With reigning NFL MVP Matt Ryan in his prime and a fast, young defense that improved as last season progressed, the Atlanta Falcons seem like a decent bet to return to the Super Bowl this year. Las Vegas odds have them at 6/1 to win the NFC, same as Dallas and just behind Seattle (9/2) and Green Bay (5/1). But history suggests otherwise. Since the Buffalo Bills made four consecutive trips, culminating with Super Bowl XXVIII in January 1994, no losing Super Bowl team has gone back to the big game the following season.
Just seven teams have ever made it back to the Super Bowl the year after losing it. And of those seven teams, only two won in their return to the Super Bowl -- the 1971 Dallas Cowboys and the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Here's a breakdown of how the past 23 Super Bowl runner-ups fared the next season overall as well as a team-by-team look:
Missed playoffs: 43.5 percent.
Lost in wild-card round: 17.4 percent.
Lost in divisional round: 30.4 percent.
Lost in conference championship: 8.7 percent.
Reached Super Bowl again: 0 percent.