Atlanta Falcons: Super Bowl in Atlanta Bringing Back Painful Memories
By Kit Anderson
It is Super Bowl week in Atlanta, with the Falcons hosting the big game. It has been a week of reflection, one that brings up painful memories of two years ago when it was the Falcons taking on the Goliath that is New England.
The Atlanta Falcons were up 28-3 with the New England Patriots on the ropes. Brady and the offense hadn’t found an answer to the Falcon’s speedy defense and Matt Ryan had the offense clicking for Atlanta.
Robert Alford ignited the crowd picking off Brady and taking a pick-six to the house. The curse was finally over Atlanta was going to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Even the biggest Patriots fan had to believe this game was over. Brady had played poorly and the defense couldn’t slow down the Falcons.
With a score late in the third quarter, the Patriots breathed a little life back into their team. Still, Atlanta was well in control. Brady and the Patriots dominated the fourth quarter rattling off 19 straight points to tie the game.
Ryan and the Falcons had been caught playing not to lose. Playing passively when they needed to keep their foot on the gas and taking a sack when they should have been running the ball.
The Super Bowl that had been so well in hand tilted in the Patriots favor forcing overtime. Still, the Falcons still had life until they heard Tom Brady and the Patriots would be receiving the ball first.
Without hesitation and with nauseating precision Brady led the Patriots down the field and ended the game. The Super Bowl Atlanta had in hand only an hour before was gone, taken back by the greatness of Brady and the Falcons inability to manage the game late.
It is a game many Falcon’s fans are thinking of this week and one that will haunt this franchise for years to come.
Super Bowls are rare (Unless you’re Brady) they are chances you have to etch your name into the history book. The Falcons did just that choosing to live in infamy blowing the biggest lead in Super Bowl history.
Until they get back to the big game Atlanta will continue to be remembered for the team who blew the 28-3 lead.
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Super Bowl week in Atlanta is an exciting time for the city. But it is also a disappointing result with the Patriots in town and Atlanta fans again left wondering what could have been.