5 times Belichick and Pats had no business winning, and did

2. The Tuck Rule

Not all Belichickian improbable wins are created equal. Some require a little bit of luck that ultimately results in widespread controversy and a change to the NFL’s rules some 11 years later.

Everyone is familiar with the infamous “Tuck Rule Game,” but many fans are still confused over the subtle intricacies of the rule. In this instance, playing against the Raiders in the 2002 Divisional Round, the Pats were down 13-10 with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

Brady took a snap from shotgun, at first-and-10 on the Oakland 42, and was quickly hit by Charles Woodson causing the ball to pop loose. While Brady’s arm was in a forward motion, he clearly tucked the ball under his shoulder as Woodson forced the fumble. Luckily, in 1999, the NFL enacted the controversial “tuck rule” that protected quarterbacks who tucked the ball from oncoming defenders, as long as there was an initial forward motion.

So instead of a forced fumble that would have essentially ended the game and the Pats season, the drive lived on and was capped off by a memorable 45-yard Vinatieri field goal in the snow. The Pats went on to win in overtime on the heels of another Vinatieri field goal from 23 yards out.

As for the Raiders? Man, do they wish they played this game in 2013. That’s because the NFL abolished the tuck rule by a 29-1 vote at its annual meeting in March of that year. (The Patriots abstained from the vote.) And even if the Raiders got screwed again during this hypothetical, time traveling game, they would have also benefited from the 2012 rule that abolished game winning field goals on the opening drive of overtime, which is how the Pats won the game.

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