New England kicker Adam Vinatieri hit a last gasp 48-yard field goal gave the Patriots a dramatic 32-29 win over the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII.
In a tightly fought match, the first half featured the punishing hitting and the aggressive defensive play that has become the hallmark of both teams as they combined to set a Super Bowl record for the longest scoreless start to a title game.
However, a five-yard scoring strike from Tom Brady to David Givens with 18 seconds left in the second quarter helped give the New England Patriots a 14-10 lead at the break after Deion Branch scored the games' opening touchdown. The Panthers hit back through Steve Smith, before Givens' kick.
The Patriots took control after the restart when Antowain Smith scampered two yards to put his side in front 21-10. But the Panthers, underdog throughout, refused to cave in and an 81-yard scoring drive saw DeShaun Foster racing the final 33 yards for the touchdown.
Despite missing the two-point conversion, the Panthers soon took the lead when Mushin Muhammad streaked away down the left flank and made all the space he needed to collect a spectacular 85-yard touchdown strike from Delhomme. However, once more, they missed the two-point conversion.
The game continued to ebb and flow and Partriot linebacker Mike Vrabel crossed after from a one-yard touchdown pass before the favourites hit a successful two-point conversion to take the lead 29-22. But once again the Panthers came back when Delhomme and Rickey Proehl hooking up on a touchdown pass to tie the game.
The stage was then set for Vinatieri whose 41-yarder went through the uprights with four seconds left on the clock to give the Patriots a dramatic 32-29 win.
Filed by Rob Wright
