
Patriots defeat Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX

Fireworks exploded as singer Paul McCartney performed during the Super Bowl XXXIX halftime show.
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| January 11, 2012

Hillary and Liz Hart were among the Patriots fans who turned out for Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville.
Robert Galbraith/Reuters
| January 11, 2012

Eagles fans and Patriots fans mingled prior to the game.
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| January 11, 2012

Inside, Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas performed with Earth, Wind and Fire before kickoff.
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| January 11, 2012

Country singers Gretchen Wilson and Charlie Daniels also performed.
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| January 11, 2012

Alicia Keys sang "America the Beautiful" prior to the game.
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| January 11, 2012

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady led his team onto the field before the start of the Super Bowl.
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| January 11, 2012

Corey Dillon, who rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown during the game, ran the ball here during the first quarter.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

Rodney Harrison picked off one of his two interceptions during the first quarter,
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

Linebacker Tedy Bruschi sacked Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb in the first quarter, but Philadelphia struck first with a McNabb touchdown pass to L.J. Smith for a 7-0 lead.
Chris O'Meara/AP
| January 11, 2012

David Givens evened the score for the Patriots with a 4-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter,
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

Deion Branch, en route to setting a new Super Bowl mark for receptions, stayed just in bounds after catching a pass in the second quarter.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

With the score tied 7-7, Paul McCartney performed during the halftime show.
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| January 11, 2012

It was McCartney's first time performing at the Super Bowl halftime show.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

The stadium went dark to focus on McCartney's performance.
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| January 11, 2012

The Patriots opened the second half with a 69-yard drive culminating in Mike Vrabel hauling in a 2-yard scoring pass over the Eagles' Quintin Mikell.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

Vrabel's touchdown catch represented his second straight Super Bowl with a score.
Vincent Laforet/The New York Times
| January 11, 2012

Richard Seymour, sacking McNabb during the third quarter, and the Patriots registered four sacks during the game.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

Brady completed 23 of 33 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns.
Vincent Laforet/The New York Times
| January 11, 2012

After the Eagles tied the game at 14-14, Dillon provided the Patriots' go-ahead touchdown with a 2-yard run early in the fourth quarter.
Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

Brady, en route to his third Super Bowl title, reacted after Dillon's scoring run.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

Adam Vinatieri added a fourth-quarter field goal that at the time made the score 24-14 and ended up providing the margin of victory.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

Branch caught his Super Bowl-record 11th pass of the game over the outstretched arms of cornerback Sheldon Brown in the fourth quarter.
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| January 11, 2012

Bruschi had one of the game's three interceptions off McNabb during the fourth quarter.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

The game's clinching play came with nine seconds left when Harrison, center, picked off McNabb again.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

The Patriots erupted in celebration as the clock ran out.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

Patriots coach Bill Belichick became the only man to shepherd a team to three Super Bowl wins in four years.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

Belichick, flanked by his father, Steve, received the celebratory cold shower.
David J. Phillip/AP
| January 11, 2012

For the third time, Vinatieri's field goal provided the Patriots' winning margin in a Super Bowl.
Jeff Roberson/AP
| January 11, 2012

Brady shared a celebratory moment with team owner Robert Kraft on the field after the game.
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| January 11, 2012

Bruschi, left, and Roman Phifer celebrated with defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel, who was in his final game with the Patriots.
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| January 11, 2012

Tight end Christian Fauria lifted a Adam Vinatieri into his arms as time ran out.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

Brady, 27, hoisted the Lombardi Trophy for the third time since becoming the starter in 2001.
Jim Davis/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

Seymour got some help parading the Lombardi Trophy around the field.
David J. Phillip)/AP
| January 11, 2012

The assembled Patriots fans got an opportunity to see their team accomplish what just one previous team had done -- win three Super Bowls in four seasons.
Stephan Savoia/AP
| January 11, 2012

Branch, with his record-setting performance, was named Super Bowl MVP.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
| January 11, 2012

Brady cemented his legend in Boston and had his name placed in annals with Bill Russell, Larry Bird and Bobby Orr.
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| January 11, 2012

Back in Massachusetts, students at UMass Amherst students embraced as they ran from their dorms following the game.
Steven E. Frischling for The Boston Globe
| January 11, 2012

Several days later, fans gathered on the streets of Boston for a parade honoring the Patriots.
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| January 11, 2012

For the second time in three months, Boston organized a "rolling rally." The Patriots basked in the joy the Red Sox had experienced earlier.
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| January 11, 2012

Bruschi cheered to fans lining the streets as the team passed by on the Duck Boats.
Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters
| January 11, 2012

Thousands of fans on Beacon Street cheered as the Patriots went by.
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| January 11, 2012

Tonia Nee and Sarah Leahy, both 15, painted their faces for the Patriots parade.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012

Belichick and Kraft partook in what was becoming a tradition for the Patriots, a parade through the streets of Boston.
Michael Dwyer/AP
| January 11, 2012

From left, Patriots director of player personnel Scott Pioli, Belichick, Kraft, and team vice chairman Jonathan Kraft held the team's three Super Bowl trophies aloft during the parade.
Jessica Rinaldi /Reuters
| January 11, 2012

Tens of thousands of raucous fans cheered the Patriots as the parade moved through.
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| January 11, 2012

Brady and Branch, both in the club of Super Bowl MVPs, shared a duck boat.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
| January 11, 2012

The parade worked its way through the streets of Boston in front of tens of thousands of fans.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
| January 11, 2012

More than two months later, President George W. Bush welcomed the Patriots to the White House again to celebrate their title.
Doug Mills/The New York Times
| January 11, 2012

Bush got to share some laughs with Kraft, Belichick and Bruschi.
Lawrence Jackson/AP
| January 11, 2012

As the debate raged about whether football historians would call the Patriots a dynasty, Bruschi celebrated putting a third championship ring on his fingers.
Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff
| January 11, 2012