1998 Atlanta Falcons season
Encyclopedia
The 1998
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...

 Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

 season
saw the Falcons qualify for the Super Bowl for the first time under the guidance of second-year head coach Dan Reeves. The team won its final nine games of the season to earn the #2 seed in the NFC
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...

 for the playoffs and the first-week bye. They beat the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

 in the Divisional round and the #1-seed Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...

 in the NFC Championship Game before losing to Reeves' old team, the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

, 34-19 in Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII
Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion, following the 1998 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football...

.

Head coach Dan Reeves almost didn't make it to the end of the season. After Week 14, he was diagnosed with multiple blockages to his coronary arteries, necessitating quadruple bypass surgery. Reeves admitted he ignored the warning signs in hopes of finishing the season, but ultimately felt he needed to be checked out. Doctors stated by the time he went for treatment, he may have been "within hours of a catastrophic heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...

. Defensive coordinator Rich Brooks
Rich Brooks
Rich Brooks is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at the University of Oregon from 1977 to 1994 and at the University of Kentucky from 2003 to 2009, compiling a career college football record of 128–154–4. Brooks was also the head coach of the...

 substituted for him has head coach during Weeks 15 and 16. Reeves returned for Week 17 and finished the season.

The Falcons ranked fourth in the league in points scored (442 points) and were also fourth in fewest points allowed (289); the Falcons also led the league in turnover differential at +20.

NFL Draft

1998 Atlanta Falcons Draft Selections
Draft order Player name Position College
Round Choice
1 12 Keith Brooking
Keith Brooking
Keith Howard Brooking is a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech...

LB Georgia Tech
2 53 Bob Hallen
Bob Hallen
Robert Joseph Hallen is a former American football player. He played high school football at Mentor High School where he was honorable mention all-state his senior season. He was a four year starter at Kent State University while starting 44 consecutive games...

C Kent State
3 74 Jammi German
Jammi German
Jammi Darnell German is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League....

WR Miami (Fla.)
4 103 Omar Brown DB North Carolina
4 114 Tim Dwight
Tim Dwight
Timothy Deutch Dwight, Jr. is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...

WR Iowa
6 166 Elijah Williams DB Florida
7 199 Ephraim Salaam
Ephraim Salaam
Ephraim Mateen Salaam is an American football Offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft...

T San Diego State
7 201 Ken Oxendine
Ken Oxendine
Ken Qwarious Oxendine is a former professional American football player who played running back for two seasons for the Atlanta Falcons.In college, Oxendine played for the Virginia Tech Hokies...

RB Virginia Tech
7 203 Henry Slay DT West Virginia


Staff

Roster

1998 Atlanta Falcons roster
Quarterbacks
  • 12 Chris Chandler
    Chris Chandler
    Christopher Mark Chandler is a retired American football player, who played as a quarterback in the National Football League for 17 seasons. He is known for leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 14-2 season in 1998, followed up with an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII.-Early years:Chris Chandler was...

  • 17 Steve DeBerg
    Steve DeBerg
    Steven Leroy DeBerg had a long career as an American Football quarterback. His career spanned 21 years over 3 decades. Despite the fact that large portions of his career were spent as a backup, DeBerg ultimately accumulated some impressive NFL statistics, particularly during the early 1990s, when...

  • 13 Tony Graziani
    Tony Graziani
    Anthony Robert Graziani was an American football quarterback who played for the Atlanta Falcons in the National Football League, and the Los Angeles Avengers and Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. Graziani played college football at the University of Oregon...



Running Backs
  • 32 Jamal Anderson
    Jamal Anderson
    Jamal Sharif Anderson is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played high school football at El Camino Real High School, where he was named to the CIF Los Angeles City Section...

  • -- Bob Christian
    Bob Christian
    Robert Douglas Christian is a former American football fullback who played ten seasons in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears, the Carolina Panthers, and the Atlanta Falcons from 1992 to 2002. He was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the 1995 NFL Expansion Draft...

     FB
  • 45 Gary Downs
    Gary Downs
    Gary McLinton Downs, Jr. is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Giants, the Denver Broncos, and the Atlanta Falcons...

  • 28 Harold Green
  • 33 Ken Oxendine
    Ken Oxendine
    Ken Qwarious Oxendine is a former professional American football player who played running back for two seasons for the Atlanta Falcons.In college, Oxendine played for the Virginia Tech Hokies...



Wide Receivers
  • 83 Tim Dwight
    Tim Dwight
    Timothy Deutch Dwight, Jr. is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...

    KR/PR
  • -- Jammi German
    Jammi German
    Jammi Darnell German is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League....

  • 82 Ronnie Harris
    Ronnie Harris (American football)
    Ronnie Harris is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for seven seasons for the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, and Atlanta Falcons...

  • 89 Todd Kinchen
    Todd Kinchen
    Todd Kinchen is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for seven seasons in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams, the St. Louis Rams, the Denver Broncos, and the Atlanta Falcons...

  • 80 Tony Martin
  • 81 Terance Mathis
    Terance Mathis
    Terance Mathis is an American former Pro Bowl wide receiver in the NFL. Drafted in 1990 by the New York Jets, he played the majority of his career with the Atlanta Falcons. He last played in the NFL in 2002 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, then retired in 2004...



Tight Ends
  • 85 Brian Kozlowski
    Brian Kozlowski
    Brian Scott Kozlowski is an American football tight end in the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 1993...

     FB
  • 84 Rodrick Monroe
  • 88 O. J. Santiago
  • 86 Ed Smith
    Ed Smith (tight end)
    Edward Martin Smith is a former American football tight end who played for the NFL's Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, and Detroit Lions from 1997–1999. Prior to that, Smith played baseball in the minor league systems of the Chicago White Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, and Cleveland...

Offensive Linemen
  • 68 Calvin Collins
    Calvin Collins
    Calvin Lewis Collins is a former American football guard who played seven seasons in the National Football League from 1997–2004...

     G
  • 64 Bob Hallen
    Bob Hallen
    Robert Joseph Hallen is a former American football player. He played high school football at Mentor High School where he was honorable mention all-state his senior season. He was a four year starter at Kent State University while starting 44 consecutive games...

    G
  • 76 Jose Portilla T
  • 74 Ephraim Salaam
    Ephraim Salaam
    Ephraim Mateen Salaam is an American football Offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft...

    T
  • 76 Adam Schreiber
    Adam Schreiber
    Adam Blayne Schreiber is a former American football center who played 199 games over 16 seasons in the National Football League with seven different teams....

     C/G
  • 61 Robbie Tobeck
    Robbie Tobeck
    Robert Lee Tobeck is a former National Football League center who last played for the Seattle Seahawks. Tobeck played 6 seasons for Seattle after being acquired as a free agent from the Atlanta Falcons after signing as a rookie in 1993....

     C
  • 70 Bob Whitfield
    Bob Whitfield
    Bob Lectress Whitfield III is a former American football offensive tackle in the National Football League.-Early career:...

     T
  • 79 Dave Widell
    Dave Widell
    David Harold Widell, Jr. is a former American football guard and tackle who played 11 seasons in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Atlanta Falcons. He was a part of the Atlanta Falcons' Super Bowl XXXIII losing team...

     G/C
  • 69 Gene Williams
    Gene Williams
    Gene Williams is a former NFL guard who played nine seasons in the NFL from 1991–1999. He started in Super Bowl XXXIII for the Atlanta Falcons. He played his high school football at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha NE. His team went undefeated and won the Class A state title his senior year....

     G


  • Defensive Linemen
    • 92 Lester Archambeau
      Lester Archambeau
      Lester Archambeau was a defensive end in the National Football League.Archambeau grew up in Montville, New Jersey and played high school football at Montville Township High School.-References:...

       DE
    • 91 John Burrough
      John Burrough (American football)
      John Leslie Burrough is a former American football defensive lineman in the National Football League. After playing college football at Washington State and Wyoming, Burrough was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 7th round of the 1995 NFL Draft...

       DE
    • 75 Shane Dronett
      Shane Dronett
      Shane Dronett was an American football defensive lineman, who played for the NFL's Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons between 1992 and 2002.-Early years:...

       DT
    • 96 Antonio Edwards
      Antonio Edwards
      Antonio Edwards is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Seattle Seahawks, the New York Giants, the Atlanta Falcons, and the Carolina Panthers. He played college football at Valdosta State University and was drafted in eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft...

       DE
    • 98 Travis Hall
      Travis Hall
      Travis Hall is an NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers. He plays the defensive tackle position. He went to Brigham Young University. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the 6th round in the 1995 NFL Draft...

       DT
    • 90 Chuck Smith DE
    • 93 Shawn Swayda DT/DE
    • 95 Esera Tuaolo
      Esera Tuaolo
      Esera Tavai Tuaolo is a retired American professional football player. He was a defensive lineman in the NFL for nine years.-Early life:...

       DT
    Linebackers
  • 97 Cornelius Bennett
    Cornelius Bennett
    Cornelius O'Landa Bennett is a former American football linebacker who played for the Buffalo Bills from 1987 to 1995, Atlanta Falcons from 1996 to 1998, and the Indianapolis Colts from 1999 to 2000...

     OLB
  • 56 Keith Brooking
    Keith Brooking
    Keith Howard Brooking is a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech...

    OLB
  • 94 Henri Crockett
    Henri Crockett
    Henri Woodrau Crockett is an American football player. He attended Ely High School in Pompano Beach, FL. As a youth Henri was recognized as an All-American Athlete in Parade Magazine’s Super Prep and Football Report. He earned an athletic scholarship and played linebacker at Florida State...

     OLB
  • 54 Ruffin Hamilton
    Ruffin Hamilton
    -Career:Hamilton was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1994 NFL Draft and spent the 1994 NFL season with the team. After two years away from the NFL, he spent three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons....

     MLB
  • 52 Craig Sauer
    Craig Sauer
    Craig Curtis Sauer is a former professional American football linebacker in the National Football League. He played for the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings...

     OLB
  • 59 Ben Talley OLB
  • 58 Jessie Tuggle
    Jessie Tuggle
    Jessie Floyd Tuggle is a former professional American football linebacker who played for the Atlanta Falcons his entire career from 1987 to 2000. He graduated from Valdosta State College in Valdosta, Georgia...

     MLB


  • Defensive Backs
    • 26 Darren Anderson
      Darren Anderson
      Darren Anderson is a former professional American football player who played defensive back for seven seasons for the New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Atlanta Falcons. Married to Robin Anderson, maiden name Thomas, since the 1990's.-References:...

       CB
    • 47 Chris Bayne S
    • -- Juran Bolden
      Juran Bolden
      Juran T. Bolden is a former American cornerback of American and Canadian football. He last played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League in 2007. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 1996 NFL Draft...

       CB
    • 20 Michael Booker CB
    • 23 Ronnie Bradford
      Ronnie Bradford
      Ronald L. "Ronnie" Bradford is a former defensive back who played for the NFL's Denver Broncos , Arizona Cardinals , Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings. He also served as a defensive assistant coach for the Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs...

       CB
    • 27 Omar Brown
      Omar Brown
      Commonwealth GamesOmar Brown is a Jamaican sprinter who specialises in the 200 metres.He was successful as a junior athlete, winning the silver and bronze medals in the 200 m and 100 metres races at the 1999 World Youth Championships. The following year he finished fourth at the World Junior...

      S
    • 34 Ray Buchanan
      Ray Buchanan
      Raymond Louis Buchanan is a former American football player in the NFL. He was drafted out of Louisville in 1993 by the Indianapolis Colts in the 3rd round , and subsequently played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Oakland Raiders.-High school career:At Proviso East High School in Maywood,...

       CB
    • 25 Devin Bush
      Devin Bush
      Devin Bush is a retired American football safety in the NFL. In college, he played for the Florida State Seminoles and was a member of the 1993 National Championship team. His defensive coordinator at Florida State, Mickey Andrews, later stated Bush "was the most complete player he had ever...

       S
    • 29 Randy Fuller
      Randy Fuller
      Randy Fuller is a former professional American football player who played cornerback for six seasons for the Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers. Atlanta Falcons, and Seattle Seahawks...

       CB
    • 41 Eugene Robinson
      Eugene Robinson
      Eugene Keefe Robinson is a former professional American football player who played free safety. He played collegiately at Colgate University...

       S
    • 35 William White S
    • 21 Elijah Williams
      Elijah Williams (American football)
      Elijah Elgebra Williams is a former American college and professional football player who was a defensive back and kick returner in the National Football League for four seasons in the late 1990s and early 2000s...

      CB


    Special Teams
    •  5 Morten Andersen
      Morten Andersen
      Morten Andersen , nicknamed "The Great Dane", is a former National Football League kicker. He holds the distinction of being the all-time leading scorer in NFL history, as well as being the all-time leading scorer for two different teams; the New Orleans Saints, with whom he spent 13 seasons, and...

       K
    •  4 Dan Stryzinski
      Dan Stryzinski
      Daniel Thomas Stryzinski is a former American football punter who played fourteen seasons in the National Football League. He played in Super Bowl XXXIII as a member of the Atlanta Falcons. Originally from Vincennes Indiana, Dan has called Atlanta his home for the last 15 years. Dan has a Finance...

       P
    Reserve Lists

    Practice Squad

    Rookies in italics

    Schedule

    Week Date Opponent Result Game site TV Time Attendance
    1 September 6, 1998 at Carolina Panthers
    Carolina Panthers
    The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...

     
    W 19-14 Ericsson Stadium
    Bank of America Stadium
    Bank of America Stadium is a 73,778-seat football stadium located on of land in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is the home facility of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise. It also hosts the annual Belk Bowl which features teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East...

     
    FOX 1:00et
    65,129
    2 September 13, 1998 Philadelphia Eagles
    Philadelphia Eagles
    The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

     
    W 17-12 Georgia Dome
    Georgia Dome
    The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...

     
    FOX 1:00et
    46,456
    3 Bye
    4 September 27, 1998 at San Francisco 49ers
    San Francisco 49ers
    The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

     
    L 20-31 Candlestick Park  FOX 4:15et/1:15pt
    62,296
    5 October 4, 1998 Carolina Panthers
    Carolina Panthers
    The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...

     
    W 51-23 Georgia Dome
    Georgia Dome
    The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...

     
    FOX 1:00et
    50,724
    6 October 11, 1998 at New York Giants
    New York Giants
    The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

     
    W 34-20 Giants Stadium
    Giants Stadium
    Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...

     
    ESPN 8:15et
    71,173
    7 October 18, 1998 New Orleans Saints
    New Orleans Saints
    The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....

     
    W 31-23 Georgia Dome
    Georgia Dome
    The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...

     
    FOX 1:00et
    60,774
    8 October 25, 1998 at New York Jets
    New York Jets
    The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

     
    L 3-28 The Meadowlands
    Giants Stadium
    Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...

     
    FOX 1:00et
    71,573
    9 November 1, 1998 St. Louis Rams
    St. Louis Rams
    The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...

     
    W 38-15 Georgia Dome
    Georgia Dome
    The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...

     
    FOX 1:00et
    37,996
    10 November 8, 1998 at New England Patriots
    New England Patriots
    The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...

     
    W 41-10 Foxboro Stadium
    Foxboro Stadium
    Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...

     
    FOX 1:00et
    59,790
    11 November 15, 1998 San Francisco 49ers
    San Francisco 49ers
    The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

     
    W 31-19 Georgia Dome
    Georgia Dome
    The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...

     
    FOX 1:00et
    69,828
    12 November 22, 1998 Chicago Bears
    Chicago Bears
    The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...

     
    W 20-13 Georgia Dome
    Georgia Dome
    The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...

     
    FOX 1:00et
    60,804
    13 November 29, 1998 at St. Louis Rams
    St. Louis Rams
    The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...

     
    W 21-10 Trans World Dome
    Edward Jones Dome
    The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome (more formally known as the Edward Jones Dome at America's Center, and previously known as The Trans World Dome (from 1995–2001) is a multi-purpose stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and home of the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. It was...

     
    FOX 1:00et/12:00ct
    47,971
    14 December 6, 1998 Indianapolis Colts
    Indianapolis Colts
    The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....

     
    W 28-21 Georgia Dome
    Georgia Dome
    The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...

     
    CBS 1:00et
    61,141
    15 December 13, 1998 at New Orleans Saints
    New Orleans Saints
    The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....

     
    W 27-17 Louisiana Superdome  FOX 1:00et/12:00ct
    61,678
    16 December 20, 1998 at Detroit Lions
    Detroit Lions
    The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...

     
    W 24-17 Pontiac Silverdome
    Pontiac Silverdome
    The Silverdome is a domed stadium located in the city of Pontiac, Michigan, USA, which sits on . It was the largest stadium in the National Football League until FedEx Field in suburban Washington, D.C...

     
    FOX 4:15et
    67,143
    17 December 27, 1998 Miami Dolphins
    Miami Dolphins
    The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

     
    W 38-16 Georgia Dome
    Georgia Dome
    The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...

     
    CBS 1:00et
    69,754

    Postseason

    Week Date Opponent Result Game site TV Time Attendance
    Divisional January 9, 1999 San Francisco 49ers
    San Francisco 49ers
    The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

     
    W 20-18 Georgia Dome
    Georgia Dome
    The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...

     
    FOX 12:30et
    70,262
    NFC Champ. January 17, 1999 at Minnesota Vikings
    Minnesota Vikings
    The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...

     
    W 30-27 (OT) Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
    Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
    The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...

     
    FOX 12:30et/11:30ct
    64,060
    Super Bowl January 31, 1999 Denver Broncos
    Denver Broncos
    The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...

     
    L 19-34 Pro Player Stadium  FOX 6:30et
    74,803

    Notable games

    • October 4 vs. Carolina Panthers
      Carolina Panthers
      The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...

      :


    The Falcons' most decisive win of the season came in a 51-23 rout in the Georgia Dome
    Georgia Dome
    The Georgia Dome is a domed stadium located in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, between downtown to the east and Vine City to the west. It is primarily the home stadium for the NFL Atlanta Falcons and the NCAA Division I FCS Georgia State Panthers football team. It is owned and operated by the...

    . Jamal Anderson
    Jamal Anderson
    Jamal Sharif Anderson is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played high school football at El Camino Real High School, where he was named to the CIF Los Angeles City Section...

     rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown while Chris Chandler
    Chris Chandler
    Christopher Mark Chandler is a retired American football player, who played as a quarterback in the National Football League for 17 seasons. He is known for leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 14-2 season in 1998, followed up with an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII.-Early years:Chris Chandler was...

     threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns with two picks. From Tim Dwight
    Tim Dwight
    Timothy Deutch Dwight, Jr. is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft...

    's 93-yard opening kickoff return touchdown, the Falcons never let Carolina have a sniff of contention, leading 38-3 by the third quarter before cruising home with the win.
    • November 8 at New England Patriots
      New England Patriots
      The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...

      :


    Atlanta's offense rolled up 41 points while the defense limited New England to just ten points at Foxboro Stadium
    Foxboro Stadium
    Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...

     in a game where New England never got closer than a 14-3 score after one quarter and trailed 28-3 at the half. Jamal Anderson
    Jamal Anderson
    Jamal Sharif Anderson is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played high school football at El Camino Real High School, where he was named to the CIF Los Angeles City Section...

     ran in two scores, Chris Chandler
    Chris Chandler
    Christopher Mark Chandler is a retired American football player, who played as a quarterback in the National Football League for 17 seasons. He is known for leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 14-2 season in 1998, followed up with an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII.-Early years:Chris Chandler was...

     threw two more, and Chuck Smith grabbed a fumble at his 29 and ran it back for a touchdown. Chandler completed 15 of 22 throws for 240 yards and Anderson rushed for 104 yards. About the only thing that went wrong for the Falcons were two meaningless picks by the Patriots' Ty Law
    Ty Law
    Tajuan "Ty" Law is a retired football cornerback of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....

    .
    • November 15 vs. San Francisco 49ers
      San Francisco 49ers
      The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

      :


    The Falcons avenged one of the only two losses they would suffer in the regular season by besting the Niners 31-19 in the Georgia Dome. Steve Young threw for 342 yards and touchdowns to Terrell Owens
    Terrell Owens
    Terrell Owens is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Owens has been one of the dominant receivers of his era...

     and Jerry Rice
    Jerry Rice
    Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...

    , but Jamal Anderson
    Jamal Anderson
    Jamal Sharif Anderson is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played high school football at El Camino Real High School, where he was named to the CIF Los Angeles City Section...

    's 100-rushing yards and two scores helped the Falcons put away the Niners in a wild fourth quarter in which the two teams combined for 34 points (21 by the Falcons).
    • NFC Divisional Playoff vs. San Francisco 49ers
      San Francisco 49ers
      The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...

      :


    The rubber match of Atlanta and San Francisco's 1998 season came in the Georgia Dome a week after the Niners' spectacular last-minute comeback over the Green Bay Packers
    Green Bay Packers
    The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...

    . The Falcons, though, would not be denied as Jamal Anderson
    Jamal Anderson
    Jamal Sharif Anderson is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played high school football at El Camino Real High School, where he was named to the CIF Los Angeles City Section...

     once again hauled the mail with 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Steve Young threw a touchdown to Jerry Rice
    Jerry Rice
    Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...

     and ran in a late fourth-quarter score; Ty Detmer
    Ty Detmer
    Ty Hubert Detmer is a former National Football League and NCAA quarterback. He starred at Brigham Young University, where he set many records and won the Heisman Trophy in 1990...

     threw the ensuing two-point conversion to Greg Clark to put the score at 20-18, but the Falcons never let the Niners any closer for their first playoff win since 1991.
    • NFC Championship at Minnesota Vikings
      Minnesota Vikings
      The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...

      :


    As of 2010 still the greatest win in Falcons history and one of the most amazing upsets in NFL history. The 16-1 Vikings, boasting the league's first post-merger 500-point offense, were heavy favorites at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
    Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
    The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...

     and raced to a 20-7 lead in the second quarter off two Randall Cunningham
    Randall Cunningham
    Randall W. Cunningham is a former American football quarterback.After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, he was selected in the second round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he remained through the 1995 season...

     touchdowns (one rushing and a throw to Randy Moss
    Randy Moss
    Randy Gene Moss is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL Draft...

    ), but at the end of the first half Chris Chandler
    Chris Chandler
    Christopher Mark Chandler is a retired American football player, who played as a quarterback in the National Football League for 17 seasons. He is known for leading the Atlanta Falcons to a 14-2 season in 1998, followed up with an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIII.-Early years:Chris Chandler was...

     found Terance Mathis
    Terance Mathis
    Terance Mathis is an American former Pro Bowl wide receiver in the NFL. Drafted in 1990 by the New York Jets, he played the majority of his career with the Atlanta Falcons. He last played in the NFL in 2002 with the Pittsburgh Steelers, then retired in 2004...

     for a 14-yard score. After a Morten Andersen
    Morten Andersen
    Morten Andersen , nicknamed "The Great Dane", is a former National Football League kicker. He holds the distinction of being the all-time leading scorer in NFL history, as well as being the all-time leading scorer for two different teams; the New Orleans Saints, with whom he spent 13 seasons, and...

     field goal made it 20-17 in the third, the Vikings surged to a 27-17 lead on another Cunningham TD throw (this one to Matthew Hatchette
    Matthew Hatchette
    Matthew Hatchette is a professional American football player who played wide receiver for six regular seasons for the Minnesota Vikings, the New York Jets, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. During his career, he caught 60 passes for 887 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 14.8 yards per catch...

    ). In the frantic final ten minutes of regulation the Falcons were forced to turn the ball over on downs, but the Vikings fumbled it right back and Andersen kicked another field goal for a 27-20 score. In the final four minutes Gary Anderson, who hadn't missed a field goal all season, shanked a 38-yarder, and suddenly the surging Falcons had a chance, and nailed it when Chandler led the Falcons downfield and connected with Mathis in the endzone with 49 seconds remaining. The Vikings got the ball in overtime but Eugene Robinson
    Eugene Robinson
    Eugene Keefe Robinson is a former professional American football player who played free safety. He played collegiately at Colgate University...

     stopped a deep pass to Moss and the Falcons got it back on a punt. Chandler led the Falcons downfield again and Andersen nailed a 38-yard field goal at 11:52 of the extra quarter; the 30-27 final sent the Falcons to Super Bowl XXXIII
    Super Bowl XXXIII
    Super Bowl XXXIII was an American football game played on January 31, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida to decide the National Football League champion, following the 1998 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football...

    .

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