Journal photo / Bob Thayer

Barring any training-camp disasters, when the Patriots start their season Monday night, Sept. 14, against Buffalo, Tom Brady (who was a cake target in honor of his 32nd birthday on Monday) will be the Patriots' opening day starting quarterback for the eighth season. That moves him past Babe Parilli for third on the team's all-time list, behind Steve Grogan (11 opening-day starts) and Drew Bledsoe (nine opening-day starts). Only Bledsoe has made more consecutive opening-day starts, underlining the fact that New England has been blessed for nearly two decades by an amazing run of stability at the most important position on the field.

2009: Tom Brady
2008: Tom Brady
2007: Tom Brady
2006: Tom Brady
2005: Tom Brady
2004: Tom Brady
2003: Tom Brady
2002: Tom Brady
2001: Drew Bledsoe
2000: Drew Bledsoe
1999: Drew Bledsoe
1998: Drew Bledsoe
1997: Drew Bledsoe
1996: Drew Bledsoe
1995: Drew Bledsoe
1994: Drew Bledsoe
1993: Drew Bledsoe
1992: Hugh Millen
1991: Tom Hodson
1990: Steve Grogan
1989: Tony Eason
1988: Steve Grogan
1987: Steve Grogan
1986: Tony Eason
1985: Tony Eason
1984: Steve Grogan
1983: Steve Grogan
1982: Matt Cavanaugh
1981: Steve Grogan
1980: Steve Grogan
1979: Steve Grogan
1978: Steve Grogan
1977: Steve Grogan
1976: Steve Grogan
1975: Neil Graff
1974: Jim Plunkett
1973: Jim Plunkett
1972: Jim Plunkett
1971: Jim Plunkett
1970: Mike Taliaferro
1969: Mike Taliaferro
1968: Mike Taliaferro
1967: Babe Parilli
1966: Babe Parilli
1965: Babe Parilli
1964: Babe Parilli
1963: Babe Parilli
1962: Babe Parilli
1961: Babe Parilli
1960: Butch Songin