Atlanta Falcons

Why did the Falcons call PASSING PLAYS in the final minutes of the Super Bowl instead of running the ball and kicking a FG that would have put the game out of reach?!?!

That's exactly what we asked ATL head coach Dan Quinn.

Coach Quinn -- who couldn't have been nicer -- essentially says that drive is NOT why they lost the game. They blew other chances to ice the Patriots, too.

The good news ... he's staying positive and says, "Hopefully we get a chance to battle for one again. We'll be ready."

Atlanta Falcons legend Roddy White says he's spoken with players on the team who are still frustrated with the play calling at the end of the Super Bowl ... and says, "The City of Atlanta needed [that win]."

Roddy obviously loves the organization but says facts are facts ... several players were just as confused at the play calling in the 4th quarter as the fans at home.

White says "you don't have to be a football genius" to realize the team should've run the ball 3 times and kicked a field goal instead of trying to pass when they were up by 8. Dumb.

Steve Sarkisian's latest run as a college coach is over after just 1 game ... 'cause the now ex-Alabama offensive coordinator is bolting Tuscaloosa for the Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons just announced that Sarkisian -- who 'Bama hired to replace Lane Kiffin as coordinator back in December -- has accepted the team's vacant offensive coordinator position ... after Kyle Shanahan left to coach the 49ers.

Sark coached 'Bama in just 1 game ... the National Championship loss to Clemson.

BTW, just last week we saw Sark at LAX and asked him whether he'd ever be interested in the NFL.

Several ATL Falcons players went full REPTILE before the Super Bowl -- wearing expensive python skin warmup hoodies ... TMZ Sports has learned.

We've actually seen a bunch of NFL star rockin' the look -- from Ezekiel Elliott to Odell Beckham -- so we did some digging and found out they run about $500 a pop!

Falcons safety Jalen Collins actually bought the hoodies for his secondary unit as a Super Bowl gift ... this according to the company behind the clothing, Renzo Cardoni.

We're told some of the Patriots also got in on the look -- Dion Lewis and LeGarrette Blount also got custom made hoodies.

Biggest Super Bowl blunder ever has gotta go to Young Jeezy ... for bailing on the Falcons at the start of overtime and crowning them champs ... before the GREATEST. COMEBACK. EVER.

Jeezy and his crew were leaving NRG Stadium with the game tied 28-28 ... but despite relinquishing a 25 point lead, the rapper's confident as hell ATL's bringing home the Lombardi Trophy.

Check it out ... Jeezy's even got a parade date in mind.

As if losing the Super Bowl wasn't bad enough, the ATL Falcons just got the FINGER WAG OF SHAME from Dikembe Mutombo.

Mutombo was leaving NRG Stadium in Houston -- still sporting his Falcons jersey -- when we asked if he was impressed with the Patriots' comeback. That's when he busted out the finger.

Tom Hardy knows where he should place his allegiance for Super Bowl LI ... and he's got his dog to thank for the direction.

Tom was interviewing on Fox Sunday, where he was asked who he's got to win the big game.

Due to Woodstock -- the canine, not the friend -- being from Georgia, he seems to have his pick.

BTW ... he's really got a thing for dogs ...

The Houston Police Department is expecting the worst outside the Super Bowl and is ready to combat a wave of Prez Trump protesters making noise about disrupting the game.

Our law enforcement sources say officers, in uniform and undercover, will monitor crowds outside NRG Stadium. We're told several online groups have popped up in recent days organizing protests -- some anti-Trump, some for Black Lives Matter, Standing Rock and refugees.

HPD has plenty of backup, having borrowed cops from around the country. As usual for the Super Bowl ... we're told SWAT will be posted nearby if protests turn into riots and get out of hand.

Houston Texans star Whitney Mercilus is dishing out some advice to the Falcons AND the Patriots -- stay out of Houston's legendary booty clubs ... until AFTER the big game!!!

Whitney's great -- he says the nightlife in Houston is incredible (especially during Super Bowl week) but says the party scene can be super dangerous for the Super Bowl players.

By the way, it's not like this hasn't happened before ... a group of 49ers stars hit the strip club on the Thursday night before the 2013 Super Bowl. They lost that game to the Ravens.

Two more reasons to watch the Super Bowl halftime show -- because, once again, you can BET on whether Lady Gaga will show cleavage ... and the smart money's on "Yes."

Get the bust ready in Canton, because Julio Jones has ALREADY earned a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame ... so says someone who's already there, Hall of Famer Mike Haynes.

The Raiders legend has touched down in Houston where he's already singing Julio's praises -- saying the ATL Falcons stud is "one of the premiere receivers of all time."

FYI, Jones is only 27 ... he's a 4-time Pro Bowler, led the league in receiving yards in 2015 and set the Falcons single game yards record with 300 in one game.

Dude's a beast ... but does Haynes think HE coulda stopped Julio back in his prime? We asked.

ATL Falcons stud receiver Mohamed Sanu has one hell of an expert helping to guide his career ... NFL Hall of Famer Andre Reed.

The Buffalo Bills legend just touched down in Houston where he'll cheer on his 27-year-old protege -- so we had to ask how he felt about Sanu, who is Muslim, refusing to answer questions about Trump at Super Bowl Media Day.

Attention, Patriots fans ... Tom Brady has given specific marching orders to ALL OF YOU to get ready for the big day.

The QB took the stage at a massive pep rally at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough on Monday and told fans how they should prepare for Sunday.

Thousands of people showed up to the event ... including the Greater Boston Firefighters Pipes and Drums group, which provided the tunes.

Meanwhile, over in Atlanta ... thousands of Falcons fans packed Atlantic Station to see the team buses off.

It was a crazy scene -- and it's clear both cities are FIRED UP!!!!

Here's Atlanta Hawks co-owner Tony Ressler telling TMZ Sports he's 100% riding with the Falcons to win a championship ... because his Hawks probably ain't getting it done.

We got Tony out at Madeo and asked what it would mean for the city of Atlanta to finally win a Super Bowl ... and when he thought the Hawks might raise a trophy themselves.

He said a Falcons 'ship could "only help" the city ... and as far as the Hawks, he says they'll get it done "someday," but it's clear he doesn't think that day is happening in 2017.

Listen, the guy probably ain't lying ... the Hawks are 4th in the East right now, but let's face it, it's all about the Cavs -- and LeBron James -- right now in that conference.

Here's 74-year-old cancer survivor Arthur Blank GETTIN' DOWN with his bad self after the Falcons beat up on the Packers.

The Falcons owner let the music take control of his arms ... his hips ... his feet ... everything ... while Jermaine Dupri's "Welcome to Atlanta" blasted from the stadium speakers.

Blank has a history of dancing after big wins -- he cut a rug in the locker room after the team beat the Seahawks last week.

Wonder what he's got in store if they beat the Pats?!

The Atlanta Falcons had some major celebrity support on the sidelines during the NFC championship -- Usher, Ludacris, Jeezy, Jermaine Dupri, Bow Wow, Da Brat and more ... and TMZ Sports has the footage.

Dirty Bird Nation represented strong -- and the fact the Falcons CRUSHED Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers meant everyone was in a great mood the entire afternoon!

Ray Lewis was also there!

Nothing brings people together like winning!