It’s been a decade since the “Tuck Rule Game,” which is probably the last time the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders had a meaningful match in the NFL.
In the closing minutes of that snowy playoff game in January 2002, the Raiders’ Charles Woodson hit Patriots passer Tom Brady, who lost the ball. The fumble was overturned on instant replay, to the lasting annoyance of Raiders fans, and the Patriots went on to win their first of three Super Bowls with Brady.
Tomorrow, there’s plenty of significance again when they go at it in Oakland.
Photo: AFP
For the Raiders, consecutive wins over the New York Jets and Patriots would mean an impressive 3-1 start. It would be an early validation of the coaching change from Tom Cable to Hue Jackson and it would give them a head start on their first winning record and divisional title since the 2002 Super Bowl season.
“It’s a group that expects to win,” Jackson said. “It’s a group that works to win. It’s a group that is becoming something and they’re working at it each and every day. I think they can see the vision, that they have an opportunity, regardless of who we play, where we play to win, but I hope the rest of the league can see this is a different and improved football team.”
The Patriots have noticed.
“They’re very physical, they’re tough, they’re big, they’re fast,” said Brady, who comes off the rarest of performances, throwing four interceptions as New England went from a 21-0 lead at Buffalo to a 34-31 defeat. “It’s always a certain kind of player out there: big, fast and tough. They play well at home. It’s going to be a big challenge.”
New England hardly ever faces big challenges so early. A second loss this season tomorrow would match their total from last season.
As is their wont, the Houston Texans wasted a chance for a statement victory last week at New Orleans, blowing a nine-point fourth-quarter lead. With the arrival of the Pittsburgh Steelers comes another opportunity to pass the litmus test they usually fail — Houston have never made the playoffs in almost a decade in the NFL.
Pittsburgh have been maddeningly inconsistent, particularly on defense, and rank last in the league in turnovers. The Steelers’ 10 giveaways are worrisome and their one takeaway is unbelievable.
It was odd to see the Jets manhandled the way Oakland managed it and now they face the most physical defense in the league in the Baltimore Ravens. New York do so with both their offensive and defensive lines struggling, and their running game stuck in neutral.
All of which should make the Ravens salivate. Their offense is showing some balance and their defense is, well, what anyone expects it to be: Rugged, emotional and ball-hawking, with 10 takeaways already.
If Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo had any second thoughts about facing Washington with his busted ribs and other knocks, maybe he should have third, fourth and fifth thoughts about seeing Ndamukong Suh and the vastly upgraded Detroit Lions defense this week.
Although the Lions’ passing offense get much of the credit for the fast start to the season, the defense rank sixth overall and fourth against the pass. They have eight sacks.
Suh said it is not “his style” to try to pinpoint Romo’s sore spots.
“I’m not going to plan on putting my helmet into his ribs,” the 1.98m, 140kg Suh said.
“If I land on Tony Romo with all my weight, I’m sure he’s going to feel it,” Suh added.
Also tomorrow, it’s Denver at Green Bay, Buffalo at Cincinnati, New Orleans at Jacksonville, the NewYork Giants at Arizona, Miami at San Diego, Atlanta at Seattle, San Francisco at Philadelphia, Washington at St Louis, Carolina at Chicago, Tennessee at Cleveland and Minnesota at Kansas City.
On Monday, it’s Indianapolis at Tampa Bay.
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