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A20 SPORTS
Monday 6 February 2017

Falcons’ flop a new low for Atlanta’s sad sporting history

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP Sports Writer
ATLANTA (AP) — Well, At-
lanta, there’s nothing left to
say.
The city once known as
“Loserville” was cruising
toward its first Super Bowl
championship, leading
Tom Brady and the mighty
New England Patriots by 25
points.
TWENTY-FIVE!
Back in Atlanta, the city
was all ready to bust loose
in a celebration like no
other, seemingly assured of
finally putting to rest its his-
tory of sports flops.
Then, it happened.
The greatest flop of them
all.
This one will take a long,
long time to get over.
Brady engineered a stun-
ning comeback, guiding
the Patriots to a pair of
touchdowns and a pair of
2-point conversions that
sent the Super Bowl to over- Atlanta Falcons’ Julio Jones (11) makes a catch against New England Patriots’ Eric Rowe (25) during the second half of the NFL Super
time for the first time. Bowl 51 football game Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, in Houston.
At that point, it was a mere Associated Press
formality.
The Patriots won the coin the Braves blowing a 6-0 ters playing with the swag- the New England 22. Patriots team that was sud-
toss. lead in Game 4 of the 1996 ger and confidence of a With under 5 minutes re- denly brimming with bra-
Of course. World Series, the Hawks team that wasn’t the least maining and the Falcons vado.
The Patriots drove right squandering a chance to bit concerned about their still up 28-20, all they need- It wasn’t the least bit shock-
down the field for the eliminate Larry Bird and the city’s history. ed to do was run three ing when they marched
championship-winning Boston Celtics in the 1988 Even in the closing minutes, more plays and set up for a right down the field, 91
touchdown. NBA playoffs, Danny White after the Patriots made a field goal by Pro Bowl kicker yards, for James White’s
Of course. leading the Dallas Cow- game of it, Atlanta was in Matt Bryant that would fi- short touchdown run.
The final: New England 34, boys back from 10 points position to put the victory nally put the Patriots away. It wasn’t the least bit shock-
Atlanta 28. down in the fourth quarter away when Julio Jones Devonta Freeman was ing when Brady hooked up
This one will go down as to beat the Falcons in a made a stunning catch thrown for a 1-yard loss, but with Danny Amendola on
one of the greatest title 1981 playoff game. along the sideline, going to that was OK. a 2-point pass that tied the
games in NFL history. But, really, nothing comes rip the ball away from a de- But then, instead of anoth- game with 57 seconds re-
That’s little consolation to close to this level of sport- fender and somehow get- er run, Ryan dropped back maining.
Atlanta. ing disappointment. ting both feet down before to pass. It wasn’t the least bit shock-
In the A-T-L, this will join The Falcons spent 2½ quar- tumbling out of bounds at He was thrown for a 12-yard ing when the Falcons, with-
loss and, just like that, the out any timeouts, failed to
Falcons were on the fringe muster anything on their fi-
of Bryant’s range. nal offensive possession.
Any hope for a field goal It wasn’t the least bit shock-
was lost when Jake Mat- ing when the Patriots won
thews was called for a hold- the toss and drove down
ing penalty that set Atlanta the field one more time, 75
back another 10 yards. yards in just eight plays, and
Ryan followed with an in- finished off the Falcons with
complete pass, and the a 2-yard touchdown run.
Falcons were forced to The city of Atlanta had
punt it back to Brady and a seen it all before.q