It is the most famous score in the history of the NFL. Honestly, if you just say "28-3" to any sports fan, they know exactly what you’re talking about. You don't even need to mention the teams. But for the sake of the record, the final falcons patriots super bowl score ended up being 34-28 in favor of New England. It was a game that defied logic, physics, and probably a few laws of probability.
Houston’s NRG Stadium was the site. February 5, 2017.
Most people remember the comeback, but we kinda forget how much of a beatdown the first three quarters actually were. The Atlanta Falcons weren't just winning; they were embarrassing the greatest dynasty in pro football. By the time Tevin Coleman caught a 6-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan midway through the third quarter, the score was 28-3. The win probability for the Falcons at that moment was essentially 99.7%.
Then, everything broke.
Breaking Down the Falcons Patriots Super Bowl Score
To understand how a 25-point lead evaporates in less than 20 minutes of game time, you have to look at the box score. It’s messy. It’s full of "what-ifs."
The scoring started slow. A scoreless first quarter led into a second-quarter explosion by Atlanta. Devonta Freeman ran one in. Austin Hooper caught a touchdown. Then came the soul-crusher: Robert Alford intercepted Tom Brady and took it 82 yards to the house. 21-0.
At halftime, it was 21-3. Even then, people thought maybe, just maybe, New England could make it a game. But when Atlanta moved it to 28-3, the party in Georgia started early.
The Quarter-by-Quarter Collapse
If you look at the scoring by period, the shift is jarring:
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- 1st Quarter: 0-0 (Pure defensive stalemate)
- 2nd Quarter: Falcons 21, Patriots 3 (The blowout begins)
- 3rd Quarter: Falcons 7, Patriots 6 (Atlanta still in total control)
- 4th Quarter: Patriots 19, Falcons 0 (The unthinkable happens)
- Overtime: Patriots 6, Falcons 0 (The dagger)
The final falcons patriots super bowl score of 34-28 only happened because New England scored 31 unanswered points. That's not just a "rally." That's a total systemic failure on one side and a clinical execution on the other.
The Moments That Flipped the Script
Everyone talks about the Julian Edelman catch. You know the one—where the ball bounced off a defender's shoe, stayed in the air by some miracle, and he grabbed it inches from the turf? It was incredible. But that wasn't actually the play that lost the game for Atlanta.
The real turning point was the Dont'a Hightower sack.
Atlanta had the ball, leading 28-12. They were in a position to kill the clock. Instead, Hightower came off the edge, blasted Matt Ryan, and forced a fumble. Alan Branch recovered it. That play gave New England a short field and the momentum they needed to make it 28-20.
Why the Falcons Stopped Running
This is the part that still drives Falcons fans crazy. They had the lead. They had Devonta Freeman, who was averaging nearly 7 yards per carry that night.
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After a massive 27-yard catch by Julio Jones put Atlanta at the Patriots' 22-yard line with less than five minutes left, they were already in field goal range. A field goal would have made it 31-20. Game over.
Instead of running the ball three times and kicking the field goal, they passed. Ryan got sacked by Trey Flowers for a 12-yard loss. Then a holding penalty pushed them back even further. They ended up punting.
You can't make this stuff up.
Records Shattered in Houston
Tom Brady gets a lot of the glory, and rightfully so. He threw the ball 62 times. That is an absurd number for a Super Bowl. He finished with 466 passing yards, which was a record at the time. He was 40 years old and playing like he was in a video game on rookie mode.
But the real MVP for many was James White.
Honestly, James White had the game of his life. He set a Super Bowl record with 14 receptions. He scored three touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. He also ran in a two-point conversion. He finished with 20 total points, which is still a record (later tied by Jalen Hurts).
Key Player Stats
- Tom Brady (NE): 43/62, 466 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
- Matt Ryan (ATL): 17/23, 284 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT (Perfectly fine stats, but not enough)
- James White (NE): 139 total yards, 3 TDs, 14 catches
- Grady Jarrett (ATL): 3 sacks (Tied a Super Bowl record, though it’s often forgotten)
The First Overtime in Super Bowl History
When the 4th quarter ended 28-28, the atmosphere was surreal. It was the first time a Super Bowl had ever gone to overtime.
The coin toss felt like the actual end of the game. New England won it. Under the rules at the time (and still for the postseason mostly), if the first team scores a touchdown, it’s over. Atlanta's defense was gassed. They had played nearly 100 snaps because their offense couldn't stay on the field.
Brady marched them 75 yards in eight plays. He was 5-for-5 on the drive. James White tossed a pitch to the right, got hit at the one, and powered his way into the end zone.
34-28. The confetti fell, and the Falcons were left wondering how they let the biggest lead in Super Bowl history slip through their fingers.
Actionable Insights for Football Historians
If you're looking back at this game to understand how to avoid a similar collapse—or how to spot a comeback in the making—keep these factors in mind:
- Time of Possession Matters: New England had the ball for over 40 minutes. Atlanta’s defense was on the field for twice as many plays as their offense. Fatigue is real.
- The "Field Goal" Rule: If you are up by 8 or more late in the 4th, and you are in field goal range, you run the ball. Every time. No exceptions.
- Pressure Creates Turnovers: Even a perfect game by a QB (Matt Ryan had a 144.1 passer rating) can be undone by one strip-sack.
To dig deeper into the legacy of this game, you should watch the "NFL Films" Mic'd Up version of Super Bowl LI. Hearing the confidence in the Falcons' voices in the second quarter compared to the silence in the fourth provides a psychological masterclass in how momentum shifts in professional sports. You can also compare the defensive schemes Bill Belichick used in the second half—moving to more "Man" coverage to force Ryan into tighter windows—to see how coaching adjustments changed the falcons patriots super bowl score forever.