[11th September 2000 – 9:00 PM | Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ | Attendance: 77,687]
[NY Tigers Vs NE Patriots]
The stadium lights blazed against the September night sky, turning Giants Stadium into a luminous coliseum visible for miles. Monday Night Football had returned to New Jersey, and 77,687 fans packed every available seat, their voices creating a wall of sound that rattled the aluminium bleachers. The Tigers emerged from the tunnel in their home dark green jerseys with black trim, the crowd's roar washing over them like a physical force.
Across the field, the New England Patriots—wearing their traditional silver helmets and blue road jerseys—jogged onto the turf. Head coach Romeo Crennel, who had lost his season opener, stood on the sidelines with tension written on his face.
In the broadcast booth, Al Michaels settled into his chair, papers arranged neatly before him. "Good evening, everyone, and welcome to Monday Night Football! I'm Al Michaels, alongside Dan Fouts and Dennis Miller. We're in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the New York Tigers host the New England Patriots in what promises to be a fascinating divisional matchup."
"Fascinating is one word for it," Dan Fouts said. "The Tigers shocked Green Bay in Week One with that last-second field goal. Now they're facing a Patriots team that's trying to figure out life after the failed Belichick transfer under the helm of Crennel."
"It's like your crush showing up to the party with someone hotter," Dennis Miller quipped. "Awkward doesn't begin to cover it."
The coin toss went to New England, and they deferred, meaning the Tigers' offence would start the game. The opening kickoff sailed into the end zone for a touchback, and Vinny Testaverde led the offence onto the field.
~~~
[Q1 — 14:50 | 1st & 10, NYT 20 | Tigers 0, Patriots 0]
Testaverde took the snap from Kevin Mawae, dropped three steps, and immediately felt pressure collapsing from his right. The Patriots' blitz had blown past the protection, and defensive end Bobby Hamilton was bearing down on him.
Testaverde stepped up into the pocket, eyes scanning downfield, and fired a quick slant to Dedric Ward. Ward caught it at the thirty-two, broke one tackle, spun away from another, and churned forward for fourteen yards before being dragged down.
"First down, Tigers," Michaels announced. "And Vinny Testaverde showing poise under pressure."
Curtis Martin took the next handoff and attacked the left guard, lowering his shoulder into the line. He absorbed contact from two Patriots defenders but kept his legs churning, falling forward for six hard-earned yards. On second and four, Testaverde dropped back again, this time with a clean pocket.
He went through his progressions—Ward covered, Coles blanketed—then saw Anthony Becht breaking open on a delayed release up the seam. The ball left his hand, a tight spiral that arrived chest-high. Becht secured it at the Patriots' forty-six and was immediately hammered by safety Lawyer Milloy.
The hit echoed through the stadium—a collision of pads and helmets that drew groans from the crowd. But Becht held on, and the chains moved again. The drive stalled at the Patriots' thirty-eight when Testaverde's third-down pass to Laveranues Coles sailed just beyond his fingertips. Tom Tupa came out to punt, pinning New England at their own twelve-yard line.
~~~
[Q1 — 11:22 | 1st & 10, NE 12 | Tigers 0, Patriots 0]
Drew Bledsoe jogged onto the field, the veteran quarterback looking relaxed despite the hostile crowd. On first down, he handed off to Kevin Faulk, who tried to bounce it outside but was immediately met by Brian Urlacher. The rookie linebacker read the play perfectly, shed his blocker, and drove Faulk backwards for a two-yard loss.
The crowd erupted, sensing blood. "There's Urlacher," Fouts said. "The fifteenth overall pick is making his presence felt early."
On second and twelve, Bledsoe dropped back into his own end zone, the pocket holding just long enough for him to find Terry Glenn on a quick out route. Glenn caught it at the eighteen and turned upfield for nine yards, but it wasn't enough. Stopping at third-and-three from their own 19.
The stadium noise reached a crescendo as Bledsoe took the snap in shotgun. He looked right, pump-faked, then came back left—but John Abraham had beaten his man with a pure speed rush, ripping around the tackle like a missile. Abraham wrapped Bledsoe up at the fourteen, driving him into the turf for a five-yard sack. The quarterback got up slowly, shaking his head, while the Tigers' sideline went wild.
"That's the Abraham we've been hearing about," Michaels said. "First-round pick out of South Carolina showing." The Patriots punted from deep in their own territory, and the Tigers took over at the New England forty-three.
~~~
[Q1 — 8:15 | 1st & 10, NE 43 | Tigers 0, Patriots 0]
This time, the Tigers' offence moved more efficiently as Martin ripped off 7 yards on first down. Testaverde hit Ward on a comeback route for nine more. Another Martin run netted six, moving the chains yet again.
By the time they reached the Patriots' eighteen, it was second-and-four. Testaverde took the snap, dropped back, and saw Coles running a corner route toward the end zone. The rookie receiver had beaten his man—barely—and Testaverde didn't hesitate.
The ball sailed through the night air, a perfect spiral dropping over Coles' shoulder as he reached out—Lawyer Milloy came from nowhere, timing his hit perfectly, arriving at the exact moment the ball did. The collision sent both players sprawling, and the ball bounced incomplete.
"Great coverage by Milloy," Fouts exclaimed.
On third and fourth, Testaverde dumped it off to Martin in the flat. The running back caught it, made one man miss, but was tackled at the fifteen for Fourth down. John Hall trotted onto the field for a thirty-two-yard field goal attempt. The snap was clean, the hold perfect, and Hall's kick split the uprights with room to spare.
[Tigers 3, Patriots 0]
~~~
[Q1 — 3:47 | 1st & 10, NE 28 | Tigers 3, Patriots 0]
The Patriots' offence returned to the field, and this time Bledsoe looked sharper as he got to work. He hit Glenn on a quick slant for twelve yards. Then Troy Brown on a crossing route for nine more. The Patriots seemingly found their rhythm.
On first and ten from the Tigers' forty-one, Bledsoe dropped back and saw Ben Coates, his veteran tight end, running a seam route up the middle. The throw was perfect—a laser that arrived in stride—and Coates secured it cleanly at the twenty-eight.
But as he turned upfield, Julian Peterson arrived like a heat-seeking dog, wrapping him up and driving him to the turf at the twenty-five. Sixteen-yard gain sent the New England fans screaming in joy at the play. The Patriots pushed into the red zone, reaching the Tigers' seventeen before the drive stalled.
On third and six, Bledsoe dropped back and felt immediate pressure as Willie McGinest—the former Patriot defensive end—bull-rushed his replacement and collapsed the pocket. Bledsoe stepped up, tried to throw, but McGinest got a hand on it.
The ball wobbled, sailing high and short, falling incomplete. Adam Vinatieri came out for a thirty-four-yard field goal attempt, drilling it through to tie the game.
[Tigers 3, Patriots 3]
~~~
[Q2 — 14:08 | 1st & 10, NYT 25 | Tigers 3, Patriots 3]
The second quarter opened with both defences settling in, the offences forced to earn every yard. The Tigers' next drive featured more Curtis Martin—runs of five, four, and seven yards, grinding clock and moving chains. Testaverde mixed in short passes to keep the Patriots honest, but the drive stalled at midfield when Marcus Coleman was flagged for offensive pass interference.
The Patriots took over and immediately went to the air. Bledsoe hit former Tigers receiver Wayne Chrebet on a deep post for twenty-three yards. The wideout danced free, sending cornerback Aaron Glenn to the turf, then raced upfield for another gain before being chased down by free safety Damien Robinson.
They continued finding Troy Brown on a crossing route for another fifteen. The Patriots were inside the Tigers' thirty, and the momentum shifted. On first and ten from the twenty-six, Bledsoe dropped back, saw Coates breaking open again—but this time, Brian Urlacher read it. The linebacker dropped into coverage, timed his jump perfectly, and deflected the pass at the last second.
"Urlacher again!" Michaels exclaimed. "The rookie is everywhere tonight!"
On second down, Kevin Faulk took a draw play and found a crease, racing to the eighteen before Victor Green brought him down. Third and two, the Patriots went back to the run—Faulk up the middle—
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To Be Continued...