Super Bowl LI: The Greatest Comeback in Super Bowl History

Super Bowl LI, played on February 5, 2017 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, will forever be remembered as the game where Tom Brady and the New England Patriots turned the impossible into reality. Trailing 28–3 in the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons, the Patriots mounted the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history to win 34–28 in overtime.

How Bad Was the 28-3 Deficit?

At the start of the third quarter, the Falcons led 28–3. The win probability for the Patriots at that moment was calculated at just 0.4% by some models. No team in Super Bowl history had ever come back from more than 10 points down. Matt Ryan was playing the game of his life, on the way to winning the NFL MVP award for that season. The Falcons' offense was executing perfectly. Everything suggested a blowout loss for the Patriots.

The Comeback

Tom Brady began the comeback with systematic precision. He finished the game with 466 passing yards and 2 touchdowns — and no interceptions in the second half. James White was the unsung hero, rushing for a touchdown and catching the game-tying touchdown with just over a minute remaining in regulation. Brady also ran for a first down on the final fourth-quarter drive to extend it.

Overtime

The Patriots won the coin toss in overtime and never gave Atlanta the ball. Brady drove the offense down the field, culminating in James White's walk-off two-yard touchdown run. Final score: Patriots 34, Falcons 28. It remains the only Super Bowl to go to overtime.

Brady and Belichick's Legacy Moment

Super Bowl LI is often cited as the single greatest performance of Brady's career. It also gave coach Bill Belichick his fifth Super Bowl championship, moving him to second all-time behind Vince Lombardi (who won two NFL Championships before the Super Bowl era officially began). For more on Brady's record, see our Super Bowl MVP page.

Matt Ryan's Super Bowl Legacy

For Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, Super Bowl LI is the defining heartbreak of his career. Despite throwing for 284 yards and 2 touchdowns, he was on the losing side of the most stunning comeback in Super Bowl history. Ryan won the NFL MVP award for the 2016 season despite the loss.

Where It Ranks All-Time

Super Bowl LI is consistently ranked among the top three Super Bowls ever played, combining dramatic storylines, elite individual performances, and an unprecedented comeback. For the complete Super Bowl history and rankings, visit our history page. For the complete list of results, see our Super Bowl results page.