Super Bowl XXXVIII
New England 32, Carolina 29
Adam Vinatieri's 41-yard field goal with four seconds to play lifted New England to its second championship in three years. While it took a Super Bowl-record 26 minutes, 55 seconds for the first points to be scored, the teams eventually combined for 868 total yards (481 by the Patriots). Carolina briefly moved in front on an 85-yard Muhsin Muhammad TD reception and later tied the game on Ricky Proehl's 12-yard scoring catch with 1:08 to play. But Tom Brady calmly drove the Patriots into field goal range, aided by Deion Branch's clutch 17-yard grab.
February 1, 2004
Reliant Stadium
Attendance 71,525
Adam Vinatieri kicked a 41-yard field goal with four seconds remaining as the Patriots won their second Super Bowl in three seasons. While it took a Super Bowl-record 26 minutes and 55 seconds for the first points to be scored, the teams combined for 868 yards (481 by New England) and the game also featured the highest scoring quarter (combined 37 points in the fourth). Vinatieri missed a 31-yard field goal on the Patriots' first possession, and had a 36-yard attempt blocked by Shane Burton with 6:00 left in the second quarter. But three plays later, Mike Vrabel sacked Jake Delhomme and forced him to fumble. Richard Seymour recovered at the Panthers' 20, and a 12-yard scramble by Tom Brady on third-and-7 set up his 5-yard touchdown pass to Deion Branch with 3:05 left in the first half. The Panthers responded with an 8-play, 95-yard drive capped by Delhomme's 39-yard perfectly placed touchdown pass to Steve Smith with 1:07 left in the half. Delhomme beat the blitz by lofting the pass deep down the left sideline. Brady's 52-yard pass to Branch with 37 seconds left in the half setup David Givens' 5-yard touchdown catch with 18 seconds left. New England squibbed the ensuing kickoff and Kris Mangum returned it 12 yards to the Panthers' 47. A 21-yard run by Stephen Davis set up John Kasay's 50-yard field goal as the half expired for a 14-10 New England lead. Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Antowain Smith's 2-yard touchdown run two plays into the final quarter capped a 71-yard drive and gave the Patriots a 21-10 lead. Undaunted, Carolina scored on its next two possessions. First, Delhomme completed passes of 18 and 22 yards to Smith to set up DeShaun Foster's 33-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 21-16 with 12:39 to play. Carolina went for the 2-point conversion, but Delhomme's pass was incomplete. New England marched to the Panthers' 9 with the ensuing kickoff, but Reggie Howard intercepted Brady's third-and-goal pass in the end zone. Two plays later, Delhomme rolled left and fired a Super Bowl-record 85-yard touchdown pass to Muhammad for a 22-21 lead with 6:53 left. Once again, the Panthers went for 2 points and Delhomme's pass was incomplete. New England drove 68 yards on its next possession, with Givens catching a 25-yard pass and 18-yard pass on third-and-9, to set up Brady's 1-yard touchdown pass to Vrabel, who was lined up as a tight end. A direct snap to Kevin Faulk resulted in a 2-point conversion for a 29-22 lead with 2:51 left. Delhomme completed passes of 19 yards to Muhammad and 31 yards to Ricky Proehl before finding Proehl from 12 yards for the tying touchdown with 1:08 remaining. Kasay's ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, giving New England the ball at their own 40. Five plays later, faced with third-and-3 from the Panthers' 40 with 14 seconds left, Brady fired a 17-yard pass to Branch to set up Vinatieri's Super Bowl-winning 41-yard field goal. Brady, who was named the Super Bowl most valuable player for the second time in his career, was 32 of 48 for 354 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 1 interception. Branch had 10 receptions for 143 yards. Delhomme was 16 of 33 for 323 yards and 3 touchdowns, and Muhammad had 4 catches for 140 yards.
Game Notes
The Patriots won the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons with a thrilling 32-29 win over the Panthers.
Adam Vinatieri nailed a 41-yard field goal with 4 seconds left to give the Patriots the last-second victory.
Deion Branch's 10 receptions were the second most in Super Bowl history, and MVP Tom Brady's 32 completions set a Super Bowl record.
The New England Patriots take on the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium.
New England Patriots MVP quarterback Tom Brady (12) and head coach Bill Belichick embrace after defeating the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Carolina Panthers Matt Willig, left rear, looks on as New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri, center, is mobbed by his teammates after kicking a 41-yard field goal in the fourth quarter to beat the Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Brett Coomer)
New England Patroits Tom Brady plays in SUPERBOWLXXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1,2004 in Houston Texas.The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throwing a pass during a 32 to 29 win against the Carolina Panthers at Super Bowl XXXVIII, Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas on February 1,2004. (AP Photo/David Drapkin)
Wide receiver Troy Brown of the New England Patriots returns a punt during Super Bowl XXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 01, 2004 in Houston. The Patriots won 32-29. (AP Photo/G. Newman Lowrance)
Carolina Panthers tight end Jermaine Wiggins (84) leaps over New England Patriots safety Eugene Wilson (26) during Super Bowl XXXVIII on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas. The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Kevin Terrell)
A ticket for Super Bowl XXXVIII between the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
New England Patroits Mike Vrabel in SUPERBOWLXXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1,2004 in Houston Texas.The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patriots Roman Phifer against the Carolina Panthers in theSUPERBOWLXXXVIII at Reliant Stadium on February 1,2004 in Houston Texas.The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patroits Eugene Wilson plays in SUPERBOWLXXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1,2004 in Houston Texas.The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patroits Troy Brown plays in SUPERBOWLXXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1,2004 in Houston Texas.The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patroits Tom Brady plays in SUPERBOWLXXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1,2004 in Houston Texas.The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
FILE - In this Feb. 1, 2004 file photo, New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri celebrates his game-winning field goal with teammates Ken Walter (13) and Christian Fauria (88) in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXXVIII at Reliant Stadium in Houston. The Patriots beat the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File)
New England Patriots' Mike Vrabel (50) carries a Tom Brady pass against Carolina Panthers defender Deon Grant into the endzone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots wide receiver David Givens (87) celebrates after catching a five yard touchdown pass against the Carolina Panthers in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXVIII Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg)
New England Patroits Tom Brady plays in SUPERBOWLXXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1,2004 in Houston Texas.The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patroits Deion Branch plays in SUPERBOWLXXXVIII against the Carolina Panthers at Reliant Stadium on February 1,2004 in Houston Texas.The Patriots defeated the Panthers 32-29. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patriots receiver Deion Branch celebrates after his 5-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Tom Brady against the Carolina Panthers in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004. At right is Panthers defender Mike Minter (30). At left center is Panthers Ricky Manning Jr. (24) At left is back judge Scott Green (19) signaling the touchdown. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady smiles after the Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, left, celebrates his team's victory with players David Givens (87), and Tedy Bruschi (54) after winning Super Bowl XXXVIII 32-29 against the Carolina Panthers in Houston, Sunday Feb. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
New England Patriots cornerback Tyrone Poole (38) breaks up a pass intended for Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
New England Patriots wide receiver David Givens (87) catches a touchdown from quarterback Tom Brady during the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Feb. 1, 2004. At left is Carolina Panthers Ricky Manning Jr. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (17) fumbles as he is hit by New England Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel (50) during the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Feb. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)Dave Martin)
New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri kicks the game-winning field goal in the final seconds to beat the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII on Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, at Reliant Stadium in Houston. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
