Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are the kings of clutch. They proved that again in Super Bowl LI.
Down 28-3 late in the third quarter, the Patriots reeled off 25 unanswered points to force overtime, and then James White scored on a two-yard touchdown run in overtime to give the Patriots the 34-28 win over the Atlanta Falcons. It was the first Super Bowl in NFL history to go into overtime, and the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history.
With the win, Tom Brady becomes the first NFL quarterback to win five Super Bowls, and Bill Belichick becomes the first head coach to win five Super Bowls.
The first half did not look good for the Patriots. After a scoreless first quarter, Atlanta's defense turned the tide and took over the game. They forced a LeGarrette Blount fumble that led to the game's first touchdown, and after another score on their next possession, Robert Alford picked off Tom Brady and returned it 82 yards for the touchdown.
LeGarrette Blount fumbles, and the #Falcons recover! #SuperBowl #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/VWFnUQ5GMv
— Chat Sports (@ChatSports) February 6, 2017
That gave the Falcons a 21-0 lead, putting them in complete control of the game. New England added a field goal right before halftime, yet Atlanta extended their lead to 28-3 at the start of the third quarter thanks to a six-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to Tevin Coleman.
Of course, that is when the comeback started. New England responded with 17 straight points and trailed 28-20 with the ball and a chance to tie the game in the final 3:30. After driving all the way down the field, White scored a one-yard touchdown run and Brady threw a screen pass to Amendola for the two-point conversion to force overtime.
New England won the toss and went right down the field on the first possession of the extra frame, ending in that two-yard run by White to win the game.
Brady won his fourth Super Bowl MVP in the historic performance, finishing with 43/62 passing for 466 yards and two touchdowns with an interception. White finished with six carries for 29 yards and the two crucial touchdowns, while adding 14 catches for 110 yards and another touchdown.
Atlanta's defense that was the star of the show early, sacking Brady five times (three from Grady Jarrett) and forcing two turnovers, but fell apart down the stretch.
Ryan did his part for the Falcons, completing 17/23 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns, while Devonta Freeman rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. Julio Jones added 87 yards on four catches.
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