<P> In Brady's first playoff game, he threw for 312 yards against the Oakland Raiders and led the Patriots back from a ten - point fourth - quarter deficit to send the game to overtime, where they won on an Adam Vinatieri field goal . A controversial play occurred in that game . Trailing by three points in the fourth quarter, Brady lost control of the ball after being hit by Raiders' cornerback Charles Woodson . Oakland initially recovered the ball, but, citing the "tuck rule," which states that any forward throwing motion by a quarterback begins a pass even if the quarterback loses possession of the ball as he is attempting to tuck it back toward his body, referee Walt Coleman overturned the call on instant replay, ruling it an incomplete pass rather than a fumble . </P> <P> In the AFC Championship Game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Brady injured his knee, and was relieved by Bledsoe . The Patriots won the game and were immediately instituted by Las Vegas oddsmakers as 14 - point underdogs against the NFC champion St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI . </P> <P> Brady returned from his knee injury in the AFC Championship Game to start in Super Bowl XXXVI a week later in New Orleans . Despite being heavy underdogs, the Patriots played well, holding the Rams' high powered offense in check through the first three quarters . The Rams rallied from a 17--3 deficit to tie the game with 1: 30 left in regulation . The Patriots then got the ball back at their own 17 - yard line with no timeouts remaining . Sportscaster and former Super Bowl - winning coach John Madden said he thought the Patriots should run out the clock and try to win the game in overtime . Instead, Brady drove the Patriots' offense down the field to the Rams' 31 - yard line before spiking the ball with seven seconds left . Then kicker Adam Vinatieri converted a 48 - yard field goal as time expired to give the Patriots a 20--17 win and their first ever league championship . Brady was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXVI while throwing for 145 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions . At the age of 24 years and six months, Brady surpassed Joe Namath in Super Bowl III and Joe Montana in Super Bowl XVI, who were both 25 years, seven months, and 13 days old at the time of their victories, to earn the title of youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl . A possible quarterback controversy was averted when Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills during the offseason; this event cemented Brady's status as the starting quarterback . </P> <P> Brady and the Patriots finished the year at 9--7, tied with the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins for the best record in the division; however, the Jets won the division on the third tiebreaker, and the Patriots missed the playoffs . </P>

Where did tom brady win his first superbowl