National Football League

SB 39: Patriots edge Eagles for 3rd Super Bowl title

Published Jan. 20, 2016 9:37 p.m. ET

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Super Bowl 39

Feb. 6, 2005

At Jacksonville, Fla.-78,125

New England .0..7..7.10-24

Philadelphia .0..7..7..7-21

The New England Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four years, matching the Cowboys' feat from the 1990s. It was their ninth straight postseason victory, equaling Vince Lombardi's Green Bay Packers. It was coach Bill Belichick's 10th playoff victory in 11 games, one better than Lombardi.

Deion Branch, from nearby Albany, Georgia, fretted that he couldn't get enough tickets for everyone who wanted to make the drive from his hometown to Jacksonville.

Those who didn't attend missed quite a show: Branch had 11 receptions for 133 yards to win MVP honors and the Patriots' defense forced four turnovers to become the eighth team to win consecutive Super Bowls.

The Patriots took a 21-14 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 2-yard run by Corey Dillon. New England forced a three-and-out and Branch's 19-yard reception set up Adam Vinatieri's 22-yard field goal with 8:40 to play.

The Eagles pulled within three on Donovan McNabb's 30-yard pass to Greg Lewis with 1:48 to play.

Philadelphia's final drive started on its 4 with 46 seconds left. Rodney Harrison ended the Eagles' hopes three plays later with his second interception of the game.

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Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL