In those hyper-charged minutes, lower league Bristol City not only claimed back a goal but went into a 3-1 lead - and the tie wasn't a quarter of the way through.
All week the rumour mill had been broadcasting that Adams' future as Coventry boss would be on the line if his off-form side went out.
In the end they survived to a replay through a late goal from Stern John, who had replaced Dele Adebola at half-time.
All the signs had pointed to an upset as Bristol were unbeaten for two months and the Sky Blues losers in four of their last five.
Adams handed Ben Turner his first senior game in the back four as he looked to the know-how of his attack to power through a home defence with its own problems.
It began well enough with Colin Cameron cutting past a static Bristol midfield to whip an Adebola flick on past keeper Adriano Basso.
Coventry's 3,000 fans were ecstatic but then it all unravelled like a ball of wool as City fought back with great determination.
Inside a minute they were level. Phil Jevons spotted a gap in Coventry's defence and from 25 yards pinpointed a pass to Steve Brooker's right foot. The strike to the bottom left-hand corner of Luke Steele's net was textbook.
Three minutes later Coventry's competitive veteran Robert Page was looking on in despair as Alex Russell and Brooker shredded his defence for Enoch Showunmi to flick the League One side in front with a touch off the post.
Bristol were now in full flow and could not be denied. Another three minutes on and they scored again as Showunmi got in behind Page to pick out Jevons whose header gave the keeper no chance.
Defending by both sides was so disorganised that further goals looked a certainty, although Coventry tightened up when Andrew Whing was moved from left-back to his familiar right-back berth.
The next goal was going to be vital and Brooker so nearly got it when he was within inches of meeting a cross from Scott Murray.
But it was Leon McKenzie who was to score to put Coventry back into the tie, starting a raid on the left and finishing it in the middle when he swivelled ten yards out to steer home a pass from Michael Doyle.
The second half saw Stern John replacing Adebola and when McKenzie cut back an inviting byline ball on 81 minutes, the substitute was in the right place to sweep home the equaliser.