Super-man! Brady rallies Patriots in
unbelievable comeback win
By Agence France-Presse, adapted by Newsela staff on 02.07.17
Word Count 713
Tom Brady, the quarterback of the New England Patriots, reacts after a touchdown late in the fourth quarter against the
Atlanta Falcons during Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, February 5, 2017. After staging a comeback,
the Patriots won the game in overtime. Brady and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick have now won a record five Super
Bowls. Photo by: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Sunday was a record-setting night in football. Tom Brady spurred the greatest comeback
in Super Bowl history as the New England Patriots stunned the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in
Houston, Texas, in the first Super Bowl overtime game in history.
Brady also became the first quarterback to win five Super Bowls. During the third quarter,
the Patriots were behind 28-3. The team was able to turn the game around quickly and
win.
Victory Follows A Troubled Season
Brady, 39, fell to the ground with emotion after his teammate James White burrowed
through Falcons players to score the winning touchdown.
"We all brought each other back," Brady said. "We never felt out of it. It was a tough battle.
They have a great team."
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The win completed a troubled season for Brady. The quarterback was banned at the start
of the season for four games over the "Deflategate" incident in which the Patriots were
accused of intentionally deflating footballs during a 2015 game with the Indianapolis Colts.
They were accused of cheating, prompting the NFL to investigate. Brady was punished by
being forced to sit out four games.
Brady, who threw for 466 yards and two touchdowns, shrugged off suggestions that the
win amounted to a personal redemption.
A Comeback For The Ages
"This is all positive," he said. "It took a lot of mental toughness. We're going to remember
this for the rest of our lives."
It completed an incredible comeback for the Patriots, who had looked dead and buried
earlier in the game. The Falcons started off strong, scoring three first-half touchdowns and
an early score in the third quarter to power 25 points ahead. No team had ever come back
from more than 10 points to win the Super Bowl, and the Patriots looked to be heading for
a crushing defeat.
But Brady, who had looked a pale imitation of himself for much of the game, suddenly fired
into life in the second half. He gave a performance that will go into National Football
League folklore.
Falcons Roar Ahead (At First)
The Falcons had gone into the game boasting one of the best offenses in history. After the
game, they were left distraught and still waiting for their first Super Bowl crown.
They had appeared to be roaring to the championship with quarterback Matt Ryan pulling
apart the Patriots in the first half.
The Falcons scored touchdowns through Devonta Freeman and Austin Hooper before
Robert Alford picked off Brady for an 82-yard interception score.
The Patriots could only muster a Stephen Gostkowski field goal to go into halftime behind
21-3.
Things Get Worse For Patriots
A shocked Brady looked empty after the Falcons intercepted his throw to start the third
quarter, and it got worse for the Patriots.
The misfiring Patriots offense again squandered their next possession and Atlanta was
back on the charge, powering forward with a nine-play drive that ended with Ryan lobbing
a 6-yard pass to Tevin Coleman for a touchdown.
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New England grabbed what looked like a consolation score when Brady found running
back White to make it 28-9. But Gostkowski missed the extra point, and it seemed as if all
Atlanta had to do was ride out the clock.
The Game's Tipping Point
But another Gostkowski field goal made it 28-12 , and then Brady hit Danny Amendola for
a 6-yard touchdown. With a successful two-point conversion, it suddenly became a onescore game.
After the Falcons were flustered on a crucial drive, the Patriots won the ball back.
An epic drive hinged on a logic-defying 23-yard reception to Julian Edelman, who
somehow gathered a blocked pass to put the Patriots in enemy territory.
Brady marched his team forward, and White scampered in from one yard out to make it
28-26. Another two-point conversion followed to make it 28-28 and take the game to
overtime for the first time in Super Bowl history.
Game Over: The Patriots Win
The Patriots won the toss and elected to receive and with momentum clearly on their side,
there was only going to be one outcome.
Brady, just as he had done in his first Super Bowl victory in 2002, nervelessly led his team
forward. It was left to White to score his third touchdown of the night to grab an amazing
victory.
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Quiz
1
Read the second and third paragraphs of the section "The Game's Tipping Point."
After the Falcons were flustered on a crucial drive, the Patriots won the
ball back.
An epic drive hinged on a logic-defying 23-yard reception to Julian
Edelman, who somehow gathered a blocked pass to put the Patriots in
enemy territory.
Which idea is BEST supported by the information in these paragraphs?
2
3
(A)
A few unexpected maneuvers helped the Patriots earn their victory.
(B)
The Patriots' victory was secured by using specific strategies to confuse the
Falcons.
(C)
As soon as Patriots player Julian Edelman ran onto the field, the game was
over for the Falcons.
(D)
The Falcons' overconfidence at the beginning of the game ultimately led to
their defeat.
Which section of the article highlights the reasons that made this year's Super Bowl more
remarkable than others?
(A)
Introduction [paragraphs 1-2]
(B)
"Victory Follows A Troubled Season"
(C)
"Falcons Roar Ahead (At First)"
(D)
"Game Over: The Patriots Win"
Read the paragraph from the section "A Comeback For The Ages."
But Brady, who had looked a pale imitation of himself for much of the
game, suddenly fired into life in the second half. He gave a
performance that will go into National Football League folklore.
The author uses the word "folklore" to mean:
(A)
a reference guide for winning Super Bowls
(B)
a complete collection of all legal football plays
(C)
an important piece of football's history
(D)
an event that will likely never be repeated
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4
Read the paragraph from the section "Things Get Worse For Patriots."
The misfiring Patriots offense again squandered their next possession
and Atlanta was back on the charge, powering forward with a nineplay drive that ended with Ryan lobbing a 6-yard pass to Tevin
Coleman for a touchdown.
Which two words could BEST replace "squandered" and "lobbing" in the excerpt above?
(A)
spent; protesting
(B)
lost; throwing
(C)
missed; flinging
(D)
dropped; flipping
This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com.
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