Saturday 11 February 2017 05:07, UK
To watch one of the greatest comebacks ever in person, is a privilege and a dream come true.
My first Super Bowl experience was exhilarating, exhausting, frenzied at times, but above all, as a fan, it was an incredible atmosphere that I will never forget.
While out in Texas, I made a few notes, mainly so that I could look back on a magical week, but also to offer a behind-the-scenes insight into Super Bowl week.
I arrived on Monday night and, after a delay, ended up missing Super Bowl media night. Not a great start, admittedly.
However, I soon caught up with the rest of the Sky Sports team and, having been up for almost 24 hours, got to work.
Every night we were going to do a Facebook live 'wrap', looking back at the day's talking points.
Though I had very little to say, it was great to catch up with what Dara, Neil and Jeff had experienced. One of my favourite things about working in live sport is the infectious enthusiasm that can spread.
At an event like the Super Bowl, with players, fans and personalities fervently discussing every facet of the game, it's impossible not to be affected by that passion.
The next morning, I picked up accreditation and then headed straight for the Falcons press conference. While journalists milled around, waiting for head coach Dan Quinn and the rest of the team to appear, they shared stories of the night before, and began to compare previous Super Bowl trips. Without experience of either, I chose to listen rather than talk!
In the run up to the Super Bowl, there are press conferences Monday-Thursday, and a goal of mine was to utilise social media, and in some small way bring the experience closer for UK fans.
As well as Facebook lives at the press conferences, I followed Sky Sports anchor Dara Kennedy around as she asked questions to a number of Falcons and Patriots. On Twitter, we asked fans to submit questions, and Neil Reynolds then asked them to various members of the New England roster.
At one point, we let Jeff Reinebold loose on Radio Row, where all the TV shows, radio interviews and podcasts happen, just to show how the Super Bowl brings everyone from the NFL world to one convention centre. We didn't move more than 10-15 steps each time, before Jeff met another legend of the game.
Radio Row was one of my favourite locations throughout Super Bowl week. As a fan of 'Inside the Huddle' before I took the job as NFL editor, it really was fantastic to be able to produce the video shows and watch the guys at work.
The variation and quality of guests that Neil and Jeff accrued was phenomenal. On one day, I would sit and listen to current players analyse the game. On another, it was war veteran Rocky Breier, who won four Super Bowl championships after losing part of his foot during the Vietnam War. My mouth must have been hanging open, throughout the entire 12-minute segment.
As well as daily access to players involved in the championship game, Super Bowl week gives the media a number of opportunities to talk with former greats and current players from across the league.
These are often at swanky evening events, where journalists are allowed 30 minutes or so, before being ushered out to allow VIPs and guests uninterrupted enjoyment. Sometimes the stars are up for speaking, sometimes they're not - it's a lottery.
The fact that we're a British media outlet can also become a stumbling block but, with four regular season games next year and Sky Sports' increased presence throughout this season, players now recognise the company and many were keen to engage with me.
From legendary quarterback Joe Namath to last year's MVP, Von Miller, I spoke to a swathe of people on the red carpet at the NFL honours evening. Head coach Jason Garrett hoped for a Cowboys return to the UK, while Tampa Bay Bucs QB Jameis Winston shared his reflections on the 2016 season.
At another event, Tastes of the NFL, I was able to try dishes from every city represented in the NFL, while Sky Sports' very own Shaun Gayle signed autographs for Chicago Bears fans.
There were opportunities to speak with Hall of Fame coach Mike Ditka, and Ron 'Jaws' Jaworski, who led the Philadelphia Eagles to Super Bowl XV, at a charity event.
Picking the brains of these guys - both current stars, as well as former players and coaches - gives us as the media plenty of material for articles. As a fan, it set my heart racing as I engaged in conversations with players I had admired for years.
What was really crazy, was that many seemed just as interested in learning about the growth of the game in the UK.
All work and no play, right? At some point, you have to switch the laptop, and the brain, off and enjoy some downtime.
I am a sports junkie - if I can coincide a trip with a sporting event, I will. It drives my wife mad. But she wasn't here to stop me this time.
The Houston Rockets were at home on Thursday night and, despite being up 18 points going into the fourth quarter, still managed to throw it away. The game was made even better because Houston were playing the Atlanta Hawks, and so fans had made the trip a few days early to watch their home town play basketball, as well as in the Super Bowl.
I went exploring through Rice University, home of Super Bowl VIII, and sampled some of the best BBQ Texas has to offer. Despite being America's fourth-largest city, Houstonians retained a small-town friendliness, and were eager to help where they could.
Ahead of kick off at 5:30pm, we arrived at the venue just before 12. The production team began their set up, and I set about exploring the 72,000-seater NRG Stadium.
In the auxiliary press box (added for all the international media), my seat was high up, but gave an incredible view of the field. I wandered round speaking with both sets of fans, all of whom seemed as confident as the other that this was their year.
And it looked to be Atlanta's. Defensive dominance gave Atlanta the edge; New England wouldn't be able to shut their free-scoring offence out for long. Sure enough, it was the Falcons who scored 21 points, before the Patriots converted a field goal just before half time.
Atlanta then scored again, 25 points up and cruising. What happened next, I will never forget, and ranks as one of history's greatest sporting comebacks.
Tom Brady caught fire, scoring 19, fourth quarter points to level the game, before driving 75 yards in overtime to complete the 34-28 victory, his fifth Super Bowl success.
The atmosphere in the stadium was frenetic, from start to finish. Initially, Falcons fans jubilant that their time had finally come. Chants of 'MVP' reverberated around, as Matt Ryan orchestrated a perfect three-quarters.
And then the fightback. Every Patriots success; the forced fumble, Edelman's catch and Brady's bullets were greeted with raucous celebration.
Before he took to the field for overtime, the chants of Brady's name made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. This is what it is to be a sports fan. We live for these moments. Whichever side I'm rooting for, to watch a player at the height of his powers will always have me in awe.
It was a frantic end to the game, and there is where my work really began. To try and write a match report, most of which had to be torn up after Atlanta's 25-point crumble, while confetti is falling and the noise is deafening, is no mean feat!
I stuck around after the stadium had cleared out, writing up a variety of articles, including highlights of the 'must-see' moments, to a summary of Brady's success. And then I just sat.
In a job like this, you never know when you might witness sporting history. I spent a few minutes really contemplating the enormity of New England's feat.
And then I had to go. By this point it was 12:30am, production was packed away, and it was time to head back. The team, about ten of us in total, shared a few beers and discussed what we'd just witnessed.
The next morning I was on a flight out, and the airport was full of fans; either joyfully recounting the game to anyone who'd listen or soberly quiet, wishing their plane would take off already.
After an intense season, Super Bowl LI was a thrilling end to the year. I shall be forever grateful that I was able to go and experience it, and now eagerly await the 2017 season. Just seven months to wait.
