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HOUSTON 鈥斕齊obert Alford was on his way to NFL stardom if his hands had just finished the job.

The Falcons cornerback could have sealed a win, and likely 听LI MVP honors, with a second interception of a pass at NRG Stadium Sunday evening.

鈥淚 got my head around and the ball was right there on me,鈥� Alford said, defining the key play on New England’s game-tying drive late in the fourth quarter.听鈥淎n interception does not make me. What makes me is winning.鈥�

Alford, who in the second quarter intercepted a pass and ran 82 yards for a touchdown, finished the game with heartbreak, right along with his teammates. Brady’s throw bounced off Alford’s hands and landed in a scrum of three Falcons players and Patriots receiver , who somehow came up with the ball inches from the turf. One of the great catches in Super Bowl history ignited the touchdown drive that allowed New England to send the game into overtime.

鈥淥ne of the greatest catches I鈥檝e ever seen,鈥� Brady said. 听鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how he caught it. I don鈥檛 know if he does.鈥�

That catch was the biggest of many big plays allowing the Patriots to erase a 25-point deficit and complete the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. The Falcons, on the other hand, choked away what would have been the first Super Bowl victory in franchise history.

鈥淭here are no words,鈥� Falcons quarterback said. “There’s nothing really you can say.” He was only one of several Falcons in disbelief at the incredible turn of events, a slow-motion disaster Atlanta helped fuel with several miscues.

Atlanta believed for two weeks that its speed would prevail over New England鈥檚 experience. For 51 陆 minutes, it was right.

The Falcons dominated for three quarters before a sequence of bizarre play-calling decisions and costly mistakes allowed Brady a chance to rally the Patriots. After the game, the Falcons’ players appeared in shock at what transpired.

The first curious call came when Atlanta had a third-and-1 in its own territory up 16 points midway through the fourth quarter. Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan gambled, calling for a deep pass when safety would have seemed prudent. Even if a short pass or run play didn’t work, Atlanta could have punted New England deep into its own territory.

Instead, Ryan was sacked, fumbled and New England recovered, giving it a short field to drive for a touchdown.

鈥淲e were playing aggressive to get the first down,鈥� Ryan said. 鈥淲e felt like throwing the ball in that situation was good for us. Collectively we just didn’t execute as well as we would have liked to in that situation. As players, we had opportunities to make plays.鈥�

Falcons coach Dan Quinn said: 听“I don’t second guess our play calling or wanting to throw it. We know how to match up. We know how to get open.”

Patriots linebacker Dont’a Hightower punished Atlanta for the call. He came free on a blitz, flying past confused Falcons running back to pop Ryan and force the fumble.

鈥淲e knew what they had, we drew up what they were doing,鈥� Hightower said. The Falcons ran the ball just nine times for 18 yards in the second half despite a massive lead.

Four plays later New England scored a touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion making it 28-20.

The Falcons still had a chance to stave off New England on its subsequent drive. Atlanta grabbed the momentum after a 39-yard Freeman reception followed soon after by an incredible 27-yard catch on the right sideline. That play Atlanta at New England’s 22-yard line with under five minutes left.

The Falcons were a few simple runs听and a short field goal from Pro Bowl kicker Matt Bryant away from virtually ended the game. Instead, Atlanta collapsed.听Patriots defensive lineman Trey Flowers unleashed a rip move then powered through center Alex Mack to sack Ryan on second down. A holding penalty on the next play moved the Falcons out of field goal range, allowing Brady to get the ball back against an Atlanta defense that was on the field for 99 plays.

“It’s a feeling I won’t forget,” said Falcons linebacker Deion Jones. “It sucks.”

BOXSCORE:听

What happened next seemed inevitable. Brady marched the Patriots on a 10-play, 91-yard aerial attack torching a clearly demoralized Falcons defense for the game-tying touchdown drive, followed by a two-point conversion. The subsequent overtime touchdown drive capped a comeback for the ages.

鈥淲hen they got hot, it was hard for us to deal with. We ran out of gas some,鈥� Quinn said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e hurting so bad right now.鈥�