<P> Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football game between the National Football Conference ( NFC ) champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference ( AFC ) champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League ( NFL ) champion for the 2001 season . The Patriots defeated the Rams by the score of 20 -- 17 . It was New England 's first Super Bowl championship , and the franchise 's first league championship of any kind , having suffered two previous losses . The game was also notable for snapping the AFC East 's long streak of not being able to win a Super Bowl championship , as the division 's teams had lost eight Super Bowls in total ( prior to the Patriots victory in XXXVI ) . </P>
<P> Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football game between the National Football Conference ( NFC ) champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference ( AFC ) champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League ( NFL ) champion for the 2001 season . The Patriots defeated the Rams by the score of 20 -- 17 . It was New England 's first Super Bowl championship , and the franchise 's first league championship of any kind , having suffered two previous losses . The game was also notable for snapping the AFC East 's long streak of not being able to win a Super Bowl championship , as the division 's teams had lost eight Super Bowls in total ( prior to the Patriots victory in XXXVI ) . </P>
when did the patriots win their first super bowl
when did the patriots win their first super bowl
2001
2001