Reliving the 2016 Atlanta Falcons: A High-Flying Season Atlanta Still Talks About

If you live in Atlanta, you don’t have to be a die-hard football fan to know that the 2016 Atlanta Falcons season was something special. From record-setting offense to the move toward a new stadium, that year left a permanent mark on the city’s sports identity—both thrilling and painful.

Whether you’re an Atlanta resident, a visitor going to a Falcons game, or just trying to understand why people here still mention “28–3,” this guide walks you through what the 2016 season meant on the field and around the city.

Big Picture: Why the 2016 Falcons Matter in Atlanta

The 2016 Atlanta Falcons:

• Featured one of the most explosive offenses in franchise history
• Took Matt Ryan to an MVP level
• Carried Atlanta to Super Bowl LI
• Became a shared cultural reference in the city—at sports bars, offices, and family gatherings
• Helped build momentum and excitement leading into the opening of Mercedes-Benz Stadium

For many Atlantans, that season is a mix of pride (the team’s dominance) and heartbreak (the Super Bowl collapse). Understanding that balance helps you understand a lot about local sports culture.

Season Overview: The 2016 Falcons in a Snapshot

Here’s a quick look at what defined the season for Atlanta fans.

If you talk to long-time Falcons fans anywhere in metro Atlanta—from Buckhead to College Park—you’ll find people who can still recall specific games from that year and exactly where they were during the Super Bowl.

The 2016 Falcons Offense: Why Atlanta Fell in Love

Football in Atlanta is often described as fast, flashy, and fun, and no team embodied that more than the 2016 Falcons.

Key Offensive Stars

• Matt Ryan (QB) – Precise, calm, and at his peak; he spread the ball around the field.
• Julio Jones (WR) – One of the most feared receivers in the league, known for highlight catches.
• Devonta Freeman & Tevin Coleman (RBs) – A dynamic duo who could run and catch.
• Offensive Line – More solid than in previous years, giving Ryan time and opening running lanes.

For Atlanta fans watching at home in Virginia-Highland or crowded around TVs in downtown sports bars, the offense felt almost unstoppable. Games regularly turned into shootouts where the Falcons could score quickly and from anywhere on the field.

Regular Season: Big Moments Atlanta Still Talks About

The Falcons went 11–5, won the NFC South, and brought real energy back to the Georgia Dome. Some games are now part of local sports folklore.

Memorable Games for Atlanta Fans

• At New Orleans (Monday Night Football)
  A big prime-time win over the Saints always plays well in Atlanta. Beating a rival on national TV helped people in the city start believing this team was different.

• vs. Carolina Panthers
  Dominating the defending NFC champions made a statement. Julio Jones’s huge performance became a favorite memory for many fans.

• vs. Green Bay Packers (Regular Season)
  A close, exciting win showed the Falcons could go toe-to-toe with top quarterbacks and elite offenses.

On Sundays, neighborhoods all over Atlanta—Midtown condos, East Atlanta bungalows, and suburban homes across Cobb, DeKalb, and Gwinnett—turned into mini game-watching hubs. That regular season helped reconnect a lot of casual fans with the team.

Playoff Run: The Georgia Dome’s Final Roar

The 2016 playoffs were especially meaningful in Atlanta because they doubled as a farewell tour for the Georgia Dome.

NFC Divisional Round: vs. Seattle Seahawks

• The Falcons hosted Seattle in a loud, emotional game.
• For Atlantans, this was a measuring stick: beating a tough, respected team with a strong defense.
• The city felt the momentum—sports bars around Centennial Olympic Park and The Battery Atlanta were packed with fans in red and black.

NFC Championship Game: vs. Green Bay Packers

• The Falcons offense exploded and the team dominated.
• This was the final game ever played in the Georgia Dome.
• Many locals still remember the atmosphere: loud, optimistic, and confident.
• After the win, celebrations spilled out into downtown and surrounding areas, with fans chanting “Rise Up” in the streets and MARTA stations.

For many in Atlanta, that last day at the Dome is remembered among the happiest moments in the city’s sports history.

Super Bowl LI: The High, the Low, and “28–3”

The Falcons’ Super Bowl LI appearance became one of the most talked-about events in Atlanta sports.

What Happened

• The Falcons built a 28–3 lead over the New England Patriots late in the third quarter.
• Atlanta fans across the city—gathered in homes, restaurants, and large watch parties—were celebrating what felt like a near-certain championship.
• Then came the Patriots’ comeback and the overtime loss, one of the most dramatic turnarounds in football history.

How It Lives On in Atlanta

• “28–3” is now shorthand for that game.
• It’s referenced in jokes, debates, and long conversations at Falcons tailgates and Atlanta offices.
• For locals, it represents both:
  • how good the 2016 Falcons truly were, and
  • how painful it was to come so close to a title and watch it slip away.

Even today, if you wear a 2016-style Falcons jersey to Mercedes-Benz Stadium, other fans may still bring up that night and what it felt like.

Where the 2016 Season Fits in Falcons History

For Atlanta fans, comparing seasons and eras is part of the fun.

How 2016 Stacks Up

Many Atlantans consider the 2016 Falcons:

• One of the most talented offensive teams the city has ever had
• On par with other landmark Falcons teams, such as:
  • The 1998 “Dirty Birds” who went to the Super Bowl
  • The 2012 team that reached the NFC Championship

The conversation often centers on this tension:

• 2016 is beloved for the excitement, big plays, and MVP-level quarterback play.
• 2016 is painful because the season ended in such a dramatic loss.

For Atlanta, the 2016 Falcons are both a proud memory and a “what if” that continues to shape how fans see the franchise.

Experiencing the Falcons in Atlanta Today

If you’re in the city and want to connect with the legacy of the 2016 Falcons, there are several ways to immerse yourself in Falcons culture.

1. Catch a Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium

The 2016 season was the last played in the Georgia Dome. The team moved next door to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in 2017.

• Location: 1 AMB Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
• Access:
  • MARTA: Vine City or GWCC/State Farm Arena/CNN Center stations
  • Plenty of ride-share drop-off points and nearby parking decks

At the stadium, you’ll usually see:

• Fans wearing Matt Ryan and Julio Jones jerseys from that 2016 era
• References to Falcons history throughout the concourses
• Game-day energy that still draws on the excitement of those high-scoring 2016 teams

If you’re visiting from out of town and want to understand how much that season meant, a game day at Mercedes-Benz Stadium gives a good feel for the culture that grew out of it.

2. Visit the Surrounding Game-Day Areas

Around the stadium and downtown, you’ll find lots of spots where Atlantans relived the 2016 run:

• Downtown sports bars near Centennial Olympic Park
• Fan areas and plazas that often show historic team imagery
• Public spaces where large screens sometimes feature Falcons highlights

These areas are where many locals watched the playoff games and Super Bowl that season, so they’re full of shared memories and stories.

3. Explore Falcons History and Merchandise

You’ll see 2016-era Falcons gear all over the city:

• Local sports shops in downtown, Buckhead, and popular malls often carry:
  • Retro-style jerseys from the 2016 period
  • Hats and shirts with logos used during that era

If you’re a new fan in Atlanta, picking up a 2016-style jersey is one way to connect with a defining chapter of team history.

How the 2016 Falcons Shaped Atlanta’s Sports Identity

In a city that also roots heavily for the Braves, Hawks, Atlanta United, and college teams, the 2016 Falcons made pro football feel central again.

Some lasting impacts in Atlanta:

• Increased engagement: More people proudly wearing Falcons gear around town after that season.
• “Rise Up” as a city phrase: The team’s rallying cry became a broader local slogan seen on signs, billboards, and social media.
• Raised expectations: Fans in metro Atlanta now talk about contending for championships as a standard, influenced by how close the 2016 team came.

Whether you’re grabbing coffee in Inman Park or sitting in traffic on the Downtown Connector, you’re likely to see a Falcons logo—and often, it’s connected in some way to people’s memories of 2016.

Tips for New or Visiting Fans in Atlanta

If you’re just getting into the Falcons or visiting and want to understand the 2016 season better, here are some simple ways to dive in:

• Watch highlight reels of the 2016 season before attending a game; it makes the chants, jerseys, and references around you much more meaningful.
• Talk to long-time locals—barbers, rideshare drivers, coworkers, or bartenders. Ask where they watched the Super Bowl and what they remember; most will have a story.
• Wear team colors (red and black) on game days if you’re downtown or near the stadium; you’ll blend in with the game-day energy and often spark conversations.
• Learn the basics of “28–3” so you understand the emotional weight that still lingers when people mention it.

For people in Atlanta, the 2016 Atlanta Falcons are much more than a line in a record book. They represent a season when the city rallied around a team, filled the Georgia Dome to its last roar, and came within reach of a championship. If you live here or are just passing through, knowing that story helps you understand a big chapter of Atlanta’s modern sports identity.