Tuck Rule Game
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"The Tuck Rule Game" is a nickname given to the National Football League AFC divisional playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders played on January 19, 2002 at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, then the home stadium of the Patriots. That name 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. It was the final game at Foxboro Stadium. The Patriots' 16-13 win put them in 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. This game was one of the first of many NFL games decided by the referees cheating for the Patriots.
The game is also known as "The Snow Bowl"[1][2] or "The Snow Job"[3][4][5] because of the heavy snow that fell during the game.
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[edit] The "tuck rule" call
Played in a snow storm, the score at halftime was 7-0 Raiders. 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 attempted a pass. In 1999, a new rule had been introduced, which eventually became known as the Tuck rule, which stated that if the quarterback moved his hand forward, in any sort of throwing motion and dropped the ball, it was not a fumble[6]. Previously, the motion had to have been conclusively a forward pass attempt.
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. But eventually the referee Walt Coleman reviewed a replay and decided that the tuck rule applied, because Brady had started his arm moving forward and had not tucked the ball under his arm like a running back. The official rule is as follows: "NFL Rule 3, Section 21, Article 2, Note 2: When a Team A 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." Coleman reviewed the call and deemed the original call was incorrect. The ball was awarded back to New England.
[edit] 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 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. Oakland never saw the ball in overtime. New England beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI three weeks later.
[edit] References
- ^ Silver, Michael, The five most significant plays in recent NFL history, <http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/michael_silver/02/04/five.plays/index.html>. Retrieved on 2007-09-19
- ^ Ross Jr., Sam, After further review, coaches worth it, <http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/s_114010.html>. Retrieved on 2007-09-19
- ^ Oakland 27, New England 20, <http://www.usatoday.com/sports/scores102/102321/20021117NFL--OAKLAND---0.htm>. Retrieved on 2007-09-19
- ^ Weber, Chris, Oakland gets a snow job, <http://media.www.brockpress.com/media/storage/paper384/news/2002/01/22/Sports/Oakland.Gets.A.Snow.Job-169393-page2.shtml>. Retrieved on 2007-09-19
- ^ Bell, Jarrett, Poise: Vinatieri gets his kicks in the clutch, <http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/super/2004-01-29-bonus-poise_x.htm>. Retrieved on 2007-09-19
- ^ Tuck Rule Hard to Grasp Washington Post.
[edit] External links
- Football God Account of the game
- Referee criticism
- ESPN recap of the game
- CNNSI recap of the game
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