The Atlantic

The Super Bowl That Felt Like Destiny

The 51st NFL championship game saw an incredible win for the New England Patriots, who overcame a huge lead by the Atlanta Falcons in the final stretch.
Source: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports / Reuters

The New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount managed only 31 yards in Sunday’s Super Bowl, but he excelled as an analyst. As Pats-colored confetti covered the field in the moments following New England’s thrilling 34-28 overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons, Blount found himself huddled with coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. He turned to Belichick: “You’re the greatest!” Then he turned to Brady: “And you’re the fucking greatest!” The scores of journalists and talking heads assembled in Houston would spend the next few hours trying, and failing, to match Blount’s clarity.

At the tail end of a blowout-heavy postseason, the 51st Super Bowl—which for a long time looked

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