NBC Sunday Night Football
San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots
S2 • E3 Sep 16, 2007
What was advertised as a rematch from the 2006 AFC Playoffs before the 2007 season began suddenly became the most-discussed and watched game in recent NFL memory following the New England Patriots' 38-14 triumph over the New York Jets a week earlier. During that game a video camera was seized from the Patriots' sidelines and examined at NFL offices; the league determined the Patriots were videotaping opposing coaches giving signals to players during the game from areas of the sidelines where such videotaping was forbidden; the league fined the Patriots $250,000, fined Bill Belichick $500,000, forfeited a first-round draft pick from the Patriots, and ordered the team to turn over archives of sideline video and related files and notes from years past. These were examined by the league and destroyed, and national media attacked the Patriots for "cheating" although closer examination of the controversy indicated no actual cheating but a brash misinterpretation of videotaping rules. The controversy led to a renewed ferocity from the Patriots' players as they rallied around their coach as well as questions about NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, whose handling of the controversy was widely praised but also drew some detailed criticism. The game itself was a showdown between the San Diego Chargers and their MVP running back Ladanian Tomlinson against the three-time Superbowl champion Patriots, who had acquired several big-name free agents, none with as spectacular an impact as receiver Randy Moss, an impact the Patriots were prepared to use with devastating effect on the Chargers' defense.
