Story and Pictures by Larissa Ciafullo
In the most exciting fourth quarter rally in Super Bowl history, the New England Patriots showed their remarkable resolve to do something no team has ever done after coming back from a 28-3 deficit.
This was a script that not even Hollywood could have come up with for believability, especially when considering the greatest Su
per Bowl comeback had previously been 10 points according to Sports Illustrated. The Patriots are world champions for the second time in three years and the fifth time since 2001.
Many Americans first words after the biggest game of the year ended was “What the heck just happened?!”
Although the Falcons were already up 14-0 at one point, the key play of the game came just under three minutes to go in the first half. With the Patriots driving, quarterback Tom Brady’s third down pass was picked off and returned 82 yards by Robert Alford, making it a 21-0 game.
New England made a field goal making the score 21-3. On Atlanta’s second drive of the second half, wide receiver Taylor Gabriel had a couple of catches to help set up a 6-yard touchdown run by running back Tevin Coleman to go up 28-3. The Patriots responded on their next drive with their first touchdown of the game, a 5 yard run by running back James White.
However, they took their time, eating up 6:25 of time and basically doing the Falcons a favor. K Stephen Gostkowski missed the extra point, making it a 28-9 game. After missing an onside kick, the Patriots’ defense got a quick stop to force a punt. New England had to settle for a field goal with 9:44 to go, making it a 28-12 game. Since they were 16 points down, it was a two-score game, but still seemingly far from reach.
On the Falcons’ next drive, though, quarterback Matt Ryan fumbled, setting up a short field for the Patriots. Brady found wide receiver Danny Amendola for a 6 yard touchdown pass, and then the direct snap to running back James White on the two point try made it a 28-20 game with under six minutes to go.
New England got the ball back and drove the length of the field on a drive that included a ridiculous catch by wide receiver Julian Edelman. The drive ended with a 1 yard touchdown run from White, and then the two point try was converted with a pass to Amendola, tying it at 28-28 with 0:57 to go.
New England won the coin toss in overtime and marched right down the field. White barely punched in the game winner as the Patriots won Super Bowl LI by a score of 34-28.
