Super Bowl: Patriots shocks Atlanta Falcons to recover from record deficit

It was a night full of emotions across the states of US as the New England Patriots produced the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history to beat the Atlanta Falcons 34 – 28 in overtime and claim a fifth title in the most dramatic of circumstances.

The Patriots trailed by 25 points in the third quarter but recovered to level at 28-28 and force the extra period – the first in Super Bowl history.

Quarterback, Tom Brady, led the recovery, finishing with a record 466 yards en route to being named the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player for a fourth time.

The comeback was completed when James White scored on a two-yard run – taking his personal haul for the game to 20 points.

The previous biggest deficit overcome by an eventual Super Bowl champion was 10 points, a record emphatically shattered by the Patriots on a quite incredible night at Houston’s NRG Stadium, which also featured a spectacular half-time show by Lady Gaga.

Brady, 39, admitted afterwards that the outcome could have been very different had any part of the Patriots team not done its job.

A key moment came in the final quarter with the Patriots trailing 28-20 with 2:28 remaining when Julian Edelman made a miraculous catch for first down, somehow grabbing the ball under pressure from three opponents after it was tipped into the air by Falcons cornerback Robert Alford.

“There were a lot of plays, probably about 30 of them, and if anyone was different the outcome would have been different. It was unbelievable. I’m so proud of these guys,” Brady said.

“It’s going to be a great celebration tonight. Thanks to everyone back in Boston, we love you, we’re bringing this sucker home!”