2005 ‐ Super Bowl XXXIX ‐ New England Patriots vs Philadelphia Eagles
New England Patriots 24
Philadelphia Eagles 21
February 6, 2005
Super Bowl XXXIX was at Jacksonville’s Alltel Stadium. The AFC champion Patriots (17-2) faced the NFC champion Eagles (15-4).
The Patriots sought to become a dynasty. After 3 consecutive NFC Championship defeats, Philadelphia returned to its first Super Bowl since 1981.
Philadelphia went on an 81-yard touchdown drive in the second quarter to lead 7-0.
New England fielded a 29-yard punt at Philadelphia’s 37 and Brady tied the game with a 4-yard touchdown pass at halftime.
The Patriots opened the second half with a 69-yard touchdown drive.
Later in the third quarter, Donovan McNabb tied the game with a 10-yard touchdown pass.
Keyed by running back Kevin Faulk who caught 2 passes for 27 yards and had a 12-yard rush, the Patriots scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter.
New England completed a 22-yard field goal with 8:40 remaining.
The Eagles got the ball back at their 21 with 5:40 left. McNabb threw a 30-yard touchdown pass with 1:48 remaining.
Philadelphia got the ball back at its 4 with 46 seconds remaining, but McNabb was intercepted on third down, sealing the win for the Patriots.
Deion Branch was Super Bowl XXXIX’s MVP with 133 passing yards and a record-tying 11 receptions.
New England became the second team after Dallas to win three Super Bowls in four years.
Around the World on February 26:
- Nahum Acosta, a senior staffer of Mexican President Vicente Fox, was arrested on suspicion of links with a drug gang.
Around the NFL in 2005:
- January 2 – Colts quarterback Peyton Manning set the NFL season record with 49 touchdown passes.
- March 21 – NFL attendance in 2004 set a new record of 21,708,624.
- April 1 – The Pat Tillman USO Center opened in Afghanistan and the NFL donated $250,000.
- April 18 – NBC received a six-year agreement for Sunday night games. ESPN received an eight-year deal to televise Monday Night Football.
- April 27 – The NFL enacted a stronger steroids program with more random tests and more drugs added to the banned substance list.
- May 25 – Real-estate developer Zygmunt bought the Vikings. Tampa received Super Bowl XLIII.
- June 11 – The Amsterdam Admirals beat the Berlin Thunder 27-21 to win World Bowl XIII.
- September 19 – The NFL designated September 18-19 as “Hurricane Relief Weekend,” contributing $21 million.
- October 2 – The Cardinals beat the 49ers 31-14 in Mexico City, the first regular-season NFL game outside the U.S.
- October 6 – NFL owners approved NFL Europe’s five-year business plan.
- October 25 – Giants president and co-CEO Wellington Mara died at 89.
- November 13 – Bears cornerback Nathan Vasher set a record for the longest scoring play with a 108-yard touchdown return.
- November 15 – Giants chairman and co-CEO Preston Robert Tisch died at 79.
- December 5 – Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was named Sportsman of the Year.