“These guys are going to fight for their last breath,” said Patriots coach Bill Belichick. “It took a lot, but our guys have played like that all year. They don’t know any other way.”
Brady (32 of 52 for 312 yards) and the Pats were so sure of victory that the scoreboard actually read, “Patriots 16 . . . Raiders 13” two plays before Vinatieri’s winning kick. Now that’s destiny.
Destiny. How else to explain the reversal of a ruling in the closing minutes of regulation which stripped Oakland of certain victory and avenged a call that went against the Patriots against these same Raiders in a playoff game a quarter of a century ago?
Call it “Revenge for Ben Dreith.” In 1976, the Patriots probably would have beaten the Raiders in a December playoff game in Oakland if not for Dreith’s roughing-the-passer call on Ray “Sugar Bear” Hamilton. Last night Belichick challenged a play in which it appeared Brady had fumbled after being sacked by Charles Woodson.
The call was reversed by referee Walt Coleman, it was ruled an incomplete pass, New England got the ball back, and the NFL had a new controversy for the ages. Al Davis should have some interesting things to say about Coleman and Co.
“Yeah, I was throwing the ball,” said Brady, grinning slyly. “How you like that?”
Given new life, Brady (26 of 39 after halftime) didn’t fail. He moved the Patriots into position for Vinatieri’s line-drive, desperation 45-yard field goal which tied the game with 27 seconds remaining.
When regulation expired, there was another coin toss and, naturally, the Patriots won the toss and elected to receive. One more time, Brady led them down the field, setting up Vinatieri’s winning chip shot.
“Tom really did a nice job running the no-huddle offense,” said Belichick. “Those were tough conditions but when you get to this time of the year you’ve got to be at your highlest level of concentration. He came through there.”
