Super Bowl LI facts for kids

Super Bowl LI (which means Super Bowl 51) was a huge American football game. It was played between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons. The Patriots won the game 34-28. This exciting match made the Patriots the champions of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2016 season.

This victory was special for the New England Patriots. It was their fifth time winning a Super Bowl title. The game took place at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. It happened on February 5, 2017. Many people watched this event. About 111.3 million people in the United States tuned in to see the game.

How the Game Unfolded

First Half: Falcons Take the Lead

The game started with both teams playing strong defense. Neither team scored in the first quarter. But in the second quarter, the Atlanta Falcons began to dominate. They scored 21 points, while the Patriots only managed 3 points. This gave the Falcons a big lead at halftime.

Halftime Show: Lady Gaga Performs

During halftime, the famous singer Lady Gaga performed. She put on an amazing show for everyone watching. Her performance was a big highlight of the Super Bowl.

Second Half: Patriots Make a Comeback

After halftime, the Falcons scored another touchdown in the third quarter. This made their lead even bigger. The score was 28-3. It looked like the Falcons were going to win easily.

However, the New England Patriots did not give up. Their quarterback, Tom Brady, led an incredible comeback. The Patriots started scoring points in the third and fourth quarters. They scored 19 points in the fourth quarter alone. This tied the game at 28-28.

Overtime: A Historic Finish

Because the game was tied, it went into overtime. This was the first time in Super Bowl history that a game went into overtime. The Patriots got the ball first in overtime. They marched down the field and scored a touchdown. This made the final score 34-28. The New England Patriots won the Super Bowl!

Key Players and Awards

Tom Brady: The MVP

The most valuable player (MVP) of Super Bowl LI was Tom Brady. He is the quarterback for the New England Patriots. Brady played a huge role in his team's comeback victory. He threw for many yards and helped his team score crucial points. This was his fourth Super Bowl MVP award.

Matt Ryan: Falcons' Quarterback

For the Atlanta Falcons, their quarterback was Matt Ryan. He had a great season and was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player for the 2016 regular season. Even though his team lost, he showed great skill throughout the game.

Special Moments

Coin Toss by Former Presidents

Before the game started, a special coin toss took place. Former U.S. President George H. W. Bush and former U.S. First Lady Barbara Bush were there. They helped with the coin toss, which was a memorable moment.

Victory Parade

Two days after their big win, the New England Patriots had a victory parade. It took place in Boston. Thousands of fans came out to celebrate with the team. It was a huge party to honor their Super Bowl championship.

Images for kids

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  NRG Stadium in January 2017

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  Patriots quarterback Tom Brady was playing in a record seventh Super Bowl

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  Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was named the 2016 regular season MVP

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  Lady Gaga performing "Born This Way" during the halftime show

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  Confetti falls after the game

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  A parade took place in Boston two days after the game

See also

In Spanish: Super Bowl LI para niños