The official video of the New England Patriots’ stirring 20-17 victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI is now available in two formats.

NFL Films, releasing through USA Home Entertainment, has issued the Super Bowl highlights on VHS ($14.95) and, for the first time, on DVD ($19.95).

The DVD is a dandy. Not only does it vividly follow New England’s season and post-season action, but also features various neat extras.

There is “The NFL’s Salute to America”  with segments of the various red-white-and-blue celebrations in stadiums around the country  as a response the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.

Also included is U2’s Super Bowl halftime performance, a look back at the 1976 Patriots that made the Super Bowl and profiles on Pats’ legends Gino Cappelletti and Steve Grogan.

NFL Films’ Dave Petrilus said doing the DVD provided some additional work, but his crew was prepared for that.

“We did like a prototype with last year’s Super Bowl,” Petrilus said during a recent telephone conversation. “That helped because we knew going into this season exactly what we needed.”

According to Petrilus, NFL films use as many as 25 cameras and shoot “roughly” between 80,000 to 100,000 feet. Even while the game is in progress, the first half footage is flown back to New York via charter jet.

“When you go through it there are plays from every angle imaginable. We had to get some footage ready for HBO (“Inside the NFL”) while also working on the highlights video. This turnaround is little quicker than other videos we do.”

The Super Bowl DVD was ready to go just 30 days after the final play of the game. Like most people, Petrilus figured the Rams would win easily.

“So I got everything planned with that in mind,” Petrilus said with a laugh.