Reporting from Houston — On the goal line, James White dragged three Atlanta Falcons into the end zone.
Ten yards back, Tom Brady tore off his helmet and stepped into history.
It was as breathtaking as the roar that filled NRG Stadium, as glittering as the red, white and blue confetti that fell from the ceiling, and as simply unbelievable as anything ever seen in the 51 years of America’s greatest game.
It was Lady Gaga flying down from the stadium roof during the halftime show, only it was without the rope. It was Brady and the Patriots flying back from a 25-point deficit and swooping into history Sunday with a 34-28 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Super Bowl LI.
“We’re bringing this sucker home!’’ a dazed Brady shouted to the thousands of Patriot fans afterward as he stood on a field stage and shook the giant silver Lombardi Trophy in his right hand.
It will be carried in the arms of a man who must now be recognized as the greatest quarterback in NFL history, directed by the man who has now been crowned the greatest coach in NFL history, and earned after the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.
Brady won his record fifth Super Bowl championship, Coach Bill Belichick coached his record fifth Super Bowl championship, and they did it all without leading for one minute in regulation before playing the first overtime in Super Bowl history.
They did it with a stunning strip, an incredible Falcon play-calling blunder, an impossible catch, and, ultimately, a victorious coin flip and a 75-yard overtime drive that ended in White’s two-yard touchdown run.
It was arguably the greatest Super Bowl ever, followed by one of its most human celebrations. Brady wept. Several of his teammates collapsed. Others bounced around on the turf in a rolling hug. By the time the trophy was carried to the celebration stage, several Patriots shakily lined up to touch it and loudly curse in disbelief.
Then it was time for the real craziness, when Commissioner Roger Goodell handed over the trophy to a Patriots organization still angry over this year’s four-game suspension of Brady for allegedly deflating footballs.
The boos for Goodell were so loud, one could barely hear his congratulations. Only when Patriots owner Robert Kraft began speaking did the roars return.
“A lot has transpired during the last two years, and I don’t think that needs any explanation, but I want to say to our fans, our brilliant coaching staff, and our amazing players who were so spectacular, this is unbelievably the sweetest,’’ said Kraft.
Yes, the moral of this story is, in the end, the Patriots got the last laugh, again.
“I ain’t got no words, man,’’ said Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower. “Ain’t nobody believed in us.’’
That last statement is one of the only things about this night that made sense. When the Falcons took a 28-3 lead midway through the third quarter, the game was over. Brady was rattled, the defense was worn, Falcons owner Arthur Blank was already dancing in his suite.
But down on a desolate sideline, the Patriots kept telling themselves the same thing they’ve told themselves for nearly 20 years while forming the NFL’s greatest dynasty.
“Just play every play,’’ said receiver Julian Edelman. “Play every play.’’
Thus began a string of 31 consecutive points that pushed the Falcons into what history will also remember as a legendary collapse.
“For sure, it hurts like hell,’’ said Falcons Coach Dan Quinn.
The Patriots scored on a five-yard pass to White, then on a 33-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski, then it got interesting. With 8:24 left in the game, Hightower stripped the ball from Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan deep in Falcon territory. Five plays later, Brady hit Danny Amendola for a six-yard pass to close the gap to eight points.
As unreal as it seemed to those watching, it was equally as startling for the most important player. As Brady was throwing for a Super Bowl record 466 yards while winning a record fourth MVP, he was also being battered and bruised into a fog.
After announcing this week that he wanted to win the game for his ill mother, Galynn Brady, he fought for nearly four hours to make it happen, and the effort knocked him silly.
“There was a lot of (bleep) that happened tonight,’’ he said later, unable to describe certain situations. “I got hit pretty hard.’’
The Falcons had a chance to salt the game away, moving into range for a potential game-clinching field goal in the final four minutes. But instead of utilizing a safe run, the Falcons made the bone-headed decision to order Ryan to pass, and he was sacked to the edge of field-goal range. Then a holding penalty against tackle Jake Matthews pushed them farther back and they were forced to punt.
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is surrounded by reporters and photographers after defeating the Falcons, 34-28, in overtime of Super Bowl LI.
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Quarterback Tom Brady celebrates after the Patriots defeated the Falcons, 34-28, in overtime at Super Bowl LI. (Darron Cummings / Associated Press)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates with wife Gisele Bundchen and daughter Vivian Brady after winning Super Bowl LI.
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Patriots running back James White (on ground) celebrates with teammates after defeating the Falcons in overtime of Super Bowl LI.
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Patriots players celebrate with commemorative edition newspapers after their overtime win in Super Bowl LI.
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Patriots owner Robert Kraft holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the awards presentation for Super Bowl LI.
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Patriots defensive lineman Trey Flowers gets his turn with the Vince Lombardi Trophy during the Super Bowl LI postgame ceremony.
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Patriots Coach Bill Belichick celebrates with running back James White, who scored three touchdowns, after defeating the Falcons in Super Bowl LI.
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Coach Bill Belichick celebrate after winning the Super Bowl LI.
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is interviewed by broadcaster Terry Bradshaw during the award ceremony. Brady became the first four-time MVP of the Super Bowl.
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Patriots players celebrate after defeating the Falcons in overtime of Super Bowl LI.
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Patriots running back James White breaks a tackle attempt by Falcons defensive back Ricardo Allen to score the game-winning touchdown from two yards in overtime.
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Patriots running back James White fights Falcons defenders, including Jalen Collins, left, and Robert Alford, for the final inches as he scores the game-winning touchdown in overtime.
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Patriots receiver Danny Amendola scores a two-point conversion on a pass late in the fourth quarter to tie the score against the Falcons, 28-28.
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Patriots running back James White scores on a five-yard touchdown run against the Falcons late in the fourth quarter.
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Patriots running back James White evades Falcons defensive back Deion Jones on a big gain during the fourth quarter.
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Falcons receiver Mohamed Sanu is brought down by Patriots defensive back Logan Ryan during the fourth quarter. There were no penalties for facemasking, and the play was nullified by a holding call.
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Falcons receiver Julio Jones makes a catch over Patriots defensive back Eric Rowe along the sideline during the fourth quarter. Atlanta’s drive, though, stalled and the Falcons had to punt.
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Patriots receiver Danny Amendola catches a six-yard touchdown pass against the Falcons defensive back Keanu Neal during the fourth quarter.
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Patriots running back James White reacts after scoring on a two-point conversion against the Falcons, cutting the Atlanta lead to 28-20 in the fourth quarter.
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady reacts after a two-point conversion during the fourth quarter in Super Bowl LI. (Darron Cummings / Associated Press)
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Patriots receiver Julian Edelman (11) catches a tipped pass among three Falcons defenders during the fourth quarter.
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Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower forces Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to fumble on a pass attempt during the fourth quarter.
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Patriots running back James White scores before Falcons defensive back Jalen Collins can bring him down during the third quarter, cutting New England’s deficit to 28-9.
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady runs for a first down against the Falcons during a scoring drive in the third quarter.
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Patriots receiver Julian Edelman can’t catch a deep pass against the Falcons during the third quarter.
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Patriots running back James White is dragged out of bounds by Falcons defensive back Robert Alford during the third quarter.
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Falcons running back Tevin Coleman scores on a six-yard reception against Patriots linebacker Rob Ninkovich during the third quarter, giving Atlanta a 28-3 lead.
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Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan reacts after throwing a touchdown pass to Tevin Coleman during the third quarter.
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Falcons receiver Taylor Gabriel celebrates after catching a pass against the Patriots during a scoring drive in the third quarter.
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Lady Gaga performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl LI.
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Lady Gaga made no political statement during her halftime show, instead concentrating on performing her hits after a patriotic opening.
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Lady Gaga leaps from the stage, tethered by wires, during the halftime performance of Super Bowl LI.
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Falcons defensive back Robert Alford (23) celebrates with teammate Courtney Upshaw after scoring a touchdown on a 82-yard interception return to give Atlanta a 21-3 lead in the second quarter.
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady watches Falcons defensive back Robert Alford (not pictured) return an interception 82 yards for a touchdown during the second quarter in Super Bowl LI. (Patrick Smith / Getty Images)
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady tries to tackle Falcons defensive back Robert Alford after he intercepted a pass during the second quarter. Alford ran it back 82 yards for a touchdown.
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Falcons defensive back C.J. Goodwin, right, breaks up a pass intended for Patriots receiver Malcolm Mitchell during the first half.
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Falcons tight end Austin Hooper catches a touchdown pass ahead of Patriots defensive back Patrick Chung during the second quarter, giving Atlanta a 14-0 lead.
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Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan throws a touchdown pass to Austin Hooper during the second quarter.
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The Patriots never have an issue restocking their roster because veterans typically take less to play for a title contender. But don’t expect it to be easy – or cheap – for New England, which has $65 million in cap space, to retain defensive linemen Jabaal Sheard, Alan Branch and Chris Long, tight end Martellus Bennett (pictured), linebacker Dont’a Hightower, tailback LeGarrette Blount and cornerbacks Malcolm Butler and Logan Ryan.
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Patriots wide receiver Chris Hogan (15) is brought down by Falcons defensive back Keanu Neal (22) during the second quarter.
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Falcons running back Devonta Freeman breaks into the clear against the Patriots for a five-yard scoring run during the second quarter.
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Falcons running back Devonta Freeman dives into the end zone after scoring the opening touchdown of Super Bowl LI.
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Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) is congratulated by teammates after scoring on a five-yard run against the Patriots during the second quarter.
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Falcons receiver Julio Jones (11) makes a catch in traffic as he’s brought down by Patriots defensive back Logan Ryan during the second quarter.
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Falcons running back Devonta Freeman is tracked down by Patriots defensive backs Malcolm Butler (21) and Devin McCourty (32) after a big gain in the first quarter of Super Bowl LI.
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Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is sacked by Patriots defensive lineman Trey Flowers during the first quarter.
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Patriots quarterback Tom Brady passes under pressure from Falcons defensive lineman Grady Jarrett during the first quarter.
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Patriots receiver Malcolm Mitchell (19) catches a pass against Falcons defensive back Jalen Collins during the first quarter.
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Falcons defensive lineman Courtney Upshaw (91) sacks Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during the first quarter.
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Falcons defensive lineman Courtney Upshaw reacts after sacking Patriots quarterback Tom Brady during the first quarter.
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Atlanta Falcons players take the field before the start of Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston.
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Quarterback Tom Brady (12) and the New England Patriots takes the field before the start of Super Bowl LI.
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Former President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush are introduced before the coin toss for Super Bowl LI.
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Luke Bryan sings the national anthem before the start of Super Bowl LI.
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Performers from the cast of “Hamilton” -- (from left) Jasmine Cephas Jones, Rene Elise Goldsberry and Phillipa Soo -- sing “God Bless America” before the start of Super Bowl LI.
(Matt Slocum / Associated Press) The Falcons have never won a Super Bowl in their 51-year history, entered this game with a reputation of folding under pressure, and will leave with that reputation intact.
“Yeah, it sucks,’’ said Matthews. “We didn’t finish well.’’
Meanwhile, the Patriots finished not only historically but incredibly, when their ensuing drive was powered by a flopping, flailing, funky catch by Edelman between two Falcons defenders. With all three men flying and diving, Edelman caught the ball off the left leg of Robert Alford, then the arm of Ricardo Allen, landing on the Atlanta 41-yard line.
Brady remembered that play, saying, “Yeah, I couldn’t believe it.’’
Edelman said he’s been believing it for most of his life, admitting, “What is going through my mind is when I was 11 years old practicing every day with my father, crying, bleeding, sweating, dreaming for this moment.’’
Four plays after the catch, the Falcons were clearly exhausted and seemingly surrendering to their fate. White scored on a one-yard touchdown run, followed by a two-point conversion that tied the game with less than a minute remaining.
“When they got hot, it was hard for us to deal with,’’ said Quinn.
Of course the Patriots won the overtime coin toss. And of course they drove easily down the field and won the game.
This is what Tom Brady does. This is what Bill Belichick does. This is who the New England Patriots are, and it doesn’t matter if you are tired of their perceived arrogance or agree with some of their proclaimed politics or just love to hate them.
“You feel like you’re kind of immortal,’’ said Patriots defensive end Chris Long.
On a night when greatness tackled history, it kind of looked like it too.
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