Tuck Rule Game The 2002 AFC divisional playoff game , known to some as the " Tuck Rule Game " or " Snow Bowl " ( or the " Snow Job " to Raiders fans ) was the playoff game between the New England Patriots and the Oakland Raiders . It took place on January 19 , 2002 at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough , Massachusetts , then the home stadium of the Patriots . The name " Tuck Rule Game " originates from the controversial game - changing play . In the play , Raiders ' cornerback Charles Woodson sacked Patriots ' quarterback Tom Brady , which in turn , seemingly caused a fumble that was eventually recovered by Raiders ' linebacker Greg Biekert . Official s reviewed the play , and determined that Brady ' s arm was moving forward , thus making it an incomplete pass . As a result , the original call was overturned , and the ball was given back to the Patriots , who subsequently moved the ball into field goal range . With under a minute remaining in regulation , Patriots ' placekicker Adam Vinatieri kicked a 45 - yard field goal to tie the game at 13 , which sent the game into overtime . In overtime , Vinatieri kicked a 23 - yard field goal to win the game for the Patriots . New England went on to win Super Bowl XXXVI . The " tuck rule " call . Playing in a heavy snow storm , Oakland led at halftime , 7 – 0 , and then took a 13 – 3 lead into the fourth quarter after two field goals . Brady rushed in for a touchdown to cut the lead to 13 – 10 . 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 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 . In 1999 , though , a new rule had been introduced , which eventually became known as the tuck rule : NFL Rule 3 , Section 22 , Article 2 , Note 2 . When [ an offensive ] 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 . After instant replay , referee Walt Coleman reversed this call , declared the play an incomplete forward pass , and gave possession back to New England . In explaining the reversal to the stadium crowd and the television audience , the referee stated that the ball was moving forward at the time it was dropped . In later interviews , the referee stated that it was his explanation , not the reversal , that was in error ; the ball was moving backwards when it was lost , but the tuck rule applied . Thus , the original call was overturned , and New England maintained possession . Because the play was initially ruled a fumble , instant replay rules required the referee to see " incontrovertable visual evidence " on the replay that Brady had not " tucked the ball into his body and then { lost } possession " of it before reversing the original call on the field . The outcome . With the Patriots given new life , Brady completed a 13 - yard pass to David Patten that advanced the ball to the Raider 29 . Shortly thereafter , Vinatieri came on to attempt a game - tying field goal . Kicking into the wind and snow , Vinatieri ' s line - drive kick was good from 45 yards away with 27 seconds left , and the game was tied . After the ensuing kickoff , the Raiders decided not to attempt to advance the ball and let the game go to overtime . The Patriots won the toss and took the ball to start overtime . They drove 61 yards in 15 plays , with Brady completing all eight of his pass attempts for 45 yards . On fourth down and 4 from the Raider 28 , Brady hit Patten for a six - yard completion . A few plays later , Vinatieri kicked a 23 - yard field goal and the Patriots won 16 - 13 . It was the final game at Foxboro Stadium , due to the Pittsburgh Steelers winning their divisional playoff game ( they had home - field advantage throughout the playoffs ) . With the win , the Patriots advanced to the AFC Championship Game against the Steelers , where they scored a 24 - 17 victory , and then defeated the NFC champion St . Louis Rams 20 - 17 in Super Bowl XXXVI on a last - second field goal by Vinatieri to capture their first Super Bowl championship .