The city of Atlanta has been selected to host the championship game of this country’s biggest sport. On Tuesday, the NFL announced that Super Bowl LXII will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
It will be the fourth time Atlanta has hosted the Super Bowl and the second time since Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened in 2017. The previous two Atlanta Super Bowls were played at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons have not been to the big game since their infamous loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl LI.
With the city set to host in 2028, let’s check out what happened in each of the previous Super Bowls played in Atlanta.
1. January 1994 – Super Bowl 28
- Buffalo Bills vs. Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl 28 is mainly remembered for being the fourth consecutive year that the Buffalo Bills lost the big game. Buffalo jumped out to a 13-6 first-half lead before allowing Dallas to take control in the second half. The Cowboys scored 14 points in the third quarter and 10 more in the fourth for a final score of 30-13.
2. January 2000 – Super Bowl 34
- Tennessee Titans vs. St. Louis Rams
Super Bowl 34 is one of the most iconic Super Bowls to date due to the Tennessee Titans falling inches short of scoring the game-tying touchdown in the final seconds. Titans QB Steve McNair connected with receiver Kevin Dyson with the end zone in reach. Linebacker Mike Jones noticed Dyson breaking open to the goal line and made the crucial tackle to seal a 24-17 Rams win.
3. February 2018 – Super Bowl 53
- Los Angeles Rams vs. New England Patriots
Super Bowl 53, the last time the city of Atlanta hosted, was largely a defensive effort as the game was tied 3-3 heading into the fourth quarter. The game’s first touchdown wasn’t scored until seven minutes left in the game when the Patriots took a 10-3 lead. This was a Rams team that scored 30 or more points 11 times that season, including hanging 54 on Kansas City and 48 on San Francisco. New England held on for a 13-3 victory.
Next year, the game will be played in New Orleans. San Francisco will host in 2026 before Los Angeles hosts the following year. Then, it’s back to Atlanta in 2028.
