NFC Championship Title (1998)

Lore & Background

The game is considered one of the most memorable conference championship games in NFL history. Entering the playoffs, the Vikings were the favorite to win the Super Bowl, as they had set the NFL record for most points scored by a team in a single season. They had gone undefeated in their home stadium, the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, during the regular season, and their placekicker, Gary Anderson, had become the first kicker in NFL history to convert every field goal and extra point attempt in a season. At a critical moment late in the game, Anderson missed a field goal for the first time that year, which, if converted, would have given the Vikings a nearly insurmountable 10-point lead. Instead, the Falcons scored a touchdown to tie the game on their ensuing drive and subsequently won by a field goal in overtime. Due to its impact on the game's outcome, Anderson's missed field goal has since become the focal point of the loss. The Falcons lost 34–19 to the Denver Broncos two weeks later in Super Bowl XXXIII. The Falcons would not return to the Super Bowl until the 2016 NFL season, when the Falcons lost in overtime to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI. Although the game long stood as the proudest moment in the history of the Falcons franchise, the 1998 NFC Championship Game has been remembered for the effect it had on the Vikings players and their fan base, as it is seen by some sportswriters as one of the most devastating losses in NFL history.

In Their Own Story

The Georgia Dome hummed with a nervous energy that only an NFC Championship could produce. As the clock ticked down to single digits, the Falcons lined up for one last chance. The ball snapped, the quarterback dropped back, and the stadium held its breath in unison. It was a moment where history felt within reach, hanging by a thread before the final whistle silenced the dream.

Reader's Guide

The Falcons won the coin toss before the game and elected to receive the opening kickoff. They drove down the field and scored first on a five-yard touchdown pass to Jamal Anderson. On the next drive, the Vikings answered the score with a 31-yard touchdown pass from Cunningham to Randy Moss, tying the game at 7. Neither team scored in the remainder of the first quarter. In the second quarter, Gary Anderson kicked a field goal after the Vikings recovered a Falcons fumble to make the score 10–7. After forcing the Falcons to punt on the next drive, the Vikings scored another touchdown on a one-yard run by Cunningham, increasing the lead to 17–7 with five minutes remaining in the first half. The Falcons then lost another fumble, which gave possession back to the Vikings. On the ensuing drive, Moss dropped what would have been a touchdown pass. The Falcons eventually tied the game and won in overtime by a field goal.

Did You Know?

• The Falcons won their first conference championship and advanced to their first Super Bowl appearance.
• 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.
• Gary Anderson missed his first field goal of the season at a critical moment late in the game.
• The Falcons were 11-point underdogs entering the game.

Dominant Offensive Production

The 2016 campaign stands as a statistical marvel for the Atlanta Falcons, headlined by quarterback Matt Ryan earning the NFL MVP award. The unit was historically prolific, accumulating 540 points total, which ranked as the highest single-season output in the league that year and secured an eighth-place spot on the all-time scoring list. Their offensive consistency was remarkable; they managed to score fewer than twenty-three points only once during the entire regular season, a rare occurrence against the Philadelphia Eagles. Such dominance propelled the team to an 11–5 record, securing the NFC South title for the first time since 2012 and earning them the second seed in the conference playoffs.

Playoff Ascent and Super Bowl Heartbreak

Following their divisional victory, the Falcons navigated a challenging postseason path that began with a decisive 36–20 win over the Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round. This victory set the stage for an emphatic 44–21 triumph against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, sending Atlanta to their second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. In Super Bowl LI against the New England Patriots, the Falcons constructed a seemingly insurmountable 28–3 lead by midway through the third quarter. However, the game took a historic turn as the Patriots mounted an unprecedented comeback, scoring twenty-five unanswered points to force overtime—the first time ever in Super Bowl history. Ultimately, Atlanta's defense could not contain New England in extra time, resulting in a heartbreaking 34–28 loss that remains one of the most dramatic collapses in professional sports.

Regular Season Volatility and Resilience

Despite their eventual success, the Falcons' regular season was marked by significant volatility and narrow escapes. Early struggles included starting the year 0–1 for the first time since 2013 before finding their rhythm. A particularly stinging defeat occurred in Week 7 against the San Diego Chargers, where Atlanta surrendered a seventeen-point lead to lose in overtime after a missed field goal attempt; this loss foreshadowed larger collapses later in the year. Another close call came in Week 13 versus the Kansas City Chiefs, where a failed two-point conversion and a subsequent interception returned for a score by Eric Berry handed Kansas City a one-point victory. Yet, the team displayed resilience, clinching their divisional title in Week 16 with a road win against Carolina while also securing a crucial final regular-season home game at the Georgia Dome against New Orleans to finish as the NFC's number two seed.

Franchise Milestones and Historical Context

The 2016 season served as a pivotal transition point for the franchise, marking their fifty-first year in the NFL and their second under head coach Dan Quinn. It was also the team's twenty-fifth and final home campaign at the Georgia Dome before relocating to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium the following year. The roster construction involved strategic adjustments, including forfeiting a fifth-round draft pick due to past violations regarding artificial crowd noise during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, while also executing trades involving sixth-round selections for veteran depth like guard Andy Levitre. As of recent years, this season remains the most successful in terms of divisional dominance, representing the last time Atlanta has won the NFC South title. The combination of record-breaking offense and a Super Bowl appearance cements this era as a defining chapter in the team's modern history.