(Screen capture moments before the 'Tuck Rule' play)
ESPN posted a narrative from those involved on that fateful evening, when the Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots played through a snowstorm on January 19, 2002.
The ‘tuck rule game’ brings back awful memories for fans of the Silver & Black and memorable moments for those that follow the Patriots.
The setting, quality of play and outcome was stunning. Through the snow, the wind and exasperating elements of playoff football, both teams engaged in what will forever be one of the greatest contests the league has ever seen.
That was ten-years ago today.
How time flies?
Tom Brady on that night was an excitable passer in his first playoff game. Now, he’s an all-time great figure and one of the most epic quarterbacks to ever step on a football field. That was one of the foundation wins for a Patriot organization that would go on to be a dynasty.
The Raiders with that devastating defeat in the snow were catapulted the following season to their last divisional crown, and an appearance in a Super Bowl.
Yes, Oakland had immediate success stemming from that loss, but the fortunes of both organizations have been vastly different a decade later.
New England is competing for a chance at their fourth world title with Brady this weekend, while Oakland is in search for their seventh head coach in that span.
It’s not fair to project and assume that Brady and co. would have never been a dynasty without that win. His greatness has shown to be unparalleled, while the team has been the model of consistency since.
It’s also not fair to assume that Oakland would have been able to beat Pittsburgh the following weekend after the tuck game and get in a run of their own.
The facts are, that loss still resonates and brings a lot of joy or pain depending in your rooting interest.
Ten years later, the tuck rule is now common football vernacular and every time a fumble is not a fumble, there’s a Raider fan that feels the pain from that January evening.
RECOLLECTIONS
“It was obvious,” then Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said. “I thought it was a fumble, but the officials thought otherwise. You can never count on anything in the NFL. Say what you want, (Brady) made some great plays when he had to.”
He was right, Brady made the plays that needed to be made to win the game. For all the hurt that overturned fumble caused, the facts are, Oakland had a chance to win the game.
Late in the fourth quarter, Oakland had the ball with the 2:00 warning looming and a chance to ice the game. But on 2nd and short and 3rd and short, the Patriots defense stuffed Charlie Garner and then Zack Crockett, which forced Oakland to punt with time winding down.
A first down there, on those runs up the gut, behind their powerful offensive line, which they frequently picked up throughout the season, would have had Oakland killing the clock.
And even with the tuck rule coming into effect, it took an Adam Vinatieri 45-yard field goal with 27 seconds left, in dastardly conditions to force the game into overtime.
That conversion in my opinion is the greatest field goal in the league’s history.
After the game, all the talk was about the non-fumble. When asked about the play in the locker room, Brady said, “Uh… You know, he hit me. I wasn’t sure. Yeah, I was throwing the ball. How do you like that? Damn right. Damn right.”
Did it hurt? Yes. Does it still irk watching that play and knowing the outcome? Absolutely.
But those are the types of plays that NFL legends are made of. Remember the ‘holy roller’?
What about the Immaculate Reception? Ouch. Forget about that too.
MORE
Posted in late September prior to Oakland’s game vs. the Patriots:
‘Tuck Rule’ outcome not applicable & irrelevant to these Raiders
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