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"The 'Tuck Rule Game'" is the 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. Placekicker Adam Vinatieri hit a game-tying field goal, 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.
The game is also known as "'The Snow Bowl'" because of the heavy snow that fell during the game.

Contents

The game

The final outcome

References

External links

The game

Played in a snow storm the score at halftime was 7-0 Raiders. Oakland took a 13-3 lead in the third quarter after 2 field goals. Brady rushed in for a touchdown to cut the score 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 was often referred to 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^[1]. Previously, the motion had to have been conclusively a forward pass attempt.

The final outcome

The tuck rule created a very controversial finish to the game, as 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."'' The league reviewed the call and deemed the call was correct. The ball was awarded back to New England.
This was the final game at Foxboro Stadium, as it was later demolished.

References

1. Tuck Rule Hard to Grasp Washington Post.

External links

★ Football God Account of the game

★ Referee criticism

★ Washington Post Article about the Tuck Rule