7 Unforgettable Minutes: The Definitive Retrospective On The Patriots’ 28-3 Super Bowl Comeback Against The Falcons

Eight years later, the New England Patriots’ historic 34-28 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl LI remains the single most shocking and consequential comeback in professional sports history. As of , the legend of the 28-3 deficit continues to define the careers of the players and coaches involved, cementing a narrative of impossible triumph for New England and agonizing collapse for Atlanta. This deep dive revisits the critical turning points, the staggering statistics, and the enduring legacy of the game that introduced the NFL to its first-ever overtime Super Bowl.

The game on February 5, 2017, was a tale of two halves—a dominant performance by the NFC Champion Atlanta Falcons that saw them jump out to an insurmountable lead, followed by a relentless, surgical dismantling by the AFC Champion New England Patriots, led by quarterback Tom Brady. The sheer improbability of the Patriots overcoming a 25-point deficit in the second half is why Super Bowl LI is not just a footnote, but a foundational chapter in NFL lore, a masterclass in mental fortitude and execution under extreme pressure.

The Architects of Triumph and Tragedy: Key Player Biographies and Defining Stats

Super Bowl LI was a contest defined by the performances of its two superstar quarterbacks and the clutch plays of their supporting casts. The statistical output on that night in Houston tells the story of a dramatic shift in momentum.

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New England Patriots (AFC Champions)

• Tom Brady (QB): The undisputed hero, Brady completed 43 of 62 passes for a Super Bowl record 466 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception (a pick-six early in the game). He earned his fourth Super Bowl MVP award.
• Julian Edelman (WR): Known for "The Catch," a miraculous, bobbling reception late in the fourth quarter that kept the game-tying drive alive. He finished with 5 catches for 87 yards.
• James White (RB): The true offensive catalyst of the comeback. White set a Super Bowl record with 14 receptions for 110 yards, and scored three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving) plus the game-winning overtime score and a two-point conversion.
• Trey Flowers (DE): A defensive standout who recorded 2.5 sacks, including a crucial sack that pushed the Falcons out of field goal range in the fourth quarter, a major turning point.

Atlanta Falcons (NFC Champions)

• Matt Ryan (QB): The 2016 NFL MVP. Ryan played an excellent game for three quarters, finishing 17 of 23 for 284 yards, two touchdowns, and a 95.2 passer rating. He was sacked five times.
• Julio Jones (WR): Dominated early, making several spectacular catches. He finished with 4 receptions for 87 yards, including an impossible sideline grab in the fourth quarter that should have sealed the game.
• Devonta Freeman (RB): Contributed 75 yards rushing and a touchdown.
• Robert Alford (CB): Provided the Falcons' early highlight with a 82-yard pick-six off Tom Brady in the second quarter, extending the lead to 21-0.

The Anatomy of the 28-3 Collapse: Where the Falcons Lost Control

The first 38 minutes of Super Bowl LI were a clinic by the Atlanta Falcons. Their defense was fast and aggressive, rattling Tom Brady, while their offense, under coordinator Kyle Shanahan, was unstoppable, scoring on every possession in the second quarter. The score stood at 28-3 with 8:31 left in the third quarter after a Tevin Coleman touchdown. At this point, the win probability for the Falcons was over 99%.

The comeback was not a sudden burst, but a slow, agonizing bleed for the Falcons, punctuated by three critical errors that shifted the momentum entirely to New England.

1. The Sack and Turnover (3rd Quarter)

After the Patriots finally scored a touchdown to make it 28-9 (Stephen Gostkowski missed the extra point), the Falcons were driving. On a 2nd-and-11 from the Patriots' 35-yard line, Matt Ryan was strip-sacked by defensive end Dont'a Hightower. The fumble was recovered by Alan Branch. This was the moment the Patriots' defense, which had been passive, finally landed a decisive blow. The Patriots scored a touchdown four plays later, cutting the lead to 28-16.

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2. The Ill-Fated Field Goal Attempt (4th Quarter)

With 4:40 left in the game and the score 28-20, the Falcons had the ball in Patriots territory. Julio Jones made his incredible, gravity-defying sideline catch at the Patriots' 22-yard line. The game was virtually over. However, instead of running the ball to force New England to use their final timeouts and set up a short field goal, the Falcons opted for a pass play. Matt Ryan was sacked by Trey Flowers for a 12-yard loss, and an ensuing holding penalty pushed the Falcons completely out of field goal range. They were forced to punt, giving the ball back to Brady. This sequence is widely considered the coaching error that sealed the Falcons' fate.

3. The Julian Edelman Catch (4th Quarter)

The final, iconic moment of the regulation was Julian Edelman’s impossible catch. With 2:28 left, Brady threw a pass that was deflected by a Falcons defender, but Edelman somehow managed to pin the ball against the leg of a defender and secure it just inches above the turf for a 23-yard gain. This play, which was upheld after a lengthy review, kept the game-tying drive alive and crushed the last vestiges of the Falcons' resolve. James White scored the tying touchdown and two-point conversion shortly thereafter, sending the game to overtime for the first time in Super Bowl history.

The Enduring Legacy: Where Are the Key Figures Now?

The result of Super Bowl LI created two starkly different narratives that continue to influence the NFL landscape today, nearly a decade later. For the Patriots, it validated the "G.O.A.T." status of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, securing their fifth title together.

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The Patriots' Post-Game Trajectory

The victory was a springboard for the Patriots dynasty. They went on to appear in two more Super Bowls, winning Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams. However, the team's core eventually dissolved. Tom Brady left the Patriots in 2020, going on to win another Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Super Bowl LV). Bill Belichick remained the Patriots' head coach until 2024, when he and the team mutually parted ways. The 28-3 game remains the pinnacle of the Brady-Belichick era.

The Falcons' Post-Game Scars and Rebuilding

For the Atlanta Falcons, Super Bowl LI became an albatross. The 28-3 score became an instant meme and a symbol of ultimate failure. The team struggled to regain its form in the subsequent seasons. Head Coach Dan Quinn was eventually fired during the 2020 season. Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan, whose play-calling in the fourth quarter was heavily scrutinized, left immediately after the game to become the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, where he has since built a perennial contender. Matt Ryan was traded to the Indianapolis Colts in 2022, effectively ending his storied tenure in Atlanta. The franchise is still seeking to recover from the psychological and structural fallout of that historic collapse.

The game is a timeless lesson in momentum, mental toughness, and the fact that no lead is safe in the NFL, especially against a legend like Tom Brady. It stands as a testament to the power of perseverance and a painful reminder for the Falcons of what might have been.