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Super Bowl XXXVI - Pats 20, Rams 17 Congratulations Patriots!!!
NFL ^ | 2/3/02

Posted on 02/03/2002 2:25:46 PM PST by Dales

NEW ORLEANS -- The St. Louis Rams are the "Greatest Show on Turf" and the New England Patriots have struggled in Super Bowl's in New Orleans.

But that means nothing to the players.

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"We don't care if we win by 20, if we win by 30 or if we win by one," said Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, who set a Super Bowl record with 414 passing yards two years ago.

"We've been called 'underdog' all year, so it's not something we feed off of anymore," Patriots receiver Troy Brown said. "If we play well, we can beat anybody."

But the "Big Easy" has been anything but for the Patriots, who lost in their previous two Super Bowl appearances here by a combined score of 81-31.

St. Louis finished with the NFL's best record and seeks its second Super Bowl title in three years.

The Rams posted a 24-17 victory at New England on November 18 and dominated statistically, getting 26 first downs to 13 for the Patriots and 482 yards to 230. But St. Louis coach Mike Martz had a premonition after that game.

"I told the guys that night they beat a Super Bowl-caliber team," Martz said. "They were certainly the most physical team we played."

"(Martz) was right," Rams receiver Isaac Bruce said. "They played us well and went on to win eight straight after that. He definitely knew what he was talking about."

The Patriots trailed 10-7 in the second quarter and were marching for the go-ahead touchdown. But Antowain Smith fumbled after being hit by linebacker London Fletcher at the St. Louis 3 and cornerback Aeneas Williams recovered for the Rams.

It was the turning point of the game as Warner directed an eight-play, 97-yard drive that culminated with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Pro Bowl running back Marshall Faulk with 31 seconds left in the half.

"I lost that game against the Rams. I take responsibility for it," Smith said. "I'm happy for the chance to play against them again."

But Patriots coach Bill Belichick cannot be happy to see the Rams again. Known for his intricate defensive game plans with a multitude of blitz schemes, Belichick had difficulty combating St. Louis' explosive attack. Warner completed 30 of 42 passes for a season-high 401 yards and three touchdowns, Faulk accounted for 153 yards and Bruce caught seven passes for 130 yards.

New England intercepted Warner twice, one of which nickel back Terrell Buckley returned 52 yards for a touchdown.

Meanwhile, St. Louis' defense intercepted Tom Brady twice and held the Pats to 10 points. Fletcher starred with 11 tackles, an interception and the pivotal forced fumble.

  New England QB Tom Brady says he'll be ready to go on Sunday.
  New England QB Tom Brady says he'll be ready to go on Sunday. 

Brady will get the Super Bowl start after proving during the week that his sprained left ankle is healed. If not, the Pats will turn to backup Drew Bledsoe, who suffered a chest injury in Week 2 and lost his starting job to Brady.

A 2000 sixth-round draft pick, Brady led the Patriots to an 11-3 record and the AFC East title and threw for 312 yards in the snow in a divisional playoff win over Oakland.

Bledsoe, who was signed to a 10-year contract last March, finally got a chance to play again when Brady suffered a sprained ankle late in the first half of last week's AFC championship game. And the nine-year veteran showed no signs of rust, passing for a touchdown and committing no turnovers in a 24-17 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Brady will have to make more than his share of plays to match the Rams on turf, where their speed is accentuated.

Belichick probably will start with five defensive backs to contain receivers Bruce, Torry Holt and Az-Zahir Hakim.

"Definitely the best group of receivers I ever had to defend," Patriots cornerback Ty Law said. "And Kurt Warner is a very accurate quarterback."

And then there's Faulk, the only player in NFL history to gain more than 2,000 yards rushing and receiving in four straight seasons. Faulk and Williams were born and raised in New Orleans and both were vendors at the Superdome.

"I could not have written the script any better," said Williams, who celebrated his 34th birthday Tuesday. "To have this opportunity and to do it in front of your hometown in the Superdome, where I sold popcorn, peanuts and Coke, where I played high school and college games, is great."

Williams spent his first 10 years with lowly Arizona before he was acquired by the Rams last April. Martz paid him the ultimate compliment, saying Williams is as valuable to the defense as Faulk is to the offense.

On Sunday, Williams will match up against Brown, who set a club record with 101 catches. Brown seized the spotlight in the AFC championship game, returning a punt 55 yards for a touchdown, recovering a blocked punt and lateraling it for another score and catching eight passes for 121 yards.

St. Louis' revamped defense also has shined in the postseason, intercepting Brett Favre six times -- three of which were returned for touchdowns -- in a 45-17 rout of Green Bay in the divisional playoff and effectively containing Donovan McNabb in the NFC championship game win over Philadelphia.

Under defensive coordinator Lovie Smith, the Rams changed eight defensive starters and reduced their points allowed from 471 to 273. Fletcher, end Grant Wistrom and cornerback Dexter McCleon are the only defensive starters who remain from the Super Bowl team two years ago.

The Rams are appearing in their third Super Bowl overall, losing after the 1979 season to Pittsburgh and defeating Tennessee.

The Patriots were pounded by the Chicago Bears, 46-10, in Super Bowl XX and lost to Green Bay, 35-21, in Super Bowl XXXI.

Nine Patriots remain from that team, including Bledsoe, Law, Brown, safety Lawyer Milloy, cornerback Otis Smith and kicker Adam Vinatieri.

New Orleans is hosting the Super Bowl for a record ninth time.

The Rams lead the series, 5-3.
Copyright 2002 SportsTicker Enterprises, L.P.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: masslist; monacofreetedmaher
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I believe this is the first championship for a professional New England team since the '86 Celtics. I watched that one, too, all those years ago.
1,001 posted on 02/03/2002 6:12:25 PM PST by TrappedInLiberalHell
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To: Dales
PATRIOTS!!!!!
1,002 posted on 02/03/2002 6:12:27 PM PST by MassExodus
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James Brown just compared this upset to when we thumbed our noses at King George! Hoo-yah!
1,003 posted on 02/03/2002 6:12:28 PM PST by CounterCounterCulture
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To: Canavan
Oh Stop It! Try to be a gracious winner. New England its a liberal den of Kennedys. It was for that reason I was rooting for thePATs. You guys deserve a break.
1,004 posted on 02/03/2002 6:12:30 PM PST by Temple Owl
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To: Poohbah
The jinx is gone! Whoohoo!
1,005 posted on 02/03/2002 6:12:34 PM PST by VRWC For Truth
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To: Bogey78O
good game though
1,006 posted on 02/03/2002 6:12:39 PM PST by Bogey78O
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To: henbane
I CANNOT FREAKIN BELIEVE IT
1,007 posted on 02/03/2002 6:12:42 PM PST by TheRedSoxWinThePennant
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To: Tennessee_Bob
And I thought I knew you....... I cannot claim you as a friend any longer.........
1,008 posted on 02/03/2002 6:12:45 PM PST by Texaggie79
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To: strela
The thing is, this game went absolutely no differently than most of the Pat's games this season. The defense does the job, the offense tanks until the last minute and Adam V's foot wins it. Old hat, same old, same old.
Holy crap! They won the SB. Too freakin' sweet!
1,009 posted on 02/03/2002 6:13:00 PM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts
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To: Dan from Michigan
"bwahahahahahaha"

very mature! ;)

That was the BEST football game I ever watched!!! :)

1,010 posted on 02/03/2002 6:13:13 PM PST by SunnyUsa
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To: Bogey78O
"Where was that terrorist attack we were promised?"

On the field ... werencha' watchin?

1,011 posted on 02/03/2002 6:13:20 PM PST by knarf
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Well, St. Louis, Mo. and New England (whatever state that city is in) are probably being torn to shreds right now. Call the local Nationwide(tm) man.
1,012 posted on 02/03/2002 6:13:30 PM PST by InvisibleChurch
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To: swheats
You are welcome, and I am going to bed.
1,013 posted on 02/03/2002 6:13:37 PM PST by Admin Moderator
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To: Admin Moderator
Good job, Mr./Ms. Moderator.
1,014 posted on 02/03/2002 6:13:39 PM PST by Diddle E. Squat
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To: sinkspur
Pres. Bush has nothing to do with it, I didn't blame him.
1,015 posted on 02/03/2002 6:13:43 PM PST by StriperSniper
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To: SamAdams76
Congrats! One for the ages.
1,016 posted on 02/03/2002 6:13:47 PM PST by #3Fan
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To: VRWC For Truth
Hey Rush, see we told YOU so, LOL Com'on Rush eat your crow!
1,017 posted on 02/03/2002 6:13:52 PM PST by VRWC For Truth
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To: henbane
How appropriate, in a time when patriotism is in, the Patriots win. Congratulations, Pats.
1,018 posted on 02/03/2002 6:13:53 PM PST by 3catsanadog
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To: Diddle E. Squat
halftime experience that will never be forgotten for anyone under 40

What is this "anyone under 40"? U2 was formed in 1976 - when I was 15! They are the band of OUR generation thank you very much!
1,019 posted on 02/03/2002 6:14:29 PM PST by GussiedUp
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To: Dales
Well, I used to live in both NE and StL but I was raised in another one of the old AFL cities so I'm kinda happy for NE! GO PATS!
1,020 posted on 02/03/2002 6:14:30 PM PST by mafree
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