Super Bowl XXXIX: Twenty-One Years Since Pats Down Eagles To Win Their Third Lombardi Trophy

Entering the 2004 NFL season, the New England Patriots were riding an NFL-record 15-game winning streak that included their Super Bowl XXXVIII victory. They extended that streak to 21 games before losing in Pittsburgh, a game that also cost them star cornerback Ty Law to a season-ending injury. Despite losing both starting cornerbacks and relying on a patchwork secondary, Bill Belichick’s team never lost momentum. The Patriots finished the regular season 14–2, then defeated the league’s top offense (Indianapolis Colts) and top defense (Pittsburgh Steelers) in consecutive playoff games to return to the Super Bowl.

Super Bowl XXXIX against the Philadelphia Eagles was a defensive, methodical contest early on, with both teams struggling to sustain drives. Philadelphia struck first, but New England answered late in the second quarter with a touchdown pass from Tom Brady to David Givens to tie the game at halftime. After the break, Brady and Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch led a sharp opening drive, capped by a touchdown pass to Mike Vrabel. The teams traded scores into the fourth quarter, with Corey Dillon’s short touchdown run giving the Patriots a 21–14 lead.

Late in the game, New England extended its advantage with an Adam Vinatieri field goal and relied on its defense to seal the win. Rodney Harrison intercepted Donovan McNabb twice in the final minutes, including a game-ending pick, as the Patriots held on for a 24–21 victory. Efficient offense, timely defense, and capitalizing on turnovers defined the performance, earning New England its third Super Bowl title in four years and cementing its status as the NFL’s first dynasty of the 21st century.