Squad going international

FOXBOROUGH -- The NFL last night finalized its plans to have the Patriots and Seahawks play a 2007 preseason game in Beijing, with the contest scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 8.

The game will be broadcast live in the United States on NBC, starting that day at 8:30 a.m. EST.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who made the announcement at Gillette Stadium, called the game ``historic in many ways."

It marks the NFL's first game in China, and will be played one year to the day that the 2008 Beijing Olympics will begin.

Goodell was joined by Patriots owner Robert Kraft, NBC chairman Dick Ebersol, and Miss Ren Jun, who represented the Beijing Sports Competition Management Center, for the official announcement. He said the NFL has been in discussions to play in China since 1999, and that there was a ``tremendous amount of interest" from teams to participate in the game.

Goodell said the NFL chose the Patriots and Seahawks for several reasons, including the teams' success and that they ``represent the best of the NFL, both on the field and off the field."

The Patriots have taken part in two international games, playing in Montreal in 1990 and Mexico City in 1998. Kraft said he hoped the game would be a life-changing experience for the players and coaches.

Kraft indicated the Patriots will travel to Seattle, play a preseason game against the Seahawks there, then travel to Beijing to play the Seahawks again. He said the Patriots will play five preseason games in 2007. The NFL will give New England the option to open training camp one week early.

Because football coaches are generally creatures of habit, Kraft was asked how he could make the trip smooth for Bill Belichick.

``Our football people, we consulted with them on this," Kraft said. ``They were fully made aware of it, that this was in the NFL's and the New England Patriots' best short- and long-term plans. The strength of our game is that we've been able to grow revenues and grow the sport. The players and the coaches and the organizations have been the biggest beneficiaries.

``If we don't do things like this, I think we'll lose our preeminence in US sports. Looking at the macro view, that's a very important reason that this game is as special as it is, and should get the support of everyone associated with the National Football League."

The game will be played at Workers Stadium, which has a capacity of 60,000. It will be the NFL's 42d international contest.

Goodell said all of the NFL's Sunday night games will be broadcast in China this year, while Kraft pointed out that the first NFL game broadcast in China was Super Bowl XX, when the Patriots lost to the Chicago Bears. ``We hope we create a better image for the brand," Kraft joked.

Rookie receiver Chad Jackson, who made two catches and scored a touchdown in his NFL debut last week against the Jets, was inactive for last night's game. He was on the injury report (questionable, hamstring) throughout the week. Jackson also missed the season opener.

Safety Artrell Hawkins (thigh) and offensive tackle Nick Kaczur (shoulder), who also were questionable on the injury report, were inactive along with tight end Garrett Mills, outside linebacker Pierre Woods, offensive lineman Gene Mruczkowski, and defensive linemen Marquise Hill and Johnathan Sullivan.

Defensive end Courtney Brown (knee) headlined the Broncos' inactive players, a list that also included receiver Todd Devoe, running back Cedric Cobbs, linebacker Nate Webster, tight end Nate Jackson, defensive lineman Elvis Dumervil, and offensive linemen Chris Kuper and Adam Meadows.

Kicker Stephen Gostkowski, who had a field goal blocked for the second straight week, returned to the field midway through the halftime show and was working on his kicks during the entertainment . . . Left tackle Matt Light (left knee) and safety Rodney Harrison (right arm) left the game with injuries, but returned to action . . . Receiver Doug Gabriel finished with six catches for 65 yards and one touchdown, with most of his action coming in the fourth quarter. ``I thought he did pretty well, making some big catches coming in," said tight end Daniel Graham . . . Graham on hearing boos from the fans: ``We really just shut that out. We play our game on the field and fans are fans. We just have to play better than we did." . . . The Patriots had scored in 27 straight halves before being blanked in the first half last night.

Running back Corey Dillon entered last night's game needing 61 yards to surpass Ricky Watters and move into 15th place on the all-time list, but he only had 16 before leaving with an injury. Dillon (10,598) is the only active running back with 10,000-plus career rushing yards . . . The Patriots are 25-3 when defensive lineman Richard Seymour records at least half a sack. He was held without one last night . . . Foxborough native Tom Nalen, now in his 13th season with the Broncos, made his 170th career start, moving into a tie for fifth place on Denver's all-time list . . . Denver has a 2-0 record at Gillette, one of only three teams to have a winning record at the stadium. The others are Green Bay (1-0) and San Diego (1-0) . . . The Patriots' lifetime 15-26 record against the Broncos marks their lowest winning percentage (.366) of any of the seven other original American Football League teams . . . Tom Brady started his 92d straight game at quarterback . . . Last night's game was the Patriots' 130th straight sellout . . . Broncos coach Mike Shanahan's nine career wins over New England are his most against any other non-AFC West foe . . . NFL officials Friday ratified a contract that extends through 2012. The officials' contract was set to expire after this season.

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