JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Deion Branch managed to outshine Terrell Owens on football’s biggest stage, but not by much.

The leader of New England’s unheralded receiving corps, Branch tied a Super Bowl record with 11 catches, accounting for 133 yards in the Patriots’ win over the Eagles. While Branch didn’t make it to the end zone, he played a role in all four scoring drives.

The biggest catch might have been the last one – a leaping 19-yarder over the middle that set up Adam Vinatieri’s 22-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.

Branch leaped off the turf and defiantly signaled a first down, the sort of brazen move that Owens is known for. New England pushed its lead to 10 points, and when it was done, Branch was named the MVP.

Philadelphia’s All-Pro receiver had a remarkable game, too, defying his doctor by playing just 6 1/2 weeks after surgery. With a metal plate and two screws in his right ankle, Owens somehow had nine catches for 122 yards.

He caught a 7-yard pass on Philadelphia’s second play – his first action since spraining the ankle severely and breaking his fibula against Dallas on December 19.

He had a 30-yard catch-and-run later in the first quarter, setting up a first down at the Patriots 8. Owens also had a 36-yard reception in the fourth quarter, but didn’t catch any of Donovan McNabb’s three touchdown passes.

Owens appeared to have no trouble running his patterns, gaining several yards after his catches. He seemed out of breath early on when he went to the sideline, but didn’t have to sit out plays.

He didn’t have any receptions in the second quarter as McNabb spread the ball around and had better success moving the offense, but had two catches during Philadelphia’s game-tying scoring drive in the third quarter and six total in the second half.

Two days after the Eagles won the NFC championship game, Dr. Mark Myerson, who performed the surgery on Owens, said he wouldn’t clear the receiver to play against the Patriots.

But Owens insisted he would be in the lineup when Philadelphia made its first appearance in the Super Bowl since 1981. It was a fitting stage for Owens, the playmaking, showboating, brash-talking perennial Pro Bowl receiver.

But Branch was even better, tying Jerry Rice and Cincinnati’s Dan Ross for catches in a Super Bowl.

While most of the attention was on Owens in the days leading up to the big game, Branch had a nice, quiet week in Jacksonville- not drawing nearly as much attention from the media horde. Everyone knows him now.

Branch came up huge on a tone-setting drive to start the second half, making four catches for 71 yards to set up Mike Vrabel’s touchdown catch.

Eight of Branch’s catches came on New England’s scoring drives. In last year’s Super Bowl, Branch had 10 catches and a touchdown in a 32-29 victory over Carolina. Now, he’s helped the Patriots become a team for the ages – just the second to win three Super Bowls in four years.

Branch was a second-round pick out of Louisville University in 2002, catching 43 passes his rookie year. He improved to 57 receptions the following year, but missed seven games this season with a knee injury. He finished with just 35 catches for 454 yards and four touchdowns.

Branch was so frustrated during the recovery process that he didn’t even travel to every road game. But all the hard work was worth it.

He has developed into one of Tom Brady’s favorite receivers, usually getting the first look when a blitz is coming or a big catch is needed. No wonder. Branch has really come up big in the biggest game.

Brady was the MVP of New England’s last two Super Bowl victories, and now his go-to receiver has an award, too.