Best Super Bowl Countdown - #4

I know, I know. You miss the NFL already. We all do. Plus, we all know the Pro Bowl doesn't even really count as football. But the one good thing is that while we all wait for next season, you at least have my Best Super Bowl Countdown. Today, it's time to reveal #4 and while some may feel this one should be higher, I'm gonna keep it right where it is.

4. Super Bowl XXXVI
New England 20, St. Louis 17
February 4, 2002
New Orleans, LA

Just 5 months after the worst terrorist attack in our nation's history, there seemed to be more talk about Super Bowl security and subdued celebrations in New Orleans than about the game. But by the end of this Super Bowl, all the talk was about the game.

The Rams were the overwhelming favorites, having come off a Super Bowl win two years before and having the best offense in the NFL. They showed it off early, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st quarter. But then came the turnovers.

With 8:47 left in the 2nd quarter, Kurt Warner's pass was picked off by Ty Law, who took it 47 yards the other way to give the Patriots a 7-3 lead. Then, before the half ends, Ricky Proehl catches a pass for 15 yds only to fumble it away to the Pats. Tom Brady took advantage of the turnover, leading a 5-play drive capped off by a TD pass to David Patten to give the Patriots a 14-3 halftime lead.

After an inspirational and emotional halftime show by U2, it was back to the action and just like the first half, the turnovers were killing the Rams. Another Warner INT led to Patriot points as Adam Vinatieri kicked a 37-yd FG to extend the New England lead to 17-3.

The upset of all upsets looked to be well in hand but Warner and the Rams weren't going down that easily. The Rams drove all the way to the Patriots 3-yd line until being forced to 4th and goal. Rams Head Coach rolled the dice and went for it. But it didn't pay off as Warner fumbled and Tebucky Jones took it in for another Pats score. BUT, there was a flag. Holding on the defense and an automatic first down. 2 plays later, Warner scored and trimmed the lead to 17-10.

The score invigorated the Rams D, who shut down the Pats offense and gave their offense a shot to tie the game. And that they did. With 1:51 left, the Rams' passing attack showed its stuff, scoring in just 21 seconds and tying the game at 17 with 1:30 left.

The Patriots got the ball back but the belief was that the team that scored all of its points on turnovers and had no timeouts would just play for overtime. But Brady and head coach Bill Belichick had a different idea. Despite not being able to stop the clock with timeouts, the Pats drove with confidence and ease, completing 3 short passes to get to the Pats 41 with 33 seconds left. After a few incomplete passes, Brady fired a 23-yard pass to Troy Brown to move into Rams territory. Next play, he found Jermaine Wiggins for 16 yards and all the sudden, the Pats were in field-goal range.

So with 7 seconds left and no time to take a chance to get more yards, the Patriots put the game in the hands, or should I say, the leg of Adam Vinatieri. The South Dakota native lined up the 48 yarder. The snap was good. The hold was good. The kick was perfect. And the game was over.

It marked the first time ever that a Super Bowl was won on the final play of the game. The underdog Pats had pulled it off in thrilling fashion. Despite a less than spectacular stat line (16/27, 145 yds, TD), Brady earned MVP honors. And even though the Rams outgained the Pats 427-267, it was the Pats that left the Big Easy as the big winners of Super Bowl XXXVI.

So we're down to the final 3. What's next? Find out tomorrow right here.