Top football news blsp

Eagles and Patriots Headed to Super Bowl

Eagles, Patriots Headed to Superbowl 2005!

The Philadelphia Eagles and the New England Patriots will meet in the Super Bowl. The Patriots topped the Pittsburgh Steelers, owners of the NFL's best record at 15-1, to win the AFC championship 41-27 last night. Earlier in the day, the Eagles beat the Atlanta Falcons 27-10 for the NFC title.
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick were an unstoppable combination again for the Patriots, exposing all of the Steelers' weaknesses to end their 15-game winning streak.
Brady gave the inexperienced Ben Roethlisberger a lesson in quarterbacking a championship game, throwing two touchdown passes - one to Deion Branch that gave New England a 10-0 lead in the first quarter.
Belichick upstaged can't-win-the-big-one Steelers coach Bill Cowher, improving to 9-1 as a playoffs coach and matching Vince Lombardi for the best postseason record in NFL playoff history.
Brady has a record of his own: 8-0 as a postseason quarterback, bettering Troy Aikman's 7-0 record at the start of his playoffs career.
"I'm just so proud of these players. Our team has played well in big games and this was a huge one," Belichick said.
Now, the defending champions will play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl on Feb. 6 in Jacksonville, Fla. New England was installed as an early 6-to-6 1/2-point favorite.

The Eagles ended their three-game losing streak in the NFC championship game by beating Atlanta.
Donovan McNabb & Co. ignored the burden of three straight losses in the NFC championship game and warmed a frozen city's heart, stuffing Michael Vick and the Atlanta Falcons 27-10 on Sunday.
Philadelphia moves on to its first Super Bowl in 24 years - the only acceptable outcome for the Eagles and their rabid fans after so many close calls.
"We've got one more game to play," McNabb told the crowd. "The reason we set out to play this game ... is to win the Super Bowl.
"Enjoy it now, and we'll bring something else home."
The fourth consecutive appearance in the NFC title game proved to be the charm for the Eagles, even though they didn't have top receiver Terrell Owens - reduced to the role of MVC (Most Valuable Cheerleader) on the sideline.
Nothing was going to stand in the way of this team, which entered the season with a Super Bowl or Bust mentality and met those enormous expectations.
McNabb threw a pair of touchdown passes to Chad Lewis, including the clinching score with 3:21 remaining. That turned the final minutes into a delirious coronation, the 67,717 fans - most of whom never sat in their seats on a 17-degree day - saluting a team that fulfilled its destiny.
"Super Bowl! Super Bowl!" they chanted when play was halted for the two-minute warning.
The only warm-weather team left in the playoffs went cold in its biggest game of the year. Vick was sacked four times by the fearsome Philly defense, which also came up with a crucial interception that set up David Akers' second field goal.
The significance of the day was evident on the field - the Eagles pranced and posed after every big play - and in the stands, where hugs and beer flowed freely at Lincoln Financial Field. Friends and strangers celebrated in unison, brought together by their beloved Eagles.
"This team has great personality," coach Andy Reid said. "Everybody here in Philadelphia loves 'em."
The Eagles are one victory away from bringing the city its first major sports championship since the 76ers won the NBA title in 1983. The football team hasn't won it all since 1960, which predates the Super Bowl by six seasons.
Philly's only previous Super Bowl appearance came in 1981, but the Eagles fell flat in a 27-10 loss to the Raiders. This time, that score worked in their favor.
McNabb completed 17-of-26 passes for 180 yards, a workmanlike performance that solidified his position as one of the game's best quarterbacks. He also ran 10 times for 32 yards.
Vick's debut on the Super Bowl stage will have to wait. He completed just 11-of-24 for 136 yards, while the Eagles' stifling defense kept him from pulling off one of his signature runs.
He ran it just four times for 26 yards, but gave up even more yards on the sacks. Derrick Burgess dropped the elusive quarterback twice, and Jevon Kearse kept Vick hemmed up on the other side.
"I didn't get outside the pocket," Vick said. "I think that was their first priority."
Philadelphia led only 14-10 at halftime, a bit too close for a team that had lost to St. Louis, Tampa Bay and Carolina in the last three NFC title games. Even more galling - the two more recent defeats were at home.
But, as the sun gave way to a nearly full moon over "The Linc," the Eagles dominated the final two quarters. Akers connected from 31 and 34 yards, then McNabb and Lewis teamed up to finish off the Falcons with their 2-yard touchdown play.
Owens, who didn't play because of a severe ankle injury, played a prominent role nonetheless. He led the Eagles on the field and drew plenty of attention with his sideline antics, flapping his arms and waving a towel to urge on a crowd that didn't need any encouragement.
Meanwhile, his teammates filled in admirably. McNabb worked his passes around to eight players, led by Brian Westbrook with five catches for 39 yards. Westbrook also handled the bulk of the running load, carrying 16 times for 96 yards.

(full story Kansas City)

posted by free news @ 3:10 PM