Wes Welker Penalized for Snow Angel

As the NFL's crackdown on players celebrating continues, New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker got the season's first penalty for making a snow angel.

It's a blizzard in New England today, and after Welker scored on an 11-yard touchdown pass late in the second quarter, he decided to take advantage of the conditions for his celebration: He hopped on the ground, got on his back and made an angel. His teammates looked amused, but the officials didn't: The Patriots were assessed 15 yards on ensuing kickoff for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Welker isn't the first Patriot to make a snow angel; long snapper Lonnie Paxton famously did one when the Patriots beat the Raiders in the 2001 playoffs.

The Cardinals didn't have nearly as much fun in the snow as the Patriots; New England won 47-7.

NFLs Brutal Weather Games

LaMont Jordan and the Patriots romped over the Cardinals 47-7 on a snowy day in Foxborough, but it didn't compare to some of the other awful conditions through the years. Take a look at past NFL classics that were played in abominable weather.

Winslow Townson, AP

'Tuck Rule Game' - Patriots vs. Raiders - Jan. 19, 2002
The game became infamous for the play that spawned the "Tuck Rule" after Tom Brady's fumble was reviewed and ruled an incomplete pass. The Patriots would go on to defeat the Raiders 16-13 and win the playoff game in 20-degree temperatures and several inches of snow.

Ezra Shaw, Getty Images

'Frozen in Time' - Chargers vs. Bengals - Jan. 10, 1982
Behind the fearsome pass rush of Eddie Edwards and the leadership of quarterback Ken Anderson, Cincinnati played through the minus-59 wind chill to become the first Bengals team to ever go to the Super Bowl.

Wally McNamee, Corbis

'Mud Bowl' - Vikings vs. Rams - Dec. 26, 1977
A torrential rainstorm caused mucky conditions at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Both teams struggled mightily on offense over a long stretch, but the Vikings eventually came away with a 14-7 divisional playoff victory led by running back Chuck Foreman's 101 rushing yards.

George Long, WireImage

'Snow Plow Game' - Dolphins vs. Patriots - Dec. 12, 1982
In what remains one of the strangest game endings in history, Mark Henderson, a convict on work release, used his snow plow to clear an area where Patriots' John Smith booted the game-winning field goal. The Patriots won the game 3-0, despite the protests from Miami coach Don Shula.

Mike Kullen, AP

'Ice Bowl I' - Packers vs. Cowboys - Dec. 31, 1967
Packers quarterback Bart Starr (15) scored with 13 seconds left to beat the Cowboys 21-17 and wrap up a third straight NFL Championship for Green Bay. A total of 50,861 fans attended the coldest game in league history, in which the kickoff temperature was 13 below zero with a wind chill of minus 48.

'Frozen Fury' - Packers vs. Panthers - Jan. 12, 1997
Reggie White and the Packers welcomed Carolina to single-digit temperatures at Lambeau Field for the NFC Championship Game. Green Bay took advantage of the conditions to win 30-13 and end a Super Bowl drought that stretched back to the original Ice Bowl 29 years earlier.

John Doman / St Paul Pioneer Press / MCT

'Cleveland Whiteout' - Bills vs. Browns - Dec. 16, 2007
With wind gusts up to 40 mph blowing, it was literally snowing sideways at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Derek Anderson, seen here taking a dive, only managed 137 passing yards but still got to celebrate a win over the Bills in the first 8-0 game since 1929.

Tony Dejak, AP

'Sloppy Steel City' - Steelers vs. Dolphins - Nov. 27, 2007
It was a heinous showing at Heinz Field on Monday Night Football. The turf couldn't handle the heavy downpour and neither could the offenses, as both teams didn't score for over 59 minutes of the game. Pittsburgh won 3-0 on a field goal in the lowest scoring Monday Night Football game.

Gregory Shamus, Getty Images

'Fans' Ice Attack' - Giants vs. Chargers - Dec. 23, 1995
Snowball fun turned dangerous when fans pummeled players, coaches, officials and photographers with chunks of ice in the Chargers' 27-17 win over the Giants at the Meadowlands. Officials threatened to call the game and fans faced a variety of charges after the barrage.

Bil Kostroun, AP