Tom
Brady led one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, lifting New England
from a 25-point hole to the Patriots' fifth NFL championship in the first Super
Bowl overtime.
The
Patriots scored 19 points in the final quarter, including a pair of 2-point
conversions, then marched relentlessly to James White's 2-yard touchdown run in
overtime to beat the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 on Sunday night.
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| Tom Brady inspired one of sport's most remarkable comebacks |
Brady,
the first quarterback with five Super Bowl rings, guided the Patriots (17-2)
through a tiring Atlanta defence for fourth-quarter touchdowns on a 6-yard pass
to Danny Amendola and a 1-yard run by White, which came with 57 seconds
remaining in regulation. White ran for the first 2-pointer and Amendola did the
deed with a reception on the second.
Brady,
winning Super Bowl MVP for a record fourth-time, finished 43 for 62, the most
attempts in Super Bowl history, for 466 yards, also a record, and two
touchdowns.
"You
know, we all brought each other back," Brady said. "We never felt out
of it. It was a tough battle. They have a great team. I give them a lot of
credit. We just made a few more plays than them."
Before
the stunning rally - New England already held the biggest comeback in the final
period when it turned around a 10-point deficit to beat Seattle two years ago -
the Falcons (13-6) appeared poised to take their first NFL championship in 51
seasons. Having never been in such a pressurised environment, their previously
staunch pass rush disappeared, and Brady tore them apart.
"Deflategate"
far behind them, Brady and coach Bill Belichick won their 25th postseason game,
by far a record. It's hard to imagine a tenser victory. Belichick became the
first coach with five Super Bowl crowns.
The
Patriots won the coin toss for overtime and it was no contest. Brady completed
six passes. A pass interference call took the ball to the 2, and White scooted
to his right and barely over the goal line.
His
teammates streamed off the sideline to engulf White as confetti streamed down
from the NRG Stadium rafters.
It
was almost an impossible dream for the Patriots a bit earlier. But helped by
Matt Ryan's fumble on a sack, a spectacular catch by Julian Edelman , and
Brady's passing, they never stopped coming.
White
had 14 receptions for 110 yards as the key weapon, but Brady hit seven
different receivers.
Until
the Patriots took charge with their late surge, league MVP Ryan was outplaying
Brady. It didn't last.
Falcons
head coach Dan Quinn admitted the loss was hard to take. "No doubt that
was a tough one for us," said Quinn. "That's a hard one in the locker
room."
Quinn
felt the Falcons were worn out by the end by the pressure the Patriots applied.
"I think for sure we ran out of gas some," Quinn said.
Back
in Boston, hundreds of fans gathered
late on Sunday night and early Monday morning in a downtown public park to
celebrate. They were dancing, cheering and chanting "Brady."
The
mayor of Boston ordered the city to "fire up the duck boats" for the
New England Patriots victory parade.
Democratic
Mayor Marty Walsh took to Twitter late Sunday night to offer his
congratulations "to the greatest team, the greatest coach and the greatest
quarterback of all time."
Mr
Walsh said a parade celebrating their championship would be held on Tuesday,
adding the Pats "have made Boston and New England proud."
Donald
Trump was also quick to offer his congratulations. The president, who has often
boasted of his friendship with Brady, tweeted: "What an amazing comeback
and win by the Patriots. Tom Brady, Bob Kraft and Coach B are total winners.
Wow!"
Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/
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