People don’t forget.
It was nearly 17 years ago that Adam Vinatieri hit two field goals, including the 23-yard overtime-winner, against the Oakland Raiders in blizzard-like conditions in the the 2001 AFC Divisional round. For New England Patriots fans, the 16-13 win is remembered as the beginning of a dynastic run of success. For Raiders fans, and former players, the wound remains fresh.
That was evident Saturday night when Charles Woodson, who was on the 2001-02 Raiders squad, took to Twitter when Vinatieri, now with the Indianapolis Colts, drilled the upright on a 23-yard kick just before halftime against the Kansas City Chiefs in Saturday’s AFC Divisional round playoff game. Conditions weren’t quite as rough as they were at then-Foxboro Stadium in 2001, but the kicking conditions were far from ideal, with a light snowfall coming down when Vinatieri lined his kick up.
After the shank, Woodson’s reaction was priceless.
Now he misses in the snow
— Charles Woodson (@CharlesWoodson) January 12, 2019
Vinatieri also missed an extra point against the Chiefs on Saturday, taking on an uncharacteristic bad outing for the the 46-year-old, who has hit more big kicks than anyone in league history. But nothing can erase those two kicks in the snow against the Raiders.
