American football: Patriots and Eagles chase Super Bowl glory

JACKSONVILLE - The New England Patriots play for a place in Super Bowl history tomorrow against a Philadelphia Eagles team who are just glad to finally be there.

The Patriots are pushing for a third Super Bowl title in four years while the Eagles have stumbled at the final hurdle in reaching the showpiece by losing the NFC championship game each of the previous three seasons.

Now the Eagles have landed a place in the big game believing Super Bowl XXXIX, which starts at noon on Monday NZ time, is their destiny.

A victory for the Patriots would cement their status as a true NFL dynasty.

The Patriots are looking to join the Green Bays Packers of the 1960s, Pittsburgh Steelers of the 1970s, San Francisco's 49ers of 1980s and Dallas Cowboy of the 1990s as the only teams to win three NFL titles in a four-year span.

Debate on a New England dynasty began at last year's Super Bowl in Houston when the Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers and this year talk has intensified.

However, it is a discussion the Patriots want no part of.

"We are just a good football team, and we've been a good football team for a couple of years," said Patriots safety Rodney Harrison. "We really don't concern ourselves with that.

"We haven't done anything unless we win the Super Bowl. The Chicago Bulls (basketball team), they were a dynasty.

"They were a dynasty for six years and then after that, once you lose, you are not a dynasty anymore."

If the Patriots are indeed a dynasty, it is one built on an unflinching belief in the team concept, hard work and a blinding focus.

That single-minded approach has allowed the Patriots to win 31 of their last 33 games, including a record 21-game unbeaten run that bridged last season's Super Bowl campaign to this season. "I think our identity is the word 'team,"' said Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi.

"We really believe that. We embrace that because that's how we feel we win football games."

With the possible exception of quarterback Tom Brady, the MVP of Patriots Super Bowl wins in 2002 and 2004, New England are devoid of superstars.

Even Brady, who is a perfect 8-0 in playoff games and poised to join his idol Hall of Famer Joe Montana as the only quarterback to win three MVP awards, is seldom included when talk turns to the great players in his position.

After guiding the Patriots to the Super Bowl win in 2002, Brady signed a $28 million contract extension compared to the $34.5 million signing bonus Peyton Manning received when he inked his seven-year $99-million deal with the Indianapolis Colts.

The Patriots take their identity from cerebral coach Bill Belichick, who with another victory on Sunday would improve his playoff record to 10-1, surpassing the legendary Vince Lombardi's mark of 9-1 and becoming the first coach to win three Super Bowls in four years.

While the Patriots have been typically methodical in their preparations, the Eagles have relished their time in the spotlight.

Terrell Owens's injured ankle and outspoken wide receiver Freddie Mitchell have provided the media with plenty of material in the build-up to Sunday's game.

Owens's fitness has been the biggest question mark hanging over the title game since he injured his right ankle on December 22 and underwent surgery. The flamboyant wide receiver and the Eagles' most explosive weapon has declared himself fit but quarterback Donovan McNabb remains the key if they are to lift their first NFL title since 1960 -- 16 years before he was born.

Philadelphia's appearance in their first Super Bowl since 1982 has sparked hysteria in the City of Brotherly Love, with some long suffering fans reportedly mortgaging their homes to purchase tickets for Sunday's game.

Despite the groundswell of support, the Eagles remain seven-point underdogs with bookmakers to bring the first major championship to Philadelphia since the 76ers captured the NBA title in 1983.

"Nobody gives us a chance here," Philadelphia defensive tackle Corey Simon told the Chicago Tribune. "You turn on the TV, and all you hear about is how great the dynasty of the New England Patriots is.

"That's all you hear. This team has some credentials of its own."

- REUTERS