New England Patriots: Ranking the Pats Divisional Round Wins Since 2001

#1. January 19, 2002 New England Patriots 16 Oakland Raiders 13 (OT)

The Tuck Rule Game. The game that started a dynasty for the victor and a launched a decade and a half of futility for the loser. A game that will forever live in sports lore for one and sports infamy for the other.

It can argued (and it usually is) that it was at this moment that the Hall of Fame careers of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick took off, and with the win it began a run of dominance not seen in modern NFL history.

Down 13-10 late in the fourth quarter, Brady was leading the Patriots to a game-tying score before All-Pro CB Charles Woodson game in and sacked Brady, forcing what appeared to be a fumble. After review, referee Walt Coleman famously declared that Brady’s arm was going forward and pointed out the Tuck Rule as a reason for the pass being incomplete. The Patriots tied the score on Adam Vinatieri’s 45-yard FG in a heavy blizzard and won in overtime again on Vinatieri’s leg, with his chip shot 23-yard FG.

Until 2017, this was the Raiders most recent playoff game. It is also the most recent game in which referee Walt Coleman has worked a Raiders game.

The Patriots went on to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers 24-17 the following week in Pittsburgh and then upset the St. Louis Rams 20-17 in Super Bowl XXXVI for their first championship in franchise history.

Who would’ve though, sixteen glorious years later, that this critical call would be the catalyst for a dynasty?

For the Patriots, it’ll be a moment frozen in time.

Stay tuned for our next edition: Top 10 Patriots AFC Championship Games