Game Recaps

QB Jake Delhomme was rattled early in the game and started 1-9-1 passing. Delhomme kept his head in the game and rebounded with three TD passes including two in the fourth quarter.

RB Stephen Davis was stuffed by DT Ted Washington play after play. His 21-yard run just before half set up a FG, but barely averaged 2 yards per on the rest of his carries.

The Panther defense attempted to blitz and harass QB Tom Brady throughout the game, but wasn't able to sack him even once. Combined with their inability to shut down the run, this allowed the Patriots to keep Carolina on their heels.

New England Patriots

QB Tom Brady was efficient and sharp on his way to his 2nd super bowl MVP award in three years. Brady's only obvious mistake was a late interception in the end zone, but he rebounded on the following drive to take back the lead.

RB Antowain Smith ran hard and was able to keep the Panther defense honest. His effectiveness allowed the Patriots to effectively utilize play action passes throughout the game.

WRs Deion Branch (14), David Givens (10), and Troy Brown (10) all saw double-digit targets. Branch was the most effective WR for the Patriots, but it's hard to say whether he was a clear cut #1. With the game on the line late, QB Tom Brady continued to spread the ball evenly to all three of his WRs.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Carolina Panthers

QB: Jake Delhomme: (16-33-323 3 TD) Delhomme overcame a horrendous start and led the Panthers to three 4th quarter touchdowns. Delhomme looked uncomfortable early in the game as the Patriots bombarded him with a heavy rush and mixed things up. Delhomme kept his eyes down field and made big plays. However, on several occasions Delhomme pump faked at open WRs underneath and then attempted to rifle a pass down field looking for the big play. It was truly a feast or famine strategy. Of his 16 completions in the game, only three went for less than 12 yards as opposed to eighteen for his opponent.

RB: Stephen Davis: (13-49 rushing, 0-0 receiving on 0 targets) Davis was shut down and removed from the game. DT Ted Washington dominated the interior of the Panther offensive line and kept Davis from being able to break into the secondary. His carry line in the first half went 2, 5, 2, 2, 3, 4, -2, 5, 21. The 21-yarder at the end of the first half set up a 50-yard FG. At the outset of the second half there was a glimmer of hope as Davis burst through the line for a 14-yard gain, but it was called back by a holding penalty. His last four carries were a repeat of the first half leading to the Panthers complete abandonment of the power running attack.

DeShaun Foster: (3-43 1 TD rushing, 1-9 receiving on 2 targets) Foster replaced Davis in the fourth quarter as the Panthers had to abandon the original game plan. Foster made a great run off left guard breaking a tackle and sprinting down the sideline for a 33-yard TD that quickly answered a New England score.

WR: Steve Smith: (4-80 1 TD receiving on 9 targets) Smith answered the first Patriot TD with a quick 39-yard TD reception. Smith had a tough time shaking CB Ty Law when he lined up on him, but found life much easier when Law was on the opposite side of the field. Smith also had a nice pair of leaping grabs early in the fourth quarter to set up the Foster TD run.

Muhsin Muhammad: (4-140 1 TD receiving on 11 targets) Muhammad pulled in a Super Bowl record 85-yard TD from Delhomme on 3rd and 10 immediately after QB Tom Brady had thrown an interception in the end zone. Muhammad's other three receptions were all down field (23, 13, and 19 yards).

Ricky Proehl: (4-71 1 TD receiving on 6 targets) Proehl came up big with a 31-yard reception down the seam setting up his 12-yard TD. Besides his other two receptions in the second quarter, Proehl also had a reception at the outset of the fourth quarter, but it was called back due to a penalty.

Kevin Dyson: (0-0 receiving on 1 targets) Dyson's only target came on a two-point attempt. The play was a fade to the corner of the end zone, but it was overthrown and the CB did a good job of forcing Dyson too far to the sideline.

TE: Kris Mangum: (1-2 receiving on 3 targets) Mangum may have started as the TE, but he was an afterthought in the Carolina passing attack.

Jermaine Wiggins: (2-21 receiving on 2 targets) Wiggins entered the game in the third quarter and made both his receptions on consecutive plays.

K: John Kasay: (1-1 FG 50, 2-2 XP) Kasay hit his only FG attempt from deep, but made a crucial mistake after the Panthers tied up the game late in the fourth quarter. His kick off out of bounds gave the ball to the Patriots at the 40-yard line.

Pass Defense: The Carolina front seven went from blitzing all over the place to second guessing themselves and getting fooled by play action. Defensive backs were left exposed for extended periods of time due to the inability of the Carolina pass rush to get to QB Tom Brady. They hit him a few times, but were unable to sack him at all, or consistently put pressure on him.

Rush Defense: Carolina was not able to put the Patriots in obvious passing downs. RB Antowain Smith had just enough meaningful carries (8 carries of at least 5 yards) that forced the Panthers to respect the run.

New England Patriots

QB: Tom Brady: (32-48-354 3 TD 1 INT passing, 2-12 rushing) Brady was accurate and seemed in control of the game from the outset. The Panthers attempted to bring heat from all directions, but Brady coolly moved around in the pocket and bought time allowing his WRs to come open. Even when the Panthers did get to Brady he was able to get the ball out and for the most part, didn't make crucial mistakes while avoiding sacks. He did make one potentially huge error throwing the interception in the red zone where Carolina scored a TD on the ensuing drive.

RB: Antowain Smith: (26-83 1 TD rushing, 0-0 receiving on 0 targets) Smith ran hard and was just effective enough to keep the Panthers honest. Several of the Patriots big plays came off play action that were effective because safeties and linebackers were stepping forward into the line instead of backpedaling into coverage. He wasn't spectacular in any sense of the word, but he was efficient enough to get the win.

Kevin Faulk: (6-42 rushing 2 pt, 4-19 receiving on 4 targets) Faulk filled his third-down back role as he typically did. In a surprise he had the first New England carry of the game, but gave way to RB Antowain Smith for the bulk of work. All four of Faulk's receptions came in the second half. Faulk had the longest carry in the game (23 yards) that took the Patriots inside the 10-yard line just before Brady's interception.

WR: Deion Branch: (10-143 1 TD receiving on 14 targets) Branch burst out of the gate catching four of QB Tom Brady's first five completions. He hauled in the first score and followed it up with a 52-yard bomb just before half setting up another Brady TD pass. Branch was consistent throughout the game seeing at least three targets in every quarter and making at least two receptions in each quarter as well. Branch also made the last reception of the game setting up PK Adam Vinatieri's game winning FG.

Troy Brown: (8-76 receiving on 12 targets, 1- -10 rushing) Brown was Brady's underneath security blanket. His longest reception was only 13 yards. He did a great job of making himself available and making a few tough grabs while getting popped.

David Givens: (5-69 receiving on 10 targets) Givens was nowhere to be seen at the outset of the game, but QB Tom Brady looked his way heavily in the second quarter including his 5-yard TD. Givens disappeared again in the third quarter, but rebounded in the fourth making two nice 25-yard receptions. Besides his TD, Givens was also targeted two other times in the end zone.

Bethel Johnson: (0-0 receiving on 1 target) Johnson was targeted only once on a deep ball in the third quarter. He also returned kickoffs as he usually does.

Dedric Ward: (0-0 receiving on 1 target) Ward saw his only target in the first quarter, then wasn't heard from again.

TE: Dan Graham: (4-46 receiving on 4 targets) Graham made a nice reception down the seam and showed he has the wheels to stretch the field, but it doesn't appear that he is favored in the red zone yet.

Christian Fauria: (0-0 receiving on 2 targets) Both of Fauria's targets came in the end zone. His second target may have very well been a TD and a blown call, but there was a defensive holding call on the play and the Patriots opted not to risk a time out for replay as RB Antowain Smith scored from 1 yard out on the next play.

K: Adam Vinatieri: (1-3 FG, missed 31 & 36, made 41, 3-3 XP) Vinatieri missed from 31 yards wide right and had another blocked. The Panthers got good push up the middle on the blocked kick, but it didn't appear that Vinatieri got any elevation on the kick either. Vinatieri rebounded to kick his second Super Bowl game winner in three years.

Pass Defense: Carolina avoided CB Ty Law. All three of QB Jake Delhomme's passes went over DBs not named Law. WR Steve Smith torched Tyrone Poole on a TD bomb and WR Muhsin Muhammad burned Wilson on a record setting deep ball. Both Wilson and safety Rodney Harrison left the game with injuries. The Patriot pass rush dropped Delhomme four times including twice by LB Mike Vrabel. Their pass rush kept Delhomme jumpy all game long.

Rush Defense: DT Ted Washington dominated. He took on double teams all game long and didn't budge. Praise will get heaped on lots of skill position players as they are easy to identify, but Washington played an equally important role in the outcome of the game. RB Stephen Davis had nowhere to go as the Panthers continued to pound between the tackles with no success.