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FOXBORO - New England Patriots fans might disagree, but state and local police say pre-game traffic along Route 1 Sunday flowed much smoother than the weekend before.

Foxboro Police Chief Edward O'Leary said Monday that Sunday's traffic "absolutely" was better.

Unlike before the Sept. 16 home opener, "at no time did it back up into the Common," O'Leary said.

Patriots fans arriving early have been forced to park opposite Gillette Stadium or bottleneck Route 1 and the highways, because state police have kept the stadium-side lots closed until four hours before kickoff.

The relocation of parking from the stadium to the other side of Route 1 because of construction at Patriot Place has prompted the change. State and local police insist that fans must learn to either park where directed or arrive later, when the stadium-side lots open.

State police say some fans learned from the home opener.

"We're not going to change what we're trying to do," said state police Lt. Jeff Stuart, commander of the Foxboro barracks. "In a couple more games, it'll be pretty easy."

Some fans said Sunday that traffic coming from the south was extremely slow.

Motorists must turn left to enter the first open parking lots.

However, Stuart said "the south actually cleared first."

Stuart said a sign directs fans to the proper lanes for those lots.

Regardless, most everybody was parked or inside Gillette by 10 minutes before kickoff, Stuart said.

MICHAEL GELBWASSER can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.