The 51^st Super Bowl was one of the most impressive games in Super Bowl history, played between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, the sixth match between the best defense — New England — and the best offense, Atlanta.

The Patriots started to make history midway through the third quarter, shortly after Matt Ryan scored again to give the Falcons a 25-point lead, bringing the score to 3-28.

Dont’a Hightower stripped Matt Ryan of the football deep in Falcon territory, and New England recovered the obvious fumble. The Patriots then started another drive with the ball on Atlanta’s 25-yard line.

If Matt Ryan had held the ball, or converted on third down, we may have seen a completely different game. If Matt Ryan had completed that pass, or even if the Falcons punted the ball off into Patriot territory, time would have kept on ticking. Atlanta would have burned off plenty of time to seal their win in Super Bowl 51.

But this game had an almost completely different ending. It went New England’s way, thanks to the most under-looked play of the game, made by defensive star Dont’a Hightower.

Afterward, New England would exploit the rest of Atlanta’s flaws and mistakes and break records in a great Super Bowl game.

New England receiver Julian Edelman even made the play that some believe overshadows “The David Tyree catch.” The Patriots recreated the same play that beat them in Super Bowl XLII.

The Patriots scored 25 unanswered points to force an overtime, the first overtime ever in a Super Bowl.

New England received the ball to start the extended period, but they only needed one drive against the exhausted Falcon defense to win. After seven plays, James White turned dreams into reality with a two-yard run into the end zone, ending the game.

On Atlanta’s side, terrible play calling throughout the fourth quarter and a fatigued defense led to one of the biggest collapses in sports history. Atlanta’s offense would be off the field too soon, giving no time for the defense to recover. The Falcons had the ball on New England’s 20-yard line, and they lost over 20 yards by penalty and bad play, forcing Atlanta out of getting at least three much-needed points that would have won the game.

For a team that averaged 33.8 points per game in their regular season, the Falcons’ offense only scored a disappointing 21 points for the game. Patriot defense ultimately won the game by keeping Atlanta’s offense to their second-lowest scoring game of the season.
While Tom Brady won game MVP with his record 466 passing yards, he did not deserve it. James White should’ve won the prestigious award for his three touchdowns, 20 points, and game-winning score. Without his play, Coach Bill Belichick never would have hoisted his record fifth Lombardi trophy.

The Falcons almost had an impressive, boring Super Bowl win. Instead they played what will come to be known as the worst loss in sports.

Brady took everything into his own hands and made it a game to re-watch. People will wonder what Dan Quinn and Kyle Shanahan were thinking on the sideline. Brady made a great Super Bowl.

But it still does not place as the best Super Bowl ever. The Super Bowl should be close from start the finish, but this game was completely boring for the entire first half. Lady Gaga’s halftime show was honestly more engaging.

The big plays, though impressive, were nullified by the lack of competition in the first half. Super Bowl XLVIII between Denver and Seattle was similarly boring due to a 43-8 Seattle blowout.

Other Super Bowls in the modern era have had that exciting, close-score feeling from start to finish. I would rank New England’s previous championship, Super Bowl XLIX against Seattle, a better game overall, and the Steelers-Cardinals Super Bowl XLIII ranks even higher. Both games were competitive from the start with some of the most clutch and best plays in Super Bowl history.

Super Bowl LI was impressive and seals Tom Brady and Bill Belichick as the best QB-Coach duo ever. It ranks high in the Super Bowl list, but it is not the best Super Bowl ever.