As it turns out, Atlanta had multiple chances to put the game away. Hindsight is 20/20, and knowing what we know now shows us a few turning points in Super Bowl 51:
Based on the final score, the Falcons could have ended the game effectively in the third quarter, when they had the ball on the Patriots’ 32 yard-line on a 2nd-and-1 with a minute left in the period. Running backTevin Colemangot a carry for a loss of one yard, but offensive tackleJake Matthewswas caught holding, pushing the Falcons back ten yards and out of field goal range.
They had to punt from around mid-field, despite recovering a Patriots onside kick to start the drive.
The next opportunity to win Super Bowl 51 came after the Patriots scored half of the 16 points they’d need to win. Brady led another drive capped by a six-yard touchdown pass to receiverDanny Amendolaand the two points on a direct snap to running backJames White. Still ahead 28-20 deep in the fourth quarter, the Falcons merely needed to add three points here again, and again the Patriots’ top-scoring defense prevented it.
Ryan went to work with Super Bowl 51 on the line. He hitDevonta Freemanfor a39-yard catch-and-run, then threw an impossible ball to receiverJulio Jones, who madean impossible catchfor 27 yards. Jones and Ryan set the Falcons up on the Patriots’ 22-yardline. Here’s where it gets tricky.
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