Julian Edelman made it 28-3 and Tom Brady admitted he still has a hard time watching it.
In the last episode of “Gronk & Jules”, Brady joined former teammates Edelman and Rob Gronkowski to mark the 10th anniversary of Super Bowl LI, the Patriots’ 34-28 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons after trailing 28-3 in the third quarter. It remains the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history.
“We’d be crazy not to talk about the 28-3 game after talking about mental toughness,” Edelman said. “When you watch that game, what do you think? I’m like, how the hell did we win that game?”
Brady said he still has a hard time reviewing it.
“It’s hard not to turn it off when it’s on,” Brady said. “It was just how many plays we made, literally by a finger, that changed the outcome of the game. Throws to you, throws to Chris Hogan, Malcolm Mitchell catching the ball going down and getting up.”
Gronkowski noted Mitchell’s rookie season role in the comeback. The receiver caught six passes for 70 yards in the Super Bowl, including five in the fourth quarter, before injuries ended his career after that single season.
Brady also praised the defense, pointing out that Dont’a Hightower stripped Matt Ryan on third-and-1 from the Falcons’ 36-yard line. Alan Branch recovered the fumble at the Atlanta 25, setting up a fumble that cut the deficit to 28-20.
Chris Long also drew a penalty on a separate drive that pushed the Falcons out of field goal range.
“There were so many unheralded players,” Brady said. “Hightower passing, Trey Flowers sack on Matt Ryan. The only way to get through it is one game at a time. You’re a play-to-play player. What happened last game doesn’t mean anything about this play.”
HOUSTON, TX – FEBRUARY 05: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 during Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Brady said discipline should be built in practice, not games.
“At some point, you’re not going to win the amount of games that you need to win based on your talent or your scheme if you give the ball away,” Brady said. “You have to be really consistent in practice and in games. That’s how you become a better team in the league.”
The Patriots capped the comeback in overtime, with James White scoring the go-ahead touchdown to complete the 34-28 win and give the franchise its fifth Super Bowl title. White’s 14 catches in the game remain a Super Bowl record.
Brady’s trip to Foxborough this week was his first as a broadcaster, a role that has given him the chance to relive moments like these with the teammates who were there for him.
