Falcons fans stunned

The Atlanta Falcons have arrived in Atlanta following a devastating loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI.

SKYFOX 5 flew overhead as the team's motorcade traveled to Flowery Branch on Monday. Fans greeted them as their buses pulled into their training facility.

Meanwhile, Falcons fans are trying to cope with the heartbreaking loss.

"We have been battling for the Super Bowl for so long," said Falcons fan Rachel Shwartsman late Sunday night. "It's been pretty rough, but we'll come back next year and that's the way to do it."

In Buckhead, Michael Cochan told FOX 5 it was the worst loss.

"We have a great team," Cochan said. "I feel pain right now. It's unbelievable. We gotta come back in the next five years and finish the job."

Mayor Kasim Reed issued the following statement congratulating the Falcons on a well fought season:

"On behalf of the best fans in the league, I would like to congratulate our Atlanta Falcons, Arthur Blank, Coach Dan Quinn, and President and Chief Executive Officer Rich McKay. The Atlanta Falcons had an incredible season and played a terrific game in Super Bowl LI, and we could not be prouder.

The team and its coaching staff had an outstanding record of achievement this season, including being named NFC Champions and our quarterback Matt Ryan earning recognition as the NFL's MVP. The entire Atlanta Falcons organization has always been committed to our city and gives back to our neighborhoods every day. Now it's our turn to proudly support them.

The Atlanta Falcons begin a new era this fall, playing in the world-class Mercedes-Benz Stadium. I look forward to attending the first game in their new home and cheering on our NFC Champions.

Congratulations to the City of Boston and to the New England Patriots on a hard fought Super Bowl victory."

The Patriots capped an historic comeback with a touchdown on the opening drive of overtime, defeating the Falcons 34-28 in Super Bowl LI. Before this year, no team had come back from a deficit of more than 10 points to win a Super Bowl. The Patriots scored 31 straight points to close the game, behind quarterback Tom Brady's 43 for 62 passing performance, good for 466 yards and two touchdowns.

"We all brought each other back. We never felt out of it. It was a tough battle, Brady said after the game. "They have a great team. I give them a lot of credit. We just made a few more plays than them."

"There's nothing you can really say, it's a tough loss," said Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. "It's hard to find words."

"I think for sure we ran out of gas," Falcons Coach Dan Quinn said. "But, I can tell you how hard these guys battled for it."

To make the loss even harder, a number of Atlanta stores were forced to remove the Falcons victory shirts from mannequins, and championship hats from store shelves. Boxes of merchandise now has to go back, and will not be sold.

RELATED: Historic comeback gives New England 34-28 victory over Atlanta in Super Bowl LI

[mannygatillo]

3 years later and they still haven’t recovered from that epic meltdown

[aboldone]

Falcons fans: We'll come back next year!
Falcons get beat by an Eagles squad with a back up quaterback.
Falcons fans: WASTED.

[fredrichs]

The Patriots did deserve it. Served them right for celebrating before it was over.

[joevignoloru]

When it's Tom Brady and the Patriots it's never over until it's over.

[stesoteric]

They had "Falcons SuperBowl Champions" shirts on mannequins already?? lol damn

[johnbisson]

My god these videos NEVER get old! Every single time, watching the sadness on the faces, it's just too much. Love it!

[Hempus]

“They didn’t deserve that win”

Biggest Hurt Butthole Award goes to this man

[jameymikels]

Atlanta Super Bowl Champion apparel will now be proudly worn by the children in Africa!!! LOL

[derrickzane]

Hey Atlanta, as a long term Pats fan Since 1985 I can tell you that indeed Atlanta's day will come. The years and years of suck after suck that New England suffered through seemed like they would never end, but eventually our time in the sun came, just keep your faith in your team, it will eventually play out. Even the Patriots were an 0-2 Super Bowl team, keep the faith. Just ask Cubs fans, they know about this sort of thing.

[tomxconn]

No Atlanta sports loss was ever more painful. Absolutely brutal.

[jchurch]

All these salty fans that are soo delusional. The Patriots spotted you 28 points and you blew it.. Your team will never win a ring to be honest, Matt Ryan is another regular season wonder just like Payton Manning.

[johnnyroberts]

“We gotta come back within the next 5 years and finish the job.”

I don’t think that ever came to fruition.

[CEverly]

"We'll come back next year." Um, no, you wont. lol

[scottlebrun]

As a Boston guy, maybe this will make one Atlanta fan feel better: This is how I felt in '86 when the Pats got crushed by the Bears. This is how I felt in '86 when the ball went through Buckner's legs. This is how I felt when Len Bias and Reggie Lewis died. This is how I felt when the Bruins got crushed in the Stanley Cup in '88 and '90. This is how I felt when the Pats went 1-15 and 2-14 in the early 90s. This is how I felt when the Pats lost to the Packers in '97. This is how I felt when the Yankees came back in game 7 of the ALCS in 2003. Luck changes. Hang in there.

[miguelthenyfan]

The one when the employee's were removing the hats, shirts got me dying XD this is why never celebrate to early

[jacobfriedman]

Why did they keep showing that same clip of a screen pass that didn't work

[timothynellis]

Loyal is the word? That reporter clearly didn't see how many showed up to welcome the team back.

[andnowmikejae]

it's never over when you play Tom The G.O.A.T Brady!!!

[frodolives]

the greatest Superbowl game ever played, and perhaps the greatest NFL game ever played period. You guys played tremendous. The game was on the edge of being wrapped up, before a series of coaching blunders, penalties and the absolute outstanding sacks by Hightower and Flowers. I thought after the Julio Jones AMAZING catch, the game was close to over. Then, instead of just running the ball, killing clock and kicking a field goal, to make it a two possession game. After a 3rd and 1, instead of running there is the sack, then the holding call to move out of range. At that point when Brady has the ball one score down, 91 yards or not, he cannot be stopped. He willed that team to win and played absolutely out of his mind. Cementing forever himself as the G.O.A.T of ALL TIME. GO GO

[kingulrich]

7 years has passed and some falcons fans still feels the pain