The Patriots opened the second half with the ball first and 10 on their own 26. They drove 5 plays to the Cardinals 47. Brady found Ben Watson over the middle for 14 yards, however, Adrian Wilson stripped him of the football and recovered at the 33. Warner drove the Cardinals 8 plays, 63 yards. The drive was capped off by a Warner to Boldin 18 yard touchdown pass. Arizona was right back into the game. The Patriots lead was narrowed to 24-17.
Arizona tried a daring on-side kick. It worked. Sam Aiken muffed the kickoff and Steve Breaston recovered. The Cardinals were in business at their own 43 with a chance to tie the game. Arizona drove 7 plays, 57 yards, capped off by a Warner to Boldin 11 yard touchdown connection. Warner was now on fire completing 4-5 on the drive for 52 yards. The Cardinals had eradicated a 21 point Patriots lead. The game was now tied 24-24 with 4:58 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The Patriots were forced to punt on their next possession. Then Warner found Larry Fitzgerald deep down field for a 72 yard touchdown. The Cardinals had scored 28 unanswered points, taking their first lead of the game 31-24.
ARIZONA 31 NEW ENGLAND 24 END 3RD QUARTER
On the first play of the 4th quarter, Brady found Moss for a 29 yard gain and a first down to the Cardinals 21. Two plays later, Brady connected with Kevin Faulk on a screen pass for a 14 yard touchdown. The game was now tied 31-31 with 13:32 remaining. The Cardinals gained one first down on their next drive before they were forced to punt. The Patriots drove from their own 24 to the Cardinals 24, leading to a 41 yard Gostkowski field goal. New England led 34-31 with 8:02 remaining in regulation.
Kurt Warner and the Cardinals answered on the ensuing drive. Warner was a perfect 5-5 on the drive for 57 yards. This set up an Edgerrin James 1 yard touchdown rush. The Cardinals now led 38-34 with 3:43 remaining.
On 3rd and 6 from the New England 32, Brady found Randy Moss for 21 yards and a first down into Cardinals territory at the 47. As the clock moved under 1:00 the Patriots drove to the Cardinals 16. The Patriots faced 3rd and 10 from the 16 with 0:52 remaining. Brady connected with Faulk on a screen but the play only gained 6 yards, well shy of the first down. The game was on the line as the Patriots faced 4th and 4 from the Arizona 10. Brady found Randy Moss in the end zone for a touchdown. The Patriots now led 41-38 with 0:37 remaining.
The Cardinals took over on their own 22 with 0:29 remaining. Warner found Larry Fitzgerald for 26 yards to the 48. 0:14 remained on the clock. One play later, Warner found Tim Hightower on a screen pass to the Patriots 34. Neil Rackers would have a shot at a game tying 51 yard field goal. Rackers kick went up………it sailed wide right….no good! The Patriots win Super Bowl XLII!!!!
FINAL NEW ENGLAND 41 ARIZONA 38
Game Statistics:
Brady completed 36 of 49 for 440 yards and 4 touchdowns. Wes Welker led the Patriots in receiving with 11 reception for 136 yards. Randy Moss added 7 catches for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns. For the Cardinals, Kurt Warner was 32 of 49 for a Super Bowl record 465 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. Larry Fitzgerald was their leading receiver with 9 catches for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Patriots outgained the Cardinals 513 to 495.
Arizona tried a daring on-side kick. It worked. Sam Aiken muffed the kickoff and Steve Breaston recovered. The Cardinals were in business at their own 43 with a chance to tie the game. Arizona drove 7 plays, 57 yards, capped off by a Warner to Boldin 11 yard touchdown connection. Warner was now on fire completing 4-5 on the drive for 52 yards. The Cardinals had eradicated a 21 point Patriots lead. The game was now tied 24-24 with 4:58 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
The Patriots were forced to punt on their next possession. Then Warner found Larry Fitzgerald deep down field for a 72 yard touchdown. The Cardinals had scored 28 unanswered points, taking their first lead of the game 31-24.
ARIZONA 31 NEW ENGLAND 24 END 3RD QUARTER
On the first play of the 4th quarter, Brady found Moss for a 29 yard gain and a first down to the Cardinals 21. Two plays later, Brady connected with Kevin Faulk on a screen pass for a 14 yard touchdown. The game was now tied 31-31 with 13:32 remaining. The Cardinals gained one first down on their next drive before they were forced to punt. The Patriots drove from their own 24 to the Cardinals 24, leading to a 41 yard Gostkowski field goal. New England led 34-31 with 8:02 remaining in regulation.
Kurt Warner and the Cardinals answered on the ensuing drive. Warner was a perfect 5-5 on the drive for 57 yards. This set up an Edgerrin James 1 yard touchdown rush. The Cardinals now led 38-34 with 3:43 remaining.
On 3rd and 6 from the New England 32, Brady found Randy Moss for 21 yards and a first down into Cardinals territory at the 47. As the clock moved under 1:00 the Patriots drove to the Cardinals 16. The Patriots faced 3rd and 10 from the 16 with 0:52 remaining. Brady connected with Faulk on a screen but the play only gained 6 yards, well shy of the first down. The game was on the line as the Patriots faced 4th and 4 from the Arizona 10. Brady found Randy Moss in the end zone for a touchdown. The Patriots now led 41-38 with 0:37 remaining.
The Cardinals took over on their own 22 with 0:29 remaining. Warner found Larry Fitzgerald for 26 yards to the 48. 0:14 remained on the clock. One play later, Warner found Tim Hightower on a screen pass to the Patriots 34. Neil Rackers would have a shot at a game tying 51 yard field goal. Rackers kick went up………it sailed wide right….no good! The Patriots win Super Bowl XLII!!!!
FINAL NEW ENGLAND 41 ARIZONA 38
Game Statistics:
Brady completed 36 of 49 for 440 yards and 4 touchdowns. Wes Welker led the Patriots in receiving with 11 reception for 136 yards. Randy Moss added 7 catches for 120 yards and 2 touchdowns. For the Cardinals, Kurt Warner was 32 of 49 for a Super Bowl record 465 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. Larry Fitzgerald was their leading receiver with 9 catches for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Patriots outgained the Cardinals 513 to 495.