The 2001 divisional playoff matchup between the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders -- colloquially known as The Tuck Rule Game -- happened 12 years ago tonight.
GMC Never Say Never Moment
Most football fans know the story by now, but a quick refresher for you kids: With the Pats trailing 13-10 late in the fourth quarter, Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson sacked Tom Brady, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Oakland. After a review, officials ruled Brady's arm was moving forward, making it an incomplete pass. New England kept the ball, kicked the game-tying field goal and then won the game in overtime.
The Patriots went on to win their first Super Bowl. Al Davis broke all his fine china.
The Tuck Rule no longer exists, but its legacy lives on. Just ask Woodson, who will be asked about the play until the end of days. On Sunday's edition of NFL Network's "NFL GameDay Morning," Woodson went Butterfly Effect.
"Let's just get this out of the way," he began. "If they make the correct call -- which they did at first, then they overturned it -- this (10)-game playoff streak that Tom Brady has? It never happened. Tom Brady owes me his house. I'm the reason why he's married to who he's married to. I'm a reason for a lot of that. Everything. Because they overturned that call."
"Tom. C'mon now. Fess up. It was a fumble. It's still a fumble."
We'd say Woodson had his tongue planted firmly in cheek, but we're not sure. The man still sounds legitimately bothered by what happened. We can't say we blame him.
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