On paper, the Carolina Panthers – a team two years removed from a 1-15 season, and coming off their franchise’s second-ever winning record – had little chance against the Patriots in Super Bowl 38. New England, aiming for its second Super Bowl title in three years, had gone 14-2 in the regular season and were 7-point favorites. But this game, played in Houston on February 1, 2004, would be decided in the final moments. A pair of Tom Brady touchdown passes in the second quarter gave New England a 14-10 lead, which remained unchanged until a high-scoring fourth. The Patriots went up 21-10, but two Carolina touchdowns, including an 85-yard TD pass by Jake Delhomme, gave the Panthers a one-point lead. In the final three minutes, Brady (354 yards passing) and Delhomme (323 yards passing) traded touchdown throws, but New England got the ball back with 1:08 left. The score was 29-29, in part because Carolina had failed on a pair of 2-point conversions, while the Patriots had succeeded on one. Now, Brady drove the Patriots into field goal range, where Adam Vinatieri nailed a 41-yarder with nine seconds left to clinch the Super Bowl, the second of their 21st century dynasty. ― NFL 100
Box Score: Football Reference
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