Every Super Bowl is overhyped but this one was especially anticipated because the city of Atlanta is in a current state of Renaissance through television, music, etc.
It looked like a dream season for the Falcons, Matt Ryan and coach Dan Quinn.
The game started out slow at first, but when Atlanta started firing, they couldn’t stop. They scored. Then scored again. And kept scoring. By the time you knew it, the Falcons were up 21-3 and it was halftime. Devonta Freeman, Austin Hooper and a Robert Alford pick six had everyone thinking the same thing. It’s a wrap.
The Patriots looked lost, out of sync and not strong enough to keep up with the smothering Falcons defense. They were pressuring Tom Brady and giving him no time to throw the ball.
Then Bill Belichick and the veterans in New England rallied the troops at halftime.
The Falcons went up 28-3 in the third quarter and then the tide turned. It started around the time Brady ran for a first down and started clicking with Julian Edelman and James White on passes. Then Danny Amendola started catching the ball. Martellus Bennett had some big grabs.
Towards the end of the third, White found the end zone and the Pats were finally on the board with a touchdown. Unfortunately,
Stephen Gostkowski missed the extra point.
In the fourth quarter, Terrific Tom concocted the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.
Amendola caught a touchdown with six minutes left to make it a one touchdown game. Then after a few mistakes by the Falcons, a ridiculous catch by Edelman and some clutch playmaking by Brady, the Patriots tied up the game after a White touchdown run and Amendola two-point conversion. New England actually tied the score and converted on two two-point conversions to end regulation.
By that time, Atlanta looked deflated, defeated and out of confidence.
In overtime, the Pats got the ball first and the Falcons didn’t even have the chance to strike back. James White rushed for two tough yards and scored to win the game. Coach Belichick did it. Tom Brady did it. Those two cemented their legacy the NFL history forever.
Brady became the most winningest quarterback in the history of the league. Belichick is officially 5-2 in the Super Bowl. New England is a certified dynasty.
There are so many historic things that we witnessed tonight that it’s better if we just let it sink in and hold this story for the grandchildren in 25 years. What we watched today was remarkable. No high key hype either. It was actual history. Regardless of how you feel towards the Patriots, you have to respect it.
Mood. pic.twitter.com/us1zEtKZIh
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 6, 2017
FINAL OT: NE 34 | ATL 28