Patriots Fans Dreams Come True
New England fans have seen this ending before.
When Adam Vinatieri's winning field goal split the uprights with 4 seconds left in the Super Bowl, fans across New England celebrated - just as they had in 2001 when the Patriots also won the title on the power of his right foot.
"Could you ask for a better script? It's a Hollywood ending - again," said Jim Jackson, 44, of Boston.
After the Patriots beat Carolina 32-29 on Sunday night in Houston, quarterback Tom Brady immediately prepared fans for an even bigger celebration when the team returns for a parade Tuesday.
"Be careful on the T (Boston's subway system) - don't tear that thing down!" Brady said during postgame ceremonies.
For the most part, fans across the region heeded Brady's words and behaved themselves, though there were some reports of disruptions in Boston's Kenmore Square and at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.
Across New England, fans held their breath after Vinatieri uncharacteristically flubbed two previous field goals. Still, they remained faithful to a man who has come through in the clutch in past close situations.
At the Ivy Tavern in Providence, R.I., Terrie McAloon of New Shoreham, leaped and yelled "Vinatieri is the man!"
"It's unbelievable," added her boyfriend, Rob Weintraub. "That's one lucky win."
Carolina, which trailed most of the game, came back twice in the fourth quarter, tying the game with less than two minutes remaining. The comeback had Patriots fans thinking about another local team - the Boston Red Sox - that hasn't been as lucky at the end of close, crucial games.
"It looks like the curse is only on the Red Sox," Jackson said.
Panthers fans in the Carolinas had their own curses for Super Bowl XXXVIII.
The dejected fans shuffling out of bars in Charlotte, N.C., praised their heroes' performance in what was their first ever Super Bowl matchup.
"I'm not disappointed. I am proud of them," said Rhonda Hull, 33, of Charlotte. "I hate that it ended this way. But it was a great season."
Rhonda watched the game at Coach's Sports Bar and Grill in south Charlotte with husband Chris.
"They represented us well," he said.
Scott Marquess, 41 of Charlotte, wore a Panthers jersey and carried a blue pompom as he departed Coach's. He said he was disappointed, but spoke highly of the team.
"We showed the resiliency that we showed all year on the field. (Jake) Delhomme played great in the second half," he said. "Heck, we weren't even supposed to be here, then we beat St. Louis, beat Philly and we almost did it today."
The game also sparked cheers and jeers thousands of miles away - in Iraq.
The game was broadcast live in Iraq for the benefit of the 130,000 U.S. troops who are on duty there, and many did take Uncle Sam up on the opportunity for a few hours of non-military activity.
GIs who were otherwise engaged, or who passed on getting up at 2:25 a.m. Iraq time to catch the game, will have a second chance to see Super Bowl XXXVIII, as it was taped for replay at a less rugged hour.
We can't promise that no one will tell them how the game turned out.