Super Bowl 2017: Matt Ryan couldn’t break an MVP curse to win the Falcons’ first ring

The last eight NFL Most Valuable Players to reach the Super Bowl have all lost, with Matt Ryan joining the list Sunday night. It has nothing to do with the reason the Atlanta Falcons lost, but it’s still a strange coincidence — eerily reminiscent of the Madden curse — worth looking into.

Matt Ryan, please stop reading. This MVP curse starts with a late comeback by Tom Brady. Warner led the Rams to tie the game after trailing, 17-3, at the start of the fourth quarter. But Brady led the charge in the final minute to set up a 48-yard field goal for the win.

After throwing 10 interceptions in the entire season, Gannon threw five in Super Bowl XXXVII, and his Oakland team was crushed, 48-21, by Tampa Bay.

After reaching the end zone 27 times, Alexander never made it there during Super Bowl XL. He rushed for 95 yards on 20 carries, but it wasn’t enough as the Seahawks fell to the Steelers, 21-10.

You can open your eyes again, MVP Matt Ryan. Tom Brady played fine, with 266 yards on 29-of-48 completions and a touchdown. But David Tyree’s helmet helped the Giants beat the undefeated Patriots, 17-14.

Manning and his Colts team were outplayed by Drew Brees and the Saints in a 31-17 defeat. New Orleans outscored Indianapolis, 15-0, in the final frame.

If this curse is real, Manning should’ve declined his MVP award. The Broncos were thoroughly outdueled, 43-8, in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Dabbin’ Cam didn’t have enough to beat Peyton Manning and the Broncos. He threw for no touchdowns and an interception as not-MVP Manning won his final Super Bowl.

Ryan didn’t have a bad game, but the Falcons offense just didn’t produce highlights like it usually does. Even when Devonta Freeman busted huge runs or Julio Jones made ridiculous receptions, the offense just didn’t score enough and allowed the Patriots to pull off a comeback for the ages.