Quick hits, Part II

Two quick hits courtesy of the Patriots’ media relations department:

* The Patriots opened their AFC East schedule tonight against Buffalo, marking the latest division-opener in team history. The 2005 schedule waited until Week 8 to give the Patriots a divisional matchup, but beginning tonight, six of New England’s final 10 games will be against AFC East opposition. Before this season, the latest the Patriots had played their first divisional game was in 1980, when they began AFC East play against the New York Jets in Week 5.

* Tonight’s game is the 120th consecutive home sellout for the Patriots, including regular-season, preseason and playoff games. The sellout streak dates back to the 1994 season opener and is now in its 12th season. The streak began on Sept. 11, 1994 — Robert Kraft’s first regular-season game as owner of the Patriots. Additionally, today’s game is the 250th straight Patriots game to be televised locally. New England fans have not had a blacked-out game since Dec. 26, 1993 against Indianapolis at Foxboro Stadium.