Patriots Blog: Pats Look To Win 11th Straight Home Opener
BOSTON (CBS) - The Patriots home opener is this weekend, and if the past tells us anything, it bodes well for New England fans.
The Pats are undefeated in home openers since Gillette Stadium opened, going a perfect 10-0 at "The Razor." Going back a little further, the Patriots have won 15 of their last 17 home openers.
The players expect this game will have a better feeling than the home games in the preseason, and Logan Mankins says he understands if fans don't get all fired up for the game that don't count.
"The fans are always pumped up for the first game," Logan said. "They're always pretty quiet for the preseason, which I don't blame them."
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Tom Brady didn't have any words of wisdom about how he wants fans to stay hydrated, but is expecting a loud crowd - as long as the team gives them reason to be that way.
"Hopefully we give them a lot of reasons to cheer, to be excited. That usually results from us playing well so I hope that's the case again," said Brady. "This is a sports town; the people that come out and support us we love. We have great fans that cheer loud. Like I said, the more touchdowns we score, the louder they're going to cheer. Hopefully we can get them revved up early."
Brady Talks O-Line
One big hit aside (that came with a fashionable nose bandage), the Patriots offensive line did a pretty good job protecting Tom Brady last Sunday in Tennessee.
While it may still be a work in progress, #12 likes what he saw from the guys trying to keep him standing.
"The guys that were in there last weekend competed extremely hard for the entire game. I thought they performed great," Brady said earlier this week. "I had a lot of time back there to make my reads and make my throws. Communication was great, especially playing on the road in your first game, with really a new center – there's quite a bit of communication that takes place between the quarterback and the center. Like I said, stuff that we can continue to build on. I have a ton of confidence in those guys; I always have."
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Wilfork Likes D Already
I know it's really early in the process but Vince Wilfork says he already likes this defense. Last year, the Pats D took hits week after week. Wilfork says he can see the change in the defense and knows this year they can be a special unit.
"We have a bunch of great guys on this defense. A lot of guys have a love for the game and a passion for the game," Vince says. "Every year, that's the goal. When you have a bunch of guys fighting for one goal, and the passion and love for it and understanding of the game, and what needs to be done, you can do mainly anything you want to do, if you put your mind to it. That's what we have."
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