In addition to those Cowboys and Dolphins teams, only the 1973 Vikings, 1986 Broncos and 1990, ’91 and ’92 Bills have lost Super Bowls and even made it back to the championship game.
It has been 23 seasons since that 1993 Buffalo team lost its fourth straight Super Bowl, and no losing team since has been able to bounce back and win, or even play in one, the following year.
It is in that climate the Atlanta Falcons will attempt to become NFL champions in 2017, but general manager Thomas Dimitroff and head coach Dan Quinn insist they are optimistic and up for the test.