Their next Super Bowl victory was in 2004 , when they defeated the Carolina Panthers 32 -- 29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII .
The Patriots won their first Super Bowl championship in 2002 , defeating the St. Louis Rams 20 -- 17 in Super Bowl XXXVI .
Patriots ' next Super Bowl victory was in 2004 , when they defeated the Carolina Panthers 32 -- 29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII .
The Patriots won their first Super Bowl championship in 2002 , defeating the St. Louis Rams 20 -- 17 in Super Bowl XXXVI .