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Everything You Need To Know To Plan Your Sports Week THE WEEK AHEAD THE MAIN ATTRACTION

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 11, 2008

Patriots at Bucs / 8 p.m. / WTTA, Ch. 38

Three days after training camp breaks, Tampa Bay hosts the defending AFC champs in its preseason home opener.

QB Tom Brady, WR Randy Moss and a number of New England veterans who sat out last week's exhibition opener against Baltimore are expected to see their first action of the preseason.

Even so, don't expect to see all that much from the Patriots' starters, perhaps no more than a quarter, given Coach Bill Belichick's reluctance to give his regulars extended game action during August.

Sunday's game will mark the second straight year New England has traveled to Raymond James Stadium during the preseason. The Bucs beat the Pats 13-10 in the 2007 exhibition opener.

Rays at Rangers / 8 p.m. / FSN Florida

Tampa Bay will close its longest road trip of the season, an 11-day, 10-game swing through Seattle, Oakland and Texas.

The AL East-leading Rays are in the midst of a difficult stretch, playing 13 of 16 away from Tropicana Field.

Survive this tough part of the schedule and the Rays will be well positioned for the September stretch drive.

Sunday's game will mark the final time this season the Rays face Josh Hamilton, their former top prospect who seems well on his way to winning American League MVP honors.

Hamilton ranks among the league leaders in average, home runs and RBIs, but he has been handled with relative ease by Rays pitchers. Hamilton is 3-for-20 with one home run - a May 27 grand slam at the Trop - and six RBIs against Tampa Bay this season.

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