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Carolina Panthers Super Bowl record broken after 53-yard field goal

By Brandon Scott

CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 3: Todd Sauerbrun #10 of the Carolina Panthers holds for one of teammate John Kasay's #4 five field goals in their NFC Wildcard playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys on January 3, 2004 at Ericcson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo By Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 3: Todd Sauerbrun #10 of the Carolina Panthers holds for one of teammate John Kasay's #4 five field goals in their NFC Wildcard playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys on January 3, 2004 at Ericcson Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo By Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The Carolina Panthers had a Super Bowl record fall on Sunday night.

A defensive Super Bowl between the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots resulted in the lowest scoring championship contest ever. While the game plans administered by each team were dialed in, it amounted to points being at a premium and field goals were a necessity. A 53-yard try from the Rams Greg Zuerlein was three yards longer than one attempted by Carolina Panthers kicker John Kasay back in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Both kickers nailed their respective tries as Zuerlein tied Los Angeles with the Patriots at three each, setting a new Super Bowl record, and Kasay had pulled Carolina within striking distance, 14-10, each before the half. The Patriots would eventually go on to win both games.

Zuerlein, a 31-year-old, seven-year veteran and former All Pro kicker stepped up to the challenge in a game where every point mattered. No stranger to long attempts, Zuerlein made a 56-yard attempt earlier in the year and has a career long of 61 yards.

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Kasay, arguably the best kicker ever to put on a Panthers uniform, connected on a 56-yard try during the 1998 season for the longest make in his 20-year career. Playing in Carolina for 15 seasons, Kasay made nearly 83-percent of his field goal tries but is notorious for a kickoff that sailed out of bounds during the Super Bowl with New England.

After tying the game late by splitting the uprights with an extra point, the ensuing kickoff traveled out of bounds and gave quarterback Tom Brady the football at the 40-yard line with just over one minute remaining.

Needing just a field goal to win, Brady and the Patriots marched down the field to the Panthers 23-yard line. With nine seconds left Adam Vinatieri clinched the second of six titles for New England.

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Zuerlein faced a similar fate as a 41-yard try from Stephen Gostkowski with 1:12 remaining sealed the victory for New England.

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