Despite the political controversy and new year stresses, nothing brings the American people and media together like Super Bowl. The New England Patriots faced the Atlanta Falcons in a close battle for their fifth Super Bowl win.
The night began slow, no scores in the first quarter, however, the Falcons had a faster, more offensive team defensively.Patriots started in deep Atlanta territory, but one fumble changed the feel of the game with Atlanta recovering and two passes later, back in Patriot territory. After a punt from the Patriots, Ryan drove the Falcons back to New England territory and with a 19-yard throw to tight end Austin Cooper in the touchdown for a 14-0 lead. As no team has ever come back from a 2 touchdown loss in the Super Bowl, the Patriots felt the pressure. Patriots backed into the field goal range suffering an 82-yard interception for a touchdown by Robert Alford because of a late pass by the quarterback, Tom Brady, making the game 21-0. Patriots ended up getting 3 points the the board with a 41-yard field goal by Stephan Gostkowski.
Starting the third quarter, it only took the Falcons 8 plays and a little over 4 minutes to enter the touchdown for the 4th time with at 6 yard pass to running back Tevin Coleman.
Patriots scored their first touchdown of the game with a 13 play drive for 75 yards that ended with a 5-yard pass to running back James White. Edelman missed the extra point leaving Patriots with only 9 points.
Hitting the fourth quarter, the Patriots open the quarter with at 33-yard field goal to put the game at 28-12. A couple plays later, Brady found wide receiver Danny Admendola for a touchdown followed by a 2 point conversion with a direct snap to White.
By the end of the quarter, the Patriots and Falcons tied 28-28, creating the first overtime in Super Bowl history. With anxiety raised in houses throughout the nation, the Patriots won the coin toss and ran 75 yards in less than four minutes, managed to make the touchdown and win by a two-yard run by White. The Patriots won the 51st Super Bowl and making Tom Brady the first football player to win 5 Super Bowls.