The snow plow, it's a John Deere 314.Today was the 25th anniversary of the “Snow Plow Game” in which prison work release inmate Mark Henderson cleared the snow and ice from a spot on the astro turf field at Schaeffer Stadium that was needed for the Patriots kicker Jon Smith to kick a game winning field goal against the Miami Dolphins. It was the only score of the game. And believe it or not it wasn’t against any NFL rule to use the snow thrower. After the season Miami coach Don Shula went to the competition committee and had the rule changed.

Also two years ago on this date, Tom Brady was named Sports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year.

And in 2004 the Patriots clinched the AFC East with a 35-28 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium.