Super Bowl LI Patriots vs Cowboys

Lore & Background

Super Bowl LI featured the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, with the Patriots overcoming a 28–3 deficit to emerge victorious. The game was also the first Super Bowl (and first league championship since 1958) to be decided in overtime. The Patriots' victory was their fifth, moving them into a three-way tie with the Dallas Cowboys and the San Francisco 49ers for the second-most Super Bowl wins. After finishing the regular season with a league-best 14–2 record, New England advanced to their record-setting ninth Super Bowl appearance and their seventh under the leadership of head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. The Falcons, led by the league's top offense and MVP quarterback Matt Ryan, finished the regular season with an 11–5 record and the NFC's second seed. They were seeking their first Super Bowl title in their second appearance after last playing in 1998's Super Bowl XXXIII.

In Their Own Story

The grandstands at the Circuit de Monaco were silent, not because of rain, but because the cars never arrived. A confused fan checked their program for 'Super Bowl LI,' expecting to see the Patriots and Cowboys racing on the asphalt. Instead, they found only the empty grid where Alpine's blue and pink livery should have been, a ghost story born from a mix-up between worlds.

Reader's Guide

Atlanta scored three consecutive touchdowns to take a 21–3 halftime lead, which they increased to 28–3 midway through the third quarter. However, the Patriots scored 25 unanswered points to tie the game in the final seconds of regulation. In overtime, New England received the kickoff after winning the coin toss and scored a touchdown to claim the title. More than 30 team and individual Super Bowl records were broken or matched during the game, including Patriots running back James White's 14 receptions and 20 points scored and Brady's 62 attempts, 43 completions, and 466 passing yards. Brady was named Super Bowl MVP for a record fourth time and was the oldest player to receive the honor at 39; he would surpass both records in Super Bowl LV.

Did You Know?

• Super Bowl LI was the first Super Bowl to be decided in overtime.
• The Patriots overcame a 28–3 deficit, the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.
• Tom Brady was named Super Bowl MVP for a record fourth time at age 39.
• Fox's broadcast averaged around 111.3 million viewers, with the halftime show by Lady Gaga averaging 117.5 million.