| **DATE:** | Sunday, October 15, 2000 |
| **SITE:** | Foxboro Stadium (60,292) - 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. |
The New England Patriots (2-4) will have an opportunity to avenge a disappointing 20-19 Week 2 loss when they host the New York Jets (4-1) this week. After an 0-4 start, the Patriots have rebounded with consecutive victories over the Denver Broncos and the Indianapolis Colts. In contrast, the Jets started 4-0, but suffered their first loss of the season last week when they were defeated by the Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-3.
Last week, the Patriots defeated the defending AFC East division champion Indianapolis Colts, 24-16. It was their first divisional win and their first win at home this season. The last time the Patriots scored consecutive divisional victories was in the opening weeks of the 1999 season when they defeated the Jets and the Colts in consecutive weeks.
In their first meeting in the Meadowlands, the Patriots took a 19-7 lead over the Jets with 9:56 remaining in the game. The Jets came back, scoring 13 unanswered points on consecutive possessions to win the game, 20-19. It was just the fifth time in the last five years that the Patriots had been defeated after holding a lead entering the fourth quarter.
In that game, the Patriots drove into the red zone a season-high six times, but scored just one touchdown and settled for four field goals. A fifth field goal would have won the game, but the kick sailed wide left. In the last two weeks, the Patriots have scored in each of their six drives inside the red zone, scoring five touchdowns and a field goal. Defensively, the Patriots struggled early in the season, allowing touchdowns to their opponents in their first five trips inside the red zone. In their last two games, they have allowed just one touchdown in six trips inside the red zone.
Next week the Patriots will travel to Indianapolis, to play the Colts for the second time in three weeks. It will be their third consecutive AFC East division opponent and their fourth in five weeks.
