Super Bowl Recap

The Patriots win again.


The New England Patriots won their third Super Bowl in the last four years on Sunday. Usually a requirement in determining sports dynasties is time and distance from the achievement, so I will refrain from further discussing this subject. The game started off a defensive struggle. It took several possessions from both teams before an elusive first down was finally attained. The Eagles were forced to use an early challenge in order to thwart a potential disastrous play. McNabb was nearly up to his old tricks, escaping every defender in sight, when the ball inadvertently popped out of his right hand and into the waiting arms of the Patriots' defense. But on further review, McNabb's knee had been down and the Eagles retained possession.

Terrell Owens looked healthy. He aided the Eagles offense, but despite his 100 yard receiving performance, he wasn't a factor on game-changing plays. The wideout who was the story was the Patriots' Deion Branch. He tied a Super Bowl record 11 catches and totaled 133 yards. The Eagles 7-0 lead quickly evaporated. They would never lead again.

The Patriots defense held down the Eagles. Rodney Harrison caught two balls thrown by McNabb. Bruschi punished both Westbrook and McNabb. Linebacker Mike Vrabel caught another Super Bowl touchdown pass.

The fourth quarter began with both teams tied at 14. That's when the Pats took over. Throughout their three championship runs, they had been a fourth quarter team. Their performances in the game's last stanza always seem to come with Franco Harris (the Pittsburgh Steelers former running back, who won 4 championships) narrating in the background, "Throughout the season I had been convinced that games were decided in the fourth quarter," describing his mindset before his Immaculate Reception against the Oakland Raiders.

The Eagles valiantly attempted to fight back. A long pass to Greg Lewis, McNabb's finest of the day, shortened the lead to 24-21. The Eagles defense would not let Corey Dillon end their hopes. But a botched punt return and impossible odds finally closed the deal. The New England Patriots were the champions of the NFL for the second consecutive year. Branch was the MVP.