Super Bowl LI
New England 34, Atlanta 28 OT
New England staged the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history, rallying from a 25-point deficit late in the third quarter to prevail in overtime for the franchise's fifth championship. It would have been hard to imagine such an outcome after Matt Ryan's 6-yard touchdown pass to Tevin Coleman gave Atlanta a 28-3 lead, but Patriots QB Tom Brady – who became the first four-time Super Bowl MVP – made it happen. He threw TD passes to James White and Danny Amendola, Stephen Gostkowski kicked a 33-yard field goal, and a White touchdown run and a two-point conversion then tied it to cap a frantic final 17 minutes of regulation. White won it with a two-yard TD run on the first possession of overtime.
February 5, 2017
NRG Stadium
Attendance 70,807
Tom Brady passed for 466 yards and 2 touchdowns, and James White scored 3 times, as the Patriots rallied from 25 points down in the third quarter to register the largest comeback in Super Bowl history and win their fifth title. New England maintained possession for 40:31 compared to 23:27 for the Falcons, and the Patriots ran more than twice as many plays (93-46). The Falcons strung together consecutive 5-play touchdown drives early in the second quarter, the first started with consecutive catches by Julio Jones to set up Devonta Freeman's 5-yard run, and the latter a 19-yard touchdown pass to Austin Hooper on third-and-9, to take a 14-0 lead. The Patriots responded with a 6-plus minute drive that included 3 third-down conversions. However, faced with third-and-6 from the Falcons' 23, Brady's short pass to the left side was intercepted by Robert Alford, who raced 82 yards for a touchdown and 21-0 lead. A 28-yard catch by White on the next drive helped set up Stephen Gostkowski's 41-yard field goal just before halftime. After an exchange of punts to begin the second half, Matt Ryan connected on passes of 17 and 35 yards to Taylor Gabriel to highlight a 9-play, 85-yard drive that finished with Ryan's 6-yard touchdown pass to Tevin Coleman for a 28-3 lead with 8:31 left in the third quarter. The Patriots answered with a 12-play drive that consumed more than six minutes, that was kept alive by Brady's 17-yard pass to Danny Amendola on fourth-and-3, and capped by White's 5-yard touchdown catch with 2:06 left in the quarter. Gostkowski missed the extra point, leaving Atlanta's lead at 28-9. The Patriots' defense forced a three-and-out, and Brady completed 6 passes on the next drive. But a pair of sacks in the red zone by Grady Jarrett forced New England to settle for a field goal with 9:44 to play, trailing 28-12. Three plays later, on third-and-1, Dont'a Hightower sacked Ryan and forced him to fumble. Alan Branch recovered the ball at the Falcons' 25. Five plays later Amendola caught a 6-yard touchdown pass. White's run up the middle for the 2-point conversion cut the deficit to 28-20 with 5:56 left. Ryan's 27-yard pass to Jones put the ball at the Patriots' 22 with 4:40 to play, but a second-down 12-yard sack by Trey Flowers and third-down holding penalty helped push Atlanta out of field goal range. Matt Bosher's punt pinned the Patriots back on their 9-yard line with 3:40 remaining. After two incompletions, Brady connected with Chris Hogan for 16 yards and a first down. After another incompletion, Brady then completed five consecutive passes, including a circus tipped pass catch by Julian Edelman, to set up White's 1-yard touchdown run with 57 seconds to play. Brady completed the game-tying 2-point conversion pass to Amendola. The Patriots' defense forced a punt and the game went to overtime. New England won the toss, and Brady completed the first five passes of the drive (10 consecutive completions when including the previous game-tying drive). After a 10-yard run by White to the Falcons' 15, a pass interference penalty placed the ball on the 2-yard line. White scored over right end two plays later to cap the comeback. Brady's 43 completions and 466 yards were each a Super Bowl record, and White established a record with 14 catches, and equaled one with three touchdowns. Jarrett's 3 sacks tied the Super Bowl record.
Game Notes
The Patriots completed the biggest comeback in team history when they overcame a 25-point deficit to beat Atlanta, 34-28, in overtime in Super Bowl LI. The Patriots trailed 28-3 with 8:36 to play in the third quarter before scoring 31 points on 5 of their final 6 offensive drives to claim the win.
Bill Belichick won his 5th Super Bowl in 2016 to give him the most Super Bowl wins by any head coach in NFL history.
Brady set 3 Super Bowl records against Atlanta in Super Bowl LI: Most passes in a game (62), Most completions (43), and most passing yards (466).
With the win in Super Bowl LI and another MVP Award, Brady now has thew most Super Bowl wins as a quarterback and most Super Bowl MVP Awards.
The New England Patriots take on the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI on February 5, 2017 at NRG Stadium.
New England Patriots running back James White scores on a two point conversion in the 4th quarter in action against the Atlanta Falcons during the NFL Super Bowl LI football game on Sunday, Feb. 05, 2017 in Houston. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28 in overtime. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Confetti falls down after the New England Patriots scored in overtime during an NFL Super Bowl 51 football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston, TX. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28 in overtime. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) is defended by Atlanta Falcons free safety Ricardo Allen (37), Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) and Falcons rookie strong safety Keanu Neal (22) as Edelman makes a diving circus catch with the ball inches off the turf on a pass reception good for a gain of 23 yards and a first down at the Falcons 41 yard line on a key fourth quarter drive with two minutes left in regulation play during the Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. The Patriots won the game 34-28 in overtime. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New England Patriots middle linebacker Dont'a Hightower (54) strip sacks Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) during Super Bowl LI on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. ThePatriots won in overtime, 34-28. (Ric Tapia via AP)
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman (11) is defended by Atlanta Falcons free safety Ricardo Allen (37), Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) and Falcons rookie strong safety Keanu Neal (22) as Edelman makes a diving circus catch with the ball inches off the turf on a pass reception good for a gain of 23 yards and a first down at the Falcons 41 yard line on a key fourth quarter drive with two minutes left in regulation play during the Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. The Patriots won the game 34-28 in overtime. (Paul Spinelli via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates as he hoists the Lombardi Trophy during Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston, Texas. The Patriots won the game in overtime, 34-28. (Greg Trott via AP)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert Alford (23) intercepts New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) during Super Bowl LI on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. ThePatriots won in overtime, 34-28. (Ric Tapia via AP)
New England Patriots running back James White (28) scores the winning touchdown in overtime on a 2-yard run during an NFL Super Bowl 51 football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston, TX. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28 in overtime. (Kevin Terrell via AP)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady throws a pass as the pocket collapses in action against the Atlanta Falcons during the NFL Super Bowl LI football game on Sunday, Feb. 05, 2017 in Houston. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28 in overtime. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
Lady Gaga sings during a halftime performance at the NFL football Super Bowl LI game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. The New England Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34 - 28 in overtime. (Al Messerschmidt via AP)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady prepares to throw against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
New England Patriots' Julian Edelman is upended by Atlanta Falcons' Philip Wheeler, bottom, during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates on the podium as confetti falls following action against the Atlanta Falcons during the NFL Super Bowl LI football game on Sunday, Feb. 05, 2017 in Houston. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28 in overtime. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
New England Patriots' Chris Hogan makes a catch against Atlanta Falcons' Jalen Collins during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates after leading his team to a touchdown in overtime to win Super Bowl LI during an NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. New England won 34-28 in overtime. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots' James White celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Atlanta Falcons' Julio Jones (11) makes a catch against New England Patriots' Eric Rowe (25) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New England Patriots QB Tom Brady #12 celebrates the game winning TD against the Atlanta Falcons at Super Bowl 51 on Sunday, February 5, 2017 in Houston, TX. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
New England Patriots' Tom Brady raises the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons in overtime at the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. The Patriots defeated the Falcons 34-28. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
New England Patriots' James White scores the winning touchdown during overtime of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates during the post game ceremony for Super Bowl LI after they defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime held at the NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, TX. (Photo by Anthony Behar) * Please Use Credit from Credit Field*(Sipa via AP Images)
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick celebrates after the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. The New England Patriots won 34-28. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New England Patriots' Julian Edelman, rear right, catches a pass during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
New England Patriots' Danny Amendola scores on a two point conversion during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
A detail view of the video board displaying the New England Patriots as champions is seen on the video board as the New England Patriots celebrate their victory following an NFL Super Bowl LI football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017 in Houston. New England won 34-28 in overtime. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots' James White scores the winning touchdown between Atlanta Falcons' Jalen Collins, left, and Robert Alford during overtime of the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
