Dynasty

It was closer than anyone expected, but the Patriots won the Super Bowl again, 24-21. The Eagles were in it all the way and if not for a couple of key interceptions thrown by Donovan McNabb, they could have won. But New England was the better team, and that's all there is to it. Except for Tom Brady and maybe Corey Dillon, there are no household names on the Patriots' roster - but depth and teamwork more than make up for it. I underestimate the Pats every year, but they have to be counted among the greatest teams of all time.

Everyone says the Super Bowl is always a blowout that never lives up to the hype, but this is the third championship game in four years won by a field goal - all of them by the Patriots. Throw in the 2000 game, in which the Titans missed the game-tying touchdown by mere inches, and you have to conclude that we're living in a golden age for classic Super Bowls. (Check this list of results, and try to find a comparable time period with as many close games.)

Update: I singled out McNabb for the Eagles' loss, but come to think of it, coach Andy Reid deserves a share of the blame as well. How could the Eagles not go to a no-huddle offence late in the game, when they had to score ten points in three minutes? Had McNabb more than 46 seconds to drive his team down the field, maybe he wouldn't have thrown that interception at all.

Posted by damian at February 7, 2005 12:14 AM