Sidelights to the game
BESTS AND WORSTS
Worst first-half decision: After taking a 14-7 lead with fewer than 20 seconds to go, the Patriots had Adam Vinatieri squib the kickoff, which tight end Kris Mangum returned near midfield. After Stephen Davis broke through a Patriot defense that was expecting a pass, John Kasay slammed home a 50-yard field goal to slice Carolina's deficit to 14-10.
Worst first quarter: Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme was 1 of 6 for 1 yard.
Worst first half: Vinatieri, for the poor squib kick, a missed 31-yard field goal attempt, and another fairly easy field goal (from 36 yards) that was blocked.
Best defensive ESP: Carolina linebacker Will Witherspoon, who crunched Troy Brown on a reverse for a 10-yard loss that took New England out of field goal range in the first quarter.
Worst imitation: Carolina's Matt Willig was flagged for "simulating the snap" when the Patriots lined up for a field goal attempt on New England's first possession. The penalty moved Vinatieri 5 yards closer, but he missed from 31.
Worst attempt at a block: Panthers wide receiver Ricky Proehl had the job of blocking Rodney Harrison on Davis's sweep to the right on second and 10 early in the second quarter. Harrison tossed him aside like he was air and helped stop Davis for a 2-yard loss.
Best coverage: The roof of Reliant Stadium was closed starting at 4:37 p.m. EST. For bettors (and we're sure there was a line on it), it took about seven minutes to close. For the record, it was mostly clear and sunny when it was shut, though the forecast called for cloudy, cool, and wet conditions.
Worst competition: Patriots fans had to outnumber Panthers fans 10-1. It was hard to find anyone wearing a Panthers jersey, whereas middle-age men in Patriots shirts were so prevalent it was silly.
Best thing about Super Bowl week ending: No more suffering through the stale and tired act that is Warren Sapp.
Worst Sunday dress: The pinstripe shirt (he looked like he had a prison suit on) worn by Deion Sanders on one of the 14 pregame shows on CBS.
Best pregame scramble: Hall of Famer John Elway making his way through the lobby of the Hilton Americas Hotel, which could be called "The Yahoo Capital of the Sporting World." When asked if he were sticking around for the game, Elway looked like he couldn't get out of town fast enough. The crowd in the lobby and outside the hotel appeared to be an obstacle, only Elway got through the madness with a deftness that rivaled his great two-minute drills.
Best pregame run: Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, whose incomparable form was shown on the video screen during a pregame tribute to NFL dignitaries who have died in the past year.
Worst takeoff: The sixth and final parachuter, who stumbled against a steel rafter as Aerosmith was singing "Dream On."
Best pregame handoff: Toby Keith jumping into a Waylon Jennings song, then handing the microphone to Willie Nelson.
Best toss by a Hall of Fame quarterback: Y.A. Tittle did the honors on the coin flip. The Panthers called tails and won the toss.
Worst deal: It was $7 for a cup of beer inside Reliant Stadium.
Best way to get the crowd angry: Perhaps the "P" stands for Panther because rapper P. Diddy wore a No. 90 Carolina jersey out for his halftime act. That got the Reliant Stadium crowd, which was more Patriots than Panthers, quite riled up.
Worst way to get the crowd from going to the refreshment stand between halves: Janet Jackson added some spice -- albeit the R-rated type -- to her halftime performance when Justin Timberlake grabbed her outfit and caused her breast to be bared. "CBS deeply regrets the incident," said a prepared press release from the network. "We attended all rehearsals throughout the week and there was no indications that any such thing would happen."
Best dive: Panther DeShaun Foster's artistic leap into the end zone early in the fourth quarter that cut the Patriots' lead to 21-16.
Best contrast in owner composure: When the Panthers went up, 22-21, Carolina owner Jerry Richardson merely stayed in his seat and applauded. Whenever the Patriots did anything, the Krafts -- Robert and Jonathan -- nearly fell out of the skyboxes, except on the field-goal try with eight seconds left; at that point, the Krafts all held hands as if they were involved in a seance.
INJURY REPORT
Rodney Harrison, broken right arm.
Eugene Wilson, groin/hip flexor.
