NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (14-2) vs. ATLANTA FALCONS (11-5)
Sunday Feb. 5, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. ET. NRG Stadium (Approx. 70,000)
The New England Patriots have advanced to the Super Bowl for an NFL-record ninth time in franchise history. The Patriots reached their eighth Super Bowl under the ownership of Robert Kraft, setting a new NFL record for the most conference championships as an owner.
Head coach Bill Belichick set an NFL mark with his seventh conference championship, while QB Tom Brady will set a record by playing in his seventh Super Bowl.
SERIES HISTORY
The New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons will clash in Super Bowl LI in Houston, Texas. It will mark the 14th time meeting between the two teams and the first since the Patriots traveled to Atlanta on Sept. 29, 2013 in a 30-23 win on Sunday Night Football from the Georgia Dome.
The Patriots have won the last four times the teams have played in the regular season with wins in 2001, 2005 and 2013 at The Georgia Dome and in a 2009 win at Gillette Stadium.
Prior to those four wins, the Patriots had suffered four straight losses to the Falcons, dating back to 1989.
The two teams spent a week working with each other at the Falcons facility prior to a 2010 preseason game.
QB Tom Brady first ever start against an NFC team was on Nov. 4, 2001 against the Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Brady completed 21-of-31 passes for 250 and three touchdowns in a 24-10 win.
SERIES BREAKDOWN
Overall Record, 7-6
Home Record, 3-2
Schaefer/Sullivan/Foxboro Stadium, 2-2
Gillette Stadium, 1-0
Away Record, 4-4
Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, 1-2
Georgia Dome, 3-2
Bill Belichick vs. Atlanta Falcons, 4-1 (4-0 with NE)
Current Streak, Patriots, 4 wins
BRADY TO START SEVENTH SUPER BOWL
In his six Super Bowl appearances, Tom Brady has completed 164 passes for 1,605 yards with 13 touchdowns, all Super Bowl records.
RECORD 10 SB APPEARANCES
Belichick secured his 10th Super Bowl during his coaching career in 2016 with the Patriots berth in Super Bowl LI, the most among any head coach or assistant coach in NFL history.
BRADY IN THE SUPER BOWL
Brady is the all-time leader in Super Bowl passing yards (1,605) and with his four touchdowns in Super Bowl XLIX, increased his Super Bowl touchdown total to 13, to move past Joe Montana (11) for the most touchdown passes in Super Bowl history. Brady is slated for his seventh Super Bowl start, the most among all quaterbacks in NFL history.
ALL-TIME SUPER BOWL BERTHS
The Patriots are the only team in the NFL to have recorded nine or more wins in each of the last 16 seasons.
TEAM SUPER BOWLS
New England Patriots, 9
Dallas Cowboys, 8
Denver Broncos, 8
Pittsburgh Steelers, 8
San Francisco 49ers, 6
GB, NYG, OAK, WAS, MIA, 5
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION: This week’s game will be broadcast by FOX and can be seen locally on WFXT Channel 25 in Boston. Joe Buck will handle play-by-play duties with Troy Aikman as the color analyst. Erin Andrews and Chris Myers will work the sidelines. Mike Pereira will also work in the booth. The game will be produced by Richie Zyontz and directed by Rich Russo.
NATIONAL RADIO: This week’s game will be broadcast to a national audience on Westwood One. Kevin Harlan and Boomer Esiason will call the game with Tony Boselli and James Lofton providing sideline analysis.
LOCAL RADIO: 98.5 FM, The Sports Hub, is the flagship station for the Patriots Radio Network. Play-by-play broadcaster Bob Socci will call the action along with former Patriots quarterback Scott Zolak, who will provide color analysis. Produced by Marc Cappello.
PATRIOTS IN THE SUPER BOWL
The New England Patriots earned an NFL record ninth Super Bowl berth with a 36-17 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. Heading into next week’s game, the Patriots are 4-4 in their eight previous Super Bowl appearances.
SUPER COMBINATION
The New England Patriots are the second team (1970s Pittsburgh Steelers) in NFL history to win four Super Bowls with the same owner (Robert Kraft), head coach (Bill Belichick) and quarterback (Tom Brady). The Patriots have a chance to become the first with the same combination to win five Super Bowls. Kraft is the only owner to qualify for eight Super Bowls and Belichick and Brady are the first coach and quarterback to earn seven trips to the sport’s preeminent game.
