(Getty)
With the Super Bowl in progress, the discussion in the second half shifts to the potential MVP recipient. The Falcons dominated the first half 21-3, but there wasn’t one standout MVP candidate after 30 minutes. Brady Jarrett sacked Brady twice in the fourth quarter, giving him three on the night.
Von Miller won the Super Bowl 50 MVP by getting pressure on the QB, and that’s how both teams started the game. There were four sacks in the first half, as both teams looked to make the opposing quarterback uncomfortable. Brady Jarrett
The Falcons bothered Brady, but Matt Ryan kept his poise. He engineered back-to-back TD drives in the second quarter, and threw one incomplete pass in the first half. Devonta Freeman opened the game with a 37-yard rush, and stayed explosive throughout the half.
And then there’s Robert Alford. The Falcons safety ripped off an 82-yard pick six in the second quarter, increasing Atlanta’s lead to 21-0.
Only once has a Super Bowl MVP been awarded to a player on the losing team. Chuck Howley had two interceptions and a forced fumble in Super Bowl V, and was given the award despite his Cowboys losing to the Colts 16-13.
For the Patriots, there’s nobody else but Brady. Despite throwing a pick-six, Brady had an otherwise strong first half. If Tom Brady wins the award, he will become the first player in NFL history to win the award four times.
After the Patriots completed an incredible fourth quarter comeback, there’s no doubt who will be named MVP. Tom Brady set a Super Bowl record by passing for 466 yards, and led the Patriots to an incredible 34-28 victory.