It’s Patriots vs. Eagles

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 9/15/2004.

 

 

It’s not every year that the two best teams from their respective conferences survive the regular season and playoffs to reach the Super Bowl. However, the NFL continues to have the perfect formula for getting it right.

 The Philadelphia Eagles, behind a suffocating defense and the brilliant leadership of quarterback Donovan McNabb, are headed to their first Super Bowl in 24 years. The Eagles lifted the huge gorilla of pressure that the team carried into the NFC Championship by dominating the Atlanta Falcons 27-10.

 Philadelphia avoided being the first team in league history to lose four straight NFC title games by emerging as the league’s best bird. McNabb out-dueled Michael Vick by throwing two touchdown passes in the win.

 McNabb will attempt to join Doug Williams as the only Black quarterback to win the Super Bowl. There is a possibility that injured receiver Terrell Owens could be healthy enough to play. Anything is possible, but the Eagles will have to be at the top of their game to dethrone the defending Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots.

 The Patriots put an end to the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 15-game winning streak by manhandling the Steelers 41-27 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Two-time Super Bowl MVP quarterback Tom Brady was sensational again.

 Brady gave Steelers rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger his first career loss and an education on greatness by throwing two touchdown passes, leading the Patriots (16-2) to their third Super Bowl in four years.

 Pittsburgh came into the game with a 16-1 record that included a regular-season 34-20 win over the Patriots. Roethlisberger made critical mistakes by throwing three interceptions, one of which Rodney Harrison returned 87 yards for a touchdown. With the loss, the Steelers join the 1998 Minnesota Vikings as the only 16-1 teams in NFL history to not win the Super Bowl.

 Brady is now 8-0 in the playoffs, and Head Coach Bill Belichick is now 9-1 in the playoffs, tying the great Vince Lombardi for the best post-season record in NFL history.

 The Patriots are an early 6-point favorite in Super Bowl XXXIX over the Eagles. They are trying to join the Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, and Dallas Cowboys as the only teams to win back-to-back Super Bowls. The Patriots can also join the elite company of the Cowboys as the only teams ever to win three Super Bowls in four years.