Tuck Rule Game

2001-2002 AFC Divisional Playoff game

Oakland Raiders New England Patriots
Date	January 19 2002
Stadium	Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
TV in the United States
Network	CBS
Announcers	Greg Gumbel and Phil Simms

The 2001-2002 AFC Divisional Playoff game, more commonly known as the "Tuck rule game" and the "Snow Bowl," was the playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders. It took place 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 the play, Raiders' cornerback Charles Woodson sacked Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady, which in turn, caused a fumble that was eventually recovered by Raiders' linebacker Greg Biekert. Officials reviewed the play, and determined that Brady's arm was moving forward, thus making it an incomplete pass. As a result, the original call was overturned, and the ball was given back to the Patriots. On the final play of regulation, Patriots' placekicker Adam Vinatieri kicked a 45-yard field goal to tie the game 13-13, which sent the game into overtime. In overtime, Vinatieri kicked a 23-yard field goal to win the game for the Patriots.

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.

External links

• Referee criticism
• ESPN recap of the game
• CNNSI recap of the game