10 greatest New England Patriots of all time

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 04: A detail as Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots communicates a play at the line of scrimmage in the AFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium on January 04, 2020 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

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FOXBORO, MA – JANUARY 19: Field kicker Adam Vinatieri (L) of the New England Patriots celebrates after making a field goal in overtime against the Oakland Raiders in their AFC playoff game for a 16-13 win 19 January 2002 at Foxboro Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images) /

9. PK Adam Vinatieri

There was the game-winning 48-yard field goal at the gun in the team’s surprising 20-17 victory over the then-St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI at New Orleans.

Two years later at Houston, there was the game-winning three-pointer in the club’s thrilling 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII. But most of all, there were those two field goals in blizzardy conditions at New England in the team’s 16-13 overtime victory over the Raiders in the 2001 AFC Divisional Playoffs.

Adam Vinatieri was a free-agent find by Bill Parcells in 1996 and as a rookie, was part of a Patriots’ team that reached Super Bowl XXXI five years before his late-game heroics vs. the Rams in the very same Superdome.

The former South Dakota State product played 10 seasons for the Pats, four fewer than the Indianapolis Colts. During his 24-year pro career, no player has scored more points or connected on more field goals in the regular-season or postseason than Vinatieri, who these days remains an unsigned free agent.

When it comes to the Patriots, the overall numbers don’t really do him justice. But those moments on a Saturday night in the snow as well as late in Super Bowls certainly do.

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