Patriots vs. Seahawks: What You Need to Know

Information in this article was provided by Patriots Media Relations.

The New England Patriots return from the Bye Week to face the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX. Seattle’s visit to Gillette Stadium will be their first road game against the Patriots since 2004, the longest current stretch between road games for a team vs. New England. The last team to play games at New England longer apart than that was the Carolina Panthers (Oct. 29, 1995-Dec. 13, 2009).

A victory over Seattle will give the Patriots its eighth win of the year and a guaranteed a finish with a record of .500 or better for the 16th consecutive year. Each of the other 31 NFL teams has had at least one losing season since 2001.

Here's what you need to know about Sunday night's game:

Kickoff time

Sunday Night Football from Gillette Stadium starts at 8:30 p.m.

Broadcast Information

TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by NBC and can be seen locally on WHDH-TV Channel 7 in Boston. Al Michaels will handle play-by-play duties with Cris Collinsworth as the color analyst. Michele Tafoya will work the sidelines. The game will be produced by Fred Gaudelli and directed by Drew Esocoff.

NATIONAL RADIO: This week’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Westwood One Sports. Kevin Kugler and James Lofton will call the game.

LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. Produced by Marc Cappello

PARKING LOT AND TRAINS

Gillette Stadium parking lots open at 4:30 p.m. Parking is $40 for cars and motorcycles and $150 for buses, RVs and limos. The full rules and regulations can be seen on the stadium's website.

Fans driving to the game are encouraged to arrive early and allow for plenty of time to get around the stadium. The usual traffic restrictions will be in place on local roads before and after the game. Fans attending the game must use Interstate 95, Interstate 495, or Route 140 to access Route 1 and Gillette Stadium.

The MBTA Commuter Rail will provide special train service from South Station in Boston and from the TF Green Airport in Warwick, R.I. to Gillette Stadium all season long. The stadium's clear bag policy will be in effect on the train and no personal items may be left on the trains during the game. All trains leave 30 minutes after the end of the game.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchase using the MBTA mTicket app.

South Station Train Departure Schedule

• South Station - 5:50 p.m.
• Back Bay - 5:55 p.m.
• Dedham Corp. - 6:10 p.m.
• Arrival - 6:55 p.m.

TF Green Airport Departure Schedule

• TF Green Airport: 5:25 p.m.
• Providence: 5:45 p.m.
• South Attleboro: 5:55 p.m.
• Attleboro: 6:05 p.m.
• Mansfield: 6:15 p.m.
• Arrival: 6:55 p.m.

Clear Bag Policy

Fans attending the game are reminded that the Gillette Stadium Clear Bag Policy will be in effect at every game throughout the 2016 season. That policy states that all bags entering the stadium must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and no larger than 12” x 6” x 12”.

Fans can use a one-gallon clear (see-through) plastic freezer bag. In addition, small wristlets or handheld wallets with or without a handle or strap (not to exceed 8” x 5” x 2”) may be carried into the stadium along with one of the clear bag options.

Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: non see-through purses larger than a small clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch sacks, luggage of any kind, seat cushions, computer bags and camera bags or any bag larger than the permissible size.

More information is available on the Gillette Stadium website.

Series History

The New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks will meet for the 18th time overall and for the first time since the Patriots’ 28-24 victory in Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on Feb. 1, 2015.

The teams’ last meeting in the regular season was on Oct. 14, 2012, at CenturyLink Field in Seattle with the Seahawks claiming a 24-23 victory. Seattle’s visit to Gillette Stadium will be their first road game against the Patriots since 2004, the longest current stretch between road games for a team vs. New England. The last team to play games at New England longer apart than that was the Carolina Panthers (Oct.

29, 1995-Dec. 13, 2009).

The Patriots and Seahawks played 12 times in a 14-year span from 1980-93, but have played only four times since then (2004, 2008, 2012 and in 2014 in the Super Bowl).

The 2008 victory pushed the Patriots in front, 8-7, in the all-time series. Seattle evened the series at 8-8 with their victory in 2012 before New England pulled in front, 9-8 with the Super Bowl victory in 2014.

The Patriots beat Seattle, 30-20, on Oct. 17, 2004, in the Seahawks only visit to Gillette Stadium.

The Patriots have had the upper hand in road games against the Seahawks as they own a 4-3 record in games played in Seattle. The Patriots were 3-2 at the Kingdome (1976-1993) and are 1-1 at CenturyLink Field (formerly Qwest Field).

New England won six of the first eight games in the series, which began in 1977.

The Betting Line

Here are the odds as of Saturday afternoon via ESPN.com

• Westgate: New England by 7.5
• BOVADA.lv: New England by 8
• BETONLINE.ag: New England by 7.5
• SportsBetting.ag: New England by 7.5
• 5Dimes.eu: New England by 9

The Expert Picks

Here's who the experts are taking this weekend:

• David White, New York Times: New England
• Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: New England
• ESPN.com: Experts pick New England 8-1
• Peter Schrager, Fox Sports: Seattle 27, New England 24
• FiveThirtyEight: New England 66 percent favorite.