<P> Three of their four starters in the defensive secondary were named to the Pro Bowl: Cornerback Lito Sheppard (1 sack, 5 interceptions, 172 return yards and 2 touchdowns), safety Michael Lewis (88 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 1 sack, and 1 interception) and safety Brian Dawkins (3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 4 interceptions for 40 return yards), while their fourth starter, cornerback Sheldon Brown, also enjoyed a solid year (89 tackles, 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 2 interceptions). Their defensive line was anchored by Pro Bowl defensive tackle Corey Simon (5.5 sacks) and defensive ends Jevon Kearse (7.5 sacks, Pro Bowl) and Derrick Burgess . Pro Bowl middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, who only started 9 games, recorded 69 tackles and 1 sack . </P> <P> The Eagles started the 2004 regular season with seven straight wins before suffering a loss to the 15 - 1 Steelers . After that, they finished the season with a 13--3 record . Their only other 2 losses were in their last 2 games of the season, when they decided to rest all of their starters because they had already clinched the NFC #1 seed, and thus home - field advantage in the playoffs . However, during a December 19, 12--7 win over the Dallas Cowboys, Owens was seriously injured on a "horse - collar tackle" by Cowboys defensive back Roy Williams and had to miss the rest of the regular season and the playoffs . </P> <P> Despite the loss of Owens, the Eagles beat the Minnesota Vikings, 27--14, and the Atlanta Falcons, 27--10, in the playoffs with relative ease . McNabb recorded 21 out of 33 completions for 286 yards and two touchdowns, while receiver Freddie Mitchell scored two touchdowns in the victory over the Vikings . Although Minnesota quarterback Daunte Culpepper threw for 316 yards, the Eagles defense recorded 2 interceptions, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble . McNabb then completed 17 out of 26 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Falcons . The Eagles defense held dual - threat quarterback Michael Vick to only 136 passing yards, 26 rushing yards, and no touchdowns, while also recording an interception, 4 sacks, and a forced fumble on Vick . McNabb had an average passer rating of 111.3 in the two games, with 466 passing yards, 35 rushing yards, 4 touchdowns, and no turnovers . Safety Brian Dawkins was also an important player, recording a sack and a forced fumble against the Vikings, followed by an interception and a forced fumble against the Falcons . </P> <P> Meanwhile, the Patriots defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 20--3, holding the league's highest scoring team with 522 total points to just one field goal, Indianapolis' lowest point total since their opening game of the 2003 season . Colts quarterback Peyton Manning threw for 4,557 yards during the regular season, and set NFL records for most touchdown passes in a regular season (49) and highest quarterback rating (121.4). Running back Edgerrin James gained 2,031 combined rushing and receiving yards and scored 9 touchdowns . Wide receivers Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, and Brandon Stokley each recorded over 1,000 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns . However, the Patriots limited Manning to 238 passing yards with 1 interception and no touchdowns, and James to just 39 rushing yards . The Patriots also held possession of the ball for 37: 43, including 21: 26 in the second half, and recorded three long scoring drives that each took over 7 minutes off the clock . One reason New England was able to hold the ball so long was because of Dillon's rushing . He finished the game with 23 carries for 144 yards and 5 receptions for 17 yards . </P>

When was the last year that the philadelphia eagles were in the super bowl