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The Tuck Rule game

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The 2001-2002 AFC Divisional Playoff game, more commonly known by the nicknames the Tuck Rule game or the "Snow Bowl" was the playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders that occurred on January 19, 2002 at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, then the home stadium of the Patriots. The name "Tuck Rule game" originates from the controversial game-deciding play in which, according to the officials, instant replay camera captures revealed that New England quarterback Tom Brady's arm had moved forward before Oakland cornerback Charles Woodson's sack prompted him to drop the ball, thus making it an incomplete pass, resulting in New England continuing their drive. On the final play of regulation time, placekicker Adam Vinatieri hit a 45-yard field goal in a blizzard, just barely making it over the crossbar, sending the game into overtime where he also kicked the game-winner.

The "tuck rule" call

Playing in a heavy snow storm, the Raiders led at halftime, 7-0. Oakland took a 13-3 lead in the third quarter after two field goals. Brady rushed in for a touchdown to cut the lead to 13-10. The game remained close, and with less than two minutes left to play, the Patriots drove the ball down the field. While they were slightly out of field goal range, Brady dropped back to pass and dropped the ball after being hit by Woodson. Raiders linebacker Greg Biekert dove on the ball, and was initially credited with a recovered fumble.

In 1999, though, a new rule had been introduced, which eventually became known as the tuck rule:

NFL Rule 3, Section 21, Article 2, Note 2. When [an offensive] player is holding the ball to pass it forward, any intentional forward movement of his arm starts a forward pass, even if the player loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body. Also, if the player has tucked the ball into his body and then loses possession, it is a fumble.

Citing this rule, referee Walt Coleman on instant replay determined that the rule applied, as Brady's arm was moving forward, and Brady had not tucked the ball under his arm like a running back. Thus, the original call was overturned, and New England maintained possession.

The outcome

With the Patriots given new life, Brady completed a 13-yard pass to David Patten that advanced the ball to the Raider 29. Shortly thereafter, Vinatieri came on to attempt a game-tying field goal. Kicking into the wind and snow, Vinatieri's line-drive kick was good from 45 yards away with 27 seconds left, and the game was tied. The Raiders decided to not attempt to advance the ball and let the game go to overtime.

The Patriots won the toss and took the ball to start overtime. They drove 61 yards in 15 plays, with Brady completing all eight of his pass attempts for 45 yards. On fourth and 4 from the Raider 28, Brady hit Patten for a six-yard completion. A few plays later, Vinatieri kicked a 23-yard field goal and the Patriots won 16-13. It was the final game at Foxboro Stadium, since a Steelers victory over the Baltimore Ravens the following afternoon allowed the Steelers to host the AFC Championship game, due to having home field advantage (the game would have been in Foxboro had the Ravens won).

With this win the Patriots advanced to the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers where they scored a 24-17 victory. They would then represent the AFC in Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, where they would defeat the NFC champion St. Louis Rams 20-17 on a last second field goal by Vinatieri to capture their first Super Bowl championship.

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Last updated on Thursday February 28, 2008 at 13:22:56 PST (GMT -0800)
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