Is there anything more frustrating than seeing a team win a game it shouldn’t on a bad call? That’s the 2001 playoff game between the Patriots and Raiders in a nutshell. On a critical fourth quarter play, Oakland’s Charles Woodson sacked New England quarterback Tom Brady and stripped the ball from him. It was quickly recovered by Oakland, ending the game. Or did it? Citing the little-known “Tuck Rule,” New England was awarded possession and eventually went on to win the game, the Super Bowl, and then two more championships.
But the tuck rule (which has since been eliminated) also stipulated that if a quarterback does tuck the ball back into his body, which Brady appeared to do, and then loses the ball, it is a fumble, not an incomplete pass. So what if the ball was correctly given to the Raiders? How would that shape the next decade of NFL history?
With the ball, the Raiders quickly kneel to seal the win. They then go on to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game to set up one of the most anticipated Super Bowls of all time. With the over/under set at 71 points, most pundits expect an offensive explosion, but it’s St. Louis’ defense that seals the win for the Rams, giving them their second championship in three years.
Despite receiving overtures from several teams for both Brady and Drew Bledsoe, the Patriots announce that they will hold an open competition for the starting quarterback role in training camp. Both play well, but the job is eventually awarded to Brady. Unfortunately, after four consecutive losses following a 3–0 start, Brady is benched in favor of Bledsoe and the Patriots go on a tear. They win seven of their last nine games to win the AFC East at 10–6, and thanks to two very strong performances by Bledsoe in the Wild Card and Divisional rounds, set up an AFC Championship Game rematch with Oakland. There, they are defeated by the Raiders and Jon Gruden, who signed a lucrative contract with the Raiders after reaching the Super Bowl. Oakland goes on to beat Steve Mariucci and the Bucs in the Super Bowl.
Even after another loss to the Raiders, the Patriots decide that Bledsoe is their quarterback of the future and resolve to trade Brady to the highest bidder. An eager trading partner is found in San Diego, who agrees to part with picks in the first, third, and sixth rounds to finally stabilize their quarterback position. With Brady on board, the Chargers quickly trade incumbent starter Drew Brees to the Cowboys, where he turns into a star under the tutelage of Bill Parcells and offensive coordinator Sean Payton.
Led by Brady and running back LaDainian Tomlinson, the Chargers storm through the AFC with a record of 13–3. They are followed closely by Bledsoe’s Patriots, who win the AFC’s No. 2 seed with an 11–5 record. Gruden’s Raiders make the playoffs at 9–7, but injuries to quarterback Rich Gannon take them out of the hunt for the Super Bowl.
In a matchup that was almost preordained, the Chargers host New England in the AFC Championship Game. Bledsoe comes out firing, leading the Patriots to a 21–10 halftime lead behind two touchdown passes. The Patriots continue their onslaught in the third quarter, eventually extending their lead to 28–13 after a Ty Law pick six. But Brady’s comeback magic is as strong as ever, and with 1:52 left in the fourth quarter LaDainian Tomlinson runs right up the middle to tie the game at 28 on a two-point conversion. With a chance to win the game and return to the Super Bowl, Bledsoe throws an interception just as the Patriots reach the outskirts of Adam Vinatieri’s field goal range. The return takes the ball all the way to New England’s 33-yard line, and the Chargers win minutes later on a Darren Bennett field goal. Belichick is mocked mercilessly all offseason for letting Brady go, and San Diego looks ahead to their first potential championship.
The NFC’s playoff picture is far more muddled. The Rams never find continuity at quarterback thanks to Kurt Warner’s injuries and the team’s lack of faith in Marc Bulger, so they shockingly seed the division and the No. 2 seed in the conference to Seattle. Knowing they can win any game on their home field, the Seahawks pray that someone can knock off Philadelphia before their potential meeting in the NFC Championship game. Those prayers are answered when Brees and the Cowboys stun the Eagles in the Divisional Round, setting up a trip to Seattle for the championship game in which they are trounced 38–14.
And so, Brady and Tomlinson lead the Chargers against Matt Hasselbeck’s Seahawks for the chance for both teams to win their first ever championship. Thanks to some very questionable officiating and the lack of Seattle’s home crowd, Brady and the Chargers come out on top by a final score of 42–26. Brady is named Super Bowl MVP and given a massive contract while Belichick is forced to spend the rest of his career wondering what might have been.
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