The game was also notable for snapping the AFC East 's long streak of not being able to win Getting a Super Bowl championship , as the division 's teams had lost Earnings_and_losses eight Super Bowls in total ( prior to the Patriots victory in XXXVI ) .

As a result , Super Bowl XXXVI was rescheduled Arranging from the original date of January 27 to February 3 , becoming Becoming the first Super Bowl played Competition in February .

The game , played Competition on January 26 , 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego , California , was the sixth Super Bowl to be held Defending a week after the conference Social_event championship games ( XVII , XXV , XXVIII , XXXIV , and XXXVI ) .

It was also the last Super Bowl played Participation in January ( the previous , XXXVI , was the first to be in February as a result of 9/11-related postponements ; subsequent games , including Super Bowl XXXVIII , would have the Super Bowl played Competition in February permanently ) .