Super Bowl XXXVI was played in the New Orleans, Louisiana Superdome on 3 February 2002. Coverage (not including the pre-game hype) began at 6pm EST (UTC -0500) on the FOX network. It was originally scheduled for 27 January, but has been pushed back by one week. (The NFL had to pay the National Automobile Dealers Association $7.5 million in order for the latter to reschedule their planned 3 Feb conference.) The scheduling change was caused by the postponement of the Week 2 games due to the terrorist hijackings of 11 September 2001. The Week 2 games were played the week after the Week 16 games, and the whole playoff schedule was pushed back by one week.

Super Bowl XXXVI featured

New England Patriots vs. Saint Louis Rams

As of gameday morning the Rams are favored to win by 14 points (or 14.5 depending on who you talk to) over the Pats.


In the most exciting Super Bowls upset since the New York Jets beat 18-point favorite Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, the New England Patriots defeated the favored St. Louis Rams by a score of

New England, 20 - St. Louis, 17

by kicking a field goal as time ran out in the 4th quarter.

Scoring:


Team  Quarter Time  
Rams     1    3:10  50 yard field goal by Jeff Wilkins
Pats     2    8:49  47 yard interception return for a TD by Ty Law
Pats     2    0:31  8 yard TD pass from Tom Brady to David Patten 
                    (PAT is good)
Pats     3    2:07  37 yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri
Rams     4    6:47  2 yard TD run by Kurt Warner
Rams     4    0:21  26 yard TD pass from Kurt Warner to Ricky Proehl
Pats     4    0:00  48 yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri



Here is how the postseason shaped up:



Phila Eagles
-------------
          24 \
              \  St.L. Rams
at             -------------
          29  /  NFC Champs \
St.L. Rams   /               \
-------------                 \
                               \ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
N.E. Patriots                   -------------------
-------------                  / Super Bowl Champs
          24 \                /
              \N.E. Patriots /
at             -------------
          17  /  AFC Champs 
Pitt Steelers/
-------------


Road to the Conference Championships

Wild card round, 12-13 Jan 2002

Division playoffs, 19-20 Jan 2002