The Atlanta Falcons returned home quietly after a Super Bowl loss to the New England Patriots at Super Bowl LI in Houston.
The team left Houston on Monday morning after a devastating loss to the Patriots in the first Super Bowl overtime in history, by a final score of 34-28.
After the team buses loaded up, a police escort took the team to the airport for a charter flight back to Atlanta. In contrast to the giant Atlantic Station send-off the team had last weekend, the team returned home quietly to Flowery Branch.
Sports critics pointed to the youth of the Falcons team -- especially on defense -- when saying that this was not supposed to be their year, and that they are still growing under second-year coach Dan Quinn. But in spite of it all, the heartbreak is still real for the team and the fans.
The scene at Flowery Branch was completely different than a little over a week ago as the team headed to Houston a crowd cheered them on. On Monday afternoon, a small group of fans gathered to say thank you.
Only a couple of homemade signs were left decorating the road to the Falcons' practice facility. And patiently waiting at the front gates were Jeff and Tina Brown -- fans since the 1960s -- and longtime season ticket holders.
After Sunday night's loss, being there on Monday only made sense.
"Tina just said, 'I would like to go out there,'" Jeff said. "I said okay."
Standing in the rain, the crowds of fans slowly grew. As the Falcons landed in Atlanta and began heading toward Flowery Branch.
With her jersey on and Falcons earrings, Tina says she won't forget this season.
"Proud of the whole season and proud of the way you preformed," she said. "Definitely weren't proud the fourth quarter. But you know what – they were there. There were so many other teams."
As he waited for the team to arrive, Jeff says he watched the game Sunday -- even as the team's lead slipped away -- like so many other fans -- with a championship in sight.
"I'm thinking it is not going to happen. They're going to stop Brady. They're going to score," he said. "They're going to win. Just had a feeling."
Eventually, six buses pulled into Flowery Branch, and the Atlanta Falcons heard their fans one last time at the end of this long season.
A quick wave from head coach Dan Quinn, and the sight of players grabbing their suitcases before heading home.
Not the ending fans wanted, but still worth saying thank you for --
"Great season boys!"
And the reason Steve Parris was there on Monday with his son.
"Had to come out and show them we still love them," he said. "Show them they're still the best season the Falcons have ever had, ever."
Once the Falcons walked of their team buses and grabbed their suitcases -- many headed straight for their cars and drove off, only spending a few minutes there as the off-season officially begins.
