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Date | February 1, 2004 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Stadium | Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas | ||||||||||||||||||
MVP | Tom Brady, quarterback | ||||||||||||||||||
Favorite | Patriots by 7[1][2] | ||||||||||||||||||
Referee | Ed Hochuli | ||||||||||||||||||
Attendance | 71,525[3] | ||||||||||||||||||
Hall of Famers | |||||||||||||||||||
Panthers: Julius Peppers, Sam Mills (Asst. Coach) Patriots: Ty Law, Richard Seymour | |||||||||||||||||||
Ceremonies | |||||||||||||||||||
National anthem | Beyoncé | ||||||||||||||||||
Coin toss | Earl Campbell, Ollie Matson, Don Maynard, Y. A. Tittle, Mike Singletary, Gene Upshaw | ||||||||||||||||||
Halftime show | Jessica Simpson, Ocean of Soul, Spirit of Houston, Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, P. Diddy, Kid Rock, and Nelly | ||||||||||||||||||
TV in the United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Network | CBS | ||||||||||||||||||
Announcers | Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms, Armen Keteyian and Bonnie Bernstein | ||||||||||||||||||
Nielsen ratings | 41.4 (est. 89.8 million viewers)[4] | ||||||||||||||||||
Market share | 63 | ||||||||||||||||||
Cost of 30-second commercial | $2.2 million | ||||||||||||||||||
Radio in the United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Network | Westwood One | ||||||||||||||||||
Announcers | Marv Albert, Boomer Esiason, John Dockery and John Riggins | ||||||||||||||||||
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game between the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Carolina Panthers and the American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 2003 season. The Patriots defeated the Panthers by a score of 32–29.[5] The game was played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, on February 1, 2004. At the time, this was the most watched Super Bowl ever with 89.8 million viewers.[6]
The Panthers were making their first ever Super Bowl appearance after posting an 11–5 regular season record. They also made it the second straight year that a team from the NFC South division made the Super Bowl, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers winning Super Bowl XXXVII. The Patriots, led by head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, were seeking their second Super Bowl title in three years after posting a 14–2 record.
NFL fans and sports writers widely consider this game one of the most well-played and thrilling Super Bowls; Sports Illustrated writer Peter King hailed it as the "Greatest Super Bowl of all time."[7] Although neither team could score in the first and third quarters, making the first Super Bowl with two scoreless quarters, they ended up with a combined total of 868 yards and 61 points. The game was scoreless for a Super Bowl record 26:55 before the two teams combined for 24 points prior to halftime. The clubs then combined for a Super Bowl record 37 points in the fourth quarter. The contest was finally decided when the Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri's 41-yard field goal was made with four seconds left.[8] Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was named Super Bowl MVP for the second time in his career.
The game is also known for its controversial halftime show in which Janet Jackson's breast, adorned with a nipple shield, was exposed by Justin Timberlake for about half a second, in what was later referred to as a "wardrobe malfunction".[9] Along with the rest of the halftime show, it led to an immediate crackdown by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and widespread debate on perceived indecency in broadcasting.[9]