| **DATE:** | Sunday, October 1, 2000 |
| **SITE:** | Mile High Stadium (76,098) - Grass |
| **TIME:** | 4:05 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. |
In each of their first four games, the New England Patriots have had the opportunity to win or tie the game on their final possession. Unfortunately, they haven't, and they are now off to an 0-4 start for the first time since 1993. That year, the Patriots traveled west to claim their first victory in the first week of the season, a 23-21 win over the Cardinals in Phoenix. The last team to overcome an 0-4 start to qualify for the playoffs was the San Diego Chargers in 1992, who won 11 of their last 12 games to claim an AFC wild-card berth.
This week, the Patriots will travel to Denver in search of their first win of the season. The Broncos have been a Patriots nemesis for the past two decades, but last year the Patriots hosted the Broncos in Week 7 and claimed a 24-23 victory. The one-point victory snapped the Broncos 11-game consecutive win streak in their series over the Patriots. A Patriots victory this week would snap another 11-game streak. The Broncos currently own an 11-game win streak when they host the Patriots. The last Patriots win in Denver was 32 years ago, in 1968.
The Patriots are not the only team to struggle in the Mile High City. During the Mike Shanahan era, the Broncos are 34-8 (.810) at home and have won by an average of 12 points per game. The last time the Patriots traveled to Denver was in 1998 when they battled the defending Super Bowl champions in the season opener. The Broncos won the game 27-21 before a nationally televised audience on Monday Night Football.
Last week, the Kansas City Chiefs scored twice in the final quarter to claim a 23-22 victory over the Broncos, dropping the Broncos to 2-2.
The Patriots have faced one of the most difficult schedules in the league, evident by the fact that their first four opponents have a combined 13-2 record. Looking ahead, the Patriots do not play a team with a losing record until Nov. 19 when they host the 0-3 Cincinnati Bengals.
