The Patriots will be wearing a "throwback" jersey this year as part of the celebration of the team's 50th anniversary season, which coincides with the NFL's celebration of the founding of the American Football League. And now, it appears they will be wearing the retro duds more than anticipated.
The original plan was for the team to wear throwback uniforms three times during the upcoming season, including the season-opening Monday Night Football game at Gillette Stadium against the Buffalo Bills (Sept. 14, 7 p.m.), another original AFL team. But the Patriots' vice president in charge of media relations, Stacey James, said Thursday that the throwback schedule has been upped to four games, and requests have been made to the NFL to include a fifth.
The Patriots play two original AFL teams as part of their AFC East schedule, the Bills and New York Jets (who began life as the New York Titans). They are also playing two other original-AFL teams this year, the Denver Broncos and the Tennessee Titans (originally the Houston Oilers).
The Patriots' throwback jerseys are solid red with white untrimmed letters and numerals and a blue-white-blue striping pattern on the shoulders, reminiscent of the mid-1960s uniforms worn by the team. There is also a white-jersey version.