FOXBORO, Mass. — Charles Woodson might have some unpleasant flashbacks Sunday as he travels down Route 1 to Gillette Stadium.
Woodson will return to New England for just the second time since Jan. 19, 2002, when he played in the Oakland Raiders’ infamous AFC divisional playoff loss to the Patriots. Woodson re-signed with Oakland last season after spending seven years with the Green Bay Packers, and he’ll be on the field this weekend as the Raiders visit the Patriots.
In what’s known as the Tuck Rule Game in Oakland and the Snow Bowl in New England, Woodson hit Brady late in the fourth quarter, jarring the ball loose. Since Brady’s arm was moving forward, it was determined to be an incomplete pass, not a fumble. The Patriots kicked the game-tying field goal on that drive and later won it in overtime.
Brady said Wednesday that he has never discussed the play with Woodson, his University of Michigan teammate from 1995 to 1997.
“I don’t think we ever talked about that,” Brady said during his morning news conference. “But I remember it very well. I’m sure he does, too. He was making plays back then, and he’s still making plays the same way.”
The Patriots, of course, went on to win Super Bowl XXXVI that year. The Raiders have made the playoffs only once since then.
