Magic in the Snow for New England Patriots

There's magic in the snow for the New England Patriots football team. In fact, the harder it snows, the more thrilling the game for the Patriots.

On January 19, 2002, the Patriots played the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship game. The blinding snow did not deter either team from giving their utmost in order to win the game. With 27 seconds left in the 4th quarter, Adam Vinatieri kicked a 45-yard field goal allowing the Patriots to tie the game 13-13. As overtime began, the field was a blanket of white with snow streaming down all around the players. At 8:29, Vinatieri once again found himself with the game on the line for New England. From 23 yards, he raised his foot and kicked the football with the eyes of all New England watching his every move. The ball went up and up, through the snow and straight between the goal posts. The Patriots won 16-13.

Today, on October 18, 2009, the snow once again blanketed the field of Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots. From the first kickoff, there was magic in the air. Snow covered the field before the game even began and continued coming down through the end of the fourth quarter. Going into today's game, the Patriots were 3-2. Yet, despite the cold air and freezing snow, the Patriots were hot - very hot! Their opponent, the Tennessee Titans were 0-5.

At the end of the first quarter, the score was a respectable Patriots 10, Titans 0. Tom Brady and the Patriots completely dominated the second quarter. With 12 seconds left, they led by a score of 45-0. At this point, Tom Brady had thrown for his fifth touchdown! The Patriots had the most points by any team in a half since 2002. Brady would eventually lead his team down the field for a sixth touchdown which tied the franchise record. He would be 29/34 with 380 yards.

In the third quarter, quarterback Brian Hoyer replaced Brady leading the Patriots down the field for his first touchdown and a Patriots score of 59-0 which tied another franchise record. The game ended with the score indeed of 59-0, which is the largest winning margin by a team since 1976.

Tom Brady's six touchdowns were caught by three different players - one by Kevin Faulk, two by Wes Welker and three by Randy Moss. A final score of 59-0 is proof enough there is magic in the snow!

Sources:
WBZ TV
www.patriots.com
CNN Sports Illustrated