NFC Championship game rewind: 1998 NFC Championship, Atlanta stuns high-powered Minnesota 30-27
They say flashbacks happen all the time whether they're good or bad, but in the NFL they are meant to be classic, so this flashback to the 1998 NFC championship game is maybe one of the biggest upsets in playoff history as the Atlanta Falcons upset the Minnesota Vikings 30-27 in the MetroDome.
The playoffs were full of upsets in 1998 when Dallas was upset my Arizona, the 49ers upset Green Bay, so it was fitting that the Falcons could upset the 16-1 Vikings....right? Whatever the case was, it didn't scare the Falcons who had finished their best season in franchise history at 14-2. Led by "Mr. Dirty Bird" Running back Jamal Anderson (1,846 rushing yards, 18 touchdowns in 1998), the Falcons were primed and ready to give one of the NFL highest scoring offenses are run for their money.
Anderson set a franchise record for rushing yards (1,846) and rushing touchdowns (18)
The falcons came in underdogs (-11) but from their opening drive touchdown until maybe the greatest kick in NFL playoff history, Atlanta never gave in to the pressure. They were able to keep rookie sensation Randy Moss from taking the top off the defense by holding him to 75 yards and a touchdown and keeping Randall Cunningham from hitting big plays down the field as, he was held under 300 yards.
Atlanta was able to keep the dynamic duo of Carter and Moss in check for most of the game
The game was nip and tuck the first half, but the fumble before halftime (strip sack by Chuck Smith) may have been the momentum swing the Falcons needed as the Vikings were up 20-7 and looking to put the game out of reach with a score. Atlanta would score before the half on a touchdown from QB Chris Chandler to Terance Mathis and it put the falcons right back in the contest.
Mathis had 2 crucial TD catches against the Vikings
The Vikings battled their way to a 27-20 lead late in the fourth quarter and were about to put the game away when kicker Gary Anderson missed a chip shot, 38-yard field goal with 2:07 remaining in the game, giving the Falcons one last shot to tie the game and force overtime. Atlanta would do just that by driving 72 yards down the field in crunch time, ending the touchdown drive with another Chandler to Mathis hook up this time from 16 yards out.
Overtime would become a battle of two determined teams as the Falcons defense stifled the Vikings offense on two drives, but the Vikings defense could not hold the Atlanta offense any longer as the Falcons would drive 70 yards down the field, setting up Morten Anderson for the game-winning kick from ironically 38 yards out.
Andersen's 38-yard game-winning field goal cemented Atlanta's first ever Super Bowl appearance
The Falcons pulled off the big upset with the help of much traveled QB Chris Chandler, Terence Mathis and unsung hero WR Tony Martin (5 receptions, 129 yards), advancing to their first Super Bowl in team history.
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