Patriots Hold Off Eagles In Super Bowl XXXIX

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Vince Lombardi Trophy is staying in Foxboro.

Tom Brady threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns to lead the New England Patriots to their third Super Bowl victory in the last four years with a 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium.

Corey Dillon also scored for the Patriots, who joined the 1992-95 Dallas Cowboys as the only two teams to win three Super Bowl titles in a four-year span. They are also the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls since the Denver Broncos won two straight from 1997-98.

The victory also gave New England head coach Bill Belichick a 10-1 postseason mark, moving him past Vince Lombardi for the best postseason winning percentage in NFL history (.909). Belichick, who improved to 9-0 in the postseason with the Pats, also became just the fourth coach to win three Super Bowl titles, joining Chuck Noll (who has four), Bill Walsh and Joe Gibbs.

Donovan McNabb completed 30-of-51 passes for 357 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions for Philadelphia, which was denied its first-ever Super Bowl title and first NFL championship since 1960. The City of Brotherly Love also failed in its quest for its first title in any of the four major sports since 1983.

Terrell Owens, who did not suit up for Philadelphia's last four games with a broken fibula and severely sprained right ankle, started for the Eagles and showed no lingering effects from the injury, finishing with nine catches for 122 yards.

With the score tied, 14-14, through three quarters -- the first time in Super Bowl history that has happened - New England scored 10 straight points to post the win.

Dillon, playing in his first Super Bowl in his first postseason, gave the Pats the lead for good with a two-yard touchdown run 1:11 into the fourth quarter. Backup running back Kevin Faulk had two catches for 27 yards on the drive, while running the ball twice for 20 yards to help set up the score.

Following a three-and-out by the Eagles, New England went ahead 24-14 with 8:43 left to play on a 22-yard field goal from Adam Vinatieri. The Patriots had a 1st-and-goal from the four-yard line, but failed to find the end zone.

Philadelphia seemed to have something going on the ensuing drive following a 36-yard reception from Owens. But, McNabb was picked off by Tedy Bruschi on the following play.

The Eagles closed out the scoring with a 30-yard touchdown reception from Greg Lewis with 1:48 remaining, but they failed to recover the onsides kick. New England, though, was forced to punt with less than a minute to play, but The Eagles were backed up at their own four-yard line and McNabb was picked off for the second time by Rodney Harrison.

Branch Named Game MVP

New England wide receiver Deion Branch, who tied a Super Bowl record with 11 receptions, was named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXVIX.

Branch finished with 133 yards and matched Cincinnati tight end Dan Ross in Super Bowl XIX and San Francisco's Jerry Rice in Super Bowl XXIII for the most catches in the NFL's biggest game.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady put forth another outstanding Super Bowl performance but was edged out by Branch in his quest for his third MVP award. Brady completed 23-of-33 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns without an interception and improved to 9-0 as a starter during the postseason.

Brady, who took home MVP honors in New England's triumphs in Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII, could have matched his boyhood idol, Joe Montana, as the only three-time winners.

Branch shined during the Patriots' opening drive of the second half, which resulted in a two-yard touchdown toss from Brady to linebacker Mike Vrabel that snapped a 7-7 tie. He hauled in four passes for 71 yards on the series, two of which came during 3rd-and-long situations. Branch also snared a 21-yard strike from Brady to the Eagles' two-yard line right before Vrabel's catch.

The third-year wideout also had a clutch 19-yard reception that helped set up Adam Vinatieri's fourth-quarter field goal which put New England up 24-14.

Branch also starred in last year's 32-29 Super Bowl win over Carolina, catching 10 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown.

The Patriots became just the second team in the Super Bowl era to claim three world championships in a four-year span, joining the 1992-95 Dallas Cowboys.