Down 28-3, How the New England Patriots Pulled of a Super Bowl Miracle

Super Bowl 51, the first super bowl to ever go into overtime, can be summed up in one word, INCREDIBLE. Especially in the fourth quarter where the game changed from an easy Falcons victory into one of the most historic comebacks in the history of the NFL. For the entire first half, the Patriots couldn't find a way to produce any offense as they headed into halftime down 21-3. Two possessions into the 3rd quarter and the Falcons would extend there lead to 28-3. The Patriots were able to bring the score to 28-9 before the end of the quarter, but there chances still didn't look good. With another scoring drive to open the final quarter, Brady and his team faced what seemed like an insurmountable task, as they still needed two touchdowns and two two-point conversions in order to tie the game. It was on the following drive for the Falcons, that the game changing play would occur. The moment that would change everything for the Patriots in Super Bowl 51 would be Dont’a Hightower’s strip-sack in the 4th Quarter.

Anyone who was watching the game at this point believed that the game was over and the Patriots were destined to lose this game.

5 plays after Hightower forced the turnover, Brady found Amendola for this 6 yard touchdown.

James White took this direct snap across the line in order to convert the two-point conversion, and bring the Patriots within 8.

Julio Jones made this impossible catch late in the 4th Quarter to get the Falcons into Field Goal range. At this point Patriots fans were sweating bullets, praying that there defense could somehow pull through and prevent the Falcons from scoring.

Trey Flowers managed to sack Matt Ryan for a 12 yard loss on 2nd and 11. On the following play, a holding penalty backed up the falcons even further and moved them out of field goal range.

Edelman made this impossible catch during the Patriots final drive of the 4th Quarter. This play got the Patriots beyond midfield before they had even reached the two minute warning.

James White capped off the 91 yard drive with this 1 yard rushing touchdown that made the Patriots a two-point conversion away from tying up the game.

Amendola managed to break the plane on this close two-point conversion attempt that tied up the game and sent it into Overtime.

It took the Patriots just under four minutes to march down the field 75 yards and James White ended the game with this two yard touchdown run.