HOUSTON – Tom Brady and the New England Patriots couldn't be deflated by the almighty Roger Goodell or defeated by an underdog Atlanta Falcons team that led 21-0 in the first half and 28-9 after three quarters.
So the season that began with the New England Patriots' quarterback surrendering to the NFL Commissioner's four-game "Deflategate" suspension ended with Goodell handing Brady and coach Bill Belichick their record-breaking fifth Lombardi Trophy after a 34-28 overtime win over the Falcons in Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium on Sunday.
Presumed dead when Brady's first career postseason pick-six put them down 21-0 or certainly when MVP Matt Ryan orchestrated an 85-yard touchdown drive to make it 28-3 midway through the third quarter, Brady had a record-shattering second-half run to win the first overtime game in Super Bowl history with the greatest comeback (25 points) in Super Bowl history.