We're into the Top 20 now.
These are the plays of the Bill Belichick Era you best never forget. And probably can't. They're the ones that led directly to championships -- most for New England, a couple for the other guys. Or they're plays that signified a sea change in the way the New England Patriots under Belichick would be behaving from there on out.
I did my best to stack them in order of importance. You got a problem with that? Good. Let us know what's too high, too low or just plain wrong. And thanks for keeping up!
PLAY NUMBER: 18
THE YEAR: 2003
THE GAME: Patriots 19, Dolphins 13
THE PLAY: Tom Brady to Troy Brown for 87-yard OT game-winner
New England Patriots
WHY IT’S HERE: The Patriots have annual trouble in Miami even now. But back in 2003, the team’s record of South Florida futility was almost laughable. The Patriots had lost five times in a row in Miami and were 2-12 down there since 1988. The combination of defensive end Jason Taylor, linebackers Zach Thomas and Junior Seau and the evil corners – Pat Surtain and Sam Madison – were the bane of young Tom Brady’s existence. This Sunday afternoon was following suit as the Patriots fumbled it away twice in the first half and punted six times. Time was wasting in overtime when the Patriots got the ball at their own 13 off a Miami pick. The Dolphins’ Olindo Mare had already missed a chip-shot field goal in overtime and Brady was coming back on the field after a Taylor strip-sack (New England recovered) ended their previous drive. So on the first play of the drive, Brady dropped back and heaved toward Brown who hauled in the rainbow and scored from 87 yards away vanquishing – for a spell – the South Florida curse.
PLAY NUMBER: 17
THE YEAR: 2001
THE GAME: Patriots 24, Steelers 17
THE PLAY: Brandon Mitchell, Troy Brown and Antwan Harris combine on blocked FG TD
WHY IT’S HERE: Troy Brown had already lugged a punt back 55 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter. And after Tom Brady went down, Drew Bledsoe finished off a drive with three throws to David Patten just before halftime making it 14-3. But how was that going to hold up against the Steelers? Especially with Bledsoe getting his first extended action since September? Brown – who was the best Patriot in 2001 by an unimaginable margin – provided the answer. The Steelers were about to finish off a drive with a 34-yard field goal when defensive lineman Brandon Mitchell got a paw on the attempt. Brown then followed the “scoop and score” directives of the Pats coaching staff. The teaching point? Loose balls in the kicking game should always be advanced because of the slow, sloppy field goal-protection units and the fact that – because it’s fourth down – the defending team will get the ball either way. So Brown scooped, took off and – when wrapped up briefly – lateraled to Antwan “Puddin’” Harris who took the ball the distance for a touchdown that made it 21-3. The Steelers would score touchdowns on their next two drives – scores which would have put them ahead if not for the “scoop and score.”
