Destiny or dynasty?

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It is a tale of two adept franchises. Consistent winners that have somehow found the secret to staying on top, in an age of fickle-fortuned parity. It is a tale of two straight-faced coaches. Taciturn men who see the beauty in details, and the joy in preparation. It is a tale of two quarterbacks. Leaders whose differences in style and background — and even race — cannot detract from what binds them together. The burden they must carry today.

It is Super Bowl XXXIX. The New England Patriots flirt with the right to be called a dynasty. The Philadelphia Eagles try to bury their ghosts.

They both have reasons to be hungry.

The Patriots, with a third championship in four years, could rightly demand to be considered the dominant team of their time. It says something of the Patriots that in this era, with its fluid rosters and salary caps and free agents, the Eagles are the third different NFC team they have played in a Super Bowl.

“I don’t think second place is really accepted in New England,” said linebacker Willie McGinest.

But how golden these Patriots’ legacy? “I think,” said coach Bill Belichick, “it will have a lot to do with what happens Sunday night.”

The Eagles have never won a Super Bowl. Not seen one for 24 years. They have been the most relentless contender in their conference the past four seasons, but what does it mean, with no trophy to show for it? Only the empty feeling of almost.

“You get as close as we are right now,” said quarterback Donovan McNabb, “you can taste it.”

They have grown weary of knocking on the door.

“This year,” said defensive end Jevon Kearse, “we want to go through the door, run through the house and out the back door.”

The odds and the past say it will be hard. The Patriots have been this way before, and know the glow of winning a Super Bowl.

They are 16-2, and playing for how loudly they will echo through the years. Though as quarterback Tom Brady said, “I don’t think we get many thoughts about the place in history we can make.”

The Eagles have settled into the role as the team wanting to disprove what is suspected on paper.

“If they were invincible, they wouldn’t have lost two games this year,” McNabb said. “We’ve been underdogs a long time. We’ve been underdogs even on PlayStation.”

In Belichick, the Patriots have a guru who never runs out of answers, or new ways to win. A master craftsman, as winners must be in today’s NFL.

But in Andy Reid, the Eagles have a match in someone to turn over every stone. A man who once tossed pebbles on his roof on Christmas Eve, to give his children the sound effects of Santa’s reindeer.

But the night will begin and end with the quarterbacks.

Brady has his flawless 8-0 postseason record. His impenetrable calm. His two Super Bowl MVPs.

He also has his penchant for studying the opponent down to the last eyelash, which has included this week, and late-night calls to offensive coordinator Charlie Weis to go over a few more plays, answer a few more questions.

“He’s actually getting to the point,” Weis said, “where his preparation is so good he’s getting to be a pain in the butt.”

But then, Brady knows what is coming from the Eagles’ defense.

“They can do it all,” he said. “They can stop the rush, they can stop the pass, they can cover. They play every coverage that you can possibly play. They blitz everybody.”

He also has his teammates’ unshakable confidence. “You can tell he knows what’s going on,” said fullback Patrick Pass. “You can see it in his eyes. You can hear it in his voice.”

McNabb has now validated a blossoming career with a Super Bowl trip. Sensitive to being labeled a runner, understanding of his social role — he could be only the second black quarterback to win the Super Bowl, 17 years after Doug Williams — he welcomes the stakes.

“I love all the challenges that are thrown my way, the pressures of playing the game,” he said.

McNabb is wary of a defense that forced 36 turnovers this regular season, shut down Peyton Manning, throttled the Pittsburgh Steelers and plays as one perfectly connected unit.

“You can see their flow,” he said of his film study. “They have each other’s back. I expect them to bring the house.”

In the end, the keynote question is if the Patriots leave the stadium worthy of being called a dynasty.

“If they win this game,” Eagles’ safety Brian Dawkins said, “then they have.”

If. A small word, on which rides the many factors of Super Bowl XXXIX.