Super Bowl XXXVI
New England 20, St. Louis 17
Adam Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal proved the difference as the Patriots prevailed in the first Super Bowl where the winning points were scored on the final play. Underdog New England had built a 17-3 lead, but the Rams tied things up with two fourth-quarter touchdowns – the second with just 1:30 to go – before Patriots QB Tom Brady positioned his team for the game-winning kick. He completed five passes on the drive, three of those to J.R. Redmond and another a 23-yarder to Troy Brown that brought the ball into St. Louis territory.
February 3, 2002
Louisiana Superdome
Attendance 72,922
Adam Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal as time expired gave the New England Patriots their first Super Bowl title. The Rams out gained the Patriots 427-267 in total yards, but the Patriots forced 3 turnovers, which resulted in 17 points, while committing no turnovers. Jeff Wilkins' 50-yard field goal capped a 10-play, 48-yard drive midway through the first quarter to give the Rams a 3-0 lead. The first turnover came with 8:49 left in the second quarter, when Ty Law stepped in front of an out-pattern pass intended for Isaac Bruce and raced 47 yards untouched down the left sideline into the end zone. Late in the first half, Kurt Warner completed a 15-yard pass to Ricky Proehl to the Patriots' 40, but Antwan Harris forced Proehl to fumble and Terrell Buckley recovered. Five plays later, Tom Brady's 8-yard touchdown pass to David Patten with 31 seconds left in the quarter gave New England a 14-3 halftime lead. Late in the third quarter, Torry Holt slipped coming off the line of scrimmage, and Otis Smith intercepted Warner's pass and returned it 30 yards to the Rams' 33 to setup Vinatieri's 37-yard field goal and a 17-3 lead. The Rams responded by driving to the Patriots' 3. On fourth-and-goal, Warner scrambled, was tackled by Roman Phifer, and fumbled. Tebucky Jones picked up the ball and raced the length of the field for an apparent touchdown, but the play was negated by Willie McGinest's holding penalty. Warner scored two plays later to trim the deficit to 17-10 with 9:31 left. The Patriots went three and out on their next two possessions, giving the Rams the ball on their 45-yard line with 1:51 left. Warner completed an 18-yard pass to Az-Zahir Hakim and an 11-yard pass to Yo Murphy before connecting on a 26-yard touchdown pass to Proehl with 1:30 left to tie the game. Operating without any time outs, Brady completed 3 short passes to J.R. Redmond to reach the Patriots' 41 with 33 seconds left. After an incompletion, Brady completed 23- and 16-yard passes to Troy Brown and Jermaine Wiggins, respectively, to reach the Rams' 30, and then spiked the ball with 7 seconds remaining. Vinatieri drilled the 48-yard field-goal attempt, marking the first time in Super Bowl history the game had been won on the final play. Brady, who earned most valuable player honors, was 16 of 27 for 145 yards and 1 touchdown. Warner was 28 of 44 for 365 yards and 1 touchdown, with 2 interceptions.
Game Notes
The Patriots won the first Super Bowl in their 42-year history with their 20-17 win over the Rams.
Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri kicked the first last second, game-winning field goal in Super Bowl history as his 48-yard kick sailed through the goalposts as time expired.
The Patriots defense forced 3 St. Louis turnovers and converted them into 2 touchdowns and a field goal.
The New England Patriots take on the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI on February 2, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome.
The New England Patriots are introduced before Super Bowl XXXVI, a 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams on February 3, 2002, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is showered on the podium with confetti as he holds up the Lombardi Trophy after an NFL Super Bowl XXXVI game against the St. Louis Rams in New Orleans at the Louisiana Superdome on Feb. 3, 2002. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
400523 01: A sign is displayed with the names of the victims of September 11, 2001 at halftime of Super Bowl XXXVI between the New England Patriots and the St. Louis Rams February 3, 2002 at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17 with a 48-yard field goal by kicker Adam Vinatieri. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
New England Patriots defensive ends Richard Seymour (98) and Willie McGinest (55) stop St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner (13) during an NFL Super Bowl XXXVI game in New Orleans at the Louisiana Superdome on Feb. 3, 2002. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (Allen Kee via AP)
Patriots' 86 David Patten catches ball in the Super Bowl XXXVI game of the New England Patriots vs the St. Louis Rams played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana where the Patriots defeated the Rams 20 to 17 on February 3, 2002. (Photo by Allen Kee/Getty Images)
New England Patroits Tom Brady in Super Bowl XXXVI against the St.Louis Rams at the Louisiana Superdome on February 3,2002 in New Orleans, Louisiana.The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (AP Photo/Tom DiPace)
New England Patriots wide receiver Troy Brown (80) celebrates after Super Bowl XXXVI, a 20-17 New England Patriots victory over the St. Louis Rams on February 3, 2002, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
NEW ORLEANS, UNITED STATES: New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady celebrates with head coach Bill Belichick (R) after their win over the St. Louis Rams 03 February, 2002 in Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17 for the NFL championship. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images)
Members of the New England Patriots ride in Duck Boats down Tremont Street in Boston, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2002, during a parade held to celebrate the team's Super Bowl win. Hundreds of thousands of New England Patriots fans braved freezing temperatures Tuesday to welcome home the improbable Super Bowl victors and celebrate the city's first championship in 16 years. (AP Photo/Olivia Hanley)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, right, wearing red scarf, dances with head coach Bill Belichick, center, in plaid scarf, during a Super Bowl celebration on City Hall Plaza in Boston, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2002. At far left on stage is Patriots owner Robert Kraft. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
New England Patriots' Bobby Hamilton (91) sacks St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner (13) near the end of the first quarter of Super Bowl XXXVI Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
FILE New England Patriots' kicker Adam Vinatieri celebrates his 48-yard game-winning field goal in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXXVI against the St. Louis Rams, in this Feb. 3, 2002 file photo, in New Orleans, as teammate Ken Walters looks on left. Vinatieri, a free agent, agreed in principle to a deal with Indianapolis, a person close to the Colts said late Tuesday, March 21, 2006. (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta, File)
New England Patriots cornerback Ty Law (24) intercepts a pass from St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner as intended receiver Isaac Bruce (80) looks on during Super Bowl XXXVI, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
New England Patriots' owner Robert Kraft celebrates with the Super Bowl trophy after the Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams 20-17 in Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
New England Patriots' Ty Law runs for a touchdown after intercepting a pass by St. Louis Rams' Kurt Warner in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXXVI at the Louisiana Superdome, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2002 in New Orleans. Rams receiver Issac Bruce (80) is at right. (AP Photo/Dave Martin )
The New England Patriots run onto the field as a team during player introductions during the NFL Super Bowl XXXVI football game against the St. Louis Rams on February 3, 2002 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Patriots won the game 20-17. (AP Photo/Paul Spinelli)
