This week's game will be the third of four consecutive games against divisional opponents. Next week, the Patriots have an open date. Since 1996, the Patriots are 4-0 in games played the week prior to their bye.
