The Pats have always had higher ratings and selling out their stadium?
Check this out...
Patriots 1990, 311,623 (total attendance for the season), 38,953 (average per game)
New England Patriots 1991, 303,116 37,890
New England Patriots 1992, 356,415 44,552
New England Patriots 1993, 362,964 45,371
New England Patriots 1994, 472,718 59,090
New England Patriots 1995, 466,743 58,343
New England Patriots 1996, 468,301 58,538
New England Patriots 1997, 477,431 59,679
New England Patriots 1998, 475,828 59,479
New England Patriots 1999, 479,056 59,882
New England Patriots 2000, 478,816 59,852
New England Patriots 2001, 477,375 59,672
New England Patriots 2002, 532,194 66,524
New England Patriots 2003, 547,488 68,436
New England Patriots 2004, 550,048 68,756