Super Bowl XXXIX

Everyone here at the registry is anxiously awaiting the outcome of Sunday’s game to learn whether the current Golden Age of Boston Sports will continue. In a very short period of time we’ve witnessed two Patriot victories in the Super Bowl and the historic World Series win by the Red Sox last fall. Here’s a brief recap of Super Bowl appearances by the Eagles and the Patriots, courtesy of the official NFL Super Bowl XXXIX program ($15 online or at Barnes & Noble).

Super Bowl XV – January 25, 1981 – New Orleans Superdome – Oakland 27, Philadelphia 10. The Raiders became the first wild card team to capture a Super Bowl title. Oakland quarterback Jim Plunkett was the MVP.

Super Bowl XX – January 26, 1986 – New Orleans Superdome – Chicago 46, New England 10. The Bears, led by quarterback Jim McMahon and a ferocious defense, embarrassed the Patriots who gained only seven yards rushing and had their quarterback (Tony Eason then Steve Grogan) sacked seven times.

Super Bowl XXXI – January 26, 1997 – New Orleans Superdome – Green Bay 35, New England 21. The Patriots, led by Drew Bledsoe and Curtis Martin, were still in this game, pulling to within six points (27-21) when Green Bay’s Desmond Howard returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown (the first time in Super Bowl history that had happened). To me, the rest of the game dragged on and on.

Super Bowl XXXVI – February 3, 2002 – New Orleans Superdome – New England 20, St Louis 17. The Belichick-Brady legend is born. After several early season losses, starting QB Drew Bledsoe was seriously injured in a game against the Jets. Tom Brady took over and never relinquished the job. Big underdogs against the “Greatest Show on Turf,” the Patriots jumped to a big lead, only to see the Rams tie the game late in the fourth quarter. With less than two minutes and no timeouts, Brady drove the Pats downfield allowing Adam Vinatieri to kick a game winning 48 yard field goal as time expired, the first time in Super Bowl history that the game was won on the last play.

Super Bowl XXXVIII – February 1, 2004 – Houston’s Reliant Stadium – New England 32, Carolina 29. The Panthers, who had gone something like 1-15 the previous season, were the Cinderella team of the NFC. The Patriots, who had a down year after winning the Super Bowl (Tampa Bay won in between) were the heavy favorites. The first half was a defensive struggle with the Patriots ahead by a field goal. In the second half, both offenses awoke and Carolina tied the game with time running out. Brady again led the team downfield and Vinatieri kicked the winning field goal with 4 seconds to play.