Box Score Bank: Carroll's Last Stand

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On Sunday in Seattle, the Patriots will face off with Pete Carroll for the first time since he was fired by the Krafts. So let's Box Score Bank-it back to Carroll's last game as HC of the NWP.

January 2, 2000

"Smooth" by Santana (featuring Rob Thomas) was the No. 1 song in America. The Green Mile was atop the box office. The night before Tom Brady had played the last game of his college career, leading Michigan to a 35-34 OT victory over Alabama in the Orange Bowl.

And down at old Foxboro Stadium, the Pats were sending their coach out in stylewith a beat down of the Baltimore Ravens.

FINAL SCORE: Patriots 20, Ravens 3

The Pats offense on this afternoon was about as bland as Carroll's coaching tenure. They scored on two field goals (one of the 25-yard variety) and a one-yard touchdown pass from Drew Bledsoe to Mighty Mike Bartrum.

Bledsoe threw for 108 yards; Terry Allen was the leading rusher with 26 yards.

However, as we'll all be reminded on Sunday, Pete Carroll knows how to coach himself some defense, and he had the Pats 'D' rolling against the Ravens.

They picked up seven sacks on Tony Banks and Hall of Famer Stoney Case, including two each by Henry Thomas and Ted Johnson. Lawyer Milloy had a sack AND an interceptionone of two for the Pats. And the highlight of the day came in the fourth quarter, when Chad Eaton picked up a fumbled and rambled 23 yards for the game-sealing score.

With the win, the Pats finished with a record of 8-8.

A fitting end to a mediocre era.

Rich can be reached at rlevine@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Rich on Twitter at http:twitter.comrich_levine

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