Welcome to Raymond James Stadium

TAMPA -- Welcome to Raymond James Stadium, where the Patriots visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in preseason action tonight (8 p.m.).

One of the hard-to-miss features of the stadium is a large pirate ship on the concourse above one of the end zones.

As Patriots coach Bill Belichick noted earlier this week, the heat will be a good test of the team's conditioning level. It is currently 88 degrees and humid. There is the possibility of rain showers during the game, but the skies are generally clear at this time.

The Buccaneers opened their preseason last week at Miami, posting a 17-6 victory. One note from that contest -- the Buccaneers turned in a no-penalty, no-turnover performance. Tampa Bay had never played a preseason (135 games), regular season (500 games) or postseason (15 games) contest in which it had both zero penalties and zero turnovers.

The Patriots are coming off a 16-15 loss to the Ravens in their preseason opener. Quarterback Tom Brady did not play in that contest, and did not make the trip with the team for this game either. Safety John Lynch, on the other hand, did make the trip and is expected to suit up.

Al Riveron, one of the NFL's new referees this season, is scheduled to work tonight's game.

From a TV perspective, this contest will be broadcast on NFL Network. For those in the Boston area without NFL Network, the game will be carried on WBZ-TV (Channel 4).