BY KYLE NELSON
With two football legacies, one underdog and a dominant power playing in Super Bowl 51, the game was already set to be in contention with the other legendary championship games we have seen throughout 2016/2017 season. What fans didn’t expect was the first overtime game in NFL history, a comeback from a 25 point deficit and a classic story of overcoming adversity. The New England Patriots (AFC), amazed football fans everywhere when they beat the Atlanta Falcons (NFC), 34-28 on Sunday night in a game that would go beyond all imagination.
Seconds after the game that absolutely defies all words, Tom Brady, Patriots QB threw himself on the field overwhelmed with emotions, knowing he just led his team through a game that will go down in football history books. Red, white and blue confetti was flying all over the NGR stadium in Houston, Texas after the New England’s 34-28 overtime win over Atlanta. Once Brady was able to collect himself enough to celebrate on the field with his family, he began to walk over before he was stopped by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, responsible for Brady’s 4 suspension earlier in the season, that did little but ignite a fire under Brady to improve his game. It was then, when the most unanticipated post-game handshake of the season happened. No quarterback had ever experienced a season quite like Brady and after the best performance of Tom Brady’s entire football career, this handshake would go down as a scene to never be forgotten, as it showed the pure definition of a comeback.
Get this, yes, the Patriots were expected to win against the Falcons but in the first three quarters of the game, Super Bowl 51 looked like it was going to be a total blowout. With Atlanta being the eighth highest scoring team in all of NFL history and the Patriots being the fourth, it was expected to be a high scoring game for both teams. But then, by halftime, New England’s drives went as follows: punt, punt, fumble, punt, a pick-six, a field goal and then a punt.
Then, in the last 28 minutes, the Patriots finally played like the team we had seen all year and turned Super Bowl 51 into a game.
Following those seven drives in the third quarter, the score was looking dim for the Patriots. Then, with 2 minutes and 6 seconds left in the third, the Patriots obtained their first touchdown of the game when running back James White caught a short pass from Brady and ran it in for 5 yards and a touchdown. The score was now 9-28, waking up fans.
With both the Falcons defense and offense playing a very consistent game, they kept a lot of pressure on the Patriots and protected their 12-28 lead until about eight minutes remaining. It wasn’t until then when the Patriots began to look like they could overturn their loss. Matt Ryan dropped back to throw a long pass on third down when he was sacked by Donta Hightower from his blindside. The ball was fumbled and found its way into the hands of Patriots defensive tackle Alan Branch, in the eyes of Patriots fans, it was the turning point of the game.
Five plays after the possession, with 8 minutes and 24 seconds left in the game, Brady dropped the ball right into the hands of wide receiver Danny Amendola for a touchdown. Then, White ran ball in for a two-point conversion. Suddenly, in 15 minutes the Patriots had put themselves in a point where they were one possession away from a tied game: 20-28
Atlanta had one more chance to seal a win with 4 minutes, 44 seconds left in the game. Ryan drove the Falcons closer to the Patriots’ goal-line after a deep pass to wide receiver, Julio Jones. However, on third and one on the New England 34 yard line, Matt Ryan took a 12 yard sack which took them out of field goal range, forcing them to punt to the Patriots.
As the clock ran down to 3 minutes and 30 seconds left in the game, on third down, Brady threw a deep ball to wide receiver Julian Edelman for 23 yards. Atlanta challenged the pass completion ruling, but the play was upheld. Edelman’s miracle catch kept the Patriots’ drive alive late in the fourth quarter. This catch will go down as one of the greatest catches in all of Super Bowl history. After the catch, the Patriots persistently moved down the field until they were at the one yard line when White ran it in for his second touchdown of the night. Then, in a quick pass to Amendola for another two-point conversion, the Patriots tied up the game. End of fourth quarter: 28-28
Once in overtime, the Patriots won the coin toss, ultimately costing the Falcons the game. Brady threw several short passes, making quick drives down the field into the Falcons red zone. Then, 2 yards from the goal line, White ran the ball in for the final touchdown deciding the game. By the commencement of the second half and overtime, New England completed 6 drives, consisting of 325 yards. Final score: 34-28
Lady Gaga Blows Fans Away With Her Elevating Half Time Performance
BY NUHA ISLAM
For those particularly disinclined to the sports aspect of the Super Bowl, there is the glorious Half Time Show, dubbed by many as the main event.
“For my family, the Super Bowl was a concert,” CCHS Sophomore Madison Mutzman said. “The first half of the game is a pre-show and the other half a post.”
Lady Gaga, an early 2000’s pop icon, took the stage at exactly 6:30 pm. And unlike the other recent Half-Time shows, she was the sole performer.
Giving Gaga complete creative control was a move well done, as the performance had high approval ratings all across the school.
“I forgot how much I used to love her,” CCHS Sophomore Aryana Nehme said.” Her voice is beautiful on stage, and you could really see what a powerful singer she really is during Million Reasons.”
Her performance began with “God Bless America” and “This Land is Your Land.” After quoting the Declaration of Independence, she jumped off a platform and grappled down onto the main stage.
She then processed to go through all of her most popular songs, including Bad Romance, Telephone, and Poker Face.
Her show included some great pyrokinetics, as well as a huge team of backup dancers.
As far as Half Time shows go, Gaga’s was one of the more socially aware, making LGBT positive commentary with her song Born This Way, marking her as the first to say the word transgender on a national performance.
“We’re here to make you feel good,” Gaga said before her song Million Reasons was sang in a spotlight filled stadium.
Overall, it was an excellent performance that attracted both new and old old fans of Gaga’s work. Her show was great, and she succeeded in making us feel good, just as promised.
