The Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots squared off on football’s biggest stage, Super Bowl LI, with the Patriots coming out victorious 34-28. After leading through three quarters, the Falcons lost a 25 point lead, allowing the Patriots to tie up the game and, in overtime, score the winning touchdown, making it the best comeback in history.

Although the first half was scoreless, the Patriot defense was struggling and after a quick drive by the Falcons that put them up 7-0, it was clear that New England had to find a new game plan. Quarterback Matt Ryan connected with Julio Jones twice, picking up huge yardage, and then threw to Austin Hooper to make the lead 14-0. The Patriots came back and drove the ball all the way to the Falcons 23-yard line, but on a third-and-six play, Brady threw an interception that was caught by Robert Alford who then ran it back for an 82-yard touchdown. The Falcons were now leading 21-0. New England completed multiple plays that brought them to the Falcons 20-yard line but the Atlanta defense found a way to stall the play. Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski was able to make the field goal in the final seconds of the first half, making the score 21-3. From the looks of it, Atlanta was running away with the game and the Patriots could not catch up.

As the second half got under way, New England had multiple opportunities to score but they could not get a first down. Ryan capped off an 85-yard drive with a six-yard touchdown pass to running back Tevin Coleman, making the score 28-3 with 8:31 left in the third quarter. With the ball back in their possession, Tom Brady and the Patriots went 75 yards in 13 plays which resulted in a touchdown pass to White. Gostkowski missed the extra point, updating the score to 28-9. New England made a couple more plays, cutting their deficit to 28-12 with less than 10 minutes to play, and when they recovered a fumble made by the Falcons, Brady found Amendola in the end zone and White got the two point conversion. With less than six to play, the score was now 28-20.

With 3:30 left on the clock, Brady made some key passes and the Patriots marched down to the one-yard line where White scored with a minute remaining, tying up the game at 28 a piece. Atlanta failed to get into scoring position, which brought the Super Bowl into overtime for the first time in history.

New England won the coin toss and elected to receive the ball. Brady completed consecutive passes to White, Amendola and Hogan for a total gain of 38 yards. The Patriots made it to the Falcons two-yard line, and James White went right, stretching across the goal line, bringing the Pats to victory over the Falcons 34-28. This win brought Brady his fifth title and cemented him and the Patriots as possibly the best team in the NFL.