A former employee of the New England Patriots' analytics department has surfaced a claim that the team, under the direction of head coach Bill Belichick, used the Gillette Stadium jumbotron to create an optical illusion intended to disrupt opposing kickers. The tactic allegedly involved displaying a reverse view of the game on the stadium's video board, which would superimpose a second set of yellow goal posts behind the actual ones.
The allegation was posted on X by Ryan Paganetti, who stated he worked in analytics for the Raiders, Jaguars, and Eagles. Paganetti claims to have reviewed over a decade of broadcast footage and found dozens of instances where this tactic appeared during opposing team's field goal attempts at Gillette Stadium. He noted that in 52 Patriots field goal attempts reviewed, the illusion was present zero times.
"No detail was too small, and no possible edge was left unexplored," Paganetti wrote, describing the alleged tactic as a "diabolically clever piece of Patriots gamesmanship."
Paganetti presented a 2012 AFC Championship game miss by Baltimore Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff as a potential example. The claim has garnered significant attention online, with millions of views on Paganetti's post.
This alleged tactic is distinct from previous controversies such as Spygate and Deflategate, which involved more direct violations of NFL rules. Instead, it is framed as an aggressive use of home-field advantage. Similar tactics have been noted in other sports venues, including college football, where Oklahoma State reportedly experimented with its scoreboard in 2020.
The Patriots organization has not commented on the claim, and it remains unconfirmed. The claim has added to the lore surrounding the Patriots' dynasty years, which ran from 2001 to 2019.