The internet lives forever. The Atlanta Falcons recently found out how costly a slip on social media can be and New Orleans Saints fans are having a field day with it.
The Falcons posted a picture of Jessie Bates and newly-signed cornerback Mike Ford posing next to each other at organized team activities. It isn't uncommon for teams to post pictures or videos to hype up the upcoming season. The Saints have posted multiple video packages this offseason.
Unfortunately for Atlanta and fortunately for Saints fans, the Falcons picked the worst pairing of players they could have to stand next to each other. Bates wears No. 3 and Ford wears No. 28. Together, these numbers make the score of Super Bowl LI before the Patriots came thundering back.
Saints fans have fun with the Falcons' mistake
It didn't take New Orleans Saints fans long to screenshot the post. The Falcons realized what they had done and deleted the post, but what did we say in the beginning? The internet lives forever. This post will go down in history through screenshots.
One Saints fan couldn't do anything but laugh in the Falcons' face. Another fan posted the screenshot with the question, "Do the Saints have someone working for the Falcons social media team???" It is genuinely surprising the social media team was so careless to orchestrate and post this picture.
Impact of the Falcons' Super Bowl LI collapse
The Falcons are known to choke, but this was special. Atlanta giving up a 25 point lead to the New England Patriots is one of the most memorable sports moments of the last decade, and that isn't a Saints fan speaking. It's the largest comeback in Super Bowl history.
It's also the moment the tide turned on Tom Brady's greatest of all time argument. For many, it was that moment that stamped him as the GOAT. It was Brady's fifth Super Bowl ring. That put him above Joe Montana in number of rings, but the way he did it was most impressive. The dramatic fashion and the stage he did it on makes this arguably the most iconic moment of his career.
This is what the Falcons reminded us of with a simple picture. 28-3 will never die, but it's always nice to bring it back to the forefront. I'll say something I never say. Thank you Atlanta.