The Patriots travel to Tampa Bay on Friday night to take on the Buccaneers in their first pre-season game of the year. The team opened camp on July 27th and now the staff will get to see if the work is starting to pay off. Game time is at 7:30 p.m.
The Patriots have won 5 of seven preseason openers under Bill Belichick and has finished 2-2 in the each of the last two pre-seasons.
This will be the seventh pre-season game between the two teams. The Bucs lead the preseason series 5-1. The last time the teams played in a pre-season game was in 2001 when the Bucs won, 20-3 in Tampa. The teams have also met six times in the regular season and the Pats hold a 4-2 advantage when it counts. The last time was a 28-0 Patriots win in 2005 at Foxboro that clinched the AFC East title.
There are many connections amongst the teams a few of the notable ones are:
Patriots wide receiver Randy Moss and Buccaneers defensive tackle Chris Hovan played together for four seasons with the Minnesota Vikings from 2000-04.
Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel and Buccaneers wide receiver Joey Galloway were teammates at Ohio State in 1994.
Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker, Patriots running back Heath Evans, Patriots linebacker Junior Seau and Buccaneers wide receiver David Boston were teammates with the Miami Dolphins.
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Buccaneers offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Bill Muir were on the same coaching staff with the New York Jets from 1997-1999.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by the Patriots Preseason Television Network.
The game be televised live in the following markets: Boston, MA (WCVB-TV Ch. 5), Providence, R.I. (WNAC-TV Ch. 64), Manchester, N.H. (WMUR-TV Ch. 9), Portland, Maine (WMTW-TV Ch. 8) and Springfield, MA (WWLP-TV Ch. 22)
Veteran broadcaster Don Criqui provides play-by-play, former NFL Pro Bowler Randy Cross handles the analyst duties, while Mike Lynch offers on-field reports from the sideline.
RADIO: The Patriots Rock Radio Network broadcasts the game from flagship station WBCN-FM 104.1 in Boston. Gil Santos handles the play-by-play and former Patriot Gino Capelleti does the color. I am unclear on if the network will produce the usual pregame and post game shows for the preseason.
For the low down on the Patriots Rock Radio Network and stations in your area make sure you visit here:
https://soxanddawgs.com/?p=1867
2007 MILESTONES
1 – The number of victories Bill Belichick needs to reach 125 wins in his head coaching career.
4 – The number of games played Troy Brown (currently ranked 4th) needs to pass Mosi Tatupu (194) and move into third on the franchise’s games played list.
14 – The number of seasons, entering 2007, that Troy Brown has logged as a Patriots, representing the third longest current tenure with the same team (Brett Favre, GB, 15; Jason Hanson, DET, 15)
20 – Number of passing touchdowns Tom Brady (currently ranked 3rd) needs to pass Drew Bledsoe (166) and move into second on the franchise’s career passing touchdowns list behind leader Steve Grogan (182).
ROSTER REDUCTION DATES
The first mandatory roster reduction date is August 28, two days prior to the Patriots’ final preseason game. On that date, rosters must be reduced to 75 players.
