Brady Bunch completes Drive for 5
Unbelievable comeback gives Pats Super Bowl victory over Falcons
Bill Belichick and Tom Brady have won one for the thumb. In the most belief-defying, jaw-dropping win of their 17-year association.
That is, they won their fifth diamond-laced Super Bowl champion’s ring with the New England Patriots, after a 34-28 overtime defeat of the Atlanta Falcons — in perhaps the most dramatic NFL championship game ever played.
And in the first overtime game in Super Bowl history.
No head coach had won five Super Bowls before, nor any QB.
Brady was named MVP for a record fourth time, in setting Super Bowl records for passing yards (466) and completions (43) in his 62 attempts. He threw for two TDs.
“We all brought each other back,” Brady said. “We never felt out of it. It was a tough battle. (The Falcons) have a great team. I give them credit. We just made a few more plays than them.”
Feeling any redemption, Tom, after your four-game Deflategate suspension to start the season?
“This is all positive. This is unbelievable,” he said. “I’m going to go see my family.”
His mother is battling cancer and only arrived in Houston on Thursday. Brady is the main reason the Pats somehow overcame a 28-3 deficit late in the third quarter, to score three touchdowns, a pair of twopoint conversions and a field goal thereafter — while holding the Falcons off the scoreboard — to send the game into OT.
The last scores in regulation came with 57 seconds left, a one-yard James White plunge followed by a quick Brady two-point conversion throw to Danny Amendola.
In overtime, New England won the toss — calling heads as they always do — and marched 75 yards in eight plays for the win. White took a pitchout right from Brady and lunged over the goal-line.
New England’s comeback was by far the biggest in Super Bowl history. No team previously had overcome a seven-point halftime deficit.
The win ruined an insanely good performance over the first three quarters by the Falcons.
In OT, Brady moved the Patriots into Atlanta territory on an 18-yard deep comebacker left to Chris Hogan. That put the ball at the Atlanta 37. A swing pass to White lost three yards, then Brady hit receiver Julian Edelman on a deep crosser for 15.
Brady threw a screen pass to White for 10 more.
At the Atlanta 15, Brady lobbed a pass into the end zone to tight end Martellus Bennett. Linebacker De’Vondre Campbell broke it up but was called for pass interference.
In I-formation from the two-yard line, Brady lobbed a pass into the far right end of the end zone but linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. made a great play to break it up.
But on the next play White took a pitchout right, broke a couple of tackles and reached over for the touchdown.
What was Brady’s demeanour on that OT drive? “He was the same as he always is — cool, calm and collected,” White said. “He’s the leader, the general. The best ever, and that is the end of the story.”
After a scoreless first quarter, Atlanta — a three-point underdog — jumped out to a 21-3 halftime lead, extended it to 28-3 early in the second half, then watched it all fall apart.
Regular-season MVP Matt Ryan, the Falcons’ QB, raised his game to an ever higher level on this night, to no avail. And thanks in part to the determined running of Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman, who combined for 86 first-half yards, mostly around end, Atlanta looked like a lock to win the franchise’s first NFL championship or Super Bowl.
With less than three minutes to go, a crazy reception led to the Pats’ game-tying TD. Brady threw a pass that bounced off an Atlanta defender’s body at least three times, but just before hitting the ground Edelman dived and somehow snared the ball before it hit the ground. Replay confirmed the incredible catch at the Atlanta 41.
A play later, Brady hit Amendola on a deep out at the Atlanta 21, with 1:57 left at the two-minute warning.
Two more Brady completions put the ball at Atlanta’s one-yard line, with 1:01 left. White then burst into the end zone, and New England trailed 28-26 with 57 seconds remaining.
On The vital two-point conversion attempt, Brady fired a quickhitch pass to Amendola, who barely carried the ball over the goal-line before being thrown back. An Atlanta offside penalty was declined.
And that set the stage for overtime.