COLUMN: This Super Bowl trumps them all

Published 7:42 am Monday, February 6, 2017

HOUSTON — This one “trumps” them all.

All of the them — the first against the St. Louis Rams (20-17), the semi-forgettable ones over Carolina (32-29) and Philadelphia (24-21), even the most recent and exciting finish to beat Seattle (28-24).

What happened last night in Houston, overcoming a 25-point deficit in the third quarter, including Julian Edelman’s miracle, 23-yard catch, puts this at the tippity-top.

The New England Patriots have officially won their greatest Super Bowl, somehow, upending the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28 at NRG Stadium.

How do we know?

Tom Brady’s tears.

Two years ago, he was jumping up and down like a teenage girl after Malcolm Butler’s interception at the goal line. He hugged his offensive coordinator. He told Julian Edelman he loved him. 

Last night was different. Brady was reserved. He just soaked it all in. 

It’s been a long two years. There were the “cheating” allegations and “Deflategate.”

Brady, who has personified a squeaky clean image for his entire career, one built on out-working and out-playing the competition, was treated more harshly by the NFL than those players who beat women.

That wasn’t all. Along came the “association” with Donald Trump, a controversy which grew exponentially when Trump actually shocked the world and won the presidency. Another image killer. 

The last and definitely not least of which, we later found out, was the health of his mother, Galynn. Not only has she been battling an illness for more than a year, but she’s also 3,500 miles away, making a quick visit almost impossible.

If you want to include last season’s loss in Denver, a botched two-point conversion, go ahead. You know how the guy hates losing.

But on the stand after the win last night he was given more good news while holding the fifth Lombardi Trophy — a fourth Super Bowl MVP trophy would be his.

”We all brought each other back,” said Brady, of the field goal and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. “We never felt out of it. It was a tough battle.”

And those heartbreaking moments centering around the N.Y. Giants, including David Tyree’s catch, the “not-so-perfect season,” and Eli Manning?

They don’t matter any more. That’s what a fifth Super Bowl can do. 

Bill Belichick, a true NFL historian, placed himself atop the list as the only coach to win a fifth Super Bowl, passing the late Chuck Noll, who won four with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

How does a team go from trailing 28-3 to winning a game of this magnitude?

You believe, I guess.

”We never felt like we were out of the game,” said Danny Amendola, who scored the touchdown to make it 28-18 and then made the game-tying two-point conversion — barely getting over the line — in the final minute.

This Super Bowl will also be marked by Julian Edelman’s catch, a 23-yarder that appeared to be intercepted. He somehow got his hand under the ball, two inches from the ground.

That catch came on the game-tying drive. Like the David Tyree catch nine years ago, it flattened the Falcons’ tires.

”One of the greatest catches I’ve ever seen,” said Brady of Edelman’s grab. “I don’t know how he caught it.”

The sack and fumble caused by blitzing linebacker Dont’a Hightower, with the Patriots trailing 28-12, might be the underrated play of the game, as it woke up the Patriots’ sidelines.

”That was big,” said Belichick afterward. “We needed a turnover.”

Brady didn’t want to measure this title with the other four. Someone once said: “Championships are like children. You have to love them all the same.”

”They’re all great. This team resembled a lot of teams from the past. They have a mental toughness, great defense. Everyone rose to the occasion in the second half and overtime.”

Brady has said many times that the best Super Bowl championship is the next one.

I disagree. I think this one, for Brady and several million New Englanders, takes them all.

Bill Burt is executive sports editor for CNHI Sports Boston. You can email him at bburt@eagletribune.com.