Patriots roar back, win Super Bowl in OT

HOUSTON - If it didn't happen in front of billions of eyes around the world, it would be hard to describe how the Patriots pulled off what might be the greatest comeback in the annals of professional team sports Sunday night.

Tom Brady's refusal to give up after the Falcons climbed to a 28-3 lead midway through the third quarter; Julian Edelman's catch that inconceivably didn't touch the turf at NRG Stadium; the two successful two-point conversions that capped fourth-quarter touchdowns, including the game-tying points with 57 seconds left.

And, lastly, the overtime drive in which Brady meticulously marched New England down the field for the game-winning touchdown - a 2-yard touchdown run by James White - that gave the Patriots an improbable 34-28 victory in Super Bowl LI, and an unprecedented five Vince Lombardi Trophies for Brady and his coach, Bill Belichick.

"They're all sweet," Brady said. "They're all different and this was just an incredible team and I'm just happy to be a part of it. It's just a great group of coaches and teammates and we overcame a lot of different things and it's all worth it."

If there was argument left about who the greatest quarterback and coach were, it seems all but moot now. Brady and Belichick are the greatest - at least in the Super Bowl era - and they have the hardware to show for it.

"They just keep competing," Belichick said of his Patriots. "They just compete for 60 minutes - or longer."

The season capped a trying year for Brady, who was suspended for the first four games because of his role in "Deflategate" and whose mother, Galynn, dealt with an unspecified illness. Brady was named Super Bowl MVP - his fourth - moments after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, amid deafening boos from Patriots fan, handed the silver trophy to owner Robert Kraft.

"I've got my family here and it's the end of a long marathon," said Brady, who had openly cried after the game as confetti fell from the stadium roof. "I usually wear them on my sleeve."

The Patriots denied Falcons quarterback, and Penn Charter alum, Matt Ryan his first title. The Exton native was nearly perfect through the first three quarters. In fact, he had a 158.3 passer rating - the highest possible number. But Atlanta turtled up as New England mounted its rally.

"I don't think so," Ryan said when asked if thought the Falcons had become too conservative. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan "did a good job for us tonight and we had some opportunities to make plays. We just missed on a couple of things."

With 3 minutes, 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter, trailing, 28-20, Brady and the Patriots had one last chance. They got off to a slow start, but Edelman's stupefying catch advanced New England to the Falcons 41.

Brady then completed his next three passes to move the Patriots to the 1-yard line. White took care of the rest, plunging into the end zone, and then Brady flicked a quick screen to receiver Danny Amendola for the game-tying two-point conversion with 57 ticks left on the clock.

The Falcons couldn't take advantage of the remaining seconds and the game went into overtime - the first in Super Bowl history.

With more than nine minutes left, the Falcons turned conservative. They ran on the first two plays of the drive, and on third and 1 had Ryan drop back to throw. He was sacked by linebacker Dont'a Hightower and fumbled the ball.

The Patriots took advantage and, with six minutes remaining, cut the Falcons' diminishing lead to 28-20 when Brady hooked up with Amendola for a 6-yard touchdown and converted a two-point conversion.

With a pro-Patriots crowd chanting "Defense," the Falcons marched down the field. Ryan hit a wide-open Devonta Freeman for 39 yards. And then Julio Jones made a sideline catch that will forever be remembered as the second-best catch of this Super Bowl. The Falcons receiver managed to pull in the toss by tipping it to himself and dragging both feet inbounds.

But Jones' grab was all for naught. Ryan was sacked, backup guard Wes Schweitzer was called for holding - pushing the Falcons out of field goal range - and they were forced to punt with 3:30 left.

The rest is history.

"No doubt," Falcons coach Dan Quinn said, "that was a tough one for us."

The Falcons, up 21-3, had first dibs to the start the second half after deferring, but it had been 1 hour and 8 minutes since their offense was last on the field. They went three and out when Patriots cornerback and former Eagle Eric Rowe broke up a third-down pass intended for receiver Taylor Gabriel.

But the Patriots squandered good field position, and after Chris Hogan and Edelman dropped passes, they were forced to punt.

The Falcons capitalized. With Ryan completing 4 of 4 passes for 71 yards, Atlanta went 85 yards on eight plays to reach the end zone for a fourth time. Running back Tevin Coleman caught a 6-yard touchdown pass out of the backfield and the Falcons held a seemingly insurmountable 28-3 lead with 8:31 to go in the third.

The Patriots found some life on their next series. Buoyed by a successful fourth-down conversion in their own territory, they cut into the lead when White caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Brady. New England needed 6:25 to score, however, and kicker Stephen Gostkowski missed the extra point.

Trailing, 28-9, with about two minutes left in the third quarter, Belichick gambled with an onsides kick. It failed. But the Falcons didn't take advantage of good field position and were forced to punt. The Patriots added another field goal early in the fourth quarter to narrow the margin to 28-12.

Defense was the story in the first half, and it was the Falcons who made the momentum-changing plays. Linebacker Deion Jones forced a fumble that led to the Falcons' first touchdown. Brady was sacked two times and pressured throughout. And Robert Alford stuck the early knife into the Patriots when he picked off Brady and raced 82 yards for a touchdown and a 21-0 cushion. It was Brady's first career postseason pick-6.

Ryan, meanwhile, was masterful. He completed 7 of 8 passes for 115 yards - his last throw coming when he hit rookie tight end Austin Hooper for a 19-yard touchdown pass to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead. Overall, Ryan completed 17 of 23 passes for 284 yards and two scores.

Brady was shaky in the first half, but he was almost flawless in the second half and overtime. He completed 27 of 36 passes for 282 yards and two touchdowns after the break. Overall, he was 43 of 62 for 466 yards, two touchdowns and the lone interception.

But the only number he cares about is "5."

Brady's the only quarterback who can now say he has five Super Bowl-winning rings.

"It was a hell of a football game," Brady said.

jmclane@phillynews.com

@Jeff_McLane