Superbowl XXXVI was perhaps the most emotionally draining game in the event's history. Taking place mere months after the 2001 act of war that was September 11, the event went out of its way to salute America and its resistance to international terror. The two teams in contention were both superb examples of the small-town ethic that is America in the St. Louis Rams of the midwest and the New England Patriots of Foxboro, MA.
The Patriots were 14-point underdogs derided for their lack of star power and also for the quarterback controversy surrounding their win in the AFC Title game the week before. The Rams basked in the glow of attention granted Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce, Ricky Proehl, and the other members of their high-octane offense and strong defense. The Patriots, meanwhile, had seen season-starter Drew Bledsoe, plagued by outside doubts as to his ability under second-year coach Bill Belichick, injured in the team's second game, and low-ranked backup Tom Brady elevated to starter. From there the Patriots went on a tear, winning 11 games in the regular season and then a controversial game over the Oakland Raiders in the AFC divisional playoffs. In the AFC Title game in overwhelmingly favored Pittsburg Brady was injured and Bledsoe came off the bench, scored a touchdown, drove the team for a key field goal, and led the team to the big upset win.
Now the Rams and Patriots were slotted to meet for the world championship of professional football. They had met earlier in the year in Foxboro in a 24-17 win by the Rams, a win that coach Mike Martz acknowledged was against a Superbowl-caliber team. The Patriots proved that with an early INT by Ty Law for a touchdown, and a Brady to David Patten TD late in the first half.
But the decisive pivot came when Warner was hit at the Patriots 1-yard line, fumbled, and Tebucky Jones of the Patriots ran in for the touchdown - except a controversial holding penalty on Willie McGinest negated the Pats' score and allowed the Rams to punch in for a TD. Late in the game a pass to Ricky Proehl tied the game at 17, and with less than two minutes to go Tom Brady was faced with a drive to kick a winning field goal against a Rams defense that had stiffened when it had to the most.