# Super Bowl 51: Patriots vs Falcons **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 5, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093 "2017-02-05T20:10:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/81 "2017-02-06T03:31:38Z")
Some “Oh yea of little faith,” [here’s supposedly a clip of Mark Wahlberg](https://twitter.com/Allen_Reid/status/828433338012749825) trying to beat the traffic out of NRG Stadium, some time before the end. Surprise… ---
**Author:** ![Monocracy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monocracy/32/4493_2.png) [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/82 "2017-02-06T03:34:53Z")
That was the greatest football game I have ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Lorne\_Armstrong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/87869e/32.png) [@Lorne\_Armstrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorne_Armstrong)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/83 "2017-02-06T03:37:35Z")
> [@Monocracy](#): > > That was the greatest football game I have ever seen. That was the greatest choke job I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/84 "2017-02-06T03:41:17Z")
Loved Pats’ win. Brady is a freaking deity now. Question to cognoscenti: if a player’s knee touches the ground, THEN the ball crosses the TD line, is that still a touchdown? 'Cuz if not, I am surprised Falcons didn’t contest it. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/85 "2017-02-06T03:43:04Z")
When are they going to rename it the the Lombardi-Belichick Trophy? And while we’re at it, I think The Tom Brady Bowl has a nice ring to it. ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/86 "2017-02-06T03:45:50Z")
G.o.a.t g.o.a.t. G.o.a.t!!! ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/87 "2017-02-06T03:46:38Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Question to cognoscenti: if a player’s knee touches the ground, THEN the ball crosses the TD line, is that still a touchdown? > > 'Cuz if not, I am surprised Falcons didn’t contest it. They couldn’t. All reviews come from the booth in overtime. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/88 "2017-02-06T03:47:22Z")
Based on 15 years of stats, teams down 19 that late in the game lose 99% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/89 "2017-02-06T03:49:00Z")
> [@Okrahoma](#): > > Question to cognoscenti: if a player’s knee touches the ground, THEN the ball crosses the TD line, is that still a touchdown? No, the ball is down where ever it is when the players knee touches the ground. But the tip of the ball has to cross the front of the end zone to score, and it had. And all scoring plays are automatically reviewed, so you can’t challenge. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/90 "2017-02-06T03:49:43Z")
So, biggest choke in sports history? ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/91 "2017-02-06T03:57:42Z")
Part of the problem was that the Atlanta offense was never able to give the defense enough of a rest. The number of plays by the Atlanta offense was ridiculously low. The defense looked like it was running out of steam. But do not overlook the fact that Brady went from throwing some really awful passes, to being right on the money, and the Patriots receivers suddenly stopped dropping passes. The real question is this: with so few plays, why did the Atlanta offensive line suddenly become incredibly porous? ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/92 "2017-02-06T03:58:44Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > James White for MVP. 3 TDs, including the winner, and a two point conversion. In the Wisconsin tradition of Alan, the Horse, Ameche who scored the winning TD in the famous 1958 NFL championship game for the Colts against the Giants, also in OT. The only two NFL overtime championship winning TDs ever were both made by former Wisconsin running backs. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/93 "2017-02-06T03:58:55Z")
So, question… **Was that the best Super Bowl you have ever seen?** ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/94 "2017-02-06T03:59:05Z")
Suck it, Goodell! Suck it, haters! #5 baby!! 😃 😃 😃 ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/95 "2017-02-06T03:59:29Z")
I’m no football expert but it didn’t feel like a choke to me anymore than the first half was the Pats choking. ISTM, the Falcons just really surprised them especially with their strategy on both lines. Then NE just figured out how to give Brady more time and they made some great plays. Course, that penalty that put the Falcons out of field goal range kinda killed them. But that was one mistake not a team choking. Imho. ---
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/96 "2017-02-06T04:00:47Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > No, the ball is down where ever it is when the players knee touches the ground. But the tip of the ball has to cross the front of the end zone to score, and it had. And all scoring plays are automatically reviewed, so you can’t challenge. Assuming the knee was down by contact. If not by contact, the ball can be advanced. That varies from college where once the knee is down, no matter how it happened, the play is ended. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/97 "2017-02-06T04:01:29Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Using the point totals and various games since week 8 as metrics, **I’d probably give the edge to the Patriots, who might win 28-24 or 30-27 or something like that.** I think the Falcons are actually a more athletic and more talented team and if they can scheme and execute early in the game and jump out to a lead, maybe they can make it difficult for the Pats to catch up. I think the Pats’ edge is in coaching and having players who execute complex schemes to near perfection. And as Cris Carter said: the Pats actually do have great athletes who are deceptively athletic and talented. But a dropped pass here and a mistake there, and who knows what happens. It’s definitely a winnable game for Atlanta. But it takes guts to bet against the Belichick / Brady greatness. Folks, let me just say it: I call shit. I call it right. I was right when I was cautious about election night. I’ve been right 11 times out of 11 in the playoffs. I was damn near right in tonight’s score. I’m the best. Period. When you want to know what will happen, talk to me. Advice is free. ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/98 "2017-02-06T04:02:31Z")
I knew Atlanta was dead when they lost the flip in overtime. Should have gone for the on-side, because there was no way that defense was stopping the Pats. ---
**Author:** ![Okrahoma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90db22/32.png) [@Okrahoma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Okrahoma)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/99 "2017-02-06T04:02:55Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > Assuming the knee was down by contact. If not by contact, the ball can be advanced. That varies from college where once the knee is down, no matter how it happened, the play is ended. Well yeah, but there was no possibility of “no contact” in the case. Just that in the slomo they replayed several times it did look to me like the knee touched the ground before the ball crossed the line (and I say that as someone who was very happy with Pats’ win). But I guess I saw it wrong. Ok I just found a youtube video of the replay and no, the knee was still above ground. Never mind. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2017, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093/100 "2017-02-06T04:03:54Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > So, question… > > **Was that the best Super Bowl you have ever seen?** I dunno. That Giants one vs the Pats was a little more spectacular for me, but this one ended up being much more of a game that it should have been. And, well, as a Chicagoan, there’s always Super Bowl 20, but, not much to see there other than the Bears walk all over the Pats. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/super-bowl-51-patriots-vs-falcons/779093.md?page=6)