3 to be 4

It sometimes gets lost as we remember the Super Bowls. But what are your personal recollections of the Patriots-Raiders Snow Game?

For me, that was the first time I ever bawled my eyes out after a win. Watching it on TV, wife and kids upstairs asleep, snowstorm blowing all over Massachusetts, it looked I was watching a game played in a magical snowglobe. It had already been a great season, and I remember wondering when it was 13-3 if Belichick would put Bledsoe in and hoping he wouldnt.

I was glad for Brady that he led that great drive to make it 13-10 if only to show the country what we had seen all year.

When the play happened, when I thought the game was over on a fumble, I buried my head and thought about what a great season it was and hoping fans wouldnt pile on the kid.

Suddenly I heard Greg Gumble say "they are going to review this" and I looked up. When I saw the replay and heard the roar of the crowd my heart started revving up. When they reversed the call it started a chain of euphoria that just kept getting better and better.

As Vinatieri's kick, which I thought he missed, sailed over the cross bars I did a silent leap ( kids asleep upstairs) and said over and over THIS IS BERNIE CARBO! THIS IS BERNIE CARBO!

the rest of the game was magic as you KNEW we were going to win. As the OT kick went through I collapsed in a heap in my living room and sobbed. I was drained and so happy and I recognized the beauty of what I had seen, that NFL Films would love this. That finally, the Patriots had their historical, signature moment. Baltimore. Pittsburgh. I didnt care. We were going to the AFC Championship Game. And I loved Tom Brady and Adam Vinatieri.

I never want to forget Jermaine Wiggins or J.R.Redmond or David Patten or Bryan Cox or anyone else associated with that night.

Heres a nice video to bring back some memories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMMa7cZb2Jc

Boston Jay

My mom couldn't stay up to watch the game so I was left alone with the Pats and Oakland.

My heart ran away from me during the fumble. It was halfway down the hall.

IT WAS REVERSED? WHAT!? ARE YOU EFFIN KIDDING ME? *does the happy dance, nearly sprains ankle jumping all over couches*

Hey, heart.. come back!

It protested at both Vinatieri kicks, but my God... 2001 was the best season ever. The Patriots gave me so many heart attacks during the season and after it, but it was all worth it in the end. All worth it.

Good freakin times. I cried at the end of SB XXVI (I'm a girl so I'm allowed to do that ).

PatsFaninAZ

I never got too worked up over the snow bowl game. When the fumble happened, and I thought we'd lost, I was bummed, but not that much. I figured we'd never win on the road against Pittsburgh, and even if we did, we couldn't beat the Rams, so it was no big deal. I was already looking forward to seeing Brady and Belichick develop, thinking the superbowl was a couple of years away.

After the reversal, I was stunned. I also was feeling a little guilty -- like most, I didn't really understand the "tuck rule" until the next day when I read the text of the rule. I kind of was thinking the Raiders got jobbed. But once AV made the first kick, I was over it, and amazed at the team's reslience.

I would say it was one of the weirder sports experiences I can remember.

patsox23

First thing that always pops into my head is Brady scrambling for the TD and how he and his spazzy celebration personified the "we've still got some life" spirit that led us the rest of the way. That and the deflected sideline catch by Wiggins. And how HUGE a game Patten had.

ctpatsfan77

Hard to think of a better way to celebrate your 1,000th post.

[Hmmm. . . . have to start thinking about that. ]

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Boston Jay

Wiggins was the man. He helped us out so much during the playoffs. Patten too. J.R. Redmond (I think) made a clutch final catch to put us in FG range while Madden insisted that we play for overtime.

mtbykr

Thanks for the link...i will never forget that night. I don't know why, but when adam's kick in OT sailed through it was the best, most relieved feeling ever...i turned and looked at my wife and said "their going to win the superbowl" (this was a big deal for me as i never allow myself to think ahead. It was also pretty cool to have an east boston guy (wiggins) play a role!

Couldn't think of a better way to send out the ol stadium!

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Sean Pa Patriot

This is my favorite non super bowl game in Pats histroy.. It was what made this upcoming weekend the best weekend of the NFL season is this weekend..

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BoTown

Very nicely done post.

My recollection of that night...

Feeling supremely confident going into the game. Very excited, as the Pats had run off a long winning streak, and had plenty of magical moments already. Then when the Raiders had their lead, and time kept going down, and they still had the lead, I got nervous. Still, felt like the Patriots could come back. There was a confidence under Brady that I didn't have when I watched Bledsoe. Then Brady lost the ball and Biekert recovered, and I felt the game was over. Even still, I kept watching, hoping for some kind of miracle, even though I felt it wasn't coming. I spent that time reflecting on the season, being disappointed that it was ending early, but hopeful that the Patriots could build off the season.

Then the play got reversed, and I was jumping up and down like crazy! I knew all the Pats needed was a second chance, and that was it. Let's face it, we got lucky there with an obscure rule that, thankfully, Walt Coleman remembered. I don't feel sympathy for the Raiders, they needed the Holy Roller to get to their SB championship back in the day.

The two Vinatieri kicks...man. I was so excited, and I felt blessed to have witnessed that game. Felt like a movie. So glad I have a copy of it on VHS. I watch it, seeing Patten, Redmond, Wiggins making those amazing plays on the drives, and I get goosebumps. I don't remember crying for any victory, but the closest I've come is Super Bowl XXXVI and 2004 World Series.

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DB15

that just gave me shivers watching that again