James White Scores OT Touchdown; Patriots Rally
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
With the New England Patriots down by 25 points at one point, it seemed as if everybody wrote them off except for themselves. They rallied by being down 19 points in the fourth quarter, and winning the game 34 to 28 in overtime against the Atlanta Falcons.
It was the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. James White scored on a 2-yard rushing touchdown on the only overtime possession in the game. He was a major x-factor with 29 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, along with 14 catches for 110 yards receiving and 1 touchdown.
Tom Brady was named Super Bowl MVP for the fourth time in his career. He had 466 passing yards 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.
In the second quarter, Atlanta scored three touchdowns by Devonta Freeman (5-yard rush), Austin Hooper (19-yard catch from Matt Ryan), and a Robert Alford 82-yard pick six.
Freeman finished with 75 rushing yards and 1 touchdown. along with 2 catches for 46 yards receiving.
The Falcons scored an early touchdown in the third quarter on a Tevin Coleman 6-yard reception from Matt Ryan. Ryan finished with 284 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. New England scored their first touchdown late in the third quarter on a 5-yard reception by James White.
After the Patriots made a field goal to start the fourth, New England didn't recover the onside kick and Atlanta had good field position. They couldn't capitalize on the opportunity.
New England made them pay the next drive on a Brady 6-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola. Amendola finished with 8 catches for 78 yards receiving and 1 touchdown. James White made the 2-point conversion.
Atlanta hit a couple of plays on the next drive to Freeman, and an amazing catch by Julio Jones, who finished with 4 catches for 87 yards receiving. Then, Atlanta decided to pass the ball and they were sacked. It took them out of field goal range.
Before the two minute warning, on a first-and-10 play from New England's own 36-yard line, Tom Brady's passed was batted by an Atlanta Defender, and Julian Edelman made a 23-yard diving catch. Edelman finished with 5 catches for 87 yards receiving.
The drive would eventually cap off with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by James White and a 2-point conversion by Danny Amendola. Each team had 5 sacks on defense and the rest of the game was history.
