New England's First Super Bowl Championship: Review of Three Games to Glory

Three Games to Glory is a DVD dedicated to the New England Patriots' playoff run, and Super Bowl XXXVI victory, 20-17 over the St. Louis Rams. This was the first NFL Super Bowl Championship in New England Patriots history. This video compiles extensive highlights from the two playoff games and Super Bowl.

This review will be a bit short, for reasons you will soon discover. First, a reminder of the games that are featured in this highlights package:

First is New England's defeat of the Oakland Raiders, 16-13, in the 2002 divisional playoff round. This game was played in a blizzard and featured unbelievable kicking by Adam Vinatieri. It also featured a fumble by Tom Brady that would have cost the Patriots the game had it not been overturned on the now famous "Tuck Rule".

Next is New England's defeat of the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-17, in the AFC Championship Game. This game featured a clutch performance by Drew Bledsoe in relief of the injured Tom Brady. There was also a blocked field goal, that was returned for a touchdown by Troy Brown, that clinched the game for the Pats.

Last, but certainly not least, is New England's dramatic 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams. The signature series being an outstanding drive at the end of the game, orchestrated by Tom Brady, which lead to the first Super Bowl to be decided on the last play of the game as Adam Vinatieri booted a 48 yard field goal to win it.

Lets start with the good news about this video. The highlights of the two playoff games and Super Bowl are extensive. Every single play isn’t covered, but nearly all of them are.

The highlights of each game are very complete and well done. I especially liked the very up close, on the field, camera angles that bring the game right into your living room as if you, yourself, were standing on the sideline.

The play by play featured in the video is that of Patriots radio announcer, and former Patriot great, Gino Cappelletti; who really is just phenomenal at calling a Patriots game. The highlights and announcers bring the excitement of the games to life. It creates a very nostalgic feeling for Patriots fans.

Now, the not so good news.

Fans familiar with other Super Bowl highlights packages, such as Three Games to Glory II and Three Games to Glory III, featuring New England’s subsequent Super Bowl Championships, are likely going to be rather disappointed in this video.

First, there are NO SPECIAL FEATURES. No player interviews, no breakdown of key plays by the coaches, no locker room scenes, no victory parade, no nothing. It’s just the highlights of the three games and that is it.

Secondly, while the highlights are very well done, the video really does not bring the true drama of the game to life. Even Brady’s fumble being overturned against Oakland, Bledsoe’s stepping in, and Brown’s blocked field goal return for a touchdown become just another highlight in this package.

There are minimal sideline scenes during the games; which added so much to other videos in this series. It really takes a bit of memory to relive the moments and drama.

Despite these drawbacks New England Patriots fans will certainly enjoy this video. I can not imagine a non-Patriots fan liking it. A warning for Patriots fans, if you have seen the extensive bonus features of the other two videos in this series, remember that you get nothing extra on this one.

It’s just the highlights, and for this Patriots fan, that’s enough.