What You Need to Know About Monday Night's Patriots Game Against the Buffalo Bills

Editor’s Note: Information in this article is provided by the New England Patriots.

The New England Patriots improved to 9-0 with last week’s win at the New York Giants and secured a winning record for the 15th consecutive season, joining San Francisco (16) and Dallas (16) as the only teams with a streak of 15 straight winning seasons since the 1970 NFL merger.

The Patriots will begin a two-game set of nationally televised games when they host the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. It will be the second meeting of the two teams this season. On Sept. 20, the Patriots beat the Bills, 40-32, at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The week after the Buffalo game, the Patriots will travel to Denver to face the Broncos in a Sunday Night Football game.

The Patriots are an NFL-best 42-15 in the month of November since 2001 for a .737 winning percentage. Also, the Patriots own a 70-19 (.787) record in the regular season against AFC East opponents, the best intra-division record of any team in the NFL since 2001. The Patriots are 3-0 in the AFC East in 2015.

To help you get ready for the game here is what you need to know!

Broadcast Information

TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by ESPN and can be seen locally on WCVB-TV Channel 5 in Boston. Mike Tirico will handle play-by-play duties with John Gruden as the color analyst. Lisa Salters will work the sidelines. The game will be produced by Jay Rothman and directed by Chip Dean.

NATIONAL RADIO: This week’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Westwood One Sports. Kevin Harlan and Boomer Esiason will call the game. Steve Tasker will work the sidelines.

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.

Arrive Early and Allow for Plenty of Time Around Gillette Stadium

With evening commute traffic and a capacity crowd of nearly 67,000 fans, Gillette Stadium officials encourage drivers to allow themselves plenty of time when traveling near the stadium on game day. Traffic restrictions will be in place on local roads before and after the game. Fans must use I-95, I-495 or Route 140 to access Route 1 and Gillette Stadium. For ease of entry and exit, fans are reminded of the following:

Parking and Public Transportation

Stadium parking lots open at 4:30 p.m. Parking is $40 for cars and motorcycles and $150 for buses, RVs, and limos. Those who would prefer to not drive can take the MBTA Commuter Rail to the stadium from South Station in Boston and TF Green Airport in Warwick, R.I. for $15 roundtrip.

South Station Schedule

• South Station: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 6:35 p.m.
• Back Bay: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 6:40 p.m.
• Dedham Corp: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 6:55 p.m.
• Arrive: Train arrives at Gillette Stadium at 7:40 p.m.

TF Green Airport Station Schedule

• TF Green Airport: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 6:05 p.m.
• Providence: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 6:35 p.m.
• South Attleboro: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 6:45 p.m.
• Attleboro: Train arrives at Gillette Stadium at 6:55 p.m.
• Mansfield: Departs for Gillette Stadium at 7:05 p.m.
• Arrive: Train arrives at Gillette stadium at 7:40 p.m.

Both trains will leave Gillette Stadium 30 minutes after the conclusion of the game.

The Dos and Do Nots of the Parking Lot

No one wants to be that person that gets in trouble for something that could have been avoided by knowing the rules of the parking lot. Here are the regulations for parking at the stadium. To provide all visitors with a safe and enjoyable visit to Gillette Stadium, the following parking lot restrictions apply on game days:

• Visitors must be in possession of a valid ticket to that day’s game to gain access to parking lots.
• Parking license is limited solely to the purpose of parking your vehicle on our property to gain entry to Gillette Stadium. Each paid license entitles the licensee to occupy one parking space.
• Solicitation, commercial or otherwise, by anyone for any purpose is expressly prohibited.
• Sale of any food, beverage or other items in Gillette Stadium parking lots, either prepaid or walk-up, without obtaining prior written approval of stadium management is expressly prohibited.
• Visitors must follow the directions given by the parking attendants and park within the space designated for your use.
• Spaces cannot be held for vehicles arriving at a later time.
• Vehicles cannot be pulled into drive aisles after they are parked.

Prohibited Items

• Fans may not bring the following items into the stadium:
• Bags larger than a 12” x 12” x 6”. Contents of all bags will be inspected. Exceptions can be made for guests with special medical needs.
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems
• Remotely Controlled Model Aircraft
• Selfie sticks
• GoPro Cameras
• Battery Operated Heated Jackets
• Any type of portable chair or seat, other than those approved for persons with accessibility issues
• Video cameras
• Tripods or monopods
• Flagpoles over 2 feet in length
• Weapons of any kind, including pocket/utility knives
• Food or beverages
• Illegal drugs and substances
• Coolers or containers, including cans and bottles
• Umbrellas
• Fireworks, pyrotechnics, flares
• Laser pointers
• Animals, other than service dogs assisting those with disabilities
• Strollers or baby seats
• Segways
• Noisemakers, bullhorns, air horns, vuvuzelas
• Helium balloons, beach balls
• Lacrosse balls
• Any alcoholic beverages
• Food or beverages [unless the individual is in possession of a letter signed by Kelly Way, Director of Operations, TeamOps LLC
• Folding and/or standalone chairs
• Seat Cushions
• Soccer balls

Clear Bag Policy

The NFL Clear Bag Policy will be in effect once again throughout the 2015 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 one-gallon clear (see through) plastic freezer bag or similar. In addition, small clutch bags (not to exceed 7” x 4” 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 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. For additional information, go to NFL.com/allclear.

Series History

The Patriots and Bills will meet for the 112th time and for the second of two 2015 meetings. The Patriots traveled to Buffalo on Sept. 20 and walked away with a 40-32 victory. New England holds a 68-42-1 edge in the series. The teams split the season series last year with Buffalo winning at Gillette Stadium for the first time in 13 tries. New England has swept the series 23 times. The Patriots have won 27 of the last 31 games between the clubs, dating back to the 2000 season.

The Patriots are 35-20 all-time in home games against Buffalo, including 12-1 at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots are 32-22-1 all-time at Buffalo, including 26-16 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

The series between the AFC East rivals began in 1960. The Patriots’ 68 wins over the Bills are their highest victory total over any opponent, nine more than they own over the New York Jets (59). After seven straight series sweeps and 15 straight Patriots wins, Buffalo ended the streak with a 34-31 victory at Ralph Wilson Stadium in the first meeting of the two teams in 2011 on Sept. 25. The 15-game win streak is the third longest winning streak over a single opponent in NFL history. The Patriots avenged that loss in the 2011 regular season finale on Jan. 1, 2012 by overcoming a 21-0 first quarter deficit and scoring 49 unanswered points en route to a 49-21 victory.

The teams have had many memorable matchups over the years, including a five-game span from 1999 to 2001 where four of the five contests were decided in overtime.

Quick Hits

• The Patriots have recorded 68 wins over the Bills, the most by the Patriots against any one opponent. The Jets are second with 59 wins.
• The Buffalo Bills snapped a streak of 13 straight home wins by the Patriots, including 12 straight wins by the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, with their 17-9 win in the 2014 season-finale on Dec. 28, 2014.
• Bill Belichick has a 72-25 (.742) all-time regular season record against the AFC East as head coach of the Patriots.

Connections

NEW ENGLAND TIES

• Bills CB Corey Graham attended New Hampshire from 2003-06, starting all 42 games and recording 302 tackles, 12 INTs, 31 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He also holds the New Hampshire school record with 1,787 kickoff return yards on 65 returns and three touchdowns.
• Bills WR Marcus Easley attended Bunnell HS in Stratford, Conn., and won a pair of state playoff berths in his final two seasons before playing collegiately at the University of Connecticut, where he finished his career with 53 catches for 997 yards and eight touchdowns.
• Bills TE Matthew Mulligan grew up in Enfield, Maine, and attended the University of Maine in 2006-07 after transferring from Husson College.

BUFFALO TIES

• Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski attended Williamsville HS just outside Buffalo, N.Y., for three years, earning first-team All-Western New York honors and second team all-state as a junior in 2005.
• Patriots DE Chandler Jones was born in Rochester, N.Y., and attended Union-Endicott HS in Endicott, N.Y., where he was a 2007 SuperPrep All-Northeast and PrepStar All-East Region selection. He went on to play collegiately at Syracuse University, where he was an All-Big East selection as a junior in 2011 after posting 39 tackles and 41½ sacks.
• Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia attended Vernon-Verona-Sherrill HS in Sherrill, N.Y., before going on to serve as a graduate assistant at Syracuse from 2001-03.
• Patriots tight ends coach Brian Daboll is a Buffalo, N.Y., native who attended St. Francis HS before playing collegiately at the University of Rochester. As a senior safety in 1997, Daboll once recorded three interceptions in a game.
• Patriots running backs coach Ivan Fears coached the wide receivers at Syracuse from 1980-90

FORMER PATRIOTS

• Bills TE Matthew Mulligan played in 15 games with four starts for the Patriots in 2013.

FORMER BILLS

• Patriots DL Alan Branch played all 16 games with 13 starts for the Bills in 2013.
• Patriots TE Scott Chandler spent four full seasons (2011-14) with the Bills. Last year, Chandler posted a career-high 105 receiving yards against the Patriots (10/12/14), marking the first 100-yard performance of his career.

FORMER NFL TEAMMATES

• Patriots RB Dion Lewis and Bills RB LeSean McCoy shared a backfield in Philadelphia when they were offensive teammates for the Eagles in 2012-13.
• Bills TE Charles Clay was tutored by Patriots tight ends coach Brian Daboll in 2011, when Daboll served as offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins.
• Patriots WR Danny Amendola and Bills OL Richie Incognito were offensive teammates in 2009 when they played for the St. Louis Rams.
• Patriots offensive line coach Dave DeGuglielmo worked under Bills head coach Rex Ryan when both coaches held the same roles with the New York Jets in 2012.

FORMER COLLEGE TEAMMATES

• Patriots C David Andrews and Bills T Cordy Glenn played on the offensive line together at Georgia in 2011.
• Patriots TE Michael Williams and Bills T Cyrus Kouandijo were offensive teammates at Alabama, where they helped the Crimson Tide capture a BCS National Championship in 2013.
• Patriots DB Jordan Richards and Bills LB AJ Tarpley were defensive teammates for all four years at Stanford (2011-14). H Patriots C Bryan Stork (2011-13) and G Tre’ Jackson (2011-14) blocked for Bills QB EJ Manuel (2009-12) at Florida State.

Photo Credits: New England Patriots