Belichick 20/20: #1 Super Bowl 36: The Dynasty Begins

For the final installment of Belichick 20/20 and one more Super Bowl to look back on, this week we revisit Bill Belichick’s greatest game; Super Bowl 36. The “Cinderella story” 11-5 Patriots were squaring off against the 14-2 “Greatest Show on Turf” St. Louis Rams. The Rams were a 14-point favorite coming in to Super Bowl Sunday; the Patriots were also a 14-point underdog in the 1997 Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers. The Rams were heavily favored partly because of the play of the 2001 NFL MVP, Kurt Warner, but also because of the Rams week 10 victory over the Patriots; the last loss the Patriots would suffer in the 2001 season. The Rams would strike first in Super Bowl 36 when Jeff ‘Money’ Wilkins would hit a 50-yard field goal. However, after an unforgettable Ty Law pick-six, a David Patten leaping touchdown grab and an Adam Vinatieri field-goal, the Patriots would take a 17-3 lead going in to the fourth quarter. Warner and company would have their first red zone possession at the start of the fourth quarter, and after a dropped Lawyer Milloy end zone interception Warner would scramble in for a touchdown. After a couple of drives to nowhere, the Rams would tie the game up with a 1:30 left to play. Many imagined Belichick would have his young, inexperienced, sixth round quarterback run the clock out and play for overtime. But, after three straight check down passes to J.R. Redmond, a 23 yard pass to Troy Brown and a short pass to Jermaine Wiggins, the Patriots were in range for Adam Vinatieri. And as most are familiar with, Vinatieri would drill a 48-yard field goal as time expired to give the Patriots their first Super Bowl.