The 2016 Patriots starting quarterback Tom Brady was suspended for the first four games of the season due to his alleged role in the Deflategate scandal. Under backup quarterbacks Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett, the team went 3–1 during Brady's suspension. In the playoffs, the Patriots appeared in the AFC Championship Game for a record sixth consecutive year[v] and advanced to a record ninth Super Bowl appearance. In Super Bowl LI, the Patriots rallied from a 28–3 deficit – with 2:12 left in the third quarter – to win in overtime, with a score of 34–28 against the Atlanta Falcons.
