FOXBORO — The Patriots look for their ninth straight win in a home opener as they welcome the “Real World” Bengals to Gillette Stadium.

Coverboy Tom and the Patriots take aim on Cincy.

This will be the first game for Tom Brady since surviving an ugly car wreck on Thursday morning and agreeing to a four-year, $72 million contract extension hours later.

Naturally, he was the biggest story this week in Foxboro as the Patriots look to get their 2010 season off on the right foot. So, it’s no surprise he is the coverboy of the first regular season Patriots GAMEDAY program.

Some other notes to keep in mind for today’s first game of the season:

- The Patriots have won the last four meetings with Cincinnati in Foxboro, beginning with a 27-21 win on Oct. 16, 1988 when the Pats handed 6-0 Cincinnati their first loss of the season. The last time the Bengals won in Foxboro was on Dec. 7, 1986 when James Brooks ran through the Patriots for a then-team record 264 all-purpose yards in a 31-7 Bengals win.

- Aside from the season-ending injuries to Ty Warren and Leigh Bodden, those Patriots who are dressing are relatively healthy. Terrence Wheatley has a sore foot and likely won’t see action today. Julian Edelman is also a scratch with a bum foot. Running back Laurence Maroney won’t be seeing any action as he is out with a bad thigh.

- Tom Brady is 3-0 against the Bengals as a starter but was on the team the last time the Bengals beat New England. It was also the last time the two teams met in the season opener. The year was 2001 and the starting QB was Drew Bledsoe. The Bengals won that day, 23-17, on a hideous grass surface at Paul Brown Stadium, Sept. 9, 2001. When the Patriots returned to action following 9/11 on Sept. 23, Bledsoe suffered a life-threatening rib injury on a hit from Mo Lewis of the Jets. The next week, Brady got his first NFL start against San Diego and a legend and a Super Bowl season were born.

- Terrell Owens needs just 49 yards to join Jerry Rice and Isaac Bruce as the only players with 15,000 receiving yards.

- Chad Ochocinco needs just 48 yards to become 33rd player to reach 10,000 receiving yards.

- Owens and Ochocinco have a combined 23 years of NFL experience. Darius Butler and Devin McCourty have a combine one.