When I think of the Atlanta Falcons, who host the Browns on Sunday, what comes to mind is that Super Bowl a few years back in which they led the New England Patriots by 25 points, 28-3, with two minutes left in the third quarter.

It was like watching a bunch of sloths trying to keep up with roadrunners. It was no longer a question of whether the Falcons were going to win or not, but rather just by how much.

If this had been a high school game, then everybody would have been waiting for the lead to get so big — 30 to 35 points, depending on the state — that the mercy rule would be implemented, with its running clock. Can you imagine Bill Belichick operating with a running clock?

Actually, with the way the Falcons were dominating, the bigger question was just how many Super Bowls in a row they were going to win.

Then everything changed — immediately. The Falcons got clobbered from that point on and lost.

Not just that, but the traumatizing effect caused by the huge collapse destroyed the Falcons. The head coach, Dan Quinn, was eventually fired and almost all of the players, including star quarterback Matt Ryan, were gone as well.

It is another example of, when the stars are all aligned in just the right way and the window of opportunity is thrown wide open, a team had better take advantage of it because it will be much different beginning the following year. All the things that go well in that special season somehow go bad the next season. And it just keeps getting worse.

The Falcons are still rebuilding. We’ll see if the Browns can keep that tedious effort from progressing.

Steve King