The Atlanta Falcons are done licking their wounds following last season's epic Super Bowl collapse and are getting set to open a new NFL season they refuse to call a redemption tour.
The Falcons blew a commanding 28-3 second-half lead and then lost in overtime to the New England Patriots in February's Super Bowl, a record-setting collapse that will stick with the players for the rest of their lives.
But with the bulk of that talented, high-scoring team still together, the Falcons are not letting any outside noise clutter their mindset going into their season opener at Chicago on Sunday.
"Our mindset is really ... it's really locked," Falcons head coach Dan Quinn told ESPN.
"We for damn sure aren't going to let people outside our walls tell us how we're supposed to feel. You don't play. People who write about us don't play. We play, and this is our season. And we're going to go for it like crazy in '17."
Since Buffalo made four consecutive trips, culminating with the Super Bowl in 1994, no runner-up has gone back to the big game the following campaign while a number have failed to even make the play-offs the next season.
But the Falcons, who already boast explosive running back Devonta Freeman and standout receiver Julio Jones, have added a new offensive co-ordinator and bolstered their pass rush in the hopes of avoiding a Super Bowl hangover.
Share
