NFC Championship: Atlanta Falcons 30.2C Minnesota Vikings 27 .28OT.29 1998–99 NFL playoffs

at hubert h. humphrey metrodome, minneapolis

game time: 12:30 p.m. est/11:30 a.m. cst
game weather: played indoors, domed stadium
game attendance: 64,060
referee: walt coleman
tv announcers (fox): pat summerall (play-by-play), john madden (color commentator), ron pitts, , bill maas (sideline reporters)

this first conference championship game feature 2 teams play home games in domes. 14–2 falcons came game 11-point underdogs, managed overcome 13-point deficit (the largest comeback in nfc championship game until falcons blew 17-point lead against 49ers in 2012) , win extremely competitive game late in overtime, making minnesota first 15–1 team ever fail reach super bowl (a dubious feat since matched 2 other 15–1 teams, 2004 pittsburgh steelers , 2011 green bay packers). vikings had set nfl record 556 points , won 9 previous home games average of 23 points, not win game despite maintaining lead of time in regulation. fox sports ranked third exciting nfc championship game ever.

atlanta took opening kickoff , moved ball 76 yards in 12 plays score chris chandler s 5-yard pass jamal anderson. aided 30-yard pass interference penalty on falcons defensive ray buchanan, minnesota struck right on first drive randall cunningham s 31-yard scoring strike randy moss.

in second quarter, vikings linebacker ed mcdaniel recovered fumble harold green on minnesota 40-yard line, team converted gary anderson field goal. on first play of atlanta s following drive, orlando thomas forced fumble tight end o. j. santiago robert griffith recovered , returned 9 yards falcons 33-yard line. cunningham completed 18-yard pass moss on next play, , finished drive 1-yard touchdown run increased team s lead 17–7 5 minutes left in half. atlanta had punt after 3 plays on ensuing drive, , dan stryzinski s 42-yard kick gave minnesota field position on own 43-yard line. vikings blew chance @ touchdown when moss dropped pass in end zone, anderson kicked field goal make score 20–7. after forcing atlanta punt, stryzinski s 44-yard kick sent ball vikings on own 18-yard line 1:17 left in half. rather run out clock, team decided attempt make drive points, gamble backfired horribly falcons defensive end chuck smith forced fumble cunningham atlanta defensive end travis hall recovered on vikings 14, setting chandler s 14-yard touchdown pass terance mathis cut deficit 20–14 end of half. turning point falcons, game s momentum began shift way (albeit subtly).

atlanta forced vikings punt on opening drive of second half, , 2 plays receiver tim dwight, 26-yard punt return , 21-yard run, set morten andersen s 27-yard field goal cut deficit 3 points. vikings countered on ensuing possession, driving 82 yards in 15 plays , scoring on matthew hatchette s 5-yard reception (his touchdown of season) make score 27–17 on 13 minutes left in fourth quarter. receiver cris carter made 2 big receptions on drive, converting third , 10 12-yard catch , later hauling in 17-yard gain on third , 8.

atlanta responded chandler s 70-yard completion tony martin setting score on andersen s 24-yard field goal narrowed gap 27–20 11:02 left in game. after punt each team, atlanta got chance score when defensive end shane dronett recovered fumbled snap cunningham on vikings 30-yard line. however, turned ball on over downs chandler s incomplete pass on fourth , 4 attempt 6 minutes left in regulation.

minnesota drove falcons 20-yard line, setting 38-yard field goal attempt anderson, had not missed field goal season. successful kick have wrapped nfc title minnesota, anderson s kick sailed wide left, giving ball atlanta 2:07 left , new life. chandler led team down vikings 16-yard line, including 29-yard completion seldom-used receiver ronnie harris. following near interception griffith, mathis 16-yard touchdown catch tied game 49 seconds left. vikings coach dennis green chose kneel down , sent game overtime. point, vikings had lost 5 starting players injury, including hall of fame defensive tackle john randle.

after first 3 possessions of overtime ended in punts, vikings punter mitch berger s 52-yard kick gave atlanta ball @ own 9-yard line. chandler, visibly limping due ankle injury, completed 2 passes santiago gains of 15 , 26 yards on 70-yard drive minnesota 21-yard line andersen kicked 38-yard field goal win game.

chandler had 1 of best games of career, throwing 340 yards , 3 touchdowns. martin caught 5 passes 129 yards. cunningham had solid performance, throwing 266 yards , 2 touchdowns, while rushing 13 yards , touchdown on ground. dwight had 173 all-purpose yards (four kick returns 110 yards, 2 punt returns 35 yards, , 3 carries 28 yards).

numerous references game made in little minnesota , episode television series how met mother.

the game featured 1 of nfl s greatest games andersen , anderson.

this first nfc championship game go overtime (since, there have been 4 other instances, 2007, 2009, 2011 , 2014 nfc championship games going overtime).