Historic Super Bowl win for Patriots

The New England Patriots, cast as underdogs all season, celebrated their new place as the NFL's new top dogs under a shower of red, white and blue confetti that began falling as the ball flew between the yellow uprights.

Kicker Adam Vinatieri and holder Ken Walter knew immediately that the 48-yard, last-play field goal would be good, giving the Patriots a 20-17 Super Bowl victory over the heavily favored St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

Even before the ball reached the goalpost they leaped in the air with upraised arms.

The Patriots rushed onto the field and mobbed Vinatieri, who had just given them the first Super Bowl win in their 42-year history.

"We shocked the world. We didn't shock ourselves," Vinatieri said. "We're champions."

The player's 37-yard field goal gave the Patriots a 17-3 lead with 1:18 left in the third quarter. His team needed him again after the Rams tied the game on Kurt Warner's touchdown run of 2 yards and a 26-yard pass to Ricky Proehl.

New England got the ball with 1:21 left and game MVP Brady completed five of seven passes to reach a second-and-4 at the Rams 30. The Patriots hurried to the line of scrimmage, and Brady spiked the ball, stopping the clock for the final play.