2016 NFC Championship Victory

Lore & Background

In Falcons lore, this game serves as the antithesis to the glory days of the franchise. It highlights the thin line between triumph and tragedy in professional football. While the team had reached the pinnacle of their regular-season success, the failure to close out the championship against a storied rival like New England left an indelible scar on the fanbase, transforming what could have been a Super Bowl victory into a lesson in humility.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Mercedes-Benz Superdome was thick with anticipation as the Falcons celebrated their massive lead. Fans began to chant 'Super Bowl' before the clock even hit double digits. But as the Patriots marched down the field, the atmosphere shifted from jubilation to dread. The final seconds of regulation saw a desperate fourth-down play that defied all logic, sending the game into overtime where the dream finally died under the bright lights.

Reader's Guide

The specific achievement in question is not a victory, but rather a historic near-miss that defines the 2016 season for Atlanta Falcons supporters. Occurring on January 15, 2017, the game was played against the New England Patriots at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. The context of this record is significant because it represents the largest lead blown by a team to lose an NFL playoff game. The Falcons held a 25-point advantage (28-3) with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, only to see the Patriots score 21 unanswered points to force overtime and eventually win. This event is crucial to Falcons lore as it marked the end of a season that had started with high hopes following a strong regular season. It serves as a stark reminder of the volatility of playoff football and remains the most discussed single-game performance in franchise history due to its dramatic nature.

Did You Know?

• The Falcons were the first team in NFL history to blow a lead of more than 20 points in an NFC Championship game.
• Julian Edelman's catch on the critical fourth-down play is often referred to as 'The Catch' by Patriots fans, mirroring a famous moment from their past.