Lady Gaga’s ready and so are we.
Four-time winners, the Patriots are aiming to make history tonight against a side who’ve never won the NFL’s biggest prize.
It’s an iconic QB in Tom Brady against the season MVP Matt Ryan.
And with Donal Trump picking the Pats to win by eight, don’t be surprised if this — and the half-time show – get political.
Stick with us as we go down-by-down til we have a winner.
Two of Team The42 are in Texas since Thursday… and in no way am I jealous.
Steve O’Rourke and Eoin Lúc Ó Ceallaigh will be updating us from the stadium throughout the night and yesterday sent this dispatch from downtown Houston.
Marc Metcalfe comments below: “As a Falcons fan for 25 years now im horribly nervous, really couldnt see where we would get another Super Bowl appearance but this year it has been insane, time to cross fingers and toes and the rest!!”
It’s going to be a long night.
There’s a few more Patriots fans in Ireland, you’d imagine. How do you see this one playing out?
The All-Ireland final and the Super Bowl are different in many, many ways.
Ving Rhames’ pre-recorded, fist-puncher of introduction for both teams is one.
Marsellus Wallace just encouraged the Falcons to ‘rise up’ one more time, before they took the field.
Not long now.
And now Luke Bryan is up for the anthem. Like a best man’s speech, there’s a lot of money riding on the length of this.
Eoin Mulhern writes in the comments: “Why bring political matters into sports. Just leave the two out of it.”
Agreed, Eoin.
In the meantime, here comes former president George HW Bush and his wife Barbara, for the coin toss!
So Atlanta’s first drive comes to nothing.
Devonta Freeman introduced himself to everyone with a serious 37-yard drive early in the series.
On third down, Matty Ice was sacked, New Engladn run it into the end zone but the whistle had gone.
So here comes Tommy.
No score early then as the Pats leave the field empty handed after their first drive.
Tom Brady gets sacked twice and he knows he’s in a game.
That’s encouraging for those hoping for an upset Falcons win.
If you bet the under, you’re pretty happy so far.
The Falcons’ second drive ends just like its first: no score.
So the first quarter ends scoreless. The second is when the Pats usually take control though, right?
Stat!
Lots of experts said before this game that Atlanta needed two or three turnovers to win.
Well, they’ve got their first.
Deion Jones forced the fumble from LeGarrette Blount and they have the ball again.
Falcons 7 Patriots 0
Atlanta take the lead!
The made that turnover count with the first score of the night and it’s Devonta Freeman who runs it in.
That drive was all about him.
Steelers legend and Fox presenter Terry Bradshaw will present the Vince Lombardi Trophy to the winning quarter back later tonight.
But he may want to change his shirt or get a jacket on. This ketchup stain has him trending in the US.
Atlanta 14 Patriots 0
They’re in again.
Austin Hooper makes the catch after a Matt Ryan moved the chains in that drive and made the killer pass from 19 yards.
The extra point effort is interrupted by a Pats player jumping the line of scrimmage, it’s moved a few yards and is then converted.
A-Town is in control.
This would be an historic collapse/recovery:
Bill Belichick was typically unimpressed with that penalty call; but he was probably right.
Another holding call against the Falcons – that’s three in this drive and it’s keeping Brady and the Pats in it.
Atlanta 21 Patriots 0
Woah! Brady is picked off by Robert Alford and he returns it 80-odd yards and dances into the end zone!
This extended half-time break can’t come soon enough for the Pats now.
Brady looks properly deflated.
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Falcons 21 Patriots 3
What is up with Brady?
On third down he dumps the ball off and a chance at seven is wasted. They make the kick though and get on the board.
Phew! Who saw that coming?
Bill Belichick is going to need everyone of those Lady Gaga-filled half-time minutes to get his house in order.
Not much has gone right for his side in the first half and they need to pull off an historically good comeback to claim the win. That doesn’t look very likely from here.
Some telling stats from Sky after that incredible first half:
Right, her comes Gaga.
What did you make of that?
Not quite Beyonce, better than Perry?
Who’s still with us? We’re up and running in the second half.
It’s one hour and eight minutes since we say the Atlanta offence, we’re told. Incredible.
The Falcons go three and out and Edelman takes the punt to the Atlanta 45. The Pats needed that and here comes Brady.
Edelman drops another pretty facile catch and there’s not much Brady can do about that. New England punt away again.
Matty Ryan starts at the Atlanta 15. Let’s see if they can get that momentum going again.
Atlanta 28 New England 3
And if we haven’t already said: that’s the ball game.
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Atlanta 28 New England 9
Tom Brady takes is side into the end zone for the first time tonight. The extra point is missed – it hits the upright. That’s kind typical.
There’s just over tow minutes left in the third quarter.
And that’s the third quarter in the books.
In the meantime, the Pats will begin the fourth quarter — the last before Atlanta win Super Bowl LI — with the ball on the 13.
At first and goal, Brady takes his time and is ultimately sent down.
Brady’s sacked again and, again, it’s Jarrett!
Falcons 28 Patriots 12
New England add another field goal and it’s a 16-point game.
New England recover! Freeman misses a block and Hightower forces the fumble.
Brady’s sacked by Freeney on first down. This is high stakes now.
Atlanta 28 New England 20
Danny Amendola catches in the corner and that’s pretty easy for Brady. They’re going for two – and get it.
Don’t go to bed just yet!
What a throw from Ryan and catch from Julio on the sideline. He manages to keep his feet in.
there’s 4.40 on the clock and Atlanta are on the 24 yard line.
Ryan is sacked on third down. if they go for a field goal it’ll be from 50-0dd yards.
What a catch.
In the meantime there’s a massive holding call against Atlanta. They’re out of field goal range again.
Falcons have to punt it away and the Patriots’ offence get ready to roll once again. Still a one-score game with three and a half minutes left.
For a game that seemed to be over, 90 minutes ago, this is incredibly tense.
Julian Edelman just made a ridiculous catch when it looked like the Falcons might have an interception opportunity.
The Fox producers are playing the helmet catch form 2007 and it certainly has similarities. Incredible.
Falcons 28 New England 28
James White punches it in and Amendola adds the two point conversion. We’re level. My god.
Let’s see what you got, Matty. 37 seconds on the clock.
A lot can happen in 18 seconds, says Troy Aikman.
Third and six, pass incomplete.
We’re heading for the first overtime game in Super Bowl history.
Tom Brady’s making a drive for five here. And he’s moving the chains through Amendola and Hogan so far.
Brady has first and goal.
What a comeback.
New England Patriots 34 Atlanta 28
How the hell did that happen?
Tom Brady led his team to another title and his fifth Super Bowl. He’s the best ever.
