Host-selection process[edit]
Super Bowl 2017 Live
Super Bowl 51 Live
Super Bowl 51 Streaming
NFL Super Bowl Live Stream Super Bowl Live
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Super Bowl Streaming
NFL Super Bowl Stream
Super Bowl 51 Live
Super Bowl 51 Streaming
NFL Super Bowl Live Stream Super Bowl Live
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The NFL selected the sites for Super Bowl 50 and Super Bowl LI at the owners' spring meetings in Boston on May 21, 2013.[10] On October 16, 2012, the NFL announced that Reliant Stadium in Houston, which was renamed NRG Stadium in 2014, was a finalist to host Super Bowl LI.[11] Houston then competed against the runner-up for the site of Super Bowl 50: Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.[10][11] The South Florida bid for either Super Bowl partially depended on whether the stadium underwent renovations. However, on May 3, the Florida legislature refused to approve the funding plan to pay for the renovations, dealing a blow to South Florida's chances.[12]The NFL ultimately selected Houston as the host city of Super Bowl LI.[13]
Proposition 1 controversy[edit]
Proposition 1, an ordinance which would have prohibited discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in Houston's housing, employment, public accommodations, and city contracting, was rejected by voters (60.97% opposing[14]) during the November 3, 2015 elections. Subsequently, the NFL announced it will not alter plans to have the city host Super Bowl LI.[15][16] Houston Texans owner Bob McNair donated $10,000 to Campaign for Houston, an organization that opposes the ordinance, which he later rescinded. McNair has a long history of supporting conservative political causes.[17] Corporate sponsorship and entertainment backlash against Super Bowl LI still exist.[15]
Teams[edit]
New England Patriots[edit]
Main article: 2016 New England Patriots season
New England had recorded at least 12 wins in every year of the 2010s decade, and the 2016 season would be no different. Despite starting quarterback Tom Brady missing four games due to a suspension and the mid-season loss of all-pro tight end Rob Gronkowski to injury, the Patriots still recorded an NFL-best 14–2 record, scoring 441 points (third in the NFL) while allowing the fewest in the league (250).[18]
After missing the first four games of the year on suspension due to a 2014 incident known as Deflategate, Brady took back command of the offense and went on to earn his 12th Pro Bowl selection, throwing for 3,554 yards and 28 touchdowns, with only two interceptions. His 112.2 passer rating ranked him second in the NFL. The team's leading receiver was Julian Edelman, who caught 98 passes for 1,106 yards and added 135 more returning punts. Receivers Chris Hogan (38 receptions for 680 yards) and Malcolm Mitchell (32 receptions for 401 yards) were also significant receiving threats. Gronkowski had caught 25 passes for 540 yards before suffering a season-ending back injury in the eighth game of the year. Tight end Martellus Bennett had stepped up in his absence, hauling in 55 receptions for 701 yards and a team-leading seven touchdown catches. Running back LeGarrette Blount was the team's top rusher with 1,168 yards and a league leading 18 touchdowns. In passing situations, the team relied havily on running back James White, who caught 60 passes for 551 yards and added another 166 on the ground.[19]
The Patriots defensive line was led by tackle Trey Flowers, who ranked first on the team with seven sacks, and Jabaal Sheard, who chipped in five. Linebacker Dont'a Hightower earned his first Pro Bowl selection and made the second All-Pro team, compiling 65 tackles and 2½ sacks. Linebacker Rob Ninkovich also made a big impact with 34 tackles, two forced fumbles, and four sacks. In the secondary, cornerback Malcolm Butler lead the team with four interceptions, while Logan Ryan led the team in tackles and intercepted two passes. Safety Devin McCourty ranked second on the team with 83 tackles and notched one interception while earning his third career Pro Bowl selection. The team also had a defensive expert on special teams, Matthew Slater, who made the Pro Bowl for the sixth consecutive year.
With their advance to Super Bowl LI, the Patriots earned their NFL-record ninth Super Bowl appearance, as well as their seventh in the last 16 years under Brady and coach Bill Belichick. The Patriots have also participated in both the first and latest Super Bowls to be held at NRG Stadium; they won Super Bowl XXXVIII, held at the same stadium, over the Carolina Panthers by a 32–29 score thirteen years earlier.
With his appearance in Super Bowl LI, Belichick will break the tie of six Super Bowls as a head coach that he currently shares with Don Shula. It will also be his record tenth participation in a Super Bowl in any capacity which will overtake the mark of nine that he shares with Dan Reeves. This will also be Brady's seventh Super Bowl appearance, the most appearances by a player at any position in Super Bowl history.
Atlanta Falcons[edit]
Main article: 2016 Atlanta Falcons season
The Atlanta Falcons, under second-year head coach Dan Quinn, finished the 2016 season with an 11–5 record, earning them the #2 seed in the NFC playoffs. It was a big reversal of declining fortunes for the team, who had missed the playoffs in each of the last three years.[20]
The Falcons were loaded with offensive firepower, leading the NFL in scoring with 540 points. Nine-year veteran quarterback Matt Ryan earned his fourth career pro bowl selection, leading the league in passer rating (117.1). While he ranked only ninth in completions (373), his passing yards (4,944) and touchdowns (38) both ranked second in the NFL. His favorite target was receiver Julio Jones, who caught 83 passes for 1,409 yards (second in the NFL) and six touchdowns. But he had plenty of other options, such as newly acquired receivers Mohamed Sanu (59 receptions for 653 yards) and Taylor Gabriel (35 receptions for 579 yards and six touchdowns). Pro Bowl running back Devonta Freeman was the team's leading rusher with 1,078 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 4.8 yards per carry. He was also a superb receiver out of the backfield, catching 54 passes for 462 yards and two more scores. Running back Tevin Coleman was also a major asset on the ground and through the air, with 520 rushing yards, 31 receptions for 421 yards, and 11 total touchdowns. The Falcons also had an excellent special teams unit led by veteran kick returner Eric Weems. His 24 punt returns for 273 yards gave him the sixth highest return average in the NFL (11.4), and he added another 391 yards returning kickoffs. Pro bowl kicker Matt Bryant led the league in scoring with 158 points, while also ranking third in field goal percentage (91.8%). Atlanta's offensive line featured center Alex Mack, who earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection.[21]
The Falcons defensive line was led by defensive ends Adrian Clayborn, who had five sacks and a fumble recovery, and longtime veteran Dwight Freeney, who was the NFL's 18th all time leader in sacks (122½). Behind them, linebacker Vic Beasley was the team's only pro bowl selection on defense, leading the NFL in sacks with 15½ and also forcing six fumbles. Rookie linebacker Deion Jones was also an impact player, leading the team in combined tackles (108) and interceptions (three). The Falcons secondary featured hard-hitting safety Keanu Neal, who had 106 tackles and forced five fumbles. Safety Ricardo Allen added 90 tackles and two interceptions. But overall, the defense ranked just 27th in the league in points allowed (406).[22]
Playoffs[edit]
Main article: 2016–17 NFL playoffs
The Falcons defeated the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round, 36–20, racking up 422 yards. They then defeated the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, 44–21, racking up 493 yards, in their last game at the Georgia Dome.
The Patriots defeated the Houston Texans in the divisional round, 34–16. They then defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game, 36–17.
Pre-game notes[edit]
As the designated home team in the annual rotation between AFC and NFC teams, the Falcons elected to wear their red home jerseys with white pants,[23] which meant that the Patriots will wear their white road jerseys.
Houston Super Bowl Host Committee[edit]
The Houston Super Bowl Host Committee is the centralized planning entity for Super Bowl LI and acts as the liaison between the NFL, City of Houston, Harris County, Texas and the local community. The Host Committee is a private non-profit 501(c)(6) Texas corporation, and is responsible for Super Bowl LI festivities and logistics. The Houston Super Bowl Host Committee is led by Honorary Chairman James A. Baker, III, Chairman Ric Campo, and President and CEO Sallie Sargent.[24] Four countdown clocks have been installed around the City of Houston to countdown the days until Super Bowl LI. The LED screen shows the number of days until kickoff and displays other important messages related to preparations for Super Bowl LI. The countdown clocks are located at NRG Stadium, George Bush Intercontinental Airport, William P. Hobby Airport, and Discovery Green.[25]
Super Bowl LIVE is a fan festival that will run from January 28 until February 5 in downtown Houston centered in and around Discovery Green. Super Bowl LIVE is a free event with food, music, entertainment, attractions, and more to allow the whole city to experience the excitement of Super Bowl LI without a ticket to the game. More than one million people are expected to attend the event.[26] The Touchdown Tour is a way to excite the Houston community about the 2016-2017 football season culminating in Super Bowl LI. These are free events located around the City of Houston with music, food, entertainment, and interactive games. The first Touchdown Tour occurred at Space Center Houston on August 27, 2016.[27] The second Touchdown Tour occurred in Sugar Land at Constellation Field on September 2, 2016.[28]
Volunteers are crucial to the success of Super Bowl LI. The committee will utilize up to 10,000 volunteers during the 10-day period leading up to Super Bowl LI.[29] On August 22, 2016, the recruitment center opened to begin the process of interviewing all volunteer applicants. More than 15,000 individuals will be interviewed to create the 10,000-person volunteer team needed to assist in the events leading up to Super Bowl LI and be ambassadors of the Houston region.[30]
Business Connect is a program designed to provide minority, female, LGBT, and disabled veteran-owned businesses opportunities to bid for contracts on events related to Super Bowl LI.[31] Super Bowl LI Business Connect is a partnership between the National Football League and the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee to link diverse Houston area suppliers to contracting opportunities related to Super Bowl LI. The program’s intent is to provide networking, educational and other business development opportunities to encourage greater business success for each participant.
Touchdown Houston is the Host Committee’s charitable giving program committed to donating $4 million to Houston region non-profit organizations. The program focuses on three key areas: education, health and wellness, and community enhancement.[32]
TD is the mascot for the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee. TD wears a football jersey with the number “51” to represent Super Bowl LI. He can be found at a majority of the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee’s events as well as other events leading up to the game.[33]
Team facilities[edit]
The Patriots will be staying at the JW Marriott Galeria and practicing at University of Houston. The Falcons will be staying at the Westin Houston Memorial City and practicing at Rice University.[34]
Broadcasting[edit]
U.S. television[edit]
In the United States, the game will be televised live by Fox, as part of a cycle between the three main broadcast television partners of the NFL.[35][36] On January 12, 2017, Fox announced that it planned to introduce a new feature known as Be the Player, which will allow the presentation of instant replays from the first-person perspective of a player. The system will utilize technology co-developed by Intel, which uses an array of 38 cameras installed around the stadium to reconstruct a player perspective without requiring them to be equipped with cameras themselves.[37]
