From Maine to Connecticut and everywhere in between, New Englanders struggled to get through the morning and afternoon of Feb. 3, 2002. Anticipation ran rampant for a game taking place that evening that carried some significance.
What took place between the hours of 6:40 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., however, changed everything.
Keep in mind that at this time, an entire generation of fans had grown up in Boston without seeing much from the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins or Celtics. The Pats made it to that Super Bowl, but Desmond Howard and Brett Favre shattered New England's dreams. The Sox had gone just 5-20 in the playoffs since losing the World Series in '86, the Celtics failed to make the playoffs from 1995-2000, and the Bruins hadn't played for a Cup since 1990. Unlike the current mentality in Boston, the city was hardly in a championship state of mind that February.
Then, there was the game. Ty Law's interception, Antowain Smith's 92 rushing yards, David Patten's touchdown catch … it's all blurred in history as the opening act for Tom Brady and Adam Vinatieri. Shortly after John Madden told the world that the Patriots should take a knee and try their chances in overtime, Brady authored perhaps the most memorable moment in Boston sports history.
After a short pass to J.R. Redmond, another quick one to Redmond, a spike and yet another pass to Redmond, the Patriots were still on their own 41-yard line with 33 seconds left to play. It wasn't until Brady hit Troy Brown on a crossing route that New England could fully believe. A completion to Jermaine Wiggins, just for good measure, set the stage for Vinatieri's legendary boot.
As the ball sailed through the uprights, it ushered in a new era for the city of Boston. Championships, for a stretch there, became the norm and not the exception. The Red Sox were winning and the Patriots were winning. Eventually, the Celtics were winning, too. The seven years that followed was an unprecedented period in sports for once city, one that likely won't happen again.
The success, though, has tapered some. Of course, all the local teams still field championship contenders, but the law of averages has caught up to Boston. You just can't win them all.
In a way, dealing with that reality has become more painful after fans tasted so much success for so long, but they can at least take solace in knowing they experienced several times over what many fans pray happens to them just once.
Had the Patriots taken Madden's advice and gone to overtime? Who knows — you might still be waiting.
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