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First Reactions: New England Patriots Win Super Bowl LI

By Tarringo Basile-vaughan

Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after beating the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 5, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after beating the Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New England Patriots overtook a 28-9 fourth quarter deficit to defeat the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI.

Never count the Tom Brady and the New England Patriots out of a game.  Down 21-0 and as much as 28-3 in the second half, the future Hall-of-Fame quarterback led his team to an improbable comeback.

The first half of the game didn’t go as scripted for Bill Belichick and the Patriots.  A fumble by LeGarrette Blount eventually led to the first score of the game.  Matt Ryan made consecutive 19-yard completions to Julio Jones to set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Devonta Freeman.

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The Patriots then went 3-and-out on their next drive.  With the ball back, Ryan and the Falcons went down the field again.  This time the NFL MVP was able to complete a 19-yard touchdown to tight end Austin Hooper.

Down 14-0, thing only got worse for the hometown team.  Driving late in the second quarter, Brady threw a pick-six to Robert Alford.  The 82-yard interception return made it a 21-0 score.  Seemingly out of it, the New England Patriots did make the score 21-3 going into a historic second half of the game.

It didn’t start out great as the team fell down 28-3, but down 28-9 in the fourth quarter, Brady put together two great touchdown drives.  The first of the two touchdowns came with nearly six minutes left to play.  Brady hit Houston native Danny Amendola for a 6-yard touchdown pass to make the score 28-18.  A two-point conversion made it a one possession game.

Atlanta had a chance to seal the game on the next possession, but a nice drive stalled when Trey Flowers delivered a key sack on Ryan.  A holding penalty took the Falcons out of field goal position and gave the ball back to Brady for what turned out to be the game-tying drive set up by an unbelievable David Tyree type catch by Julian Edelman.

James White, who set a record with 14 receptions, scored on a 1-yard drive and then Brady completed the comeback with a 2-point conversion to Danny Amendola. With momentum on their side, the Patriots won the coin toss to receive the ball in overtime.  You had a feeling that once it was in Brady’s hands again, the Vince Lombardi Trophy was coming home to New England.

Pass completions to Chris Hogan, Edelman and James White led to a final game-winning run by White.  Overall, Tom Brady completed 43 of 62 attempts for a Super Bowl-record 466 yards and two touchdowns.

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The celebration has begun throughout New England.  The Patriots have won their fifth Super Bowl and as owner Robert Kraft said on the podium after the game, this one is the sweetest.

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