A comeback for the ages

Brady, Patriots rally from 25 points down to defeat Falcons in OT

HOUSTON — Tom Brady led one of the greatest comebacks in sports, let alone Super Bowl history, lifting New England from a 25-point hole to the Patriots' fifth NFL championship in the game's first overtime finish.

The Patriots scored 19 points in the final quarter, including a pair of 2-point conversions, then marched relentlessly to James White's 2-yard touchdown run in overtime beating the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28, Sunday night.

Brady, the first quarterback with five Super Bowl rings, guided the Patriots (17-2) through a tiring Atlanta defense for fourth-quarter touchdowns on a 6-yard pass to Danny Amendola and a 1-yard run by White, which came with 57 seconds remaining in regulation. White ran for the first 2-pointer and Amendola did the deed with a reception on the second.

Brady finished 43 for 62, the most attempts in Super Bowl history, for 466 yards and two touchdowns.

“You know, we all brought each other back,” Brady said. “We never felt out of it. It was a tough battle. They have a great team. I give them a lot of credit. We just made a few more plays than them.”

Before the stunning rally — New England already held the biggest comeback in the final period when it turned around a 10-point deficit to beat Seattle two years ago — the Falcons (13-6) appeared poised to take their first NFL championship in 51 seasons. Having never been in such a pressurized environment, their previously staunch pass rush disappeared, and Brady tore them apart.

“Deflategate” far behind them, Brady and Bill Belichick won their 25th postseason game, by far a record. It's hard to imagine a tens-

“You know, we all brought each other back. We never felt out of it.” Tom Brady, Patriots quarterback

er victory.

Belichick became the first coach with five Super Bowl crowns.

The Patriots won the coin toss for overtime and it was no contest. Brady completed six passes. A pass interference call took the ball to the 2, and White scooted to his right and barely over the goal line.

His teammates streamed off the sideline to engulf White as confetti streamed down from the NRG Stadium rafters.

Tom Brady was facing quite a challenge to become the first quarterback to win five Super Bowls.

Brady had an interception returned for a touchdown, and a New England fumble turned into another score for Atlanta in the first half of Super Bowl 51. The Falcons led 21-3, with New England getting its only score on a 41-yard field goal with 2 seconds left in the half.

This was the seventh Super Bowl that Brady has started for New England. The Patriots had never trailed by more than 10 points in any of their previous six Super Bowls.

Brady is 16-of-26 passing for 184 yards, and that interception Robert Alford returned 82 yards for a touchdown and a 21-0 Atlanta lead.

Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan, this season's MVP, is 7-of-8 passing for 115 yards and a touchdown.

RONALD MARTINEZ/GETTY IMAGES Danny Amendola of the New England Patriots scores the two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 28 as the Patriots rallied from down 28-3.

JAE C. HONG/AP The Atlanta Falcons pounded New England quartback Tom Brady throughout the game. Here Grady Jarrett sacks Brady during the second half.

DARRON CUMMINGS/AP Tom Brady celebrates one of the second-half touchdowns as the Patriots scored 31 unanswered points in the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.