The New England Patriots have won five Super Bowls in the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era and Robert Kraft says Sunday night's overtime win was the most important.

"Two years ago, we won our fourth Super Bowl down in Arizona, and I told our fans that was the sweetest one of all," Kraft said.

"But a lot has transpired during the last two years, and I don't think that needs any explanation, but I want to say to our fans, our brilliant coaching staff, our amazing players who were so spectacular: this is unequivocally the sweetest. And I'm proud to say for the fifth time, we are all Patriots, but tonight, for the fifth time, the Patriots are world champions."

Kraft said in the days leading up to Super Bowl LI that Deflategate penalties levied by the NFL against Brady and the team had an impact on the 2016 Patriots.

Brady served a four-game suspension for the January 2015 incident that months of court battles couldn't overturn. The Patriots were fined $1 million and docked a first-round pick in 2016 and a fourth-round pick in 2017.

"I think in a way," Kraft said last week, "that galvanized our whole team."