Changes in the secondary
Former starter and highest-paid cornerback Leigh Bodden has been used
as a third option in the slot through the first two weeks of 2011.
Bodden, who missed last season with a shoulder injury and is listed on
the injury report of late with a back injury, has been a reserve while
rookie second-round pick Ras-I Dowling has earned the opening nod and
significant playing time in his first two career games.
BY THE NUMBERS:
The last time the Patriots lost in this series was the 2003 season
opener in which Lawyer Milloy made his debut for the Bills less than a
week after getting cut by Bill Belichick and led his new team to the
31-0 home shutout.
PLAYER NOTES
--T Sebastian Vollmer made his season debut with
the start at right tackle against the Chargers after missing the opener
in Miami with a back injury.
--CB Ras-I Dowling, a second-round pick who missed
much of the preseason with a leg injury, started for the second
straight week opposite Devin McCourty.
--DT Mike Wright missed the home opener with a
concussion suffered in Miami. Wright finished 2010 on injured reserve
with effects from a severe concussion.
--C Dan Koppen missed the first of what will be a
long stretch of games with a broken leg, as Dan Connolly earned the
start at center after filling in capably in the second half of the
opener.
--P Zoltan Mesko limped off with a left (kicking
leg) injury in the third quarter against the Chargers, forcing coach
Bill Belichick to go for a fourth-down play later in the fourth quarter.
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