Super Bowl XXXIX
AFC:
NFC:
Date: February 6, 2005
Alltel Stadium
Scoring:
Team 1 2 3 4 Final
NE 0 7 7 10 24
PHI 0 7 7 7 21
AFC playmakers:
WR David Givens, LB Mike Vrabel, RB Corey Dillon
NFC playmakers:
TE L.J. Smith, RB
Ronnie Westbrook, WR Greg Lewis
Network: FOX (NFL Network rebroadcast)
Announcers: Joe Buck,
Pregame: Yes
Halftime: Yes – Paul McCartney
Postgame: No
Commercials: No
Grade: Excellent (A+). NFL Network crawl detracts a little.
Notes: Deion Branch
had 11 receptions for 133 yards and the Patriots’ defense forced four turnovers
en route to becoming the eighth team to post consecutive Super Bowl titles. The
Patriots matched the Dallas Cowboys (XXVII, XXVIII, and XXX) as the only teams with
three Super Bowl victories in the span of four seasons.
The Eagles threatened first, driving to the Patriots’ 8 late
in the first quarter. On first down, Mike Vrabel sacked Donovan McNabb for a
16-yard loss and, after a penalty overturned an interception, Rodney Harrison
stepped in front of a pass for an interception at the Patriots’ 4.
Early in the second quarter the Eagles drove 81 yards, keyed
by Todd Pinkston’s 40-yard catch, and capped by McNabb’s 6-yard touchdown pass
to L.J. Smith on third-and-goal for a 7-0 lead.
The Patriots responded by driving to the Eagles’ 4, but Tom
Brady fumbled on a fake handoff attempt and Darwin Walker recovered. Later in
the quarter, a 29-yard punt by Dirk Johnson allowed the Patriots to drive just
37 yards, keyed by Branch’s 7-yard catch on third-and-3, and capped by Brady’s
pass to David Givens on the right side of the end zone to tie the game with
1:10 left in the half.
New England began the second half with a 9-play, 69-yard
drive, including four receptions, two on third down, by Branch, and capped by Vrabel’s 2-yard catch.
The Eagles put together a 10-play, 74-yard drive later in
the third quarter, keyed by Brian Westbrook’s 4-yard catch on third-and-3, and
followed on the next play by his 10-yard touchdown catch to tie the game.
On the ensuing drive, Kevin Faulk caught screen passes of 13
and 14 yards, and had a 12-yard run, and Corey Dillon
capped the possession with a 2-yard run with 13:44 remaining for a 21-14 lead.
The Patriots’ defense forced a three-and-out, and Branch’s
19-yard catch set up Adam Vinatieri’s 22-yard field goal with 8:40 to play. Tedy Bruschi intercepted McNabb’s
pass at the Patriots’ 24 with 7:20 remaining.
The Eagles forced a punt, and beginning at their own 21 with
5:40 to play, needed 13 plays to drive 79 yards, capped by McNabb’s 30-yard
touchdown pass on a post-pattern to Greg Lewis with 1:48 to play.
Christian Fauria recovered the
onside kick, but the Eagles’ defense forced a punt. Dexter Reid downed Josh
Miller’s 32-yard punt at the Eagles’ 4 with 46 seconds left, and
Brady was 23 of 33 for 236 yards and two touchdowns. Branch
earned MVP honors with his Super Bowl-record-tying 11 catches.
McNabb was 30 of 51 for 357 yards and three touchdowns, with three interceptions. Terrell Owens had nine receptions for 122 yards.
Running time: 2:14 (2 discs)
