Top 10 Pats Playoff moments
So the Patriots appear to have returned to their winning post-season ways, following the Wild Card round pasting of the New York Jets. While their recent “Dynasty” run of 3 Super Bowl titles in the last 5 seasons, has been impressive, each included three playoff games to get there. So what were the Pats 10 greatest playoff games, that didn’t result in a Lombardi Trophy? The new man here at Barstool Sports, Uncle Buck, hopes to help you recall the team’s now glorious post-season history, from the greatness of their most recent run to the memories of distant playoff successes with: The Patriots Top 10 Playoff Games (not counting Super Bowls)…
10. 2005-06 AFC Wild Card Game Patriots 28, Jaguars 3
Willie McGinest sets an NFL playoff record with 4.5 sacks in the game, and passes Bruce Smith on the all time playoff sacks list with 16, in what would be his last game with the Patriots. The 28-3 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars moves Tom Brady to 10-0 in the playoffs, while Bill Belichick passes Vince Lombardi’s 9-1 winning percentage with 10-1 mark.
9. 1996-97 AFC Divisional Playoff: Patriots 28, Steelers 3
In the first home playoff game since 1978, the Patriots romp over the defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, 28-3. Fog hovers all around Foxboro Stadium making it nearly impossible to see from one end zone to the next, so the team uses a fire horn on every Patriots touchdown. Curtis Martin, in his only playoff win with the Pats, breaks a 78-yard touchdown run and ends with 166 and 3 touchdowns.
8. 2003-04 AFC Divisional Playoff: Patriots 17, Titans 14
In one of the coldest games in NFL history (4 Degrees Fahrenheit and a whipping wind), Adam Vinatieri saves the Pats again, this time kicking a frozen ball 46-yards just over the goalpost, to give the Pats a 17-14 lead over the Tennessee Titans with 4:06 left. A defensive stand seals the game as a 4th down Steve McNair pass is knocked down, sending the frozen faithful of Foxboro home feeling good.
7. 2004-05 AFC Divisional Playoff: Patriots 20, Colts 3
Snow falls on Foxboro as the Patriots defense, accused of violating the NFL’s illegal contact rule a year before, allows no touchdowns to Peyton Manning, who had set the NFL record for touchdown passes during the regular season. All the Indianapolis Colts can muster is a field goal from their “liquored up kicker” as a Rodney Harrison pick of Manning seals the deal. Pats 20, Colts 3.
6. 1996-97 AFC Championship: Patriots 20, Jaguars 6
Fans at Foxboro Stadium bare witness to the only Championship Trophy ever won there as the Patriots defeat the 2nd year Jacksonville Jaguars, 20-6. The win, which features interceptions by “Big Play” Willie Clay and a young Teddy Bruschi as well as a touchdown return of a fumble by Otis “My Man” Smith, is the last time Bill Parcells coaches the Patriots in Foxboro.
5. 1985-86 AFC Championship: Patriots 31, Dolphins 14
The Patriots finally break the Orange Bowl Jinx (20 strait losses) by crushing the Miami Dolphins 31-14, giving New England its first AFC Championship. Tony Collins, Craig James and Mosi Tatupu lead the ground attack. The win over Dan Marino and the defending AFC Champions is the 3rd strait road playoff victory for the Pats as they head to New Orleans and Super Bowl XX.
4. 2004-05 AFC Championship: Patriots 41, Steelers 27
Perhaps the most satisfying of the Patriots 5 AFC title wins comes in the 41-27 whooping the Patriots put on the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field. During the regular season the Steelers ended the Patriots NFL record 21 game winning streak en route to a 15-1 record. This time, however, the Pats D makes quarterback Ben Roethlisberger look like the rookie that he is and Tom Brady burns Troy Polamalu twice for big plays, including a 60 yard TD pass to Deion Branch.
3. 2001-02 AFC Championship: Patriots 24, Steelers17
The Patriots shock the heavily favored Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field, 24-17, as Drew Bledsoe gets one last moment in the sun with the Patriots. After a 2nd quarter injury sidelined first year starter Brady, Bledsoe comes off the bench to complete an 11-yard touchdown pass to David Patten. The Pats block a Josh Brown field goal and Troy Brown scoops it up before lateraling to Antwan Harris who goes the final 45 yards for a touchdown. Two late picks of Kordell Stewart secure the Pats amazing upset.
2. 2003-04 AFC Championship: Patriots 24, Colts 14
The pinnacle of the Brady-Manning rivalry, which can be compared to Bird-Magic and Pedro-Clemens in Boston sports lore, ends with a 24-14 Pats win over the (favored my most) Indianapolis Colts. On the strength of a NFL record 5 Adam Vinatieri field goals and 4 picks of Peyton Manning (3 by Ty Law and 1 by Rodney Harrison) the Pats advance to Super Bowl XXXVIII.
1. 2001-02 AFC Divisional Playoff: Patriots 16, Raiders13
In one of the greatest games in NFL history the Patriots defeat the Oakland Raiders 16-13 on a snow covered field in the last game ever at Foxboro Stadium. After cutting the lead to 3, first year sensation Tom Brady is hit and appears to fumble, however, officials cite the now well known “Tuck Rule” giving the ball back to the Pats. From there Adam Vinatieri boots a 45-yard field goal that has been called by many “the greatest kick of all time” sending the game into OT. In the extra frame the Pats drive down the field and Vinatieri wins it with a 23-yard field goal.