In a comeback for the ages, Patriots beat Falcons in heart-pounding Super Bowl

[alp227]

Source: Boston Globe

HOUSTON — Staging the most incredible and improbable comeback in Super Bowl history, the Patriots beat the Atlanta Falcons in the 51st edition of the big game, 34-28, Sunday night at NRG Stadium.

Erasing a 25-point second-half deficit, the Tom Brady-led Patriots scored 31 unanswered points against a Falcons team that played the fourth quarter as though they were waiting to be fitted for their rings rather than finishing off the Patriots.

James White’s 2-yard run in the extra session was the difference as the Patriots improved to 5-4 in the big game.

Read more: http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2017/02/05/comeback-for-ages-patriots-beat-falcons-heart-pounding-super-bowl/1XNd69mwLcsoJLpUPSohHN/story.html

[Trust Buster]

1. It started out as a stinker but turned into a great game.

[pangaia]

5. It started out as a great game but turned into a stinker.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

2. Well, there's a freakin' metaphor for you.

[strongermessage]

3. Go to bed. Patriots win. Trump wins.

Just like after 9/11, the Patriots won. The game is rigged.

[Inkfreak]

8. Ridiculous outtake.

[jpak]

14. The Failing Falcons got deflated - sad

[scscholar]

4. There was an obvious crime when the ball the non-Atlanta guys...

used was underinflrated enough to be able to have the quarterback be able to obviously sink his hands into the ball while the team that wasn't cheating wasn't

[ProfessorGAC]

15. Not Even A Little Clever

And no, I'm not a NE fan! Check the physics

[scscholar]

21. I agree with you. It wasn't even close to being inflated properly

[LanternWaste]

22. Imaginative allegation.

Imaginative allegation lacking any evidence to support it.

2+2=yellow is an opinion as well...

[cstanleytech]

6. I dont care who won as long as Atlanta lost, yes I really hate this freaking state that much. nt

[FailureToCommunicate]

7. Never give up! Never surrender!

?t=290322882&w=960&quality=70

[Inkfreak]

9. Brady is a legend.

You can't deny his ability.

But remember when my Eagles beat them?

[Soxfan58]

27. No

[Inkfreak]

29. 12/16/15. Eagles (38) Patriots (28)

[Soxfan58]

30. Sorry

Thought you ment when it counted. Super Bowl XXXIX Pats 24 Eagles 21

[Inkfreak]

31. Every win counts when you're a fan of your team.

[SeattleVet]

10. Someone said...

that they hadn't seen a massacre like this since Bowling Green!

[StarryNite]

11. LOL!!!

[Chitown Kev]

12. lol

[joshcryer]

13. Haha

[Achilleaze]

18. Someone else said they hadn't seen a messacre like this since Growling Bean

[Baclava]

16. A choke job for the ages

Falcons produce a choke job for the ages

The Atlanta Falcons will never live down the worst choke job in NFL history

"Down 25 points," Brady told reporters, "it's hard to imagine us winning."

Fans, media and historians will spend the offseason unpacking the second half of this game. Among the first places they should look: a key sequence late in the fourth quarter.

Leading 28-20 with 4:40 remaining, the Falcons had a first down at the Patriots' 22-yard line and a great opportunity to make it a two-score game. The Patriots had found their rhythm on offense, but it's debatable whether they would have had enough time to score twice.

The Falcons' playcalling at that point was, well, unexpected -- and that's being kind to offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. They missed a huge opportunity to seal the game.

Shanahan called a pass on second and third downs. The first resulted in a 12-yard sack, and the second was overturned by a holding penalty. On the next play -- third-and-33! -- Shanahan called another pass that fell incomplete. The Falcons lost 23 yards on two plays, were forced to punt and drained only 1:10 off the clock.

https://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/230700/falcons-produce-a-choke-job-for-the-ages-in-super-bowl-li

[GoneOffShore]

17. The match between England and France was far more exciting.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/38849751

[LudwigPastorius]

19. Fuck Brady.

?itok=CUH1n82H

[yeoman6987]

26. I'll take Brady and blue state Massachusetts over deep red Georgia anyday

I'm proud of Massachusetts and the patriots!!!!! A wonderful deserved exciting Super Bowl.

[LudwigPastorius]

28. Skilled quarterback, but...

MAGAts are my enemy.

[benld74]

20. I dont think of it as a come back, but as a give away by Atlanta

ALOT of mental mistakes, coaching mistakes in play calling.

Think about this, WHAT has ANY Atlanta Team ever won?

Braves?
You say in 1995? Well yes, in a strike shortened season,,,,

But I'm from STL, AND still HATE Pats since they began cheating way back in their win over the Rams,,,,,

[StevieM]

23. There were only 18 games cut out of the season, and Atlanta was in the midst of winning

their division for 14 straight years. They finished 21 games ahead of the Mets and Phillies. And they had the best record in the NL by 5 games over the Reds (who they beat 4-0 in the NLCS). The shortened season did not help them make the post season, or even help them clinch the home field advantage throughout the NL playoffs. And it had nothing to do with the World Series, where they had to beat the Indians, who won 100 games, even in a shortened season.

Also, the strike was in 1994. The 1995 season was shortened because the strike did not end soon enough for a full season. BTW, we can thank Sonia Sotomayer for bringing the standoff to an end.

[benld74]

24. YOu are correct

[yellowcanine]

25. Yeah well, Brady made all of those passes. Not a Brady fan but he has to rank as the best

quarterback of our time and maybe all time.