Super Bowl LI: Nine Years Since The Patriots Completed The Greatest Comeback Of All Time

Super Bowl LI initially played out as a coronation for the Atlanta Falcons, who played with a level of speed, confidence, and efficiency that made the New England Patriots look puzzled and overwhelmed. Matt Ryan dissected the Patriots’ defense with quick reads and precise throws, while Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman added explosiveness on the ground. Atlanta’s defense matched that dominance, swarming Tom Brady, forcing hurried throws, and capitalizing on mistakes. The defining moment of the first half came when Robert Alford jumped a Brady pass and returned it for a touchdown, pushing the Falcons’ lead to an almost insurmountable 28–3. At that point, the game felt not just over, but historically lopsided, with Atlanta appearing poised to complete one of the most dominant postseason runs ever.

Brady, typically the embodiment of calm under pressure, looked unsettled as the hits mounted. New England’s offense, built around short timing routes and patience, seemed ill-suited for a desperate comeback scenario. The Patriots managed only field goals through most of the game’s first three quarters, and even those felt hollow against Atlanta’s relentless scoring pace. The narrative was clear: the Falcons were younger, faster, and sharper, while New England appeared to be running out of answers. For long stretches, Super Bowl LI felt destined to be remembered as a forgettable blowout rather than a classic.

The entire trajectory of the game changed in the fourth quarter with a single defensive breakdown for Atlanta. Facing pressure, Ryan held onto the ball too long, allowing Dont’a Hightower to burst through on a blitz and strip him from behind. That turnover gave the Patriots a short field and immediate momentum, leading to a touchdown and a two-point conversion. Suddenly, the energy in the stadium shifted. What had been routine and comfortable for Atlanta became tense and uncertain, while New England fed off the belief that something unprecedented was still possible.

Even after that swing, the Falcons had chances to end the game. A powerful run by Freeman and a breathtaking toe-tap catch along the sideline by Julio Jones placed Atlanta deep in Patriots territory with under five minutes remaining. The catch itself was a masterpiece of body control and awareness, one of the greatest plays ever made on a Super Bowl stage. A field goal would have pushed the lead to three possessions and effectively sealed the outcome. Instead, a sack by Trey Flowers, penalties, and poor situational awareness knocked the Falcons backward. Forced out of scoring range, Atlanta punted, leaving the door open for a team that thrives on exploiting exactly that kind of mistake.

From that moment forward, the game belonged entirely to Tom Brady. He led a methodical, ruthless drive down the field, converting key third downs and controlling the clock. The defining play came on a risky throw into traffic that Julian Edelman somehow secured after the ball was tipped and momentarily pinned against a defender’s leg. Edelman’s catch instantly joined the pantheon of legendary Super Bowl moments, standing alongside the Helmet Catch and other plays that altered NFL history. New England capitalized on the drive, tied the game at 28, and completed the largest comeback regulation rally the Super Bowl had ever seen.

Overtime only reinforced the sense of inevitability. New England won the coin toss in the first overtime in Super Bowl history, and Brady never gave Atlanta a chance to respond. He surgically moved the Patriots 75 yards down the field, leaning heavily on James White and exploiting mismatches in the Falcons’ exhausted defense. White finished the drive with a touchdown run, ending the game instantly under the then-new overtime rules and completing a 34–28 victory that felt both shocking and unavoidable.

Statistically, Brady’s performance was historic. He threw for a Super Bowl-record 466 yards and orchestrated scoring drives on five consecutive possessions after the Falcons built their massive lead. From the midpoint of the third quarter onward, he was nearly flawless, showing total command of the offense and the moment. While Brady earned his fourth Super Bowl MVP award, James White delivered one of the greatest individual performances ever by a running back, scoring three touchdowns, catching 14 passes for 110 yards, and converting a pivotal two-point attempt that kept the comeback alive.

The loss permanently reshaped the legacy of the Falcons’ season. Atlanta’s offense, which had been on pace to be remembered as one of the most efficient and explosive units in NFL history, became synonymous with collapse instead. Matt Ryan’s brilliant playoff run and Julio Jones’ dominant postseason were overshadowed by late-game failures in execution and decision-making. For New England, the win delivered a fifth Super Bowl title to Brady and Bill Belichick, further cementing them as the greatest quarterback–coach duo the league has ever seen. What began as a rout evolved into an all-time classic, serving as the ultimate reminder that no lead, no matter how large, is safe against Tom Brady.