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| The Jets & Patriots match-up in Week 2 of the '01 season was truly heartfelt and meaningful. (c) Boston Globe |
Week 2 of the NFL season was a time of honor, loyalty and respect to those who had lost their lives during and since the September 11 attacks.
As a result, the original games of Week 2 that were supposed to take place on September 16 & 17 were postponed to January 6 & 7.
The New York Jets would travel to Foxboro Stadium to take on the New England Patriots in the NFL's first game since 9/11.
The final score would be 10-3 in the Jets favor & Coach Herm Edward's 1st win but there were also two moments that proved to be quite pivotal.
1. A fumble was lost by the Jets and recovered by the Patriots however based on the Tuck Rule, it was reversed.
2. Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe would snap a play at the 19 yard line, survey the field, perform a small pump fake and scramble towards the sideline while attempting to gain some yards. Jets Linebacker Mo Lewis would strike Bledsoe with his shoulder leaving the him dazed and injured. His mental toughness pushed him to attempt more plays under center but after a flea flicker that led to a fumble, he was pulled from the game.
6 months earlier, Bledsoe signed a record 10 year, $103 million contract. He was a Pro Bowler who led the Patriots to Super Bowl 31 and was clearly Robert Kraft's and Bill Belichick's guy for the future.
Backup QB Tom Brady would be subbed in for Bledsoe and passed for 46 yards on 5 out of 10 completions.
Brady would be announced as the team's starter the next week kicking off his rivalry against Peyton Manning and the Colts. He would never lose the job until he and the Patriots decided to part ways after the 2019 NFL season.
The Tuck Rule would later also be of benefit to Brady and New England in the 2001 AFC Divisional Game against the Oakland Raiders en route to their 1st Super Bowl victory. Bledsoe helped with this achievement as he subbed in for the injured Brady during the AFC Championship game leading the squad to a 24-17 win over Pittsburgh.
Bledsoe would start for the Buffalo Bills the following year and make the Pro Bowl.
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