JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Reuters) - Tom Brady threw two touchdown passes to lead the New England Patriots to a 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles and their third Super Bowl title in four years Sunday, cementing a place among the NFL's great teams.
All week the build up to Super Bowl XXXIX had centerd around New England's credentials as an NFL dynasty.
The debate ended Sunday as the Patriots joined the Dallas Cowboys as the only team to win three Super Bowls in four years and Brady confirmed his place as one of NFL's greatest playoff quarterbacks, improving his postseason record to a perfect 9-0.
"We never self-proclaimed ourselves anything," said Brady, who completed 23 of 33 passes for 236 yards.
"We just love playing football.
"I know it sounds cliche, we keep saying we are just a team but we are.
"If you guys (the media) say we're great then we accept the compliment but we still worked hard."
MVP in the Super Bowl wins in 2004 and 2002, Brady missed out on a third award that went instead to wide receiver Deion Branch, who hauled in a title game record-equalling 11 catches for 133 yards.
The victory also earned Patriots coach Bill Belichick a special place in the game's history, becoming the first coach to win three Super Bowls in four years and improving his playoff record to 10-1, surpassing the legendary Vince Lombardi.
"We started at the bottom of the mountain with everyone else and we're happy to get to the top," Belichick said. "I'll leave the historical perspectives to everyone else.
"We're just thrilled to win, it was a very tough year."
FIELD GOAL
As in their two previous NFL championship wins, the difference once again was an Adam Vinatieri field goal, this time a 22-yard effort with just over eight minutes remaining.
For the first time in Super Bowl history the teams entered the final quarter tied but the 14-14 deadlock did not last long, Corey Dillon bulling his way over from the two-yard line to put the Patriots back in front at 21-14.
Vinatieri then had the luxury of coming onto the field without the game on the line and his field goal gave the Patriots a 24-14 lead.
However, it would be a 10-point cushion the Patriots would need after Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb found Greg Lewis with a 30-yard touchdown pass with 1:48 to play to set up a thrilling finish.
True to his word, Eagles injured wide receiver Terrell Owens was on the field for the opening play and underlined his fitness by catching the game's first pass.
Owens participation in Super Bowl had been the biggest question mark hanging over the title game since he injured his right ankle six weeks earlier and underwent surgery.
The talented but controversial All-Pro receiver had maintained he would play in Sunday's game saying God had given him the go ahead while doctors refused to clear him.
Owens diagnosis proved correct as he led the Eagles with nine catches for 122 yards.
JITTERY START
Back in the Super Bowl for the first time since 1981, the Eagles got the game off to a jittery start, losing the ball four times and turning it over twice in a scoreless first quarter on a fumble and a Rodney Harrison interception on the four-yard line.
The Eagles, however, grew in stature and drew first blood with their first possession of the second quarter, when McNabb capped off an 81-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to L.J. Smith.
Trailing for the first time in this postseason, the Patriots came back, Brady marching his team down to the Philadelphia 10 only to fumble away their first good scoring chance.
Displaying the poise of two-time Super Bowl MVP, Brady took command the very next possession, hitting David Givens with a four-yard touchdown strike to send the teams into the intermission tied at 7-7.
After an opening half dominated by defense, sloppy play and mistakes, the Patriots and Eagles opened the third quarter with displays of precision, trading touchdown drives.
The Patriots seized the early initiative marching 69 yards in nine plays to take a 14-7 lead on a two-yard touchdown pass to Mike Vrabel.
The Eagles answered with a 10-play, 74-yard march capped off when McNabb hooked up with Brian Westbrook for a 10-yard touchdown strike but were unable to get into position to attempt a game-tying field goal
McNabb finished with 30 completed passes from 51 attempts for 357 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions.
The smallest city to ever host the NFL's showcase event, Jacksonville had endured a week of unrelenting criticism in the build up to the big game as visitors scrambled to find hotel rooms, cabs and tickets that were going for $5,000 a pair.
Hoewever, as the sun set on the St Johns river and the floodlights at an Alltel Stadium containing 78,125 fans sparkled, all seemed to be forgiven as the Patriots and Eagles thundered onto the field.
After Janet Jackson's controversial "wardrobe malfunction" last year, the halftime show went off without incident as former-Beatle Sir Paul McCartney entertained the crowd.
I was going to put some money on the Patriots to win last year and I forgot and was bummed coz I would've won. So when I heard they were playing again this year I thought it must be a sign that I can win this time because I missed out last time and I did! I won Yay!!!
Now I just have to wait until I get home tonight to see the show and I can revel in my winnings all over again!!
Was it a good game? Was the half-time show any good? Certainly didn't generate as much posts as last years half-time show We didn't even end up with it having it's own forum
To me, the half-time show was the best they ever had. McCartney performed many of his songs and songs of the Beatles. The man can rock! The show was great!
To note about the game: It was okay....I was rooting for the Eagles though. I cant stand either one of these teams so I had to root for the lesser of two evils.
Im assuming you will enjoy it though...you know how it is....if your team wins the game was enjoyable and good, if your team loses, the game sucked!
Im just glad Brady didnt get MVP...Im sick of that guy....his performace wasn't all that great...IMO, although the commentators said otherwise.
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
AP - Nobody was worried when Paul McCartney stripped off his jacket midway through his half-time performance at the Super Bowl. All he revealed was a long-sleeved red shirt. There was no wardrobe malfunction.
NFL officials wanted a safe half-time show after last year's Janet Jackson fiasco, and McCartney delivered.
It was sweet nostalgia. Each of his four songs was more than 30 years old.
Last year's show was a body-shaking, crotch-grabbing festival, with Justin Timberlake yanking part of Jackson's top off to reveal her bare breast to some 90 million viewers.
McCartney's stage set, a giant cross of video boards on the stadium floor with the singer at the centre, was visually arresting, although it made his opening song, Drive My Car, look like one of the broadcast's dozens of auto commercials.
McCartney's theatrical James Bond theme Live and Let Die was a perfect backdrop for a stadium fireworks show. The lights, placards and video images also made Hey Jude a sight to see, although it was odd to see the red, white and blue placards co-opt one of the original British musical invaders for an all-American event.
There wasn't any danger of a lip-synch controversy, either. You could tell it was the lived-in voice of a 62-year-old singing.
The former Beatle, a bold and shocking performer for another generation, was chosen as the sedate option.
NFL censors were probably hoping the "California grass" reference in Get Back slipped by unnoticed, or figured people would think he was simply referring to a football field.
The closest thing to a wardrobe malfunction during all the performances came courtesy of country singer Gretchen Wilson's guitar player during a pre-game performance. His jeans had a strategically placed rip in the crotch.
Also before the game, Alicia Keys oozed both class and chops as she took a creepy concept - a duet with the late singer Ray Charles on one of his signatures, America the Beautiful - and made it work wonderfully.
A picture of Charles singing appeared on the stadium scoreboard screens.
The pre-game show was a mixture of old and new schools, with country, rap and soul.
schmiggens said this in post #4 : McCartney's stage set, a giant cross of video boards on the stadium floor with the singer at the centre, was visually arresting, although it made his opening song, Drive My Car, look like one of the broadcast's dozens of auto commercials.
McCartney's theatrical James Bond theme Live and Let Die was a perfect backdrop for a stadium fireworks show. The lights, placards and video images also made Hey Jude a sight to see, although it was odd to see the red, white and blue placards co-opt one of the original British musical invaders for an all-American event.
I dont think that "Drive My Car" looked like an auto commerical. They showed this really coor car on two of the cross stages...
As for the placards...who cares what color they were?
Some people just have to look more into things than necessary...cant people just be satisfied instead of nitpicking?
They are too busy talking about the stage and the placards instead of talking about McCartney himself and how he did...Oh, yeah..they said he didnt lip sync.
NFL censors were probably hoping the "California grass" reference in Get Back slipped by unnoticed, or figured people would think he was simply referring to a football field.
As if people would think it was referring to the football field... the only ones that wouldnt understand what he is referring to in that song would be kids.
Also before the game, Alicia Keys oozed both class and chops as she took a creepy concept - a duet with the late singer Ray Charles on one of his signatures, America the Beautiful - and made it work wonderfully.
She was really good!
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
They only showed us a few bits of the halftime show. I thought Paul McCartney was really good, but I always wonder if he gets sick of inging Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah Hey Jude over and over aagain. He's still got it after all these years though. He was great. I didn't get to see Alicia Keys yet, will try and find a download on the internet though.
Gotta say, I don't understand the game at ALL. I tried to follow it and tried to understand but after about 15 minutes I was done. I have no idea how you play this game.
Football is the greatest game! Once you watch it enough, you understand it better...and its really easy to follow.
I learned alot watching it with my brothers, but I learned even more about the game when I started playing fantasy football.
I forgot to mention one thing however....the commericals this year sucked eggs! Alot of people watch just to see the commericals (I dont...but I still like to see them)...anyhow...they were a real let down this year!
Of course thats just my opinion....I could be wrong. (Dennis Miller)
"You might be the toughest little whacker. . .but in my world, you're about as worrisome as a cloudy day." (Dutch Dooley)
02-07-2005 05:01 AM
I won! 
We didn't even end up with it having it's own forum 
