Super Bowl XXXIX - Superbowl XXXIX - Super Bowl 39 - New England Patriots - Philadelphia Eagles

The Patriots forced four turnovers, while New England wide receiver Deion Branch, who recorded 133 receiving yards and tied the Super Bowl record with 11 catches, was named the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player. Because he recorded 10 catches during the previous year's Super Bowl, he also set the record for the most combined receptions in 2 consecutive Super Bowls (21). Branch was the third offensive player ever to win Super Bowl MVP honors without scoring a touchdown or throwing a touchdown pass. The other 2 players were Joe Namath in Super Bowl III and Fred Biletnikoff in Super Bowl XI.

Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion following the 2004 regular season.

The American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots (17-2) defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Philadelphia Eagles (15-4), 24�21, and became the first team since the 1997�98 Denver Broncos to win consecutive Super Bowls.

New England also became the second team after the Dallas Cowboys to win three Super Bowls in four years. This was the Patriots' third straight Super Bowl victory in which they won by a margin of three points. They defeated the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, 20�17, and the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII, 32�29. Each of these margins was because of an Adam Vinatieri field goal, two of which (against the Rams and the Panthers) happened in the final seconds of the 4th quarter.

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 Harrison intercepted McNabb�s pass three plays later to clinch the title.

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.

Date February 6, 2005
Stadium ALLTEL Stadium
City Jacksonville, Florida
MVP Deion Branch, Wide receiver
Favorite Patriots by 7
National anthem Combined choirs of the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and U.S. Army Herald Trumpets.
Coin toss Youth football players from Jacksonville: Tyler Callahan, Tyler Deal, Lawrence McCauley, and Jacob Santana; New Orleans NFL Junior Player Development coach Tamaris Jackson
Referee Terry McAulay
Halftime show Paul McCartney
Attendance 78,125
TV in the United States
Network FOX
Announcers Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and Cris Collinsworth
Nielsen Ratings 41.1
Market share 62
Cost of 30-second commercial US$2.4 million