Oakland RaidersVERSUSNew England Patriots

Tom Brady had replaced an injured Drew Bledsoe and unexpectedly led New England to a first-round bye, but his first postseason run still had to pass an experienced Raiders team coached by Jon Gruden. A heavy snowstorm and the final game at Foxboro Stadium turned the divisional matchup into a test of the Patriots' emerging identity.

• New England had not won a championship and was only five years removed from its previous Super Bowl defeat.
• Oakland was making a second straight postseason trip with veterans Rich Gannon, Jerry Rice and Tim Brown leading its offense.
• Brady remained an improbable starter: a second-year former sixth-round pick playing ahead of the franchise quarterback signed to a major extension.

Sources: NFL history: Tuck Rule Game · NFL 100: Vinatieri in the snow