| **DATE:** | Sunday, October 8, 2000 |
| **SITE:** | Foxboro Stadium (60,292) - 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). Kevin Harlan will provide the play-by-play detail and will be joined by broadcast partner Daryl Johnston. The tandem will be joined by Beasley Reece 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 (1-4) return home this week to host the defending AFC East champion Indianapolis Colts (3-1), an opponent they will play twice in the next three weeks. After playing three of their last four games on the road, the Patriots return home to host three of their next four games at Foxboro Stadium. Each of those next four opponents will be against AFC East division rivals, beginning with Indianapolis this week, followed by the Jets (10/15), then at the Colts (10/22) then home against the Bills (11/5) following the bye week.
Last week, the Patriots claimed their first victory of the season in the least likely venue in the NFL, Denver's Mile High Stadium. The Patriots had never won at Mile High Stadium and hadn't won in the Mile High City since Sept. 29, 1968 (32 years, 2 days). The victory snapped an 11-game losing streak in Denver (including a playoff loss) and a four-game losing streak to start the 2000 season. After converting just 21 percent of their drives in the red zone into touchdowns in their first four games, the Patriots converted all three of their drives inside the red zone vs. the Broncos and have now converted six of their last 11 red zone drives for touchdowns. Defensively, the Patriots stymied the Broncos inside the red zone. The Broncos drove to the goal line, but were turned away on downs and to the 2-yard line, but had to settle for a field goal. The Patriots have not allowed a red zone touchdown in the last two games.
Drew Bledsoe earned Miller Lite Player of the Game honors after passing for 271 yards and four touchdowns in the game. He became the franchise's all-time leading passer when he connected with Kevin Faulk on a 26-yard pass in the second quarter. The completion gave him 26,904 career passing yards, breaking the previous record held by Steve Grogan, who passed for 26,886 yards during his 16-year career (1975-90).
The Colts also celebrated an emotional win last week, kicking a game-winning field goal as time expired to score an 18-16 victory over the Bills in Buffalo. The Patriots have a four-game winning streak over the Colts in Foxboro. The Colts last win in New England was a 24-10 decision in 1995. Last season, the Patriots split their series with the Colts. Their 20-15 loss in Indianapolis snapped the Patriots seven-game series win streak. The Patriots last division victory was against the Colts in the second week of the 1999 season, a 31-28 come-from-behind victory at Foxboro Stadium.
