 Foxboro Stadium, site of the game | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | January 19, 2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Stadium | Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Walt Coleman | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 60,292 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Hall of Famers | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Raiders: Al Davis (owner), Fred Biletnikoff‡ (assistant coach), Willie Brown‡ (assistant coach), Tim Brown, Jerry Rice, Charles Woodson Patriots: Andre Tippett‡ (scout), Ty Law, Richard Seymour ‡ elected as a player. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| TV in the United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | CBS | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms | |||||||||||||||||||||
The 2001 AFC Divisional Playoff game, also known as the Tuck Rule Game or the Snow Bowl,[1][2] and sometimes referred to as Snow Bowl 2, was a National Football League (NFL) playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders. Part of the second round of the 2001–02 NFL playoffs, the game was played on January 19, 2002 at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, at the time the Patriots' home stadium. There was a heavy snowfall during the contest, which was the last game ever played at Foxboro Stadium.
The name Tuck Rule Game originates from the controversial play that changed the course of the game. In the fourth quarter, Raiders' cornerback Charles Woodson tackled Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady, causing what game officials initially ruled to be a fumble that was recovered by Raiders' linebacker Greg Biekert. However, upon review of the play, officials eventually determined that even though Brady had seemingly halted his passing motion and was attempting to "tuck" the ball back into his body, it was an incomplete pass and not a fumble under the then-effective NFL rules. As a result, the original call was overturned; had it stood, the play would have sealed a victory for the Raiders. The ball was instead given back to the Patriots, who subsequently moved it into field goal range. With under a minute remaining in regulation time, Patriots' placekicker Adam Vinatieri kicked a 45-yard field goal to tie the game at 13, sending the game into overtime. In the overtime, Vinatieri kicked a 23-yard field goal to win the game for the Patriots. New England went on to win Super Bowl XXXVI, beginning a run of championships with Brady and head coach Bill Belichick, appearing in nine Super Bowls and winning six.[3][4] Due to the game's controversial call, dramatic overtime finish, and significance in kickstarting the Patriots' dynasty, it is regarded as one of the most famous and consequential games in league history and as an important part of NFL lore.
- ^ Silver, Michael (February 4, 2005). "The five most significant plays in recent NFL history". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on February 6, 2005. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- ^ Ross Jr., Sam (January 23, 2003). "After further review, coaches worth it". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. TRIB: Total Media. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved September 19, 2007.
- ^ Swartz, Bryn. "The NFL's 10 Greatest Postseason Games of the 2000s". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
- ^ Akelson, Michael. "Top 10 NFL Games of the 21st Century". Bleacher Report. Retrieved June 26, 2022.