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Super Bowl LI: New England Patriots 34-28 Atlanta Falcons

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Watch highlights of the New England Patriots' sensational comeback against the Atlanta Falcons at Super Bowl LI

The New England Patriots completed the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history to beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw for 466 yards and two touchdowns, to win his - and the organisation's - fifth championship.

The Falcons offence scored three first-half touchdowns to open a 21-point lead, including an 82-yard interception return from cornerback Robert Alford.

Brady's quest for a fifth ring
Brady's quest for a fifth ring

Tom Brady is a five-time Super Bowl champion. Recap his historic rise here.

However, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady inspired a New England comeback, scoring 19 unanswered fourth-quarter points to force the first overtime in Super Bowl history.

New England won the toss to receive the ball and, after a 75-yard drive, James White scored from two yards, to secure the win.

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 05:  Dont'a Hightower #54 of the New England Patriots forces a fumble from Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth qua
Image: Dont'a Hightower made a huge play to set up a Patriots touchdown

In 140 Characters…

An unbelievable fourth-quarter rally secures New England's fifth championship. Tom Brady's inspired performance makes him the most successful QB in history.

Also See:

MVP

Brady set a Super Bowl record with 466 passing yards, completing one of the greatest comebacks in Super Bowl history. His fifth title, and by far the sweetest.

Game-changer

A huge forced fumble by Dont'a Hightower set up New England for a fourth-quarter touchdown, and gave Patriots fans belief that the comeback was on.

Stat of the night

14 - No team has ever come back from 14 points down to win a Super Bowl. Brady did it from 25 behind, the fourth time in his career that he has brought the Patriots back from three scores down.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
NE 0-7 ATL TD - D. Freeman 5 yd rush Extra Point - M. Bryant
NE 0-14 ATL TD - A. Hooper 19 yd pass - M. Ryan Extra Point - M. Bryant
NE 0-21 ATL TD - R. Alford 82 yd INT return Extra Point - M. Bryant
NE 3-21 ATL FG - S. Gostkowski 41 yd
3rd Quarter
NE 3-28 ATL TD - T. Coleman 6 yd pass - M. Ryan Extra Point - M. Bryant
NE 9-28 ATL TD - J. White 5 yd pass - T. Brady Extra Point Missed
4th Quarter
NE 12-28 ATL FG - S. Gostkowski 41 yd
NE 20-28 ATL TD - D. Amendola 14 yd pass - T. Brady Two Point Conversion - J. White
NE 28-28 ATL TD - J. White 1 yd rush Two Point Conversion - D. Amendola
Overtime
NE 34-28 ATL TD - J. White 2 yd rush

The game

Defences were on top early as both quarterbacks were sacked and passes broken up. It looked as though New England might capitalise on a 27-yard pass to Julian Edelman early in the second quarter, but on the very next play, Deion Jones forced a fumble and Atlanta pounced on the loose ball.

Devonta Freeman #24 of the Atlanta Falcons scores a touchdown on a 5 yard run against the New England Patriots in the second quarter during Super Bowl 51 a
Image: Devonta Freeman opened the scoring with a five-yard touchdown run

Ryan took full advantage, finding Julio Jones on two successive throws for a total of 42 yards, before Devonta Freeman carried the ball five yards untouched into the end zone for a five-yard score.

Atlanta then scored again, after forcing New England into another three-and-out. With good starting field position, the Falcons took just five snaps to find the end zone. On third and nine, Ryan found rookie tight end Austin Hooper, for the 19-yard score.

Three holding penalties could have proved costly for the Falcons on New England's next drive, gifting Brady first downs, two of which came on third down. However, the tide turned when cornerback Robert Alford picked off Brady's pass, returning it 82 yards to the house.

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 05:  Robert Alford #23 of the Atlanta Falcons scores an 82 yard touchdown after an interception against the New England Patriots dur
Image: Robert Alford intercepted Tom Brady's pass, returning the ball 82 yards to put the Falcons 21-0 up

New England got on the board in the last minute of the half, Steven Gostkowski slotting a 41-yard field goal.

After a dazzling half-time performance by Lady Gaga, Atlanta scored early in the second half, as a wide-open Tevin Coleman caught a six-yard pass, to complete an 85-yard drive. Chants of 'MVP' echoed around the NRG Stadium, as Falcons fans stood to praise quarterback Ryan.

The Patriots then scored their first touchdown of the night, with two minutes to play in the third quarter. However, Gostkowski sent the extra point wide, leaving New England down 28-9.

It wasn't until early in the fourth quarter that the AFC Champions began to rally. Gostkowski slotted a 33- yard field goal, before Hightower sacked Ryan, forcing a fumble, which was recovered by the Patriots at Atlanta's 25-yard line.

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 05: Lady Gaga performs during the Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl 51 Halftime Show at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas.
Image: A worldwide audience of more than 100 million watched Lady Gaga perform the half-time show

Danny Amendola caught the six-yard touchdown pass, before James White ran in for the two-point conversion, to reduce the deficit to eight. Another big defensive play handed possession back to the Patriots, with the New England fans now roaring Brady's name.

The four-time Super Bowl champion didn't disappoint, passing to five different receivers, including a phenomenal catch from Julian Edelman, who somehow managed to keep the ball off the ground.

Inside the two-minute warning, Brady threw twice to White, before allowing the running back to drive in from a yard out. The Patriots then converted the two-point conversion, Amendola getting over the goal line, to level the score and send the Super Bowl into overtime, for the first time in NFL history.

James White #28 of the New England Patriots scores the game winning touchdown in overtime against the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium o
Image: James White scored the game-winning touchdown to clinch a fifth Patriots title

New England won the toss to receive the ball, and Brady once again drove down the field, 75 yards, before handing off to White for a two-yard rushing score to clinch a fifth Patriots Super Bowl.

"I told our fans that the fourth Super bowl was the sweetest", said Patriots owner Robert Kraft. "But a lot has transpired since then. This is unequivocally the sweetest.

"I'm proud to say, for the fifth time, the Patriots are world champions."

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