SB 38: Vinatieri's late field goal lifts Patriots again

Super Bowl 38

Feb. 1, 2004

At Houston-71,525

Carolina .0.10..0.19-29

New England .0.14..0.18-32

The Patriots won their second Super Bowl in three seasons after Adam Vinatieri kicked another field goal in the final seconds to lift his team to victory in game often remembered for the controversial halftime show.

New England and Carolina went a record 26:55 without any points before Tom Brady hit Deion Branch for a 7-0 lead. The teams then combined for 24 points in the final 3:05 of the half. After a scoreless third quarter, they scored a total of 37 points over the final quarter.

Jake Delhomme and Muhsin Muhammad connected for the longest pass in Super Bowl history, an 85-yard touchdown that gave the Panthers a brief 22-21 lead with 6:53 left.

Mike Vrabel, a linebacker who often played on offense near the goal line, caught a touchdown pass to put New England back ahead 29-22. Delhomme's 12-yard pass to Ricky Proehl capped an 80-yard drive to tie the game with 1:08 remaining.

John Kasay's ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, giving the Patriots the ball on their 40-yard line. Brady, who earned his second MVP award, moved New England to the Carolina 23 in five plays, leaving the outcome up to one of the game's best clutch kickers.

At halftime, Janet Jackson had a ''wardrobe malfunction'' during her performance, revealing her breast to the national TV audience as well as the fans in attendance.

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Online:

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