<p>The New England Patriots weren't always a NFL powerhouse. Far from it.</p> <p>But for many years they have stretched the rules for the sake of winning. And that started with the infamous "snow plow game."</p> <p>In 1981, the Patriots were 2-14 and the only team to lose to the lowly Baltimore Colts which they did twice and ended the season with a nine-game losing streak.</p>