PATS BY A FOOT SUPER BOWL DECIDED BY LATE KICK NEW ENGLAND 32, CAROLINA 29.

Byline: BILLY WITZ

HOUSTON - When Adam Vinatieri's 41-yard field goal sailed through a sea of flashbulbs and split the uprights, it did more than give the New England Patriots a 32-29 victory over the Carolina Panthers and their second Super Bowl title in three years.

It also summed up the story of Vinatieri, the Patriots and Super Bowl XXXVIII: It's not how you start, but how you finish.

Vinatieri, whose last-second kick beat St. Louis in the Super Bowl two years ago, had one kick blocked and missed another earlier Sunday.

The Patriots started the past season in disarray with a 31-0 loss to Buffalo and a locker room in turmoil after the club's release of popular leader Lawyer Milloy, who wouldn't take a salary cut.

The game itself began as no thing of beauty either, with neither team able to score until nearly 27 minutes had elapsed, the longest drought to start any game in Super Bowl history.

But, in the end, the Pats couldn't have been better.

``This never gets old,'' Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. ``There was the field goal at the end of the game. This game was such a back-and-forth game to watch. It was a terrific game to watch. It wasn't so great to coach. I was just about having a heart attack there.''

Belichick should be used to these thrills by now.

The victory was the Patriots' 10th this season by a touchdown or less, as well as their fourth playoff game in the last three years to be won by a late Vinatieri field goal.

The win establishes New England as the closest thing to a dynasty in this era of the salary cap and free agency, where players move so freely between teams. The Patriots and Denver, which won back-to-back titles in '97 and '98, are the only teams to win more than one title in the last 10 years.

``It's another ring,'' said linebacker Mike Vrabel, as his eldest son Tyler sat on his lap. ``I've got two little boys. They can take 'em to show and tell.''

Vrabel is typical of the team the Patriots have put together. An unwanted free agent who played mostly special teams in Pittsburgh, Vrabel proved again Sunday to be a versatile playmaker. He forced a fumble from Carolina quarterback Jake Delhomme to set up the Patriots' first score, and later scored the last touchdown when he lined up at tight end on the Carolina goal line and caught a pass.

The only discernible star on the team is quarterback Tom Brady, known less for his great play than for his celebrity status in Boston and his ability to perform in the clutch.

Brady, who has never lost a playoff game, won his second Super Bowl MVP honors by completing a Super Bowl-record 32 passes in 48 attempts for a season-high 354 yards and three touchdowns.

He rebounded from a critical mistake - throwing a fourth-quarter interception in the Carolina end zone that the Panthers used to take a 22-21 lead - and led the Patriots to a touchdown and field goal on their last two drives.

``There's a lot of people that get more notoriety than Tom Brady,'' New England offensive coordinator Charlie Weis said. ``But who would you rather have running a two-minute drill in today's football?''

The same question might apply to Belichick: Who would you rather have coaching a big game?

Just as he did two years ago - and as he did as a defensive coordinator for the New York Giants - Belichick made all the right moves in the Super Bowl.

The difference between him and counterpart John Fox of Carolina was highlighted on two-point conversions. Fox chose to go for one when the Panthers pulled within 21-16 with 12:39 left in the game.

The Panthers failed and, trying to make up for that miss, failed on their next touchdown. If Carolina had kicked both times, Vinatieri's kick would have sent the game into overtime, not win it.

Then there were the conversion plays themselves. Carolina quarterback Delhomme wasn't close on a couple of throws. New England converted its two-pointer when halfback Kevin Faulk took a direct snap from center and bulled his way through the surprised Carolina line.

``With what he's done,'' Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson said of his coach, ``there should be a statue of him.''

Many of the Patriots also saluted Carolina, particularly Delhomme. Virtually unknown outside his small Louisiana town at the start of the season, Delhomme shook off early nerves and rallied Carolina to three fourth-quarter touchdowns.

The Patriots also saluted their fans in Boston, who, after surviving decades of Red Sox heartbreak and years of disappointment from the Celtics and Bruins, have latched on to their football team.

``Careful on that city - don't tear it down,'' Brady told the people back home. ``We'll be back there tomorrow. We want to see it Tuesday for the parade.''

And, with the Patriots, you don't want to miss the finish.

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Photo:

(color) New England kicker Adam Vinatieri, arms raised, is swarmed by teammates Ken Walter, left, and Christian Fauria as the Patriots beat Carolina in Super Bowl XXXVIII on Sunday.

Dave Martin/Associated Press