New Orleans at New England 1 p.m.

BUCK UP, PATRIOT FANS. HISTORY DOESN’T ALWAYS REPEAT

Along with a .500 record this late in the season, here’s another thing the Patriots never expected to see from now until 2010, at the very least: Drew Bledsoe, able to play, wanting to play, expecting to play, sitting on the bench.

Confounded by recent events--Bledsoe getting hurt and Tom Brady going 5-3 in his absence--Patriot Coach Bill Belichick attempted to defuse any possible quarterback controversy by naming Brady his starter for the remainder of the season “unless something unforeseen happens.”

This did not sit well with Bledsoe, who, after signing a 10-year contract worth $103 million with the Patriots, has become the most expensive second-stringer in NFL history.

Tuesday, after Belichick’s surprising announcement, the usually accommodating Bledsoe was terse with the media.

Someone asked Bledsoe if he was frustrated.

“Next question” was the reply.

Someone else asked Bledsoe about how many snaps Belichick promised he’d be getting in practice.

“Next question.”

All right then. What happened in 1993 when Belichick was coaching the Cleveland Browns and was faced with a similar situation?

He benched popular Bernie Kosar and replaced him with Todd Philcox. Two years later, someone else was coaching the Browns.

The line: Pick ‘em.