SB 36: Brady, Belichick win 1st Super Bowl title

Posted January 20, 2016 6:00 am

By The Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2002, file photo, New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri (4) celebrates after kicking a game-winning 48-yard field goal to beat the St. Louis Rams 20-17 in NFL football's Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File) The Associated Press

Super Bowl 36

Feb. 3, 2002

At New Orleans_72,922

St. Louis 3..0..0.14_17

New England 0.14..3..3_20

A Super Bowl remembered as much for its halftime show as for the game.

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the NFL moved the Super Bowl back a week, having it bump up against Mardi Gras in New Orleans. A tribute by U2 to the victims of the attacks, whose names were scrolled along the Superdome roof, is still talked about.

So is the game.

Adam Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal as time expired gave Tom Brady, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots their first Super Bowl title over the two-touchdown favorite Rams.

Using a brutally rugged pass defense, the Patriots forced three turnovers to build a 17-3 lead. In the middle of the second quarter, Ty Law returned an interception of Kurt Warner 47 yards for a touchdown and a 7-3 lead.

With 1:33 left in the first half, New England's Antwan Harris forced Ricky Proehl to fumble and Terrell Buckley returned the ball to the St. Louis 40. Four plays later, Brady hit David Patten with an 8-yard pass for a 14-3 halftime lead.

New England added another field goal late in the third quarter after Otis Smith's 30-yard interception return to the St. Louis 33.

Then the Rams, known as the Greatest Show on Turf, woke up.

Kurt Warner's 2-yard TD run with 9:31 left pulled St. Louis within 17-10. The Rams got the ball back at their 45 and needed only 21 seconds to tie it on a 26-yard pass from Warner to Proehl with 1:30 left.

Overtime ahead? Nope.

New England started the ensuing drive on its 17. Brady, in just his second pro season, led a 53-yard, nine-play drive to set up Vinatieri's field goal.

___

Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2002, file photo, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady smiles after the Patriots defeated the St. Louis Rams 20-17 in NFL football's Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans. Brady, in just his second pro season, led a 53-yard, nine-play drive to set up a winning field goal by Adam Vinatieri. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Feb. 3, 2002, file photo, St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner looks to pass to Marshall Faulk, right, during the first quarter against the New England Patriots in NFL football's Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File) The Associated Press

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