Patriots reach the promised land again

Patriots reach the promised land again

Call it the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. Call it the greatest collapse in Super Bowl history. Whatever you call it, the New England Patriots are now five time Super Bowl champions during the Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era. Arguably one of the most hated franchises in all of sports has won the biggest game in all of sports yet again. Super Bowl LI was one that will go in the books for various reasons.
For starters, the 28-3 deficit that the high powered Patriots offense had to overcome to achieve victory was the largest comeback victory in Super Bowl history. What would wind up ending in a high scoring finish started by pure dominance by the Atlanta Falcons on both sides of the ball. After a scoreless first quarter, the Falcons would jump out to a 14-0 lead with two drives marching down the field sending a message to the Patriots that they’re the number one scoring team in the NFL for a reason. After three holding calls on three consecutive third downs on the Falcons defense, the Tom Brady lead offense seemed to be on the verge of getting their first points on the board until Robert Alford, a Falcons cornerback, jumped a route by Danny Amendola, and picked it off, taking it to the house leaving Tom Brady with a look on his face he doesn’t make often.
The Falcons would take a 21-3 lead to the half, which would, at the beginning of the 3rd quarter, grow to 28-3. The Tevin Coleman touchdown would be the last time the Falcons offense would score. With just under 8:30 left in the game, Dont’a Hightower, the Patriots’ star linebacker, forced a strip sack on Matt Ryan, setting up Tom Brady and the New England offense with superb field position on the Falcons 25-yard line hoping to make the Super Bowl a one score game. The huge turnover would lead to a Danny Amendola touchdown, followed by running back James White getting the clutch two point conversion making the game within eight points.
The Atlanta Falcons would drive down the field with the catch of the Super Bowl and a career defining moment for arguably the best wide receiver in all of football, Julio Jones. The amazing catch set up the Falcons for field goal range which would have set up a game clinching field goal. Two plays later, Matt Ryan would be taken down for a 12-yard loss. Trey Flowers, a young upcoming defensive end for the Patriots, would take the Falcons out of field goal range, and a holding penalty by offensive tackle Jake Matthews on the following play would not help the cause. The Falcons were forced to punt and let one of the most fantastic catches of the year slip away.
Tom Brady and the Patriots would march down the field, including one of the greatest and perhaps luckiest catches in Super Bowl history made by Julian Edelman. The Patriots would take advantage of the Falcons’ mistakes, forcing the game into the Super Bowl’s first ever overtime. The Patriots would win the overtime coin toss, electing to receive and putting the ball into Tom Brady’s hands. If the Patriots score a touchdown, they would be declared champions. The Falcon defense could not stand a chance and the Patriots would claim yet another Super Bowl victory off of a James White touchdown. The victory would give Tom Brady the most Super Bowl wins by a quarterback in NFL history, surpassing the legendary Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw. Bill Belichick would also surpass Chuck Noll with the most Super Bowl victories by a head coach in history. One of the craziest Super Bowls in history would leave Patriot fans rejoicing and Falcon fans in shock. The country looks forward to Super Bowl LII.