PAT'S TIP THRILL
HOUSTON — The Patriots had been on the wrong end of a couple of the greatest, craziest game-turning catches in Super Bowl history.
Finally, in Super Bowl LI against the Falcons on Sunday night, they got one of their own: A wildly improbable 23-yard completion from Tom Brady to receiver Julian Edelman to set up the game-tying touchdown in New England’s 34-28 overtime comeback win.
The acrobatic Edelman catch was reminiscent of the one that receiver David Tyree made against the Patriots that helped the Giants win the Super Bowl in 2008, and it was as important as the catch receiver Mario Manningham made to help the Giants beat them in the 2012 Super Bowl.
This time, the Patriots were on the winning end.
Brady threw to Edelman in the middle of the field in traffic and Edelman made one of the greatest concentration catches in the history of the Super Bowl, beating out three Falcons — cornerback Robert Alford and safeties Ricardo Allen and Keanu Neal.
Alford got a hand on the ball first and then as the cluster of players fell to the ground, Edelman secured the ball against Alford’s leg before the ball touched the ground. It was the second-to-last play before the two-minute warning and the catalyst to the Patriots’ game-tying TD four plays later. “I think it was one of the greatest catches I’ve ever seen,’’ Brady said. “I don’t know how the hell he caught it. I mean, I don’t think anybody [knows] — I don’t think he does.’’ Said Edelman: “I was just trying to track it. It was a bang-bang play. I knew I got it. I felt like I had it. I knew I had a good feel on it. I didn’t know if a piece of the ball was touching. I don’t know what the dang rule is. I’m pretty sure I caught it.’’ The Falcons challenged the play, but the play stood. “That’s going to go down in history as one of the greatest catches,’’ Patriots receiver Chris Hogan said. “Jules just makes plays for us. He’s a go-to guy. He found a way to catch that ball. It was incredible. When I watched it, I thought he caught it. There was not a doubt in my mind that he made a catch on that ball. When I watched it live, I thought he caught it, which he did.’’