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Deion Branch is Super Bowl MVP and the Pats are champs for the third time in four years.
Dynasty? Definitely. The New England Patriots don't have to proclaim greatness. The NFL record book does it for them.
The Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four years Sunday, 24-21 over the Philadelphia Eagles, and now they are challenging history.
It was their ninth straight postseason victory, equaling Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers. It was coach Bill Belichick's 10th playoff victory in 11 games, one better than the great Lombardi. And it matched Dallas' run of three championships in four years in the early 1990s.
"We've never really self-proclaimed ourselves anything," said Tom Brady, who is 9-0 in the playoffs. "If you guys say we're great, we'll accept the compliment."
This one wasn't overpowering, and at times it was downright ugly. But not even Belichick seemed to care about that.
"To me this trophy belongs to these players," Belichick said. "They met all comers this year, a very challenging year. We're thrilled to win. These players played great all year, their best in the big games and they deserve it, they really deserve it."
With MVP Deion Branch tying a Super Bowl record for receptions with 11, Brady efficiently running the offense and Rodney Harrison sparking a smothering defense, the Patriots (17-2) didn't need a last-second field goal from Adam Vinatieri this time.
But his kick - a 22-yarder with 8:40 left - provided the points that made the difference.
This time, the Patriots sealed it with a stop.
Philadelphia (15-4) got the ball back at its 4 with 46 seconds remaining. It was hardly enough time and far too much territory to cover against such a formidable foe.
Harrison got his second interception with 9 seconds remaining to end it.
Playing before a sea of mostly green jerseys in the crowd of 78,125, the Patriots ended Philadelphia's chance of heading north with its first pro sports title since 1983. Indeed, it's been 45 years since the Eagles won the NFL crown. And even though they made it to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1981 - after three straight conference championship flops - their sparkling season still ended in disappointment.
"We were too sloppy to win," receiver Terrell Owens said. "It was great to get back, but we made too many mistakes. We could have won and that hurts."
Corey Dillon, a newcomer to the championship game, scored the go-ahead points on a 2-yard run early in the fourth period. And when Branch wasn't catching passes, the Patriots flaunted their versatility by again using linebacker Mike Vrabel to find the end zone.
Vrabel has caught TD passes in two straight Super Bowls and has five TDs in as many career catches, not bad for a linebacker - or anyone else.
Brady wasn't as fluid as he was when he won the MVP awards in the 2002 and 2004 games, but he was 23-for-33 for 236 yards and two TDs.
"It doesn't matter who gets what," Branch said of taking the MVP away from his quarterback.
When the offense bogged down or turned over the ball, Harrison and his mates forced four turnovers, including a goal-line interception by the veteran safety. The Patriots also had four sacks, making Donovan McNabb look ordinary, even skittish at times.
And while Owens' return from a seven-week injury layoff was an individual success - he had nine catches for 122 yards - it was not nearly the star turn that Branch made.
Branch was most instrumental on the opening drive of the second half, which set the tone for New England's 57th victory in its last 74 games.
While New England handled frequent blitzes, Branch caught four passes for 71 yards on the series that ended with Vrabel's TD.
"We did a great job of adjusting during the game," Branch said. "It was physical; a lot of guys were bumped and bruised."
The Eagles responded with a 74-yard drive. McNabb whipped a 10-yard pass over the middle between two defenders to Brian Westbrook for the TD.
Still, as winners always do, the Patriots reasserted themselves, effectively using screen passes against a tiring defense. Even when Eagles defenders shouted to each other to watch for the screen, New England made it work, particularly on Kevin Faulk's 14-yarder that preceded Dillon's 2-yard run to make it 21-14.
Vinatieri hit his chip shot to make it 24-14. The Eagles came back on Greg Lewis' 30-yard TD reception with 1:48 remaining.
Not that it bothered the Patriots, not that anything seems to bother the Patriots. Here's a team that's losing offensive coordinator Charlie Weis to Notre Dame and defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel to become Cleveland's coach.
"When you're in the middle of it, you're not thinking about what you're doing," Weis said. "Dynasties are talked about 10 years later."
Sorry, Charlie, the Patriots are the talk of the league now.
The victory gave New England its second team championship since the fall, though this was hardly as dramatic as the long-suffering Red Sox winning the World Series. Still, this certifies Boston as the hub of champions.
Philadelphia's title drought goes on, but Owens certainly did his best to end it. The All-Pro receiver fulfilled his vow to start the Super Bowl, defying his doctor and playing with a metal plate and two screws in his right ankle.
"T.O. did a heck of a job," coach Andy Reid said. "I was proud of the effort and they battled, but we came up just short - too many turnovers - and against such a tough football team you can't do that."
Replay played a significant role on the first series. McNabb dropped the ball when he was hit by Willie McGinest and New England recovered at the Philadelphia 34. But Reid challenged that McNabb's knee was down when hit seconds before by Tedy Bruschi.
Replay showed McNabb, indeed, was down.
Philly put together the first good drive late in the opening period. Owens got open on a crossing pattern and gained 30 yards on third down, with a roughing penalty adding 9 yards, but a 16-yard sack by Mike Vrabel set back the Eagles.
Then McNabb threw a poor pass that Asante Samuel intercepted in the end zone, only to have it overturned because of illegal contact by linebacker Roman Phifer.
No matter. McNabb again threw a duck, which Harrison picked off at the 3.
But the Eagles got the ball again at the New England 45 after a punt. Three plays later, another turnover: Randall Gay knocked the ball loose from L.J. Smith and Samuel recovered at the 38.
Once more, the defense held, and when the Eagles got the ball back at their 19, they finally finished off a drive.
Todd Pinkston, often overshadowed by Owens, looked like his illustrious teammate on receptions of 17 and 40 yards. On the longer one, he soared high for yet another misthrow by McNabb and took it away from Gay.
On third down from the 6, McNabb hung in the pocket and waited for Smith to get free in the end zone for the game's first score with 9:55 left in the half.
It was the first time New England trailed this postseason.
Brady then made a rare mistake, fumbling at the Philly 13. Darwin Walker recovered New England's first giveaway of the postseason.
It didn't lead to anything for the Eagles, and after a 29-yard punt by Dirk Johnson, the Pats drove 37 yards to tie it at 7. Brady found Givens behind Lito Sheppard in the right corner of the end zone for a 4-yard score, and Givens mocked Owens' wing flap after the touchdown with 1:10 remaining.
Super Bowl Role Call
· Player: Deion Branch, Patriots
· Role: The Flash
· Performance: For the second straight Super Bowl, Deion Branch emerges as Tom Brady's favorite target. The speedy WR ties a record with 11 catches to win the MVP.
· Player: Terrell Owens, Eagles
· Role: Lazarus
· Performance: After spraining his ankle and breaking his leg on Dec. 19, Terrell Owens was determined to return to the field. The brash WR catches nine balls for 122 yards.
· Role: Lazarus
· Performance: After spraining his ankle and breaking his leg on Dec. 19, Terrell Owens was determined to return to the field. The brash WR catches nine balls for 122 yards.
· Player: Tom Brady, Patriots
· Role: Iceman
· Performance: Tom Brady has yet to lose a postseason game, and continues to shine in the Super Bowl. The Pats QB passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns.
· Player: Freddie Mitchell, Eagles
· Role: Mr. Invisible
· Performance: After talking a big game all week, Freddie Mitchell fails to back it up. The Eagles wideout is held to a single reception for 11 yards in the Super Bowl.
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