1998 NFC Championship Victory
The Falcons stunned the Vikings in overtime to claim their first NFC title.
The 1998 NFC Championship Game was the 29th title game of the NFC, played on January 17, 1999, at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis. The visiting Atlanta Falcons defeated the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings 30–27 in sudden death overtime to win their first conference championship and advance to the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance.
- Opponent
- Minnesota Vikings
- Venue
- Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Lore & Background
The Vikings entered the playoffs as the favorite to win the Super Bowl, having set an NFL record for most points scored in a season and going undefeated at home. Their placekicker, Gary Anderson, had become the first kicker in NFL history to convert every field goal and extra point attempt in a season. Late in the game, Anderson missed a field goal for the first time that year; if converted, it would have given the Vikings a nearly insurmountable 10-point lead. Instead, the Falcons scored a touchdown to tie the game and won by a field goal in overtime. The Vikings became the first team in NFL history to have at least 15 wins in the regular season and not win the Super Bowl.
In Their Own Story
The Georgia Dome hummed with electricity as the final seconds ticked away. Confetti hadn't fallen yet, but the roar of the crowd was deafening enough to shake the foundations. Players in black and red embraced on the turf, eyes scanning the scoreboard one last time before reality set in: they were going to Miami for the Super Bowl.
Reader's Guide
The Falcons lost 34–19 to the Denver Broncos two weeks later in Super Bowl XXXIII. They would not return to the Super Bowl until the 2016 NFL season, when they lost in overtime to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI. The game long stood as the proudest moment in Falcons franchise history, but has been remembered for its devastating effect on the Vikings players and fan base.
Did You Know?
- The Falcons had never advanced to the NFC Championship game before 1998.
- Gary Anderson's missed field goal was his first miss of the entire 1998 season.
- The Vikings had set an NFL record for most points scored by a team in a single season entering the playoffs.
More in Honours & Records
Elsewhere in the Atlanta Falcons universe
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