Falcons return to big game, remembering the Dirty Birds

Getty Images 31 Jan 1999: Eugene Robinson #41 of the Atlanta Falcons stands on the sidelines looking on during the Super Bowl XXXIII Game against the Denver Broncos at the Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The Broncos defeated the Falcons 34-19. By Paul Newberry, The Associated Press

ATLANTA — The last time the Atlanta Falcons made it to the Super Bowl, they put on quite a show.

Just not when it mattered.

The team known as the “Dirty Birds” capped off a remarkable season in 1998 by doing almost everything wrong once they claimed a spot in the big game.

“I didn’t do a good enough job of making them understand that you don’t want to just be there,” said Dan Reeves, who was the Falcons’ coach.…