As of October 2015, a record of 12-4 would have certainly earned the Falcons a playoff spot, with perhaps a first round bye. Did that, however, mean that they were contenders for the 2016 Super Bowl?
It was likely, but 3 things hindered the Falcons from getting to the second Super Bowl in the history of the franchise: First, the Falcons had not won consecutive playoff matches since 1998. Second, in the NFC playoffs, Matt Ryan was 1-4. Third, the Falcons and the Packers played in the same conference.
Since the unbelievable 1998 Falcons team (14-2 record, NFC trophy holders), Atlanta had only won 3 playoff matches – the Wild Card round against the Packers in 2002, the Divisional