Positioned perfectly

HOUSTON -- The play is called 136-X-Cross-Z-Flag. What those words, numbers, and characters represent in that order is immaterial, and certainly the Patriots aren't telling.

But here is the translation: Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel lines up in the tight end position, and when the play is run correctly, he catches a pass from Tom Brady.

It was run so well last night that the result was one of the most memorable postseason touchdown passes in Patriots history, the final touchdown in New England's 32-29 Super Bowl triumph over the Carolina Panthers.

Vrabel caught a 1-yard pass with 2:51 remaining to put the Patriots ahead, 27-22. Kevin Faulk ran in a 2-point conversion, making it 29-22. The touchdown followed a whirlwind second half in which New England went ahead by 11, then fell behind, 22-21.

"We can't have three tight ends, so I guess I win by default and we've been running it and running it and running it," said Vrabel, holding his 3-year-old son Tyler while addressing reporters after the game. "It's called 136-X-Cross-Z-Flag, and I had a chance on that one so I perk up and I know I have a chance to catch it.

"Tom put it in there, and you don't drop it, just pretend like it's a kid," he added. "It was an unbelievable feeling because I knew all week that I had a chance, that the play was in and I was up. It's a blur right now."

It was the culmination of an exceptional game by Vrabel, who finished with 6 tackles, 2 sacks, and 1 forced fumble. But that paled in comparison to the touchdown, a play that he and Patriots coach Bill Belichick said is usually open for a solid gain whenever it's run.

"Mike always makes that play, he's always open," said Belichick. "Tom made a great throw but Mike made an even better catch."

Vrabel caught a touchdown pass last season against San Diego. Prior to that, he hadn't caught a pass since high school. But he knew he could, even with everything on the line.

"That's one thing I don't worry about. I have decent hands," he said. "If I can get to it, I can catch it."

Describing the play, he said, "I'm on the left side, and I come across and I try to come underneath the linebackers. The [defenders] are always trailing on that play. They think I'm a blocker."

Vrabel saved the football and will likely build a room in his home to display it. "I don't think as players we realize what we're doing as we do it. Maybe when you're down the road and you look back, you say, `This is a touchdown ball that I caught in the Super Bowl.' I won't do anything with it for a little while."

After the play, Vrabel headed to the sideline and he and Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel chatted before Vrabel went back onto the field. Crennel wanted to make certain Vrabel shifted to a defensive mode.

"I was talking to him about something [Carolina] had done. They had gotten outside our pocket on our pass rush and threw the ball down the field," said Crennel. "What they had done was to bring the tight end over and blocked the outside rusher. So I just reminded him that's what they were doing, so when he was in there he would be aware of it."

But the Panthers scored again, marching 80 yards in seven plays, capping the 1-minute-43-second drive with a 12-yard pass from Jake Delhomme to wide receiver Ricky Proehl.

"[New England's defense] was great at times and it was kind of porous at times," said Vrabel. "I think the sign of a great defense is one that will choke you out, that will get you down and choke the life out of you. We let them back in it. It was just a couple of big plays. But that doesn't matter. We were prepared and we made enough plays at the end to win."

Still, Vrabel said in the moments leading up to Adam Vinatieri's winning field goal, he got as far away as he could. "I was down at the other 30 [yard line]," he said. "I'm trying to put things in perspective. I say, `If he makes it, we're world champions.'

"I'm thinking, if he misses it, I'm trying to think what to expect because they just had a great drive against us. So I'm thinking, `If he misses it, we have to communicate better than on the last drive or they're going to come out and do the same thing and walk it down the field.' "

As the questions about the touchdown kept coming, Vrabel cut them short, eager to keep from spoiling the moment by overanalyzing it. "I really don't want to revisit that, guys. This is just too important of a night," he said. "It's just something where they need me and they don't have a third tight end and they put me in there."