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The New England Patriots have produced so many magical moments in Super Bowls that we have come to expect them.
No matter how many more championships Bill Belichick and Tom Brady win, it’s unlikely they’ll have another like Super Bowl LI on Sunday at NRG Stadium.
Down 28-3 to Atlanta with 8:31 left in the third quarter, the Patriots authored the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history, scoring the last 31 points to escape with a 34-28 overtime victory — their second Super Bowl victory at NRG Stadium.
The Falcons, 0-2 in Super Bowls, had plenty of opportunities to secure the victory, but they made just enough mistakes to allow the Patriots to stay close.
The Patriots forced overtime on their last drive of regulation when running back James White scored on a 1-yard run, and Brady threw a two-point conversion pass to Danny Amendola.
The tie was made possible by a spectacular catch — one of the greatest in Super Bowl history — by Julian Edelman at Atlanta’s 41 for a 23-yard gain.
The ball was tipped, and Edelman had to dive for it. He caught it off the leg and foot of cornerback Robert Alford. Atlanta coach Dan Quinn challenged the call on the field, but it was upheld. White scored four plays later.
“That was an unbelievable play,” Belichick said. “He’s as competitive as any player I’ve coached. That was a big one, and we needed it.”
The Patriots won the toss to start overtime and began the game-winning drive at their 25.
Brady was 5-for-6 for 50 yards on their last possession, and White’s 2-yard run in overtime gave them another championship.
Amendola finished with eight catches for 78 yards.
Like his teammates, he knew what Brady was capable of doing once the Patriots got their act together on offense.
“He was the same as he always is — cool, calm and collected,” Amendola said about Brady during the comeback. “He’s the leader, the general — the best ever — and that’s the end of that story.”
Belichick tied Chuck Noll with a fourth Super Bowl victory. He tied Vince Lombardi with a fifth NFL title.
The Patriots have played in seven Super Bowls during the Belichick-Brady era, but this six-point victory was their most lopsided. They won the first four by three, three, three and four points. They also lost to the New York Giants by three and four.
They’ve been involved in some fantastic finishes: Adam Vinatieri field goals, Malcolm Butler’s interception, David Tyree’s catch, Eli Manning’s pass. But this may have been the most extraordinary.
As if he needed any more validation, Brady cemented his legacy as the greatest quarterback in NFL history with a record five Super Bowl victories.
After the Patriots trailed 28-3, Brady completed 26 of 34 passes for 285 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
Brady finished 43-for-62 for 466 yards and two touchdowns.
He had one interception and was sacked five times.
White, a better receiver than runner, scored three touchdowns and a two-point conversion.
He rushed for only 29 yards on six carries, but two were good for touchdowns.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” White said. “You couldn’t write this script — you could never imagine it. But we just went out there and did it.”
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