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As it happenedended

Super Bowl 51: When is kick-off, who should I want to win, what TV channel and where can I watch it live?

A look ahead to the NFL's showpiece event at Houston's NRG Stadium

Ed Malyon
Sunday 05 February 2017 20:20 GMT
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The Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots face off in this year's Super Bowl
The Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots face off in this year's Super Bowl (Getty)

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What is the Super Bowl?

The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL) that pits the champions of each of the league’s conference – the AFC and the NFC – against each other for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

It is usually held in late January or early February and the venue changes every season.

This year’s Super Bowl, the 51st, is being held in Houston, Texas.

What time is the Super Bowl?

The Super Bowl takes place on Sunday night, UK time. Play is scheduled to start at 6.30pm Eastern Time which means British viewers will have to stock up on caffeine as the game won’t be getting underway until shortly before midnight.

Factoring in the usual stoppages and the extra-long half-time to accommodate Lady Gaga’s half-time show, Brits staying up for the big game won’t be getting to bed much before 4am – if at all.

Where can I watch it?

BBC One continues its excellent coverage of the NFL with a late-night show fronted by the multi-talented Mark Chapman. Sky Sports will also be broadcasting the game but with adverts.

Follow live updates on The Independent's live blog below...

Who is playing in the Super Bowl?

The Atlanta Falcons won the NFC championship game against the Green Bay Packers to seal their second visit to the Super Bowl.

They will play against the New England Patriots, who have gone to more Super Bowls than any other team in history.

Who are the star players?

The Falcons boast this season’s likely MVP in quarterback Matt Ryan, who was at the centre of the league’s most deadly offense. Julio Jones is his leading wide receiver and one of the best in the league while running back tandem Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman make it very difficult to gameplan against Atlanta.

Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan is likely to be named this season's MVP
Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan is likely to be named this season's MVP (Getty)

Tom Brady is one of the best-known NFL stars and, at 39, just had arguably his best season ever. Rob Gronkowski is another star on the Pats’ offense but won’t play through injury, so Brady will instead rely on a hodge-podge of Martellus Bennett, Dion Lewis, Chris Hogan and Julian Edelman. The Patriots have always been a well-coached team that outperforms its personnel.

Who are the favourites?

Odds courtesy of our friends at 888sport.com

New England: 4/6

Atlanta: 13/10

More commonly, people bet on NFL on a handicap basis. The Patriots are 3-point favourites.

Who should I want to win?

British people usually favour the underdog, so Atlanta will be the choice of many neutrals. Add in the fact that the Patriots seem to breeze through the playoffs every season, it’s fair to say most people would like to see them get beaten.

And that’s before we even get into Spygate (Google it), Deflategate (Google it) or the fact that the Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady are both good friends of Donald Trump. Sad!

The Falcons' dynamic running-back tandem shows it's second hand with Tevin Coleman running for nine yards on first down. Matt Ryan then finds his full-back DiMarco for the second time tonight to seal the first down.DiMarco is key for their running game in how he helps them block on stretch and outside zone runs but his ability to provide an option in the receiving game has proven very useful all season. 

The Falcons stall, however, and it's now two drives apiece without so much as a punt.

Atlanta's fabulously-named punter Chris Bosher boshes it downfield and I'm reaching for the blueberries and a sparkling water. 

Tiredness rating still a solid 6/10.

Ed Malyon6 February 2017 00:00

Matt Ryan played two 3rd downs very safe now and failed to convert both. 

What we'll have to see is if the Falcons coaches are alive to what Belichick is scheming and if they adapt their gameplan to take advantage of the Patriots - who haven't started well either. 

Essentially the Patriots have been dropping defensive lineman into coverage, which is confusing Ryan. So far he's looked like pre-2016 Ryan rather than the MVP of the current season.

Ed Malyon6 February 2017 00:04

TURNOVER! We have our first turning point of this game as LaGarrette Blount has the ball stripped out of his arms by rookie linebacker Deion Jones. Bam! Atlanta get the ball and they're now going to have possession in New England territory. 

Huge momentum shift for the Falcons.

Ed Malyon6 February 2017 00:09

Matt Ryan comes out and will be under center as the Falcons set up at the Patriots 40......and he hits Julio Jones for 19 yards. It's his first catch of the day and it's a hotly-contested one with Logan Ryan where Julio comes down with it. 

Same again as Ryan finds Julio again, this time on the sideline, for another first down. Now Devonta Freeman slashes through the defense and another first down.

The Falcons are rolling and on 2nd & 1 at the Patriots 6-yard line the reeling New England defense calls a time out. 

So grab a swig of your beverage and take a breath. 

Ed Malyon6 February 2017 00:13

This zone running scheme and the speed that the Falcons have is proving too much for the Patriots right now. And indeed, it's Devonta Freeman and it's TOUCHDOWN ATLANTA as he runs in from six out. 

Julio Jones goes in motion and Mohamed Sanu tosses Freeman a block to leave him clear and he counters left for six points, converted to seven by Matt Bryant, and that fumble turns into points.

New England 0-7 Atlanta535e3bc2-1666-434d-b7d7-99d1257d3bcf.jpg

Ed Malyon6 February 2017 00:19

Wow! The Atlanta defense is all over the Patriots and, immediately after going behind, New England go three and out. Dan Quinn's unit, moulded on the success he had as defensive coordinator in Seattle, is looking very good. 

Ed Malyon6 February 2017 00:22

Matt Ryan has the pigskin in his hands and no sooner is it in than out and he's found Taylor Gabriel for his first catch of the day. And then he hits Julio Jones for ANOTHER big Falcons play. Eric Rowe could do nothing about that toe-tapping sideline catch and Atlanta are already within field goal range. 

Amazing start from Atlanta and they could go two scores ahead here. 

2nd and 9: Ryan tries to find Austin Hooper in the end zone but Patrick Chung gets hands on it and it's incomplete.

3rd and 9: TOUCHDOWN FALCONS! Ryan goes for Hooper again, this time out of the slot to his left. The rookie tight end shapes outside then cuts in and up the seam. Caught. Six points. Wow. 

New England 0-14 Atlanta

Ed Malyon6 February 2017 00:29

The Patriots get the ball back here in trouble.Their first four drives:

PUNTPUNTFUMBLEPUNT

That has to improve or the Falcons will win their first-ever Super Bowl.d1137308-4c0a-4ef1-bdad-441a31396144.jpg

Ed Malyon6 February 2017 00:32

Stat: No team has ever come back from two touchdowns behind to win a Super Bowl

Ed Malyon6 February 2017 00:35

The Patriots looked to have gone three and out AGAIN only for a flag to be thrown as New England came up yards short on third down.So that defensive holding call on Robert Alford costs the Falcons five yards and a first down.

Will it cost them points though?

Ed Malyon6 February 2017 00:36

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