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After coming tantalizingly close to playing in Super Bowl XLVII in the New Orleans Saints’ home stadium — which would have been satisfying to say the least, considering the teams’ long-standing rivalry — the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday won’t be thinking about what might have been.

When the Falcons stroll into the Mercedes-Benz Superdome for the season opener with the Saints, there will be no time to look back and think about the 10 yards — just 30 feet — that separated them from a spot in the NFL title game seven months ago. Since the game is a early showdown of the teams that split the past four NFC South titles, the Falcons know nothing that happened last season will have a bearing on this game.

“Our approach doesn’t change,” coach Mike Smith said Wednesday on a conference call with Louisiana reporters. “It was tough the way our season ended. There is only one team that is happy at the end of the year. I told our guys when we came back (in April) that we are not 10 yards away from the Super Bowl — we are however many days we had from then to the next Super Bowl.”

Smith and quarterback Matt Ryan agreed that what happened to the Falcons — they were stopped on fourth down just 10 yards from San Francisco’s goal line in the NFC Championship game — will be used as a learning experience.

That’s important, Smith said, even though the Falcons were 13-3, won the division title by six games and earned NFC home-field advantage for their playoff run.

“I reiterate it to the guys all the time (that) you learn from things that go well for you ... and things that go poorly,” said Smith, who begins his sixth season as the Falcons’ coach with a 57-28 record. “There is positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. We’ve got to learn from it and make sure, when we’re in that position again, we do everything in our power to have a different outcome.”

Ryan, a two-time Pro Bowl pick, said the 28-24 setback to the 49ers provided the motivation to get them through a long offseason. But now, he said, they have to do something about it.

“You don’t want to be consumed with what we did last year because, obviously, it has no bearing on what’s going to happen this season,” said Ryan, who threw for 4,719 yards and 32 TDs a year ago. “The exciting part is what’s in front of us, the opportunity that’s in front of us this season. I think we learned from it. We used it as motivation, but I think we’re on to what we need to do now.”

The season opener provides a challenge for the Falcons on many fronts. In addition to playing their longtime rivals on the road, the Falcons will be facing a new-look Saints 3-4 defense installed by new coordinator Rob Ryan this spring.

Read more: Falcons say playoff frustrations are a learning experience | Saints | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Seer1

They kept Smith so obviously not.

Mr.Riaton

didnt they say that last time they lost in the playoffs?

Beastmode

All the failed 4th downs or barely winning 1 playoff game are not annoying. It's their best efforts.

hagan714

so sorry charlie
no tickie
no laundry
you go home now
Sayounara sucker

TheOak

A learning experience and learning from experience are apples and oranges.

Falcons don't take notes apparently.

Rugby Saint II

They've learned that they are a one trick pony...........one and done!

saintsfan1976

Next lesson - September 8th.

Barry from MS

What exactly did they learn?

If they've learned anything, it is this: when you have less points than the other team across the field at 0:00 in the 4th quarter, they can immediately go home and play TECMO Bowl for a few months to ease the frustrations of a perpetual learning experience.

Danno

Yep,

Here's their question... Atlanta, who's your daddy?

Answer: Turn to September 8th