The aftermath of last weekend’s Super Bowl has been dominated by quarterback Tom Brady’s sixth title and the defensive masterclass planned by New England Patriots coach, Bill Belichick.

Male cheerleaders will perform at the Super Bowl for the first time in history this Sunday.

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Bill Belichick is universally recognised as one of the best coaches — if not the best coach — in NFL history, and he owns the Super Bowl titles to prove it. That doesn’t mean he — or his entire New England Patriots staff — is infallible.

The GAA’s casual relationship with the notion of home advantage never ceases to amaze, writes Brendan O’Brien.

Stuart Lancaster has labeled Jonathan Sexton as the “complete” player and suggested the out-half could even emulate Tom Brady by excelling at the elite level beyond his 40th birthday.

Ireland’s Cricket World Cup qualifier against Afghanistan is playing away on the TV in the background as Rob Ryan sits in the Clanna Gael Fontenoy clubhouse in Dublin, gripping a hurley, and holding court on all things American football.

The Super Bowl interaction between coach and player was something to behold. For Foles to feel so empowered in that moment, and for a coach to be willing to relinquish control of such a hugely significant play call was remarkable, writes Mike Quirke.

Cast aside once in Philadelphia, Nick Foles delivered the city its first Super Bowl title.

Donald Trump has accused Democrats of being "un-American" and maybe even treasonous for failing to applaud him during his State of the Union speech.

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Liam Blackburn looks at some of the lines that could dominate the Super Bowl.

Tom Brady and the New England Patriots are going back to the Super Bowl in search of a sixth title and will face a Philadelphia Eagles team looking for their first Lombardi Trophy.

Sensational!

American Football

Driving home for Christmas can do strange things to strange and not-so-strange people. The mind, as Paradise Lost told us, is its own place — it can make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven. The journey for some may be filled with unbridled joy and excitement, anticipating long overdue reunions. F

Tom Brady tossed four touchdown passes — including two to Rob Gronkowski — as the New England Patriots pushed through injuries and a mistake-filled game for a 35-17 victory over the sliding Miami Dolphins.

The Georgia Dome, the stadium in Atlanta that hosted 1996 Olympic events and which was the venue for two Super Bowls, has been reduced to rubble in an implosion.

It didn’t take the hurlers of Dublin, Tipperary, Clare and Galway long to discover Boston’s list of priorities last Friday when they landed for the Fenway Classic Super 11s.

Here we go. That time of the year again.

The New England Patriots didn’t need a comeback in their Super Bowl rematch with the Atlanta Falcons.

Tom Brady conjured a last-gasp Houdini act to save the New England Patriots in a thrilling win over the Houston Texans on Sunday as the Atlanta Falcons preserved their unbeaten record.

The provocateur president has drawn the ire of the sports world for saying players who kneel during the national anthem should be fired, writes Catherine Lucey and Arnie Stapleton

US president Donald Trump's criticism of American football players who kneel during the national anthem has sparked a mass increase in such protests around the NFL, as about 200 players sat, knelt or raised their fists in defiance.

United States president Donald Trump followed up his scathing comments about protesting NFL players by withdrawing an invitation to NBA champions the Golden State Warriors to attend the White House.

Rookie kicker Younghoe Koo missed a last-gasp field goal for the second successive game as the Los Angeles Chargers lost their home opener 19-17 to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

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Jeramie McPeek is well placed to discuss the merits - and dangers - of social media in sports. He spoke to Michael Moynihan.

Aaron Hernandez, Wayward NFL star whose life ended in a Massachusetts prison cell, remembered by Colm Greaves.

The jersey worn by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady in last month's Super Bowl has been recovered after apparently being stolen, the NFL has said in a statement.

Rory McIlroy has revealed his fascination with US President Donald Trump after recently playing a round with him.

Trump could do with some help from a major sports star these days, writes Kieran Shannon

Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick have a special understanding, writes Kieran Shannon.

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Matt Ryan claimed an early victory over Tom Brady on Super Bowl weekend by being named the NFL's MVP last night in Houston.

The Atlanta Falcons are going to the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history after they thrashed the Green Bay Packers 44-21 in the NFC Championship game.

Mason Crosby's last-gasp 51-yard field goal steered the in-form Green Bay Packers into the NFC Championship game courtesy of a dramatic 34-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

There will be a familiar feel to the NFL playoffs next weekend: Every divisional-round game will be a rematch from the regular season, the first time that’s happened in six years.

The Pittsburgh Steelers clinched their NFL play-off place with a last-gasp win over the Baltimore Ravens - but reigning champions the Denver Broncos were dumped out and embarrassed by the Kansas City Chiefs.