Patriots 24, Eagles 21

Patriots reign again after beating Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX

Football historians will look back upon the current run by the Patriots and decide if it is indeed a dynasty. But for now it’s clear that no football team in the world is better.

(SUPER BOWL FEB. 6 2005, JACKSONVILLE)-- New England Patriots defenseman Tedy Bruschi holds a dynasty poster and shows three fingers Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005 in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., after the Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four years. (Globe Staff Photo/Stan Grossfeld ) Library Tag 02072005 Sports Super Bowl XXXIX Library Tag 02122005 Sports Library Tag 02132005 National/Foreign/Sports Page One Library Tag 07212005 Sports cp SportsBookPats TotalPats TotalPats08 Library Tag 08312009

Stan Grossfeld/Globe Staff

Tedy Bruschi and the Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four years by beating the Eagles.

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 06: Linebackers Tedy Bruschi #54 and Roman Phifer #95 of the New England Patriots congratulate defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles during Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium on February 6, 2005 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Patriots defeated the Eagles 24-21. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tedy Bruschi;Roman Phifer;Romeo Crennel Library Tag 02082005 Super Bowl XXXIX Champions

ANDY LYONS/GETTY IMAGES

Bruschi, left, and Roman Phifer shared a moment with defensive coordinator Romero Crennel after the game.

Jacksonville,FL:--2/6/2005--GLOBE STAFF PHOTO/JIM DAVIS:The Patriots celebrate their victory, as the clock runs out, the Eagles Terrell OWens is in the foreground left. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS , SUPER BOWL XXXIX -- Library Tag 01072006 Sports Library Tag 08142009

Jim Davis/Globe Staff

The game's outcome was uncertain until Rodney Harrison picked off a Donovan McNabb pass in the final minutes.

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is doused after the Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX on Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. At right is Belichick's father, Steve. (AP Photo/) ORG XMIT: JVS228

David J. Phillip/AP

Bill Belichick, left, was doused after becoming the first man to coach three Super Bowl winners in four years.

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 06: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots celebrates with team owner Robert Kraft after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium on February 6, 2005 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Patriots defeated the Eagles 24-21. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tom Brady;Robert Kraft

Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images

QB Tom Brady, right, met with team owner Robert Kraft in the moments after the game.

New England Patriots Super Bowl MVP wide receiver Deion Branch (C) holds his trophy next to head coach Bill Belichick (L) and Patriots owner Robert Kraft after they beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Florida, February 6, 2005. REUTERS/Brian Snyder ORG XMIT: SBP132D

Brian Snyder/REUTERS

Deion Branch was honored as the Super Bowl MVP.

Dan Shaughnessy

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/01/11/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/shaughnessy-1627.png It’s official: Patriots are now an NFL dynasty

The Patriots of the 21st century are established as an NFL dynasty on a par with the Packers of the 1960s, the Steelers of the ‘70s, the 49ers of the ‘80s, and the Cowboys of the ‘90s.

Jackie MacMullan

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/01/11/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/brady-1631--90x90.jpg Tom Brady now among royalty in Boston sports history

He is unbeaten, untied, and unequivocally the king of the football world. Tom Brady is the money man. How long can this go on?

Bob Ryan

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/01/11/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/ryan90-1627.png Get this: Patriots are the Team of the Century

You can make a case -- in fact, I’m going to -- that this was the most difficult postseason task ever presented to a team attempting to win a Super Bowl.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/01/11/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/coaches1--90x90.jpg ‘A perfect ending’ for Bill Belichick, departing coaches

How fitting, in the closing moments of the win, that Belichick, Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel formed their tiny, sentimental huddle on the sideline.

Super Bowl MVP

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2012/01/11/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/PX00228_9[21]--90x90.jpg Deion Branch named Super Bowl MVP

Branch still had his gloves on 30 minutes after the game. You never know when Tom Brady might fling another ball his way.

On Football

Patriots turned to screens to bypass aggressive Eagles

The Patriots used the screen pass to nullify an Eagles blitz that was pressuring Tom Brady and forcing New England into some uncharacteristic mistakes.

“It establishes our dominance to tell you the truth, that’s what it does.”

Tedy Bruschi 

Opinion

“Pardon me for being a stickler for details, but as someone who makes his living playing with words, I am dismayed by the casual misuse of the English language implicit in the contention that winning three out four anything in sport constitutes a ‘dynasty.’”

Bob Ryan 

More Super Bowl XXXIX

Bob Ryan

Bill Belichick became the first coach in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in four years.

With Patriots, ‘D’ is for dominance, not dynasty

Please, don’t embarrass yourself, Patriots fans. Don’t even think about invoking the “D-word.”

More Super Bowl XXXIX

Leigh Montville

Tom Brady celebrates with Patriots owner Robert Kraft after defeating the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX

Patriots prove that mind games are path to NFL glory

The message of these Patriots’ Super Bowl win is that the game is won in the head, not the body.