2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League ( NFL ) . In the wake of the September 11 attacks , the NFL 's week 2 games ( September 16 and 17 ) were postponed and rescheduled to the weekend of January 6 and 7 . In order to retain the full playoff format , all playoff games , including Super Bowl XXXVI , were rescheduled one week later . The New England Patriots won the Super Bowl , defeating the St. Louis Rams 20 – 17 at the Louisiana Superdome
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
2001 NFL season