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Super Bowl XXXVI



 
 
Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football
American football

American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play....
 game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome

The Louisiana Superdome, often informally referred to simply as the Superdome, The Dome or the New Orleans Superdome is a large, multi-purpose sports and exhibition facility located in the Central Business District, New Orleans of New Orleans, Louisiana....
 in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana. New Orleans is the center of the New Orleans metropolitan area metropolitan area, the largest metro area in the state....
 to decide the National Football League
National Football League

The National Football League is the Major North American professional sports leagues American football Sports league in the United States. It is an unincorporated 501#501.28c.29.286.29 association controlled by its members....
 (NFL) champion following the 2001 regular season
2001 NFL season

The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999 NFL season, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day....
. The American Football Conference
American Football Conference

The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . The AFC was created after the NFL AFL-NFL Merger with the American Football League in early 1970....
 (AFC) champion New England Patriots
New England Patriots

The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats" by sports writers and fans, are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts, Massachusetts....
 (14–5) win their first Super Bowl
Super Bowl

In professional American football, the Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League . The game and its ancillary festivities constitute Super Bowl Sunday....
 by defeating the National Football Conference
National Football Conference

The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . The NFC was created after the league AFL-NFL Merger with the American Football League in 1970....
 (NFC) champion St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the NFC West of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
 (16–3), 20–17, as kicker Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri

Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in five Super Bowls, four with the Patriots and one with the Colts, winning four....
 made a game-winning 48-yard field goal as time expired. The Rams had been 14-point favorites to win the game, making the Patriots' victory one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history.

Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady
Tom Brady

Thomas Edward "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After playing college football at University of Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft....
, who completed 16 of 27 passes for 145 yards with a touchdown and marched his team down the field for the game winning score, was named Super Bowl MVP.

Due to the September 11 attacks and the NFL schedule being moved one week later, Super Bowl XXXVI was rescheduled from the original date of January 27 to February 3.






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Encyclopedia


Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football
American football

American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive team sport known for mixing strategy with physical play....
 game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome

The Louisiana Superdome, often informally referred to simply as the Superdome, The Dome or the New Orleans Superdome is a large, multi-purpose sports and exhibition facility located in the Central Business District, New Orleans of New Orleans, Louisiana....
 in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana. New Orleans is the center of the New Orleans metropolitan area metropolitan area, the largest metro area in the state....
 to decide the National Football League
National Football League

The National Football League is the Major North American professional sports leagues American football Sports league in the United States. It is an unincorporated 501#501.28c.29.286.29 association controlled by its members....
 (NFL) champion following the 2001 regular season
2001 NFL season

The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999 NFL season, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day....
. The American Football Conference
American Football Conference

The American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . The AFC was created after the NFL AFL-NFL Merger with the American Football League in early 1970....
 (AFC) champion New England Patriots
New England Patriots

The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats" by sports writers and fans, are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts, Massachusetts....
 (14–5) win their first Super Bowl
Super Bowl

In professional American football, the Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League . The game and its ancillary festivities constitute Super Bowl Sunday....
 by defeating the National Football Conference
National Football Conference

The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . The NFC was created after the league AFL-NFL Merger with the American Football League in 1970....
 (NFC) champion St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the NFC West of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
 (16–3), 20–17, as kicker Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri

Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in five Super Bowls, four with the Patriots and one with the Colts, winning four....
 made a game-winning 48-yard field goal as time expired. The Rams had been 14-point favorites to win the game, making the Patriots' victory one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history.

Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady
Tom Brady

Thomas Edward "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After playing college football at University of Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft....
, who completed 16 of 27 passes for 145 yards with a touchdown and marched his team down the field for the game winning score, was named Super Bowl MVP.

Due to the September 11 attacks and the NFL schedule being moved one week later, Super Bowl XXXVI was rescheduled from the original date of January 27 to February 3. On December 16, 2002, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated each subsequent Super Bowl a National Special Security Event
National Special Security Event

A National Special Security Event is a status declared by the United States Department of Homeland Security for certain events,usually because an event may seem like an attractive target for terrorists or assassins due to the event's visibility or political connection....
 (NSSE). By 2004, the league had restored the traditional pre-Super Bowl bye
Bye (sports)

A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a Player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing....
 week that had been abolished prior to the 2001 NFL season
2001 NFL season

The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999 NFL season, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day....
, to reduce the possibility of the Super Bowl being unexpectedly delayed again.

Background


St. Louis Rams

After their Super Bowl winning 1999 season, the Rams offense again dominated the league, leading the NFL in passing, scoring, and total yards. However, they had one of the worst defenses in the league, ranking second to last in points allowed. This, along with injury problems and a coaching change (Super Bowl winning coach Dick Vermeil
Dick Vermeil

Richard Albert "Dick" Vermeil is a former United States head coach for the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles , St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs ....
 left the team and was replaced by Mike Martz
Mike Martz

Mike Martz was most recently the offensive coordinator for the National Football League's San Francisco 49ers.Martz is known for creating complicated offensive schemes, particularly in the passing game....
), caused them to slip to a 10–6 record in 2000 and be eliminated in the wild card round of the playoffs.

However, after signing several new defensive players in the offseason, the Rams finished the 2001 season with the NFL's best regular season record at 14–2, and advanced to their second Super Bowl appearance in the last 3 seasons. In 2001, they led the league in both total offensive yards (6,930) and scoring (503). This was their third consecutive season with over 500 points, an NFL record. On defense, they only allowed 271 points, improving their 31st ranking from last season to 7th.

Their offense, nicknamed "The Greatest Show on Turf," is widely considered one of the best in NFL history. There seemed to be an endless amount of offensive talent at every position. Quarterback Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner

Kurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994....
 was awarded the NFL Most Valuable Player Award
NFL Most Valuable Player Award

The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award is given by various entities, most notably the Associated Press , to the player who is considered most valuable in the league....
 after throwing for 4,830 yards and 36 touchdowns, with 22 interceptions, and earning a league high 101.4 passer rating
Passer rating

Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football....
. Wide receivers Torry Holt
Torry Holt

Torrance "Torry" Jabar Holt nicknamed "Big Game" is an NFL wide receiver who currently plays for the St. Louis Rams. He is the older brother of current New Orleans Saints Defensive back, Terrence Holt....
 and Isaac Bruce
Isaac Bruce

Isaac Isidore Bruce is an American football wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the St....
 each amassed over 1,100 receiving yards, combining for 142 receptions, 2,469 yards, and 13 touchdowns. Wide receiver Ricky Proehl
Ricky Proehl

Richard Scott Proehl is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He currently lives in Greensboro, North Carolina and started Proehlific Park, also in Greensboro....
 caught 40 passes for 563 yards and 5 touchdowns. Tight end Ernie Conwell
Ernie Conwell

Ernest Harold Conwell is a former American football tight end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft....
 caught 38 passes for 431 yards and 4 touchdowns. Wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim
Az-Zahir Hakim

Az-Zahir Ali Hakim is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft....
 caught 39 passes for 374 yards, and added another 333 yards returning punts.

Running back Marshall Faulk
Marshall Faulk

Marshall William Faulk is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League. He is currently an analyst for NFL Total Access on the NFL Network....
 won NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award
NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award

The NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award is given annually by the Associated Press to the offense player of the National Football League believed to have had the most outstanding season....
 for the third year in a row. He rushed for 1,382 yards, caught 83 passes for 765 yards, scored 21 touchdowns, and became the first NFL player ever to gain more than 2,000 combined rushing and receiving yards for 4 consecutive seasons. Running back Trung Canidate
Trung Canidate

Trung Jered Canidate is a former American football running back in the National Football League. Drafted out of University of Arizona, Canidate was selected with the 31st overall pick of the 2000 NFL Draft by the St....
 was also a major contributor, rushing for 441 yards, catching 17 passes for 154 yards, returning kickoffs for 748 yards, and scoring 6 touchdowns. Up front, their offensive line was led by guard Adam Timmerman
Adam Timmerman

Adam Larry Timmerman is a former American football Guard in the National Football League. He played for the Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Rams between 1995 and 2006....
 and offensive tackle Orlando Pace
Orlando Pace

Orlando Lamar Pace is an American football offensive tackle for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Rams first overall in the 1997 NFL Draft....
, who was selected to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl

In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the AFL-NFL Merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, matching players in the American Football Conference against those in the National Football Conference ....
 for the third year in a row.

The Rams also had a solid defense, ranking third in the league in fewest yards allowed (4,733). The line was anchored by Pro Bowl defensive end Leonard Little
Leonard Little

Leonard Antonio Little is an American football defensive end for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Rams in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft....
, who led the team with 14.5 sacks and recovered a fumble, and defensive end Grant Wistrom
Grant Wistrom

Grant Alden Wistrom, , is a former American Football defensive end who played for the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks during his 9 year career....
, who recorded 9 sacks, 2 interceptions, and 1 fumble recovery. Behind them, the Rams linebacking core was led by London Fletcher
London Fletcher

London Levi Fletcher-Baker is an American football linebacker who currently plays for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League....
, who had 4.5 sacks and 2 interceptions. St. Louis also had an outstanding secondary, led by Dre' Bly (6 interceptions, 150 return yards, and 2 touchdowns), Pro Bowler Aeneas Williams
Aeneas Williams

Aeneas Demetrius Williams is a former American football cornerback and free safety, who played with the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams....
 (4 interceptions, 69 return yards, 2 touchdowns), and Dexter McCleon
Dexter McCleon

Dexter Keith McCleon is an American football safety who currently is a free agent of the National Football League. He also played for the St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs in his nine year career that started in 1997....
 (4 interceptions, 66 yards).

New England Patriots

The Patriots' chances for a Super Bowl appearance seemed to be doomed barely after the season had begun. Before the season even started, quarterbacks coach Dick Rehbein
Dick Rehbein

Dick Rehbein was a former American football coach in the National Football League....
 died of a heart attack. The Patriots lost their first two games. In the second loss, at home to the New York Jets
New York Jets

The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. They are members of the AFC East of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe
Drew Bledsoe

Drew McQueen Bledsoe is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League, best known as the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots from 1993 New England Patriots season-2001 New England Patriots season....
 suffered a sheared blood vessel on a hit by Jet Mo Lewis
Mo Lewis

Morris "Mo" C. Lewis is a former American football player who played linebacker for the New York Jets from 1991 until 2003. He was a star at the University of Georgia....
 that would cause him to miss several weeks. His replacement was second-year quarterback Tom Brady
Tom Brady

Thomas Edward "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After playing college football at University of Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft....
, a sixth-round draft pick who had thrown only 3 passes in 2000. In addition to this, during the fourth game of the year, wide receiver Terry Glenn
Terry Glenn

Terry Tyree Glenn is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New England Patriots seventh overall in the 1996 NFL Draft....
, their leading receiver in 2000, was benched due to off the field problems.

Upon being designated the starting quarterback, Brady enjoyed immediate success in the regular season, leading New England to an 11-5 record. He completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 2,843 yards and 18 touchdowns with 12 interceptions and was selected to the Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl

In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the AFL-NFL Merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, matching players in the American Football Conference against those in the National Football Conference ....
. Veteran Pro Bowl wide receiver Troy Brown
Troy Brown

Troy Fitzgerald Brown is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft....
 was the main receiving threat, recording 101 receptions for 1,199 yards and 5 touchdowns, while also adding another 413 yards and 2 touchdowns returning punts. Wide receiver David Patten
David Patten

David Patten is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indiana Firebirds as a street free agent in 1996....
 also was productive, catching 51 passes for 749 yards and 4 touchdowns. Running back Antowain Smith
Antowain Smith

Antowain Drurell Smith is a former American Football running back in the National Football League who played 9 NFL seasons, most notably with the New England Patriots....
 provided the team with a stable rushing game, rushing for 1,157 yards, catching 19 passes for 192 yards, and scoring 13 touchdowns.

New England was also excellent on defense as well. Up front, linemen Bobby Hamilton
Bobby Hamilton (football player)

Bobby Hamilton is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1994....
 (7 sacks, 1 fumble recovery), and rookie Richard Seymour
Richard Seymour

Richard Vershaun Seymour is an American football defensive lineman for the New England Patriots of the National Football League....
 excelled at pressuring quarterbacks and stuffing the run. Behind them, the Patriots had 3 outstanding linebackers: Mike Vrabel
Mike Vrabel

Michael George Vrabel is an American football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft....
 (2 interceptions, 3 sacks), Willie McGinest
Willie McGinest

William Lee "Willie" McGinest, Jr, , is an American football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns....
 (5 sacks), and Tedy Bruschi
Tedy Bruschi

Tedy Lacap Bruschi is an American football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft....
 (2 interceptions). The secondary also featured outstanding talent such as defensive back Otis Smith
Otis Smith (football)

Otis Smith is a former American football cornerback. He attended East Jefferson High School in the late 1980's. During his playing career he was known by introducing himself as "O-T-I-S"...
, who led the team with 5 interceptions for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns. Cornerback Ty Law
Ty Law

Tajuan "Ty" Law is an American football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft....
 intercepted 3 passes, returning them for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns. Safety Lawyer Milloy
Lawyer Milloy

Lawyer Milloy is an American football Safety who currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. Milloy was a member of the Patriots Super Bowl XXXVI championship team ....
 had 2 interceptions during the season, and was selected along with Law to represent the New England defense in the Pro Bowl.

Prior to the Super Bowl the Patriots hosted the Rams in a nationally televised ESPN Sunday night regular-season game on November 18th. Although the Patriots jumped out to an early lead, a critical turnover before the end of the first half that led to a Rams score proved costly. In the second half, the Rams wore New England down and won 24-17. The Rams would lose four of their defensive players with injuries. Indeed, the Patriots' physical play led Rams coach Mike Martz to say after the game that the Patriots were "a Super Bowl-caliber team." After the loss, the Patriots dropped to 5-5, but would not lose again the rest of the season. Coincidentlly, this was the third time straight that the New England Patriots went to the Super Bowl at Louisiana until they went to the Super Bowl two years later at Houston, Texas.

Playoffs

The Rams started out their postseason with a 45–17 win over the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the NFC North of the National Football Conference in the National Football League and are the third-oldest franchise in the NFL....
 in the divisional round. Expected to be a close shootout between Warner and Packers quarterback Brett Favre
Brett Favre

Brett Lorenzo Favre is a retired American football quarterback of the National Football League . He was the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers between the 1992 Green Bay Packers season and 2007 Green Bay Packers season NFL seasons and the New York Jets in 2008....
, the Rams defense dominated the Packers by intercepting a playoff record 6 passes from Favre and returning 3 of them for touchdowns. The Rams offense also racked up 24 points on 2 touchdown passes by Warner, a touchdown run by Faulk, and a field goal by Jeff Wilkins
Jeff Wilkins

For the American basketball player, see Jeff Wilkins .Jeffrey Allen Wilkins nicknamed "Money" is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and St Louis Rams....
, helping St. Louis put the game away by the end of the third quarter.

One week later, the Rams advanced to the Super Bowl with a 29–24 win over the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. They are members of the NFC East of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
 in the NFC championship game. Philadelphia managed to build a 17–13 halftime lead, but St. Louis scored 16 consecutive second half points (2 touchdown runs by Faulk and a Wilkins field goal) to earn the win. Warner finished the game with 22 of 33 pass completions for 212 yards and a touchdown, with no interceptions, while Faulk rushed for 159 yards and 2 touchdowns.

In the AFC, the Patriots defeated the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders

The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in the city of Oakland, California. They currently play in the AFC West of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
 16–13 in a driving New England
New England

New England is a region of the United States located in the northeastern corner of the country, bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Canada and New York State, and consisting of the modern U.S....
 snowstorm. The signature moment of the game was a controversial ruling by referee Walt Coleman
Walt Coleman

Walt Coleman is an American football official in the National Football League since the 1989 NFL season. He wears uniform number 65....
 in the fourth quarter that would caused this game to commonly be known as the "tuck game". With the Patriots trailing the Raiders 13-10 with under two minutes left in regulation and out of time outs, Brady was sacked by defensive back Charles Woodson
Charles Woodson

Charles Woodson is an American football cornerback for the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at the University of Michigan for the Michigan Wolverines....
, and appeared to fumble the ball, which was recovered by linebacker Greg Biekert
Greg Biekert

Greg Biekert is a former National Football League linebacker. Biekert attended Longs Peak Middle School and Longmont High School in Longmont, Colorado where he lettered in football....
. After reviewing the play using instant replay
Instant replay

Instant replay is a technology that allows broadcast of a previously occuring event using recorded video. This is most commonly used in sports; by on television to replay previous plays for the viewer, often from other angles than shown in the main broadcast, and also on video screens at live events....
, Coleman reversed the call on the field pursuant to the "tuck rule
Tuck rule

The tuck rule is a rule in American football, currently used only by the National Football League .Ordinarily, if the quarterback drops or loses the football while he is bringing the ball forward in a forward pass, and the ball touches the ground, it is considered an incomplete pass....
", where a ball is ruled an incomplete pass after the quarterback starts any forward motion. Brady then led his team to the Raiders 29-yard line, where kicker Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri

Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in five Super Bowls, four with the Patriots and one with the Colts, winning four....
 made a 45-yard field goal which barely cleared the crossbar to send the game into overtime. The Patriots won the toss in overtime and would win on another Vinatieri field goal from 23 yards, without Oakland regaining possession.

In the AFC title game, the Patriots traveled to Heinz Field
Heinz Field

Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Panthers football American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively....
 to face the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania. They are currently a member of the AFC North of the American Football Conference in the National Football League) ....
, who were coming off a 27-10 win over the previous season's Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They compete in the AFC North of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. New England scored first with a 55-yard punt return touchdown by Brown, but in the second quarter, Brady was knocked out of the game with a sprained ankle. He would be replaced by Drew Bledsoe in Bledsoe's first game action since being injured back in September. Upon entering the game, Bledsoe quickly moved the Patriots down the field and threw an 11-yard pass to Patten to give the Patriots a 14-3 halftime lead.

Early in the second half, the Steelers moved from their own 32 to the New England 16, where they lined up for a field goal by Kris Brown
Kris Brown

Kristopher Clayton Brown is an American football placekicker for the Houston Texans in the National Football League.He was originally drafted in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers....
. However, Brandon Mitchell blocked the kick, Troy Brown picked up the ball at the 40 and ran 11 yards before lateraling to Antwaan Harris, who took it 49 yards for the score that made it 21-3. Although Pittsburgh scored two third quarter touchdowns to come within 21-17, the Patriots ended the comeback attempt by scoring a field goal in the fourth quarter and intercepting 2 passes from Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart
Kordell Stewart

Kordell Stewart, nicknamed "Slash" is an United States NFL quarterback who most recently played for the Baltimore Ravens. Stewart attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and was drafted 60th in the 1995 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers....
 in the final 3 minutes of the game.

Effect of the September 11, 2001 attacks

Preparations for Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans were planned ever since the city was awarded the game during the NFL's October 1998
1998 NFL season

The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville....
 meetings. However, the September 11, 2001 attacks led the league to move both the playoffs and the Super Bowl one week back. Rescheduling the game from January 27 to February 3 proved extraordinarily difficult. In addition to rescheduling the game itself, all related events and activities had to be accommodated. This marked the first time in NFL history that the Super Bowl was played in the month of February; however, almost all subsequent Super Bowls (excluding Super Bowl XXXVII
Super Bowl XXXVII

Super Bowl XXXVII was an American football game played on January 26, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 2002 NFL season....
) would be played in February afterwards.

Historically, the NFL made allowance for an open weekend between the Conference Championship
NFL playoffs

The National Football League playoffs are a single-elimination tournament held at the end of the 16-game regular season to determine the NFL champion....
 games and the Super Bowl
Super Bowl

In professional American football, the Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League . The game and its ancillary festivities constitute Super Bowl Sunday....
. However, there wasn't one scheduled for 2001, due to the NFL's decision beginning in the 1999 season to move the opening week of games to the weekend after Labor Day
Labor Day

Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September . The holiday originated in 1882 as the Central Labor Union sought to create "a day off for the working citizens"....
. Because the date of the Super Bowl had been set through 2003, the bye week before the Super Bowl would not return until 2004.

The NFL and New Orleans officials worked diligently to put together a deal to reschedule the game. The league considered a number of options, including shortening the regular season, shortening the playoffs, condensing the three playoff rounds in two weeks, and moving the game to the Rose Bowl
Rose Bowl (stadium)

The Rose Bowl is an outdoor American football stadium in Pasadena, California, near Los Angeles, California. The stadium is the site of the annual college football bowl game, the Rose Bowl , held at the beginning of the New Year....
 in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California

Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, California, United States. Famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl Game American football game and the Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home of many leading scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet Propulsion Laboratory ,...
. The decision was eventually made to make every effort to maintain a full regular season and playoff, and push the Super Bowl back to February 3rd.

One of the most significant logistical challenges was accommodating the National Automobile Dealers Association
National Automobile Dealers Association

The National Automobile Dealers Assocation, founded in 1917, represents more than 19,700 new car and truck dealers, both domestic and international, with more than 43,000 separate Franchisings....
 Convention
Convention (meeting)

A convention, in the sense of a meeting, is a gathering of individuals who meet at a arid place and time in order to discuss or engage in some common interest....
, which was originally slated to occupy the Superdome on February 3. On October 3, 2001, the NFL announced their intentions to hold the game on February 3, even though no agreement was in hand with NADA. Several weeks later, the three parties reached an agreement, where the NADA would move their convention's date to the original Super Bowl week in exchange for financial and other considerations, including promotional spots shown during selected regular season NFL games. This agreement allowed the NFL to move the game back to February 3rd, and would also accommodate a full and uncondensed playoff tournament.

Initially, the original logo for Super Bowl XXXVI was to have a style that reflected the host city. The original logo was distributed on some memorabilia items during 2001. However, after the 9/11 attacks, a new logo reflecting American pride was designed, featuring the shape of the 48 contiguous states (see the top of this article).

Venue

This was the last Super Bowl played on AstroTurf
AstroTurf

AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Though the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a genericized trademark of any kind of artificial turf....
, as NFL stadiums were starting to phase out that specific type of turf in favor of natural grass
Grass

Grass is the common word that generally describes monocotyledonous green plants. The family Poaceae are the "true grasses" and include most plants grown as grains, for pasture, and for lawns ....
 or other surfaces that more closely simulate grass, such as FieldTurf
FieldTurf

FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surfaces. FieldTurf surfaces are manufactured and installed by FieldTurf Tarkett, a division of Tarkett Inc., a Peachtree City, GA-based company....
.

Prior to Super Bowl XXXVI, Superdome officials considered bringing in natural grass for the game. The system would use large trays of grass grown and cultivated outdoors that would be brought inside to be placed on the field of play. A similar system had been used in the past at the Silverdome
Silverdome

The Silverdome is an indoor sporting and entertainment venue located in Launceston, Tasmania. It was built in 1984. It was originally built as a velodrome....
 during the 1994 World Cup, and was also briefly used at Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium

Giants Stadium is a stadium located in East Rutherford, New Jersey in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. It primarily serves as the home stadium for the New York Giants and New York Jets American football teams of the National Football League, and the Red Bull New York association football team of Major League Soccer....
. However, cost and quality concerns prompted stadium and league officials to abandon the project.

Television and entertainment

The game was broadcast in the United States
United States

The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...
 by FOX
Fox Broadcasting Company

The Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox and stylized as FOX, is an United States television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation....
 television, with the broadcast team of play-by-play announcer
Play-by-play

Play-by-play, in broadcasting, is a North American term that means the reporting of a sporting event with a voiceover describing the details of the game in progress....
 Pat Summerall
Pat Summerall

George Allen "Pat" Summerall is a former American football player and television sportscaster, having worked at CBS Sports, NFL on FOX, and ESPN Sunday Night Football....
 and color commentator
Color commentator

A color commentator, sometimes known as a color analyst, is a member of the broadcasting team for a sports event who assists the play-by-play announcer by filling in any time when play is not in progress....
 John Madden. This was Summerall's 26th and (to date) final Super Bowl broadcast on television or radio, and his final telecast with Madden; the two had been paired since 1981
1981 NFL season

The 1981 NFL season was the 62nd regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XVI when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Cincinnati Bengals....
 (dating back to their days at CBS
NFL on CBS

The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports....
). James Brown
James Brown (TV personality)

James Brown , commonly called "J.B.", is an United States of America sports announcer known for being the host of the Fox Broadcasting Company's National Football League Pre-game show FOX NFL Sunday....
 hosted all the events with help from his then-fellow FOX NFL Sunday
FOX NFL Sunday

Ford Drive One FOX NFL Sunday is the pregame show for the Television program NFL on FOX. The program is broadcast on Fox television affiliates nationwide....
 cast members Terry Bradshaw
Terry Bradshaw

Terry Paxton Bradshaw is a former American football quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League. He is currently a football analyst and co-host of FOX NFL Sunday....
, Howie Long
Howie Long

Howard Michael "Howie" Long is a former United States American football player who played as a defensive team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000 NFL season....
 and Cris Collinsworth
Cris Collinsworth

Anthony Cris Collinsworth was a former American football player and is currently a television sportscaster....
.

The overall theme of the Super Bowl entertainment was a celebration of the freedom and spirit of America. The confetti was red, white, and blue. That color scheme would go on to be used for every Super Bowl from that point on.

Pregame ceremonies

Before the game, an ensemble of singers Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow is an United States singer-songwriter, musician, arrangement, record producer and conducting, best known for such recordings as "I Write the Songs", "Mandy ", "Weekend in New England" and "Copacabana "....
, Yolanda Adams
Yolanda Adams

Yolanda Adams is a Grammy Awards and Dove Awards-award winning United States Gospel music singer and radio show Host ....
, James Ingram
James Ingram

James Ingram is an United States Soul music musician. He is best-known as a vocalist. He is also a self-taught musician who plays piano, guitar, bass guitar, Drum kit and synthesizer....
, Wynonna and Patti LaBelle
Patti LaBelle

Patricia Louise Holte , best known by her stage name of Patti LaBelle, is an American rhythm and blues and soul music singer-songwriter and actor....
 performed Manilow's song "Let Freedom Ring."

In a video segment, past and present NFL players read excerpts from the Declaration of Independence. Former U.S. presidents Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford

Gerald Rudolph Ford, Jr. was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the List of Vice Presidents of the United States Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974....
, Jimmy Carter
Jimmy Carter

James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. served as the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States from 1977 to 1981 and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize....
, George H. W. Bush
George H. W. Bush

George Herbert Walker Bush served as the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States from 1989 to 1993. Bush held a variety of political positions prior to his presidency, including Vice President of the United States in the administration of Ronald Reagan and Director of Central Intelligence under Gerald R....
, and Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton

William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton served as the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He was the fifteenth Democrat elected to that office....
 appeared in another videotaped segment and recited some of the speeches by Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States. He successfully led the country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery....
. Because Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan

Ronald Wilson Reagan was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States and the 33rd Governor of California . Born in Illinois, Reagan moved to Los Angeles, California in the 1930s, where he was an actor, president of the Screen Actors Guild , and a spokesman for General Electric ....
 had Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease , also called Alzheimer disease, Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type or simply Alzheimer's, is the most common form of dementia....
, his wife Nancy
Nancy Reagan

Nancy Davis Reagan is the widow of former President of the United States Ronald Reagan and served as an influential First Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989....
 appeared on the segment instead.

Singers Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige

Mary Jane Blige is a nine-time Grammy Award-winning and Golden Globe-nominated American R&B music singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor who has sold more than forty eight million albums worldwide....
 and Marc Anthony
Marc Anthony

Marc Anthony is an American Grammy award-winning, Latin Grammy award-winning, and Premio Lo Nuestro award winning singer/songwriter/actor. He is best known for his salsa music and ballads and for his wide-ranging tenor vocals....
, along with the Boston Pops Orchestra
Boston Pops Orchestra

The Boston Pops Orchestra was founded in 1885 as a subsection of the Boston Symphony Orchestra , founded four years earlier. Careful examination of the rosters of ?Pops orchestra" or ?Festival" orchestras, which are associated with a co-resident symphony orchestra in the same community, shows that the principal players of a ?pops" ensemble us...
, performed "America the Beautiful
America the Beautiful

"America the Beautiful" is an United States patriotic song. The words are by Katharine Lee Bates and the music by Samuel A. Ward. Bates originally wrote the words as a poem, first published in 1895....
". Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney

Sir James Paul McCartney Member of the Order of the British Empire is a multiple Grammy Award-winning England singer-songwriter, poet, composer, multi-instrumentalist, entrepreneur, record producer, film producer, Painting, and Animal rights....
 then sang his 9/11 tribute song "Freedom." Afterwards, singer Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey is an United States singer-songwriter, record producer and actress. She made her recording debut in 1990 under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, and became the first recording artist to have her first five singles top the U.S....
, accompanied by the Boston Pops Orchestra, performed the national anthem.

George H. W. Bush became the first president, past or present, to participate in a Super Bowl coin toss
Coin flipping

Coin flipping or coin tossing is the practice of throwing a coin in the air to resolve a dispute between two parties or otherwise choose between two alternatives....
 in person (Ronald Reagan participated in the Super Bowl XIX
Super Bowl XIX

Super Bowl XIX was an American football game played on January 20, 1985 at Stanford Stadium, on the campus of Stanford University in Stanford, California, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1984 NFL season....
 coin toss via satellite from the White House
White House

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., it was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the late Georgian architecture and has been the executive residence of every U.S....
 in 1985). Bush was joined by hall of fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, Ohio, United States, on September 7 1963 with 17 charter inductees....
 and former Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team in the National Football Conference East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League ....
 quarterback Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach

Roger Thomas Staubach, also known as Roger the Dodger, Captain Comeback, and Captain America, is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979....
, who played at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy

The United States Naval Academy is an undergraduate college in Annapolis, Maryland, United States, that educates and commissions officers of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps....
 and was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl VI
Super Bowl VI

Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1971 NFL season....
, played 30 years prior at New Orleans' Tulane Stadium
Tulane Stadium

Tulane Stadium was an outdoor American football stadium located in New Orleans, Louisiana from 1926 to 1980. Officially known as the Third Tulane Stadium, it replaced the "Second Tulane Stadium" where the Telephone Exchange Building is now located ....
.

Patriots entrance into the Superdome

As was customary at the time, the Rams' offensive starters were introduced first, as the Rams were considered the visitors. However, the Patriots chose "to be introduced as a team," to quote Summerall, who handled the public address announcements during some of the pregame. According to David Halberstam
David Halberstam

David Halberstam was an United States Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author known for his early work on the Vietnam War, his work on politics, history, business, media, American culture, and his later sports journalism....
's book, The Education of a Coach, Belichick was given a choice by the NFL to introduce either the offense or defense. Belichick chose neither, asking that the team be introduced all at once. Although this was initially rejected by the NFL, Belichick held his ground and the NFL honored his request. Since then, both Super Bowl combatants would each be introduced as a team.

Halftime show

U2 Super Bowl
The halftime show featured a three-song set from Irish rockers U2
U2

U2 are a rock music band from Dublin, Republic of Ireland. The band consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen, Jr. .The band formed in 1976 when the members were teenagers with limited musical proficiency....
, who had just completed their successful Elevation Tour
Elevation Tour

The Elevation Tour was a worldwide concert tour by the Ireland Rock music band U2. Launched in support of the group's 2000 in music album All That You Can't Leave Behind, the tour visited arenas in 2001....
. After renditions of "Beautiful Day
Beautiful Day

"Beautiful Day" is the first song and lead single from U2's 2000 album, All That You Can't Leave Behind. It was a commercial success, helping launch the album to multi-platinum status, and is one of U2's biggest hits to date....
" and "MLK
MLK (song)

"MLK" is the tenth and final track of U2's 1984 album, The Unforgettable Fire. A lullaby to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., it is a short, pensive piece with simple lyrics....
", the band launched into "Where the Streets Have No Name
Where the Streets Have No Name

"Where the Streets Have No Name" is a song by Irish rock music U2, from their 1987 album, The Joshua Tree. It was released August 1987 as the third single from The Joshua Tree....
," featuring two backdrops with the names of victims of the 9/11 attacks floating into the sky behind the band and Bono
Bono

Paul David Hewson , also known by his stage name Bono, is the main vocalist of the Ireland rock band U2. Bono was born and raised in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, and attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School where he met his future wife, Ali Hewson, and the future members of U2....
 opening his jacket to reveal an American flag
Flag of the United States

The flag of the United States consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the Flag terminology bearing fifty small, white, Star s arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows of five stars....
 printed into the lining. While singing "Where the Streets Have No Name," Bono replaced the lyrics 'the poison rain' to 'the Louisiana rain'. In 2009, SI.com ranked it as the best halftime show in Super Bowl history.

Game summary

The Rams scored first midway through the first quarter, driving 48 yards in 10 plays to set up a 50-yard field goal by kicker Jeff Wilkins
Jeff Wilkins

For the American basketball player, see Jeff Wilkins .Jeffrey Allen Wilkins nicknamed "Money" is a former American football placekicker in the National Football League for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and St Louis Rams....
. At the time, the field goal was the third longest in Super Bowl history. The rest of the quarter was scoreless.

Early in the second quarter, the Rams drove to New England's 34-yard line, but quarterback Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner

Kurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994....
 threw an incompletion on third down, and Wilkins' subsequent 52-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left.

With 8:49 left in the second quarter, New England defensive back Ty Law
Ty Law

Tajuan "Ty" Law is an American football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft....
 intercepted a pass intended for receiver Dane Looker
Dane Looker

Dane Alan Looker is a National Football League wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams. He wears number 89. He is a backup wide receiver, as well as the holder on field goal attempts....
 and scored on a 47-yard return to give the Patriots a 7-3 lead. With less than two minutes left in the first half, Warner completed a pass to receiver Ricky Proehl
Ricky Proehl

Richard Scott Proehl is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He currently lives in Greensboro, North Carolina and started Proehlific Park, also in Greensboro....
 at the Patriots 40-yard line, but New England defensive back Antwan Harris
Antwan Harris

Melvin Antwan Harris is a former professional American football player who played defensive back for six seasons for the New England Patriots and Cleveland Browns of the National Football League....
 forced a fumble while tackling him, which was recovered by Patriots defensive back Terrell Buckley
Terrell Buckley

Douglas Terrell Buckley is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League.Buckley played professional baseball for the Mobile BaySharks in the Central Baseball League....
. New England quarterback Tom Brady
Tom Brady

Thomas Edward "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After playing college football at University of Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft....
 would lead a drive that culminated with an 8-yard touchdown pass to receiver David Patten
David Patten

David Patten is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indiana Firebirds as a street free agent in 1996....
 with 31 seconds left in the half to give New England a 14–3 halftime lead. This was the first time in the 2001 season that St. Louis fell behind in a game by more than eight points.

The Patriots took the opening kickoff of the second half, but could only reach the St. Louis 43-yard line before being forced to punt. Aided by a 20-yard reception by wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim
Az-Zahir Hakim

Az-Zahir Ali Hakim is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft....
, a 22-yard reception by Bruce, and a defensive pass interference penalty on Patriots defensive back Otis Smith, the Rams advanced to the New England 41-yard line. However, on the next play, linebacker Mike Vrabel
Mike Vrabel

Michael George Vrabel is an American football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft....
 and defensive lineman Richard Seymour
Richard Seymour

Richard Vershaun Seymour is an American football defensive lineman for the New England Patriots of the National Football League....
 sacked Warner for a 9-yard loss. Warner then threw 2 consecutive incomplete passes, which resulted in the Rams punting.

Later in the third quarter, Otis Smith
Otis Smith

Otis Smith may refer to:*Otis Smith , American basketball player*Otis Smith , American football player*Otis M. Smith, justice on the Michigan Supreme Court...
 intercepted a pass intended for Rams wide receiver Torry Holt
Torry Holt

Torrance "Torry" Jabar Holt nicknamed "Big Game" is an NFL wide receiver who currently plays for the St. Louis Rams. He is the older brother of current New Orleans Saints Defensive back, Terrence Holt....
 after Holt slipped while coming off the line of scrimmage, and returned the ball 30 yards to the Rams 33-yard line. Though St. Louis' defense did not give up a touchdown to the Patriots, kicker Adam Vinateri made a 37-yard field goal to increase New England's lead to 17–3.

The Rams responded by driving to the Patriots' 3-yard line on their ensuing drive. On fourth-and-goal, the Rams attempted to score a touchdown, calling for a quarterback sneak by Warner. Warner fumbled the ball while being tackled by linebacker Roman Phifer
Roman Phifer

Roman Zubinsky Phifer is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League. And is Currently the assistant linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League....
, which was recovered by defensive back Tebucky Jones
Tebucky Jones

Tebucky Shermain Jones is a former American football Safety in the National Football League. His career began when he was drafted out of Syracuse University in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Patriots....
 who returned it 97 yards for a touchdown that would have increased the Patriots lead to 23-3. However, the play was nullified by a holding penalty on linebacker Willie McGinest
Willie McGinest

William Lee "Willie" McGinest, Jr, , is an American football linebacker for the Cleveland Browns....
, who illegally hugged Rams running back Marshall Faulk
Marshall Faulk

Marshall William Faulk is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League. He is currently an analyst for NFL Total Access on the NFL Network....
 and prevented him from becoming an eligible receiver, which in turn gave the Rams a first down on the 1-yard line instead. On second down, Warner scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to make the score 17–10, Patriots.

After Warner's touchdown, the Rams defense forced the Patriots to a three-and-out
Three-and-out

Three and out is an American Football term used to describe a game situation where the team on their first drive of the series with the ball is unable to get a first down on their possession and is forced to punt after they run 3 plays....
. St. Louis then drove from their own 7-yard line to the New England 36-yard line, aided by a 30-yard reception by Proehl. However, McGinest sacked Warner for a 16-yard loss on second down, pushing the Rams back to their 46-yard line. St. Louis ended up punting after Warner's third down pass was incomplete.

The Rams forced New England to another three-and-out, and got the ball back on their own 45-yard line with 1:51 left in the game. Warner threw three consecutive completions: an 18-yard pass to Hakim, an 11-yard one to receiver Yo Murphy
Yo Murphy

Llewellyn "Yo" Murphy is a retired Canadian football wide receiver who last played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League....
, and finally a 26-yard touchdown completion to Proehl that tied the game 17–17 with 1:30 left in the fourth quarter.

The Patriots had no timeouts left for their ensuing drive, which resulted in color commentator
Color commentator

A color commentator, sometimes known as a color analyst, is a member of the broadcasting team for a sports event who assists the play-by-play announcer by filling in any time when play is not in progress....
 John Madden initially suggesting that the Patriots should run out the clock and attempt to win in overtime. Instead, New England attempted to get the winning score in regulation on the final drive. Brady opened the drive with three completions to running back J.R. Redmond
J.R. Redmond

Joseph Robert "J.R." Redmond is an American football running back who is a free agent in the National Football League. He has previously played for the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders, and won a Super Bowl XXXVI as a member of the Patriots....
, which moved the ball to their 41-yard line with 33 seconds left. After an incomplete pass, Brady completed a 23-yard pass to wide receiver Troy Brown
Troy Brown

Troy Fitzgerald Brown is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft....
, and followed it up with a 6-yard completion to tight end Jermaine Wiggins
Jermaine Wiggins

Jermaine Wiggins is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent....
 to advance to the Rams' 30-yard line. Brady then spiked the ball with seven seconds left, which set up Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal attempt. Vinatieri's game-winning kick was successful, marking the only time in Super Bowl history that a game was won by a score on the final play.

Scoring summary

  • STL - FG: Jeff Wilkins 50 yards 3–0 STL 3:10. Drive: 10 plays,48 yards in 5:05
  • NE - TD: Ty Law 47 yard interception return (Adam Vinatieri kick) 7–3 NE 8:49
  • NE - TD: David Patten 8 yard pass from Tom Brady (Adam Vinatieri kick) 14–3 NE 0:31. Drive: 5 plays, 40 yards in 0:49
  • NE - FG: Adam Vinatieri 37 yards 17–3 NE 1:18. Drive: 5 plays, 14 yards in 2:07
  • STL - TD: Kurt Warner 2 yard run (Jeff Wilkins kick) 17–10 NE 9:31. Drive:12 plays, 77 yards in 6:47
  • STL - TD: Ricky Proehl 26 yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick) 17–17 tie 1:30 Drive: 3 plays, 55 yards in 0:21
  • NE - FG: Adam Vinatieri 48 yards 20–17 NE 0:00 Drive: 9 plays, 53 yards in 1:30


Final statistics


Overview

Warner finished the game with 28 completions out of 44 passes for 365 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions, and rushed 3 times for 6 yards and a touchdown. Warner's 365 passing yards were the second highest total in Super Bowl history behind his own record of 414 yards set in Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV

Super Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 NFL season....
. Hakim was the top receiver of the game with 5 catches for 90 yards, and also rushed once for 5 yards. Faulk led the team with 76 rushing yards, and also caught 4 passes for 54 yards.

Patriots running back Antowain Smith
Antowain Smith

Antowain Drurell Smith is a former American Football running back in the National Football League who played 9 NFL seasons, most notably with the New England Patriots....
 was the top rusher of the game with 92 yards, and caught a pass for 4 yards. Troy Brown
Troy Brown

Troy Fitzgerald Brown is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft....
 was the Patriots leading receiver with 6 catches for 89 yards, a 15-yard kickoff return, and a 4-yard punt return, giving him 108 total yards.

Although the Rams outgained the Patriots 427–267 in total yards, New England forced three turnovers and converted them into 17 points. The Patriots committed no turnovers.

Trivia

  • Kurt Warner's 365 passing yards were the second highest total in Super Bowl history behind his own record of 414 yards set in Super Bowl XXXIV.


  • This Super Bowl was the first since Super Bowl XXX not to have a rookie score in the game. Adam Vinatieri (Super Bowl XXXI), Ryan Longwell (Super Bowl XXXII), Tim Dwight (Super Bowl XXXIII), Torry Holt (Super Bowl XXXIV) and Jamal Lewis (Super Bowl XXXV) had scored in the previous five Super Bowls.


  • This was the New England Patriots' third straight Super Bowl played at the Louisiana Superdome and second straight Super Bowl as a 14 point underdog.


  • This game was the last Super Bowl played on antiquated AstroTurf. About a year before the game was held, stadium officials considered bringing in natural grass for the game. The system would use large trays of grass grown and cultivated outdoors, and brought inside to be placed on the field of play. Cost concerns, and the fact that it had never been done before, prompted stadium and league officials to abandon the project. During the 2003 season, the Superdome replaced its AstroTurf surface with AstroPlay, a surface that more closely simulates natural grass. The last two teams to play their home games on AstroTurf, the Rams and the Indianapolis Colts, switched to FieldTurf in 2005.


  • This is the only Super Bowl to date to be decided on the last play of the game.


  • Although the Rams led the league during the regular season in red zone possessions, they did not enter the red zone until early in the fourth quarter, in a drive that ended with Warner's 2-yard touchdown run. This drive ended up being the only time in the game that the Rams ran any plays from scrimmage in the red zone.


  • The Patriots became the 8th team to win the Super Bowl over a team with a better record going into the game (13-5 for the Patriots to 16-2 for the Rams).


  • Tom Brady had the third lowest passing yards total for a Super Bowl MVP quarterback with his 145. Roger Staubach has the lowest total with 119 yards in the Cowboys Super Bowl VI win. Brady's was the first such award to be partially awarded through fan voting. The following year's Lindy's Pro Football Annual reported that had fan voting not been factored in that Ty Law would have won the award.


  • Ever since the Patriots' now-famous "team introduction" in Super Bowl XXXVI, the NFL decided to forgo individual player introductions for the Super Bowl ; every subsequent Super Bowl (except XXXVII) has had "team introductions" on both sides.


  • This was the commonwealth of Massachusetts
    Massachusetts

    The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a U.S. state located in the New England region of the Northeastern United States United States. It borders Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north....
    ' first major professional championship since the Boston Celtics
    Boston Celtics

    The Boston Celtics are a professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, Massachusetts, playing in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
    ' NBA title in 1986.


  • The Patriots' win snapped an eight game Super Bowl losing streak for the AFC East. The Miami Dolphins in VIII had been the last team in this division to win the Super Bowl.


Officials

Statistical comparison

St. Louis RamsNew England Patriots
First downs2615
Third down efficiency5/132/11
Fourth down efficiency0-00-0
Total yards427267
Passing yards337134
Passing – Completions-attempts28-4416-27
Rushing yards90133
Rushing attempts2215
Yards per rush4.15.3
Penalties-yards6-395-31
Sacks against3-282-11
Turnovers30
Fumbles-lost2-10-0
Interceptions thrown20
Time of possession33:3026:30


Individual leaders


*Completions/Attempts aCarries bLong play cReceptions

Starting lineups

St. Louis Position Position New England
OFFENSE
Torry Holt
Torry Holt

Torrance "Torry" Jabar Holt nicknamed "Big Game" is an NFL wide receiver who currently plays for the St. Louis Rams. He is the older brother of current New Orleans Saints Defensive back, Terrence Holt....
 
WR Troy Brown
Troy Brown

Troy Fitzgerald Brown is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft....
Orlando Pace
Orlando Pace

Orlando Lamar Pace is an American football offensive tackle for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Rams first overall in the 1997 NFL Draft....
 
LT Matt Light
Matt Light

Matthew Charles Light is an American football offensive lineman for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was selected with the 48th pick overall in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft out of Purdue University....
Tom Nütten
Tom Nütten

Tom N?tten is a former American football guard who played eight seasons in the National Football League with the St. Louis Rams. He was raised in Oelde, Germany and played high school football in Magog, Quebec....
 
LG Mike Compton
Mike Compton

Mike Compton is a former NFL Guard who played twelve seasons in the NFL from 1993-2004. He started in Super Bowl XXXVI for the New England Patriots....
Andy McCollum
Andy McCollum

Andrew Jon McCollum is an American football Center for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was signed by the Milwaukee Mustangs as a street free agent in 1994....
 
C Damien Woody
Damien Woody

Damien Michael Woody is an American football offensive lineman for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He has played every position on the offensive line except left tackle; he was originally drafted, as a Center by the New England Patriots 17th overall in the 1999 NFL Draft....
Adam Timmerman
Adam Timmerman

Adam Larry Timmerman is a former American football Guard in the National Football League. He played for the Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Rams between 1995 and 2006....
 
RG Joe Andruzzi
Joe Andruzzi

Joseph Dominic Andruzzi is an American football guard who is a free agent. In May 2007 he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.Joe and his wife Jennifer have established the Joe Andruzzi Foundation to raise funds to support cancer research....
Rod Jones
Rod Jones (offensive lineman)

Rodrek Edward Jones is a former American football Offensive tackle who played six seasons in the National Football League. He Starting lineup in Super Bowl XXXVI for the St. Louis Rams....
 
RT Greg Robinson-Randall
Greg Robinson-Randall

Greg Wayne Robinson-Randall is an arena football offensive lineman / defensive lineman for the New York Dragons of the Arena Football League. He was originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots....
Ernie Conwell
Ernie Conwell

Ernest Harold Conwell is a former American football tight end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the second round of the 1996 NFL Draft....
 
TE Jermaine Wiggins
Jermaine Wiggins

Jermaine Wiggins is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent....
Issac Bruce WR David Patten
David Patten

David Patten is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Indiana Firebirds as a street free agent in 1996....
Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner

Kurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is an American football quarterback who currently plays for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994....
 
QB Tom Brady
Tom Brady

Thomas Edward "Tom" Brady, Jr. is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. After playing college football at University of Michigan, Brady was drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft....
Marshall Faulk
Marshall Faulk

Marshall William Faulk is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League. He is currently an analyst for NFL Total Access on the NFL Network....
 
RB Antowain Smith
Antowain Smith

Antowain Drurell Smith is a former American Football running back in the National Football League who played 9 NFL seasons, most notably with the New England Patriots....
Jeff Robinson
Jeff Robinson (American football)

Jeffrey William Robinson is an American football long snapper for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 1993 NFL Draft....
 
TE FB Marc Edwards
Marc Edwards

Marc Alexander Edwards is a professional American football player who last played National Football League in 2005 for the Chicago Bears. Edwards played College football at University of Notre Dame....
DEFENSE
Chidi Ahanotu
Chidi Ahanotu

Chidi Obioma Ahanotu is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. He was originally selected with the fifth pick of the sixth round of the 1993 NFL Draft by Tampa Bay out of University of California, Berkeley....
 
LE Bobby Hamilton
Bobby Hamilton (football player)

Bobby Hamilton is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was originally signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1994....
Brian Young
Brian Young

Brian Young is the drummer for the New York based power pop band Fountains of Wayne who have released four major label albums and scored an RIAA certified gold record for their single Stacy's Mom....
 
LDT Brandon Mitchell
Jeff Zgonina
Jeff Zgonina

Jeffrey Marc Zgonina is an American football defensive tackle in the National Football League who is with the Houston Texans. He played college football at Purdue University and was a seventh round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1993 NFL Draft....
 
RDT Richard Seymour
Richard Seymour

Richard Vershaun Seymour is an American football defensive lineman for the New England Patriots of the National Football League....
Grant Wistrom
Grant Wistrom

Grant Alden Wistrom, , is a former American Football defensive end who played for the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks during his 9 year career....
 
RE Anthony Pleasant
Anthony Pleasant

Anthony Devon Pleasant , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 1990 NFL Draft....
Don Davis
Don Davis (American football)

Donald Earl Davis Jr. is a former American football assistant strength and conditioning coach for the New England Patriots of the National Football League....
 
LOLB Mike Vrabel
Mike Vrabel

Michael George Vrabel is an American football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft....
London Fletcher
London Fletcher

London Levi Fletcher-Baker is an American football linebacker who currently plays for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League....
 
MLB Tedy Bruschi
Tedy Bruschi

Tedy Lacap Bruschi is an American football linebacker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Patriots in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft....
Tommy Polley
Tommy Polley

Tommy William Polley is an American football Free agent in the National Football League. He originally played for the St. Louis Rams from 2001 to 2004 before signing with the Ravens as a free agent in 2005....
 
ROLB Roman Phifer
Roman Phifer

Roman Zubinsky Phifer is a former American football linebacker of the National Football League. And is Currently the assistant linebackers coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League....
Aeneas Williams
Aeneas Williams

Aeneas Demetrius Williams is a former American football cornerback and free safety, who played with the Arizona Cardinals and the St. Louis Rams....
 
LCB Ty Law
Ty Law

Tajuan "Ty" Law is an American football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft....
Dexter McCleon
Dexter McCleon

Dexter Keith McCleon is an American football safety who currently is a free agent of the National Football League. He also played for the St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs in his nine year career that started in 1997....
 
RCB Otis Smith
Adam Archuleta
Adam Archuleta

Adam Jason Archuleta is an American football linebacker and Safety who is a free agent in the National Football League. He was NFL draft by the St....
 
SS Lawyer Milloy
Lawyer Milloy

Lawyer Milloy is an American football Safety who currently plays for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. Milloy was a member of the Patriots Super Bowl XXXVI championship team ....
Kim Herring
Kim Herring

Kimani 'Kim' Masai Herring is an American football Defensive back in the National Football League, currently a free agent....
 
FS Tebucky Jones
Tebucky Jones

Tebucky Shermain Jones is a former American football Safety in the National Football League. His career began when he was drafted out of Syracuse University in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Patriots....


Officials
Official (American football)

In American football, an official is a person who has responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game.During professional and college football games, seven officials operate on the field....

  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
    Bernie Kukar

    Bernie Kukar is a former American football official in the National Football League for 22 seasons from the 1984 NFL season to the 2005 NFL season season....
  • Umpire: Jeff Rice
  • Head Linesman: Mark Hittner
    Mark Hittner

    Mark Hittner is an American football official in the National Football League since the beginning of the 1997 NFL season. He works as a head linesman and wears the uniform number 28....
  • Line Judge: Ron Phares
  • Field Judge: Pete Morelli
    Pete Morelli

    Peter "Pete" Morelli is the Principal of St. Mary's High School in Stockton, California and better known as an American football official in the National Football League since the 1997 NFL season....
  • Side Judge: Laird Hayes
    Laird Hayes

    Dr. Laird Hayes is an educator and National Football League Official . He wears the uniform number 125.He graduated from San Marcos High School in Santa Barbara, California....
  • Back Judge: Scott Green
    Scott Green (American football official)

    Scott Green is an United States American football official in the National Football League since the 1991 NFL season. He wears uniform number 19....
  • Alternate Referee: Mike Carey
    Mike Carey (American football official)

    Michael "Mike" Carey is a co-owner of Seirus Innovation since 1979 and better known as an American football Official in the National Football League since the 1990 NFL season....
  • Alternate Umpire: Ron Botchan
    Ron Botchan

    Ronald Leslie "Ron" Botchan was an American football linebacker in the American Football League from 1960 AFL season to 1962 AFL season and later as American football official in the National Football League from 1980 to 2002....


Game time and weather conditions

  • 6:00 p.m. EST/5:00 p.m. CST
    Central Time zone

    The Central Time Zone is in the Americas and observes standard time by subtracting six hours from Coordinated Universal Time during standard time and five hours during daylight saving time ....
, indoors

See also

  • 2001 NFL season
    2001 NFL season

    The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999 NFL season, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day....
  • NFL playoffs, 2001-02
    NFL playoffs, 2001-02

    The NFL playoffs following the 2001 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXVI.For the first time, the NFL scheduled prime time playoff games for the first two rounds in an attempt to attract more television viewers....