Bowl XXXVI. Bledsoe was also still there, but was now backing up Tom Brady, who was then just a second-year player who had thrown only three passes in his rookie season but had gone 11-3 as a starter to finish the regular season after Bledsoe had been knocked out in Week 2 against the Jets. (Bledsoe had replaced Brady after Pittsburgh's Lee Flowers knocked Brady out of the AFC Championship Game and proceeded to throw for a touchdown.) Law gave the Patriots a lead with an interception return for a touchdown off St. Louis' MVP Kurt Warner, and eventually, Vinatieri's 48-yard field goal as time expired following a clutch Brady drive – the first time a Super Bowl was won with a score on the final play – gave the Patriots a 20–17 upset victory and their first Super Bowl on their third visit to the Superdome on the NFL's ultimate stage. It also marked the birth of the Patriots' dynasty as the first of six Super Bowl victories in nine appearances under Brady and Belichick. Officials Referee: Gerald Austin #34 second Super Bowl (XXIV as side judge) Umpire: Ron Botchan #110 fourth Super Bowl (XX, XXVII, XXIX) Head Linesman: Earnie Frantz #111 second Super Bowl (XXIV) Line Judge: Jeff Bergman #32 first Super Bowl Back Judge: Scott Steenson #88 first Super Bowl Side Judge: Tom Fincken #47 second Super Bowl (XXIX) Field Judge: Phil Luckett #59 first Super Bowl Alternate Referee: Ed Hochuli #85 Alternate Umpire: Neil Gereb #50 Jeff Bergman and his father, Jerry Bergman Sr., became the first father-son combination to officiate Super Bowls. Jerry was the head linesman (now down judge) for four Super Bowls (XIII, XVI, XVIII, XXIII). References Specific General External links Super Bowl XXXI Memories Video. Super Bowl official website The Sporting News: History of the Super Bowl (Last accessed December 4, 2005) Large online database of NFL data and statistics Super Bowl play-by-plays from USA Today (Last accessed September 28, 2005) All-Time Super Bowl Odds from The Sports Network (Last accessed October 16, 2005) Green Bay Packers postseason New England Patriots postseason Super Bowl 1996 National Football League season 1997 in American football American football competitions in New Orleans 1997 in sports in Louisiana 1990s in New Orleans 1997 in American sports January 1997 sports events in the United States 1997 in American television Brett Favre