HOUSTON — Falcons star wide receiver Julio Jones at first did not think Patriots running back James White crossed the goal line on the game-winning touchdown and that left him frustrated.
Especially considering Jones’ acrobatic and potentially game-sealing catch with 4:40 left in regulation and the Falcons up 28-20. However, a series of miscues forced the Falcons out of field-goal range and they were never able to extend the lead.
“I wanted to see if he got in or not,” Jones said. “Obviously the ball broke the plane and the confetti just came down right away. I didn’t know if he was down or not. They shouldn’t have been in the game anyways. It shouldn’t have been that close.”
Tom Brady pretty much rewrote the Super Bowl passing record book. His 43 completions, 62 attempts and 466 passing yards are all Super Bowl records. … Brady becomes the first player to win four Super Bowl MVP awards. He previously was tied with Joe Montana with three apiece. … The Patriots’ 37 first downs is a Super Bowl record.
A team does not blow a 25-point lead without feeling shocked. “To come up short like that, man, it hurts,’’ wide receiver Taylor Gabriel said. “I’m at a loss for words right now just because I can’t believe it.’’
Falcons center Alex Mack played despite a painful chip fracture in his fibula. “It hurt, but we were able to get out there,’’ Mack said. “It was always a dream of mine to play in the Super Bowl. Now I need to come back and win one.’’
Falcons coach Dan Quinn won a replay challenge early in the third quarter, as he felt Julian Edleman stepped out of bounds and the officials did not detect it on a punt return. The successful challenge cost the Patriots 6 yards.
The Patriots getting held scoreless in the first quarter was nothing new. In fact, it was the seventh consecutive Super Bowl the Pats failed to score a point in the first quarter.
The Super Bowl owners came up big.
Falcons owner Arthur Blank and Patriots owner Bob Kraft both pledged $51,000 to charity. The winning owner in Super Bowl LI will pick the charity and will receive a combined pledge of $102,000.
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