Bruschi missed last week's game with a shoulder injury that he suffered the previous week against the Jets, while Phifer has missed the last two games nursing a hamstring injury, that he suffered the first week against the Steelers.
Phifer was the leading tackler with 12 against the Steelers in their week one match-up, and Bruschi has been a crucial part in the middle of the Patriots defense, with the entire unit not allowing a 100-yard rusher in the first two games. In their abscense the defense allowed 180-yards rushing to Priest Holmes last weekend against the Chiefs.
This is an archived article originally published on
September 28, 2002.
Content reflects the editorial context of its original publication date.
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