February 16, 2005

With three ticker-tape parades in 12 months, the City of Heartbreaking Losses has been suddenly transformed into Trophytown

The son of a Naval Academy coach, Bill Belichick grew up in the game: listening to Joe Bellino, catching balls thrown by Roger Staubach and waiting for a sideline to call his own

Linebacker Tedy Bruschi, the picture-perfect Patriot, is admired by teammates and fans alike for his toughness, loyalty and hard-nosed style

It was a return to old glory for the Patriots, who sewed up a record string of victories on the way to a 14--2 finish and a playoff berth

DYNASTY, ACCORDING TO WEBSTER'S, SECOND edition, is "the continued lordship of a race of rulers." High and mighty terms. The Packers of the 1960s, the Steelers of the '70s--now those were...

THE COACH WHO STRODE TO THE FRONT OF the meeting room the day after the New England Patriots' Oct. 3 road win over the Buffalo Bills didn't look happy. Bill Belichick seldom does. But you'd figure...

IN A GAME ONLY A MUDDER COULD LOVE, LEAVE IT to Corey Dillon to be the workhorse the Patriots needed on a down-and-dirty afternoon in rainy New England. It was this kind of day New England had in...

[This article consists of photographs. See below]

The Patriots faced down the Colts, Steelers and Eagles en route to joining the pantheon of the NFL's great teams

Much-touted Peyton Manning and the Colts were punished by the Pats for the second straight year

Tom Brady shook off the flu and led the Patriots to a resounding win in the Steel City

With another gritty show of teamwork, the Patriots downed the Eagles by a familiar margin to claim their third Super Bowl title

A modern-day Lombardi and old-school values have made the Pats the team of the 21st century

Super Bowl Commemorative

Three championships in four seasons may not be quite enough to make everyone jump on the dynasty bandwagon--but it's a helluva start