The Patriots head south to the Meadowlands to meet the Jets as this intense AFC East rivalry is renewed once again.

The Jets own a 42-35-1 overall advantage in the series standings, including a two-game advantage (10-8) in the teams' 18 meetings in the 1990s.

A year ago, the Jets swept this divisional series for the first time since 1993; in Week 7 on a Monday night at Foxboro, Jets' QB Vinny Testaverde threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns, two of those scores in the fourth quarter, and RB Curtis Martin chipped in with 107 yards rushing as Bill Parcells' club posted an impressive 24-14 triumph.

Two months later in the teams' regular-season finale at East Rutherford (Week 17), Testaverde threw for just 179 yards but 4 more touchdowns (1 INT) and Martin added 102 yards on the ground as New York rolled to a 31-10 win over the Bledsoe-less Pats.

Including playoffs, Patriots are 9-9 lifetime at the Meadowlands (8-8 vs. Jets, 1-1 vs. Giants), but just 2-5 in their last 7 road tilts in this series dating back to 1992.

Numbers: Patriots' QB Drew Bledsoe owns a 6-5 record vs. the Jets, throwing for 2,331 yards, 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. In his last 8 games vs. New York, Bledsoe is 6-2, throwing for 11 scores and 9 interceptions. Including playoffs, the Patriots have outscored the opposition a combined 543-281 points in 20 wins, and been outscored a combined 372-196 points in 15 losses dating back to '97. Including playoffs, Patriots have totaled 47 takeaways in 20 wins, 20 takeaways in 15 losses dating back to '97.

Over the last two opening days (1997-98), Jets' quarterbacks (since-departed QBs Neil O'Donnell and Glenn Foley) combined to throw for 685 yards, 8 touchdowns and just 1 interception. In six seasons (80 games) with the Browns, Ravens and Jets (1993-98), Jets' QB Vinny Testaverde has thrown 127 touchdown passes and just 78 interceptions (130 TDs-83 INTs in 84 games, including playoffs), this after totaling just 77 TD passes and 112 INTs in six seasons (76 games) with the Buccaneers (1987-92). In 16 games in '98 (including playoffs), Testaverde threw 30 touchdown passes and just 10 interceptions while being sacked only 21 times. In 16 games in '97, Jets' quarterbacks combined to throw 20 TD passes and nine interceptions while being sacked 48 times.

Things To Look For: Can it get any worse for Pete Carroll? The Patriots have questions at running back, are minus injured MLB Ted Johnson and ball-hawking FS Willie Clay was released. And to add insult to some injuries, his unpredictable club must open the season against Bill Parcells and a talented Jets' squad that has very legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. New York's defense will set the tone for this contest.

Etc.: Including playoffs, the Patriots are 18-5 in their last 23 games vs. divisional competition (1-0 in playoffs) dating back to Week 8 of 1996, 3 of those losses to the Jets. The Jets have won 6 straight games dating back to '98.