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Jet, Feb 16, 2004

The Super Bowl XXXVIII battle pitting the New England Patriots against the Carolina Panthers proved to be one of the most memorable football match-ups in recent NFL history thanks to a 41-yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri during the last seconds of the game and an unforgettable halftime show performance by Janet Jackson.

Following megastar and Houston native Beyonce Knowles' stirring rendition of the national anthem, nationwide anticipation was almost palatable over the Patriots, who had a league-leading 14 consecutive victories heading into the game, and the never-say-die Panthers, capable of pulling victory from almost impossible circumstances.

The gridiron was grid locked for most of the first half as two of the best defensive teams blotted out any hint of an offense for nearly 27 minutes, making it the slowest start in Super Bowl history.

But with 3:05 left in the first half New England and Carolina combined for 24 points and what started as a snoozer turned into a shootout.

The Patriots racked up 14 points, with QB Tom Brady's five-yard scoring passes to Deion Branch and David Givens. Carolina countered the game's first TD by Branch with quarterback Jake Delhomme's 39-yard touchdown pass to Steve Smith and Carolina ended the half with a field goal. Patriots 14- Panthers 10.

Super Bowl XXXVIII had finally heated up, but the real fireworks came during the halftime show--which featured such entertainers as Nelly, P. Diddy, Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson. P. Diddy and Nelly rocked Reliant stadium with their tag-team rapping styles.

But it was Janet Jackson who set off a furor at the internationally broadcast game during the closing dance routine with pop star Justin Timberlake. At the end of a song titled Rock Your Body, Timberlake tore Jackson's leather bustier as they sang: "Gonna have you naked by the end of this song," exposing a bosom to some 100 million viewers.

Jackson was a tough act to follow, but the two teams provided viewers with a spellbinding second half. After a scoreless third period, they racked up a record 37 points in the last quarter.

Eleven seconds into the fourth quarter, Antowain Smith's 2-yard run pushed New England's lead to 21. The Panthers' DeShaun Foster then ran for a 33-yard touchdown giving Carolina 16. With New England's next possession, Carolina's Reggie Howard intercepted Brady and Delhomme later hit Muhsin Muhammad for the longest touchdown play in Super Bowl history--85 yards. Patriots 21-Panthers 22. Brady next completes a 1-yard TD pass to linebacker Mike Vrabel, they get the conversion and rack up 29. Carolina scores on a 12-yard TD pass, they get the one-point conversion; the score is 29-29. With four seconds left in the game, Vinatieri makes New England's winning 41-yard field goal.

The Patriots' 32-29 victory was their second Super Bowl win in the last three years.