The Vikings loss to the Eagles in Sunday’s NFC Championship game opened the door for the Atlanta Falcons to make Super Bowl history next season.
Should Atlanta make it to Super Bowl LIII, it would become the first franchise to play a Super Bowl in its home stadium. Next season’s fight for the Lombardi Trophy -- in February of 2019 – is scheduled to take place in Atlanta’s newly-opened, $1.5 billion Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
After two consecutive disappointing playoff endings, in which the Falcons gave up a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl LI and failed to convert a fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, the franchise will look to rebound and make NFL history.
According to NFL statistics, only four teams have played in a Super Bowl in their home state: the Oakland Raiders (Super Bowl XI, Super Bowl XXXVII), the Los Angeles Rams (XIV) and the San Francisco 49ers (XIX). The Raiders won Super Bowl XI and the 49ers won Super Bowl XIX.
The path to reach home-field advantage in Super Bowl LII won’t be an easy one. The NFC will once again be loaded with championship-caliber teams. The Eagles will likely be next year’s NFC frontrunners considering they made it to this year’s Super Bowl and get back quarterback Carson Wentz, who was an MVP candidate before suffering an ACL tear. The Vikings stout defense won’t be going anywhere, and the young Los Angeles Rams will return with more experience. And that is outside the NFC South.
Within the division three of the four teams made the playoffs. The New Orleans Saints have developed into a well-balanced team on offense and defense, the Carolina Panthers will continue to be a gritty opponent and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers began to show signs of life in the second-half of the season.
Don’t discount the Falcons though. They finished the season 10-6 with five of their losses coming to playoff teams: Patriots, Panthers, Saints, Buffalo Bills, and Viking. Atlanta’s 2018 non-conference won’t be easy with road games at Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Green Bay, but the Falcons also face the two worst records of 2017 at home: the New York Giants (2-14) and the Cleveland Browns (0-16).
The Falcons' offense took a step backwards this season following Matt Ryan's 2016 MVP campaign, but Ryan and head coach Dan Quinn fully expect the offense to resolve some of its issues that plagued a possible Super Bowl run this season. Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will return for a second year calling plays, while the Falcons also added former offensive coordinator Greg Knapp to coach the quarterbacks. On defense, the Falcons' young and speedy group elevated itself to a top-10 defense under first-year defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel. If the defense takes another step in 2018, it could make the Falcons that much more of a threat.
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