Sports
Sports

Falcons’ Super Bowl dream snatched away

A Falcons fan reacts at the Park Tavern in Atlanta after the Falcons lost to the Patriots 34-28 in Super Bowl LI in Houston.
A Falcons fan reacts at the Park Tavern in Atlanta after the Falcons lost to the Patriots 34-28 in Super Bowl LI in Houston.
Feb 6, 2017

For three quarters, it appeared the Atlanta Falcons were headed to the first Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Then the fourth quarter happened.

And then overtime was even worse.

The Falcons lost a 28-9 lead in the final 15 minutes, and the nightmare collapse ended as the New England Patriots scored in overtime for a 34-28 victory in Super Bowl LI at NRG Stadium in Houston.

> Bradley: Falcons lose the most Atlanta game ever

The 2016 regular season was still historic for the Falcons franchise. Rise up and celebrate the Dirty Birds.

Read complete coverage of the Super Bowl on ajc.com.

More Stories

Keep Reading

A WNBA basketball goes through a hoop during warm-ups before a recent Atlanta Dream game in College Park, Ga. The Dream fell to 11-7 with Thursday's loss to Seattle. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Dream let one slip away: 3 takeaways from loss Thursday to Seattle Storm

Despite committing 17 turnovers, shooting just 4-of-21 from beyond the arc and missing Rhyne Howard, the Dream still nearly beat Seattle.

Hellen Obiri wins AJC Peachtree Road Race’s women’s elite division

Hellen Obiri won The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Peachtree Road Race’s women’s elite division Friday with a time of 31:29.

Daniel Romanchuk wins men’s wheelchair division of AJC Peachtree Road Race

Daniel Romanchuk won the men’s Shepherd Center wheelchair division race of the AJC Peachtree Road Race on Friday, with an unofficial time of 18 minutes, 36 seconds.

The Latest

Atlanta Braves' Ronald Acuña Jr. (13) reacts after scoring on a double by Marcell Ozuna during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, June 21, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Alexandra Rodriguez)

Credit: AP

Atlanta TV sports listings

Dream let one slip away: 3 takeaways from loss Thursday to Seattle Storm

Winners of the major divisions of the 2025 AJC Peachtree Road Race

Featured

UPS driver Dan Partyka delivers an overnight package. As more people buy more goods online, the rapid and unrelenting expansion of e-commerce is causing real challenges for the Sandy-Springs based company. (Bob Andres/AJC 2022)

Credit: TNS

Amid UPS struggles, shipper makes first-ever plans to offer buyouts to drivers

UPS said in a written statement it is navigating “an unprecedented business landscape.”

Kneeling man impaled by giant straw? Towering mural leaves public mystified.

A towering mural on the side of the Connally Hotel has mystified Atlanta since 2011. Who is the kneeling man, and what's piercing him? Is it a beam of light? A drinking straw?

OPINION

I just graduated college. Will I be able to buy a house like my parents did?

A recent college grad asks: Am I going to be able to buy a home like my parents did less than 30 years ago?