The Atlanta Falcons were well on their way to hoisting their first Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
With a 25-point lead late in the third quarter, it seemed as though Super Bowl LI was all but wrapped up. That was until the New England Patriots pulled off a miraculous comeback, en route to a 34-28 overtime victory.
Although they squandered a tremendous opportunity, the Falcons had quite the season. They won the NFC South, employed the highest-scoring offense in the league and, of course, made a Super Bowl run.
Atlanta also had its first NFL MVP in quarterback Matt Ryan, who had a respectable performance in Super Bowl LI despite the loss. On Thursday, Ryan took to Twitter to thank Falcons fans for their continued support throughout the season.
It will be a long offseason for the Falcons, to say the least. But with a strong core of young, talented players, expect them to be right back in the mix next season.
Thumbnail photo via Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports Images
