Nothing beat the Pats playing on grass at Gillette in the early 2000s. In this Week 12 matchup against Baltimore, the ‘04 Pats, despite a defense that had seen numerous starters suffer season-ending injuries (including both of their starting corners, Ty Law and Tyrone Poole) dismantled the Ravens in the sludge, allowing only 124 total yards, surrendering just 2.1 yards per play and forcing two turners, one of which ended in a defensive touchdown. It was their 25th victory in their last 26 outing

On this day in 2003, the 9-2 Patriots and the 9-2 Colts locked horns for an instant classic in the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. This was the third-ever meeting between Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, as the Pats had steamrolled the Colts twice during their ‘01 championship run two years prior. But that was before the Pats had truly established their championship identity, before Manning truly became Manning and when Tom Brady’s career was still in its infancy. This was the first meeting between the t