For just the eighth time since the 1970 merger, the top seed from each conference failed to reach the Super Bowl. The Falcons have been part of three of those failures for the NFC.

1971

AFC: Kansas City (10-3-1), Lost to Miami, 27-24 (2 OT) in the divisional round

NFC: Minnesota (11-3), Lost to Dallas, 20-12 in the divisional round

1979

AFC: San Diego (12-4), Lost to Houston, 17-14 in the divisional round

NFC: Dallas (11-5), Lost to LA Rams, 21-19 in the divisional round

1980

AFC: San Diego (11-5), Lost to Oakland, 34-27 in the conference final

NFC: Atlanta (12-4), Lost to Dallas, 30-27 in the divisional round

1992

AFC: Pittsburgh (11-5), Lost to Buffalo, 24-3 in the divisional round

NFC: San Francisco (14-2), Lost to Dallas, 30-20 in the conference final

1997

AFC: Kansas City (13-3), Lost to Denver, 14-10 in the divisional round

NFC: San Francisco (13-3), Lost to Green Bay, 23-10 in the conference final

2008

AFC: Tennessee (13-3), Lost to Baltimore, 13-10 in the divisional round

NFC: NY Giants (12-4), Lost to Philadelphia, 23-11 in the divisional round

2010

AFC: New England (14-2), Lost to NY Jets, 28-21 in the divisional round

NFC: Atlanta (13-3), Lost to Green Bay, 48-21 in the divisional round

2012

AFC: Denver (13-3), Lost to Baltimore, 38-35 (2 OT) in the divisional round

NFC: Atlanta (13-3), Lost to San Francisco, 28-24 in the conference final