Super Bowl XXXIX

Lore & Background

The Patriots, who entered the Super Bowl after compiling a 14–2 regular season record, became the then-most recent team to win consecutive Super Bowls (until the Kansas City Chiefs did in 2023). The Patriots also became the second team after the Dallas Cowboys to win three Super Bowls in four seasons, cementing their status as the NFL dynasty of the 2000s. The Eagles were making their second-ever Super Bowl appearance after posting a 13–3 regular season record.

The game was close throughout, with the teams battling to a 14–14 tie by the end of the third quarter. The Patriots then scored 10 points in the 4th quarter with Corey Dillon's 2-yard touchdown run and Adam Vinatieri's 22-yard field goal. The Eagles then cut their deficit to 24–21, with quarterback Donovan McNabb's 30-yard touchdown pass to receiver Greg Lewis, with 1:48 remaining in the game but could not sustain the comeback. Overall, the Patriots forced four turnovers, while Patriots wide receiver Deion Branch was named Super Bowl MVP for recording 133 receiving yards and tied the Super Bowl record with 11 catches.

To avoid the possibility of an incident similar to the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show the previous year, the league selected Paul McCartney as a 'safe' choice to perform during Super Bowl XXXIX's halftime. The broadcast of the game on Fox was watched by an estimated 86 million viewers. Philadelphia and New England would face off again in Super Bowl LII thirteen years later, with the Eagles defeating the Patriots 41-33.

Reader's Guide

The Patriots finished the regular season with a record of 14–2, bested only by the Pittsburgh Steelers' 15–1 mark, and ranking seventh in yards gained (5,773) and fourth in points scored (437). The Patriots' major acquisition prior to the season was veteran running back Corey Dillon, who joined the team after playing seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Dillon was acquired in exchange for a second-round draft pick. Dillon became a significant offensive weapon for the 2004 Patriots, recording a franchise record 1,635 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, and was named to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in his career.

Another weapon in the Patriots' offensive backfield was running back Kevin Faulk, who rushed for 255 yards, had 248 receiving yards, and scored three total touchdowns. Fullback Patrick Pass also emerged as a big contributor, rushing for 141 yards and catching 28 passes for 215 yards. Pro Bowl quarterback Tom Brady remained at the helm of the Patriots offense, with 3,692 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. Although wide receiver Deion Branch, the Patriots' major deep threat, missed most of the season because of injuries, he recorded 454 yards and four touchdowns.

Wide receiver David Givens was the team's leading receiver with 874 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver David Patten also contributed 800 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, and tight end Daniel Graham had 364 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. On special teams, pro bowl kicker Adam Vinatieri had the best season of his career, leading the NFL in field goals made (31), field goal percentage (93.9) and scoring (141 points). On defense, the Patriots were plagued by injuries, especially in their secondary.

Cornerbacks Tyrone Poole and Ty Law suffered season ending injuries, while safety Eugene Wilson, who led the team with four interceptions, missed several games. With their patchwork secondary, the Patriots ranked 17th in passing yards allowed (3,400), However, they did rank seventh in interceptions (20) and 10th in fewest passing touchdowns allowed (18). Most importantly, the Patriots continued to win despite the injuries. Converted wide receiver Troy Brown turned out to be very effective playing as a defensive back, ranking second on the team with three interceptions.

Host City Selection and Logistics

Jacksonville was awarded Super Bowl XXXIX during an NFL owners' meeting in Atlanta on November 1, 2000. The city won on the fourth ballot after Oakland was eliminated earlier; Miami had been considered the favorite but lost out to Jacksonville's bid. This marked the first and only Super Bowl hosted in Jacksonville. A major challenge for the host committee was a lack of premium hotel rooms in the area.

Their controversial solution involved docking several cruise ships along the St. Johns River to serve as temporary lodging, requiring roughly 800 buses to shuttle attendees between venues. The game took place at Alltel Stadium (now EverBank Stadium), which had been built on the former site of the Gator Bowl. Although Miami officials expressed displeasure with the result, Jacksonville successfully executed the event, becoming the third Florida metro area to host a Super Bowl after Miami and Tampa.

Patriots Dynasty and Season Performance

The Patriots finished the 2004 regular season with a 14–2 record, second only to the Pittsburgh Steelers' 15–1 mark. This victory made them the then-most recent team to win consecutive Super Bowls until the Kansas City Chiefs matched the feat in 2023. They also became the second franchise after the Dallas Cowboys to win three Super Bowls in four seasons. Quarterback Tom Brady led the offense with 3,692 passing yards and 28 touchdowns, while wide receiver David Givens served as the leading target with 874 receiving yards. On defense, despite injuries to cornerbacks Tyrone Poole and Ty Law, the unit recorded 20 interceptions and allowed only 18 passing touchdowns. Converted wide receiver Troy Brown was a standout on the defensive side, recording three interceptions. This championship would be the last for the Patriots until Super Bowl XLIX in 2015.

Game Flow and Deciding Moments

The game was close throughout, with both teams tied at 14–14 by the end of the third quarter. The decisive shift occurred when New England scored 10 points in the fourth quarter. Running back Corey Dillon powered in for a 2-yard touchdown run, and kicker Adam Vinatieri added a 22-yard field goal to push the score to 24–14. The Eagles responded late, with quarterback Donovan McNabb throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to receiver Greg Lewis with 1:48 remaining, narrowing the gap to 24–21. However, Philadelphia could not sustain the comeback and failed to score again. The Patriots' defense was instrumental in securing the win by forcing four turnovers overall, preventing the Eagles from extending their drive.

Individual Honors and Broadcast Impact

Wide receiver Deion Branch was named Super Bowl MVP for his outstanding performance despite missing most of the regular season due to injury. He finished with 133 receiving yards and tied the Super Bowl record with 11 catches, providing a crucial spark for the Patriots' offense. The game attracted an estimated 86 million viewers on the Fox broadcast. In a move to ensure a family-friendly atmosphere following the previous year's halftime incident, the league selected Paul McCartney as the performer. This choice was widely seen as a 'safe' option to avoid controversy. The matchup also highlighted the growing rivalry between these two franchises, which would face off again thirteen years later in Super Bowl LII, where the Eagles defeated the Patriots 41–33.