Photos: 5 things to remember about Falcons-Patriots in Super Bowl LI

Atlanta Falcons

Photos: 5 things to remember about Falcons-Patriots in Super Bowl LI

Five things to remember about the Atlanta Falcons-New England Patriots matchup in Super Bowl LI. Coming Thursday: Five things to forget.

The time has come and the buildup has begun for the Falcons-Patriots game Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. Of course, it's a rematch of the most recent Super Bowl, won by the Patriots 34-28 in overtime. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

It's a game that most Falcons fans want to forget - and a game that has become the subject of memes, trolls and souvenir gifts in the New England area after the Patriots rallied from a 28-3 second-half deficit. John Spink/jspink@ajc.com

But there was some good that came out of the big game for the Falcons, and here's a look at the top five things to remember from that February night in Houston. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

No. 1 -- Devonta's dive: Falcons running back Devonta Freeman heads toward the end zone for a touchdown .....

....and goes airbone to cap off a five-yard scoring run that gave the Falcons a 7-0 lead in the second quarter.

No. 2 -- Two TD passes for No. 2: Falcons QB Matt Ryan, named the NFL MVP the night before the Super Bowl, had a pair of touchdown passes. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

Matt Ryan connected with Austin Hooper for a touchdown in the second quarter and teamed up with Tevin Coleman for a third-quarter touchdown. Bob Andres/AJC

No. 3 -- Touchdown for Hooper: Tight end had a modest rookie season, but came up big in the big game with the 19-yard TD reception in the second quarter. Curtis Compton/AJC

No. 4 -- Alford's pick 6: Patriots quarterback Tom Brady leaps in vain to try to stop Falcons cornerback Robert Alford after his interception. Bob Andres/AJC

With Patriots quarterback Tom Brady watching in the background, Falcons cornerback Robert Alford heads toward the end zone with an 82-yard interception return that gave the Falcons a 21-0 lead in the second quarter. Bob Andres/AJC

No. 5 -- Julio's catch: Falcons WR Julio Jones (11) extends to make a catch over Patriots CB Eric Rowe (25) in the second half. Hyosub Shin/hshin@ajc.com

The dramatic catch on a third-down play in the fourth quarter kept a drive alive for the Falcons. Curtis Compton/AJC

The catch will arguably be remembered as one of the best in Super Bowl history. But it wasn't enough as the Patriots rallied to defeat the Falcons in overtime -- and next we will have 5 things to forget about the Falcons-Patriots in Super Bowl LI. John Spink/jspink@ajc.com

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The time has come and the buildup has begun for the Falcons-Patriots game Sunday in Foxborough, Mass. Of course, it's a rematch of the most recent Super Bowl, won by the Patriots 34-28 in overtime. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com

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