We would like you to welcome our newest Patriots Insider contributor, Michelle Vitagliano.

Michelle heard our call for representation of the Patriots female fan base, and she has gladly agreed to join the club.

Is there anything cooler than a girl who digs football?

Bio:
Michelle has a degree in journalism from the University of Maryland, and her papa is a die hard Patriots fan / season ticket holder. It seems that her dad instilled the love of the Pats in her at an early age, and she's been anxious to apply her writing here for the benefit of the rest of us.

We are pleased to bring you Michelle's first piece.

From the Filly File: Patriots Look Super

They're baaaaaaaaaaaack!!! In a highly anticipated rematch, the Pats took on the Colts on Thursday night for the first time since last year's 24-14 title game win on that unforgettably cold day in Gillette. The good news is the Pats beat the Colts 24-27 in their season opener making it their 15th straight win since last year. The bad news is that we have to wait almost a month to see them play at home again. But as any true Patriots fan knows, they're worth the wait!

Like myself, you've been probably waiting since January to see the Pats in action, and from the looks of things, we're in for another exciting season. In typical Patriots fashion, they had us biting our nails right down to the last 24 seconds of the game while we watched place kicker Mike Vanderjagt attempt to increase his NFL record to 42 straight field goals. With that record in mind, and after watching Vinatieri win games for us in similar situations, it's hard to imagine Vangerjagt missing what would have been a game-tying field goal under extreme pressure. But our prayers were answered and he missed which brought the Pats to a 1-0 record to start of the season (thanks Mike! As it is, I didn't get home until 1:30 AM).

It was great and I was happy to see players, both old and new, contributing to the win. My MVP vote goes to Willie McGinest for sacking Manning in the last few minutes of the game to put the Colts out of comfortable field goal range. Other noteworthy players included Bruschi and his early-game interception and Pass's hard-hitting tackle that left even the fans feeling pain! Dillon is proving to be a great addition to the team and Patten, Branch and Brady are back in full force.

But the stars on Thursday night weren't just the ones in uniform. In fact, some people turned up to Gillette to see something other than a football game. Toby Keith performed a parking-lot concert just outside the stadium while inside, fans got to see Destiny's Child, Elton John, Lenny Kravitz, the Boston Pops and Mary J. Blige perform in a fantastic pre-game show. They even brought in Jessica chicken-of-the-sea Simpson via satellite from Metropolitan Stadium in Jacksonville, the site of the next Super Bowl.

In addition to the pre-game concert, the newest decoration to Gillette was unveiled. For the first time, fans got to see the 2003 Super Bowl banner, which looks great especially with the company of the 2001 banner sitting right next to it. Three's a charm…..

Thursday night was more than just a game, it was an event worth every penny I spent on the ticket. This week's match up against Arizona should be a good one especially where the Pats will have had over a week to rest up. In the meantime, I thought it would be nice of me to give both the fans and Gillette something to think about while we have the time.

Men - I realize that alcohol is probably a contributing factor, but no matter how good you're feeling, you will not be able to be searched by the female staff as you walk into the stadium so save yourself some time and get in the men's line!

Ladies - over the last two years I have found myself in conversations with you both waiting in line to get in the stadium and waiting in line to go to the bathroom. As we've discussed, there is both a lack of women's entrances and a lack of women's bathrooms. Until we see more of both (hint hint), stop bringing big bags to the games and if you do, understand that you're probably not going to be able to bring them into the stadium if they're any bigger than a lunch box. And when you are using the bathrooms, please take your cell phone conversations outside of the stall - you're holding up the line!!!

And finally, if I'm going to pay $7 for a beer, is it a bit too much to expect that it should be cold? Think about it!