6/12/2023 0 Comments Mighty vikingsThe Falcons offense never jumped early and never had to call time out because of noise. They never let the crowd intimidate them as it had nine other opponents who lost to the Vikings by an average of 23 points. But he finished with just six catches for 75 yards - just one catch for 4 yards in the second half and overtime.Įven more critical was the Falcons' poise. ![]() Yes, Moss had a 31-yard TD pass that evened the scored after Atlanta had taken a 7-0 lead. 15, 1997 - to have a chance to win.Īnd it was a huge disappointment for the Vikings, who looked all season like they would roll unimpeded to Miami for the Super Bowl.īut Randall Cunningham and Randy Moss didn't reckon with the Atlanta defense, led by Tuggle, Ray Buchanan, Chuck Smith, Eugene Robinson and what must have looked like a million swarming white shirts to the Vikings. The victory was richly deserved by the Falcons, even though it took a fluke - Anderson's first miss of any kind since Dec. Reeves also was involved in the last conference championship overtime game in 1987, when his Denver Broncos defeated the Cleveland Browns 23-20. He also got there with Denver in 1987, 19, losing all three times. The win puts Reeves in elite company - he is only the third coach to lead two different teams to the Super Bowl. While his teammates boogied, Danish-born Andersen, a 17-year veteran, ran around the field screaming, "We're going to Miami! We're going to Miami!" in his native tongue. "If I can handle this with my heart I can handle anything," he said. But not only did we come here to play in it, we came here to win it."Ītlanta coach Dan Reeves, who had quadruple heart bypass surgery a month ago, fulfilled a pledge to his players by dancing their "dirty bird" jig on the sideline. ![]() "No one thought we would be where we are right now, playing in the NFC championship. "We shocked the world! We shocked the world! Atlanta's on fire, we're going to Miami," said Jessie Tuggle, who has spent many losing seasons with the team. ![]() His 29-yard pass to Ronnie Harris set up a 16-yard TD pass to Terance Mathis to tie it at 27 - and quiet the crowd.Īfter Andersen's field goal, the Falcons were the only ones making any noise. That 38 yards was the same distance from which Minnesota's Gary Anderson missed - after making 121 straight kicks over two seasons - with 2:07 left in regulation and the Vikings ahead 27-20.Ĭhandler took advantage of the opening, leading Atlanta on a 71-yard, eight-play drive. Chris Chandler, hobbling on a bad ankle, took the team on a 70-yard, seven-play drive to set it up in the deafening din of the Metrodome. Morten Andersen kicked a 38-yard field goal with 3:08 left in the first overtime to give Atlanta a stunning 30-27 upset of the Vikings on Sunday. Minnesotans will rue it as The Miss that kept their heavily favored Vikings out of the NFL title game.The rest of the football world simply will regard it as one of the greatest games ever played. MINNEAPOLIS - In years to come, Atlantans will fondly recall it as The Drive that sent their beloved Falcons to the Super Bowl for the first time in the team's 33-year history.
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