Bruh...it is his fault.. he had 1 reception in the 2007 superbowl...in fact.. after catching 23 TDs in 2007 regular season... he taught 3 reception in total 2007 playoffs (1 receptions each game)
Rest in Peace John Madden. When Pat Summerall and John Madden were calling games in the 1990's... you knew these were big time games. RIP both of them. 🙏
Hurtful to watch this. If they would've won, Dennis Green would've been in the Hall of Fame. He was such a consistent winning head coach and had great eyes for talent. Great leader who know how to push the buttons for his star players to perform well. Very underrated coach RIP to D Green and RIP To Dan Reeves another underrated head coach.
@@wb6162 Didn't know it at the time but Orlando may've been the "weakest link" on the D that yr. He was good against the run (on run blitzes) & making head-on tackles (not open field, per se) but as a FS he had ZERO INT's (that yr) which shouldn't happen for a FS (who's like a centerfielder....ala Paul Krause). Part of it may've been loss of speed/step or two.
I will never forget watching this game. Was stunned beyond belief that the Falcons upset the Vikings in their own stadium and that Gary Andersen choose the absolute worst possible time to miss his very first kick of that season. The Vikings-Broncos is the BEST Super Bowl matchup we never got to have!
Anderson miss oh my. But after rewatching, In OT, 2nd Vikings possession, 3rd and 10 u have 21 year old ferrari Moss vs Fossil 35 year old Eugene Robinson. Cunningham under throws it to Moss who had an easy game winning TD. Not a fan of either team but DEN VS ATL was the worst SB I ever saw up to that point. I wonder how Vikings vs DEN would of been.
I'm sure Anderson has never lived this down. I'm not saying it was all his fault but when a player has a chance to win it for his team and chokes, that's something you never get over. Just ask Scott Norwood and the late Jackie Smith. These players didn't just lose games; they lost championships.
Lowkey one of the best matchups in NFL history. I mean, how many times has a 15-1 team played a 14-2 team? In hindsight, this was every bit the game it should've been. Minny's offense was so damn explosive, I think it overshadowed the kind of season Atlanta had. And if it wasn't for their own damn mistakes, the Falcons would've been much more competitive in Super Bowl XXXIII. They lost it as much as Denver won it.
Exactly. Yes, the Falcons were 1-year wonders, but they weren't some 8-8 or 9-7 team. They were 14-2, and one of those losses came on the road against a very good Jets team in a game Chandler didn't play.
I was there. The field goal looked good from my end of the field, and for about a second and a half, before I saw the refs signal no good, I knew what it felt like to be going to a Super Bowl. It was a great second and a half.
Its sad also that these youtube videos/channels get a lot of idiots (kids? adults?) who think themselves "funny" but don't realize that not only are they NOT "funny" but really can't "think" either (as in comprehension; articulation; etc.). I get your point of excitement leading to letdown....all in a "second and a half." 😢
11:13 - Chris Chandler throws 5-yard TD pass to Jamal Anderson 16:34 - Randall Cunningham finds Randy Moss for 30-yard TD 24:36 - Harold Green fumbles, recovered by Vikings 32:56 - Gary Anderson makes 29-yard FG 34:00 - O.J. Santiago fumbles, recovered by Vikings 38:55 - Cunningham rushes in for 1-yard TD 47:50 - Gary Anderson makes 35-yard FG 53:48 - Cunningham is strip sacked, fumble recovered by Falcons 55:18 - Chandler zings 14-yard TD pass to Terrance Mathis 1:14:51 - Morten Anderson makes 27-yard FG 1:25:06 - Cunningham slings 5-yard TD pass to Mathew Hatchette 1:30:58 - Morten Anderson makes 24-yard FG 1:38:30 - Vikings mishandle snap and Falcons recover fumble 1:41:48 - Falcons are unable to convert on 4th down 1:53:20 - Gary Anderson misses 38-yard FG 1:58:28 - Chandler finds Mathis for 16-yard TD 2:23:10 - Falcons begin game-winning drive 2:31:12 - Morten Anderson makes 38-yard FG to send Falcons to Super Bowl
I never got to watch this game because I had to work that day. I'd always heard it was an all time classic and now I get to watch it to find out. Thanks!! ps My condolences to Vikings fans everywhere. I know this one hurts.
This was definitely one of the most shocking NFC Championship games ever. I remember watching this at 17. Thinking the Vikings have this in the bag. The SB that year would've been EPIC.
This was the first NFC title game of my lifetime where I was stunned at the winner. 1990 and 1992, the Giants and Cowboys were STRONG teams. The Vikings felt like a juggernaut and Atlanta, still the most overlooked 14-2 team of all time, just played its best game to win this. Just didn't have it two weeks later in Miami.
***** I've shed tears after the 98' loss, as I was an adolescent..came close after the 09' loss, and when that day when they finally win the super bowl comes, I'm sure I'll shed tears of joy.
I've followed the Vikings and the Chargers most of my life and both teams could have a 90 point lead with one second to go and the game would stil be in doubt
I think the Vikings would have been better off psychologically if Anderson were a mediocre kicker. Then when he missed they'd have shrugged it off and said 'We knew he'd do that, let's go make a stop and win this' But by being perfect, and missing it, The Vikings defense was in shock and felt like there was some destiny for the Falcons.
The Vikings lost this game when Cunningham fumbled at the end of the first half. Going into the locker room with a 20-7 lead instead of a 20-14 lead was a big deal.
I think the Vikings got greedy and were trying to score on that drive instead of just playing for field position since the half was almost up. Years later OC Brian Billick practically admitted it in an interview.
They didn’t lose because of that they still was in the drivers seat the whole game the other self inflicted wounds along with the fumble cost them the game
Why did Green tell his team to kneel on a 3rd and 2 with 40 seconds left. They had 2 timeouts and Atlanta had zero. You could at least run it and call timeout if you get the first down. If you don't then the clock runs out. It makes absolute zero sense. The stupidity of past and present NFL coaches clock management makes my blood boil.
I'm a Falcons fan, and that's something I've asked myself about for over 20 years now. I think Minnesota got conservative and Atlanta capitalized on it, especially after Gary Anderson missed that 38 yard FG.
Yup I’ll never forget watching that thinking WTF is goin on ( I’m an eagles fan) we sucked that yr an I was ridin wit Minnesota I still can’t believe it 🤦🏾♂️
Frozen at the wheel, I personally thought Dennis Green was a very good head coach. But in one of the biggest moments of that game, he froze and backed down. It's too bad that for the rest of his coaching career Dennis was continually second guessed for that decision. RIP Dennis Green.
It was a "tell" for sure. Made many a fan feel their throat muscles for the very first time as it showed what was going on in his/their hearts. FEAR/Dread. I know i felt it when Gary missed that FG. The letdown, dread, was palpable in that stadium and for Vike-fans all over the TV audience that day, after THAT miss.
It's the whole playing not to lose instead of playing to win. If Robert Smith or Leroy Hoard fumbles, Denny Green is the biggest fool since Joe Gibbs tried to throw that screen pass in Super Bowl XVIII that Jack Squirek picked off for a TD. And remember, John Madden was VEHEMENTLY against the Patriots going for the win a couple years after this...it was just how the game was played.
@@Matthew-pf7sbidk the Vikings were super good that year they broke records and if they won the super bowl they would been top 5 best nfl team in all time
The Minnesota Vikings are the like the Phoenix Suns of the NFL. Both rock the color purple, both have seasons with good runs, and both are ringless franchises.
This game is why I’m SO grateful not to be a Vikings fan. They’d already been through enough disappointments over the years leading up to this game and then the unimaginable happened. Vikings had this one LOCKED UP and still found a way to blow it. What a colossal nightmare for ANY hard core football fan to have to endure. And the Super Bowl would have been a classic if Minnesota had played Denver. Instead, Atlanta gets blown out by the Broncos. I remember how devastated Chris Carter was afterwards. It looked as though that loss sucked the life out of him.
Are you joking it was awful f****** second-half game plan and Gary Anderson missed a chip-shot they didn't show f****** s*** they just got lucky and they were the worst team to ever play in a Superbowl and then ver didn't even seem to even try to win that game I mean that was the biggest cake walk I've ever seen at least the 49ers Broncos Super Bowl is competitive for 1/4 you can't say that about the Atlanta Falcons 98 Atlanta Falcons the worst team to ever play in a Superbowl. Or maybe tied with the Rex Grossman lead Chicago Bears
I look back at this game, and at the 1998 season, and all can i say is... Wow! What a time! 1998 was the miracle season in Atlanta. I only wish the Falcons can finally win one before i die
@@aaronbradley3232 The Falcons played their hearts out unbelievable effort and were a very good team. How do you blame a guy who misses one field goal in 2 years?? But the guy who really stunk up the place was Cunningham. So many under thrown balls. What an amazing game, a true classic.
lcrossmk8 the Falcons were overachievers that year. And they went back to sucking in 1999. Starting with the Vikings getting their revenge in week 1 in Atlanta.
First time I have watched any part of this game since 98, because it's too painful. I still just cannot believe we had the lead and the ball with just over 2 minutes, at home, and we LOST! Just sickening.
@@TL2354 I agree. However, I remember some dropped passes & fumbles by Keith Jackson in the 88' and 89' playoffs. These things happen, but they happened early and ruined Randall's momentum. Anyway, watching Cunningham play was fantastic. And I can only wish I saw him lead his team to the championship.
There's no way on this God's green Earth that somebody like a Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Patrick Mahomes take a knee on 3rd and 6 on the 26 yard line with :30 to go and 2 time outs.
Even Donovan McNabb (who I thought was underrated when he played) would’ve tried playing that out. Heck even one-off QBs or just ones that were decent for short stretches like Jake Delhomme and David Garrard would’ve probably decided to play it out instead of taking a knee.
Don't blame Randall because he didn't call the play. I agree with you that none of those QBs you mentioned would have taken a knee. But that's because their coaches wouldn't have called a play like that. Just simply considering the odds of the Vikings and Falcons at that point: The Vikings had the ball, making their odds of winning much greater than the Falcons....at that point in the game. So why on earth would any coach decide to even the odds to 50/50? As bad of a call that was, a call that was even worse was at the end of the 1st half when instead of protecting the ball and milking the clock, a pass play was called. RC had the ball stripped, Falcons recovered and scored before halftime. That was just one of a few key plays that cost the Vikings the game.
I was there and I recall everyone in my section just looking around at each other and wondering what we were missing. Two great and future HOF receivers and they are kneeling down? At that point I knew we were doomed. I still hold a grudge against Denny for that one.
@@poopdeckpappy2658 - that last drive before the missed field goal was the worst time management ever. They should have told robert smith to stay in bounds. Atlanta only had one timeout
This is one of the saddest most disappointing games I have ever seen smh. Atlanta deserved the victory and did what they had to, but we as football fans were robbed of the greatness of the Vikings and perhaps one of the greatest Super Bowls ever between the Broncos vs Vikings. Definitely one of the saddest days in NFL history.
Facts to the beginning post. I remember so looking forward to a potential match-up against 2 teams that had all-time great regular seasons. That would have been the biggest SB match-up since the late 70's Cowboys and Steelers SB. Atlanta didn't belong on the same field as that Broncos team.
I was living in Columbus, Georgia when this game was played. When the Falcons won this game, half the town went crazy!! NOBODY thought the Falcons had a chance in Hell of going in to Minnesota and winning that game!! Big time upset!! That was the year of the Dirty Birds!!
One of my Madden NFL video games exaggerates Madden doing that. Every time a player runs for a first down, Madden always says, "He knew where he had to go, and he got there." LOL!!!
This game proves that great teams don’t always get to the Super Bowl, yet alone win a Super Bowl. Great teams are just great and one always knows when they are watching greatness. Unfortunately, it only takes one team on a good day to end an amazing season, but that doesn’t mean the loser isn’t great.
1:57:47...this is what they mean when they say football is a game of inches. Just BARELY missed getting the game sealing INT that sends Minny to the Super Bowl and one of the best matchups of my lifetime against Denver.
Almost every sport is a game of inches though. In any sport there is the potential for a player to come within inches or millimeters of scoring or making a big play but just barely missing. Except maybe for boxing....
@@ATLKing404 Maybe. Maybe not. My 2-cents vote (re: female viewership) would've been Joe "Willie" Namath vs. Roman "the Stud" Gabriel...ala NYJ vs. L.A. Rams...biggest pop's, audiences w/ Nat'l & "5th Ave" recognition also. Rams were "close" in '68 & '69 losing to eventual NFL champs, Colts, Vikings in tough/close losses. Jets made it in '68 and contenders/close in '69 w/ tough loss to Chiefs. Both started to fizzle come '70 season onwards) But who knows? May've been one (or two?) helluva SB for the ages w/ NY vs. LA. (tho' rainy weather in NOLA would've sucked, big time.)
zach rizzo I was just cringing as a bystander fan seeing that missed int right before the end of regulation, or when Cunningham under-threw Moss in OT. They had it in their grasp... must’ve been pure torture.
I agree, can't blame Anderson's missed field goal for viking loss, best I rember Vikings still had lead in the game after miss, if anybody wants to blame the loss on any one that would be the Viking defense, all they had to was stop falcons and get the ball back, falcons went down the field and scored like they weren't even out there and that's what happend to vikings
As a Falcons fan who was living overseas in 1998, I am seeing this game for the first time. Clearly Atlanta was playing a much better team, and the Vikings deserve at least as much credit for losing the game as the Falcons do for winning it. Despite all the emphasis on Gary Andersen missing that field goal in the fourth quarter, there were several other times in the game when the Vikings let the Falcons stay in the game by dumb mistakes or poor play-calling. + If the Vikings just take a knee to end the first half, they go into the locker room leading 20-7. Instead Atlanta recovers a fumble and goes in down by only 6. + On the crucial fourth-quarter drive that ended in Andersen's missed field goal, the Vikings clock management was non-existent. Robert Smith ran out of bounds on his first three carries on the drive. On the first three plays of the drive, Minnesota managed to only run one minute off the clock. Considering how well they were moving the ball, if they had managed the clock properly (i.e., kept it running) they could have run out the clock and Gary Andersen would not now be regarded as the scapegoat. + In the last minute of regulation, needing only a field goal to win it, the Vikings looked as if they did not want to win the game. This was also true of the way their offense played in overtime. There was no urgency (unlike Tom Brady in overtime against the Falcons in the Super Bowl - I can't believe I'm bringing up such a painful memory). + The amazing lack of targets for Randy Moss after the first quarter was inexcusable. The guy was a foot taller than any defender on the field the entire game. Just throw it to him one out of every three plays in the game, and the Vikings win the game in a blowout. I can't believe Brian Billick became a head coach after the terrible play-calling in this game with arguably the best offense in NFL history.
Yes you are correct. That viking fumble before the half and the quick atlanta TD was the turning point. It kept atlanta in the game. what the hell were they thinking passing on their own 15 yard line right before the half? Vikings would get the ball back after the half anyways. no disrespect to atlanta but I believe the viking's coaches lost this game.
I named three points late in the game that the Vikings could've won. It wasn't just Gary Anderson, Robert Griffith dropped a potential game winning interception with a minute to go and Randy Moss was open for a game winning touchdown on the Vikings' second possession of overtime, but Randall Cunningham underthrew him and Eugene Robinson knocked down the pass.
agree-the Vikes taking a knee at the end of regulation was a big mistake when you have Randy Moss on your team; As a Falcons fan Chris Chandler showed great poise under pressure in the Metrodome-a lot of heart at the end of the game but he held tough taking some big hits!
Just lost two of the best minds in football with Reeves and Madden.Thought to honor them both with by replaying this game( one my favorite nfc battles)on NewYears Day,2022.R.I.P. and Thanks for the memories.
Maybe it's just me, but one of the first thing I noticed is how sharp the uniforms used to look. I love the old Vikings and Falcons unis. Simple design, the bold block numbers, not those fancy fonts and stripes they have now. I also forgot that NFL jerseys used to have this thing called sleeves, and those sleeves had pads underneath them.
totally agree, love the clean designs and bulkier fits. nike has produced some awful jerseys since they took over 10 years ago. look at how the browns, jaguars and bucs have had a jersey redesign twice in the past decade, going from some tacky new aesthetic and then back to their roots or a simple design (jags). hopefully nike doesn't turn the nfl into the nba with 5+ jerseys for each team every season, though the LA teams are already headed that way
1000% in agreement. The unis didn't look too 'busy' and emphasized team colors instead of alternates and other things. It gave them a much more classic aesthetic.
All the hypotheticals about If the Falcons would have lost this game Denver would have smoked the Vikings. Those huge Denver O linemen would have killed the clock cut blocking the hell out of those Vikings D linemen and Linebackers with TD running all over them. They would have pulled the same thing Parcels and Belichek did to the Bills in 1990. Anyway 4 Vikings defensive starters including Randall were injured and 2 weeks is not enough time to recover. Neil Smith, Steve Atwater and crew would have feasted on Cunningham and Robert Smith. It would have been fun to see though.
Yes I'd have to say the Vikings have been tortured more than anyone now that we have a Lombardi Trophy I'm talking about the Eagles it's not even close well no not even Buffalo because Buffalo hasn't been snake bitten over decades it was only the 90s
@@joejay4646 well it's still a city well there are neighborhoods that are all the rubble but it's pretty much a cesspool of drug abuse drug addicts and Welfare mothers once you leave downtown
Vikings had 3 chances to score at the end of the game and came away with nothing. Underwhelming performance by one of the "greatest" offenses of all time.
You know, this game is remembered for Gary Anderson's missed FG, but really, if you're the Vikings, and you want to go to the Super Bowl, you should be able to stop Atlanta from driving 70 yards for the tying score. Instead Atlanta scores in a little under a minute, ties it up and ends up winning in OT. Don't get me wrong, Anderson could have iced the game, but letting Chris Chandler lead the drive for that score is just terrible, he even threw up a couple of ducks but Minnesota didn't seem capable of grabbing that brass ring.
After watching Atlanta's game winning drive for the first time, I actually see the Vikings curse in play. The Vikes had a couple of opportunities to end this game via interceptions during the drive and screwed the pooch. Pure Vikings fashion.
One detail that gets lost on the drive that ended in Anderson's miss is that Robert Smith ran out of bounds three times. Why? That just gives your opponent more time in the event that your team screws up
I wish you could post the interview with Dan Reeves and others as they did the Dirty Bird dance together. It was right after this game while they were still on the field.
Always wondered that myself, especially when you have the best deep threat receiver this sport has ever seen in Randy Moss. Two timeouts and in only a 3rd and 2 situation, I don’t know why they kneeled. It might have just been the philosophy a lot of teams used even back in the late 90’s because I can remember Madden being shocked that the Patriots didn’t kneel out the clock and settle for overtime in Super Bowl 36 and that was with over a minute left.
Dennis Green said it was because he didn't want to punt but that doesn't make sense. They could have ran the ball, and if they got the first they could call a timeout and have a 1st and 10, and if they didn't get it the clock would just run out (because the Falcons had no timeouts) so there would have been no need to punt. Poor game management.
🏆🏈 At least the Vikings won the NFL Championship in 1969 against the Cleveland Browns before the merger in 1970 with the AFL. There were still 2 separate leagues back then. Even the Buffalo Bills won 2 AFL Championships in the earlier 1960s.
I can't blame this Vikings loss on Gary Anderson alone. Even though he missed it by wide left, the Falcons still needed a touchdown to tied the game. Vikings defense didn't step up to stop them. Then in overtime, Vikings had the ball 1st and still couldn't do anything with it. and even if Viking went to the super bowl, they would have lost to the Broncos too.
Harry Vue, I think you hit the nail right on the head with these points man. Even though Andersen missed the field goal, like you said, Atlanta's offense still needed a TD, and all that would have done was TIE the game. And in overtime, you never know what can happen. Still though, I feel that both teams played great, and it is my hope that someday in my life, I'll be able to call the Falcons World Champions, and then the Vikings as World Champions. Doesn't matter the order to me, I just want to see both teams win one in my lifetime. I was six years old when this game happened, and I think I did root for Atlanta because no one really gave Atlanta a chance. I actually thought they'd lose against the Niners the week before because of the fact that the Niners had so much momentum coming into that game.
@@mrmartinez99301the vikings lost that game more than the falcons won it let’s be real lol they had four self inflicted wounds that gifted the falcons the game lol
The Denver Broncos had the perfect storm in the '98 playoffs: Down 10-0 in the AFC Championship game at halftime, then the Jets experience a total meltdown in the second half, and then they avoid playing the best team in the SB, the Vikings....
Before the Broncos played their game, Mike Shanahan and his team were watching this game and we relieved that the Vikings lost. That distraction almost cost them the game. As explained in America's Game: The Story of the 1998 Broncos.
I always thought it was insane to act like the Falcons were no good. They were 16-2 coming into the game!!! How big an upset is to *ever* lose to a team that has won 89% of its games so far!?!
This was such an upset. Watching the game back I still can’t believe Minnesota lost. They outplayed Atlanta right until the last 2 1/2 minutes of regulation.
2:05:33 - I remember being enraged that the Vikings would just take a knee and run the clock out on 3rd down with 30 seconds left! Especially in a championship game with a deep threat like Moss. Might be the lamest playoff play call of all time.
True. Gary Anderson gets all the smoke for the miss, but after that miss 1) the defense gives up a 70 yard td drive. 2) the coaching staff sits on the ball instead of taking a shot with the best deep ball offense ever 3) the offense fails to score after getting the ball TWICE in overtime 4) the defense gives up another scoring drive, the field goal to end it. But yeah, let's blame the kicker because it's easier to do that.
+3412 2319 I'm not complaining about anything I'm not a Viking fan I just say the Vikings in 98 were the best team that year and were favored to go to the superbowl
I saw the '98 Vikings in person when they played the Tennessee Oilers late in the season. They were impressive. A remarkable comeback win for the Falcons against a great Minnesota team.
My darkest day as a sports fan. I was at this game and was at all the Vikings' home games that year. They were so dominant. But were NEVER the same team after that RC fumble late in the first half. Denny went conservative, stopped attacking and was playing not to lose. So much talk about the missed FG, but so many "what if" plays. Robert Griffith's dropped interception in the end zone comes immediately to mind.
Granted I was a dumb hungover 22 year old watching this game, got real irritated when Green decided to kneel at the end. You could have thrown a few bombs to Moss to get into Field Goal Position letting Anderson redeem himself. Always thought Green gave up
Vikings coaches lost this game on terrible play calling and atlanta took advantage of it. Atlanta deserved to win. I knew we were doomed on that terrible fumble before half
They had those guys all game and couldn't score in the entire second half! Then they also couldn't score in overtime. Don't forget the Vikings offense had the ball TWICE in overtime and failed 🥶🥶🥶
Amazing win for the Falcons, Vikings loaded with HOFers or HOFers to be or should be, while the Falcons only had one, Morton Andersen. Poor Gary Anderson, that one kick (the only miss on a FG and PA the entire season) has kept him out of the HOF, which is totally unfair, deserves to be in. Course the list of deserving Vikings is long due to lack of success in the playoffs and Super Bowl losses.
2:05:30 As others have noted, the kneel-down on the 3rd down at the end of regulation was indefensible. You can argue that the Vikings wanted to avoid a debilitating turnover (e.g. INT, sack-fumble) or an incompletion that would have given the ball back to the Falcons. Even if you buy that, why not just run the ball? It was 3rd and 3 and they had a terrific running back. If they don't get it....fine....you're off to OT. If they do get it, they had 2 timeouts so they could have stopped the clock and still had 1 timeout to get into FG range. If they were going conservative (which was still dumb), THAT would have been the route to go. Don't waste the opportunity to win the game.
Being an Eagles fan it breaks my heart that Randall Cunningham was just a field goal away from playing in his first Super Bowl, if the Vikes had won the Broncos would've had more of a challenge and Elway would've had to fight hard to get his 2nd ring
Randall was the best ever scrambling type QB he was so dangerous because he had the arm to match his legs the running type QBs usually don't have elite passing.
As far as a full game/ season for my Falcons, this was the most complete game from beginning to end that they have ever played. The Madden gods smiled upon me in those final seconds and ever since this game we have not played that beutiful complete game from start to finish like we did this day.
I was so pissed after Minnesota lost this game. I wanted a Minnesota-Denver Super Bowl badly! They were not only the two best teams in the NFL that year, they were two of the best teams I had ever seen to that point. That would of been the best Super Bowl ever! Oh what could of been.
This was my first football game I watched on TV. I am a Falcons fan and my wife is Vikings Fan...I brought up this game the other week and she punched me in the nose because of it. LOL
Two things i remember about this game: 1. Mad at Dennis Green, why are you running out the clock? My uncle: "You have the highest scoring team ever and three great receivers and you do that. I give up!" He was quiet and hardly said a word until my parents and I went home cause we were visiting him! 2. Robert Griffith. On TV that night, I saw the missed INT that would have saved Gary and put them in the Super Bowl. That is reason #2 why the Vikings lost and wow. 1:57:54 DAMN
The most exciting player to ever play in the NFL Randy Moss. Watching the ball sail in the air and land in Randy Moss's arms was like an art form. The guy had a style that was completely unique.
Watching that pass that he let go through his hands in the endzone forcing the Vikings to settle for a field goal (20-7) instead of the score being 24-7 was a thing of beauty too....I guess
Diego Lara lmao dude Im thinking they must have had another video and chose this by mistake. Like straight up the teo biggest losses for the Vikings in maybe franchise history
Diego Lara The NFL is doing three greatest Games for each team. Atlanta and New Orleans going to their only Super Bowl by beating Minnesota is a part of that. They're releasing both games for Championship Sunday
The missed FG didn't decide the game, Cunningham's fumble late in the first half with the Vikings up 20-7 did them in. They had all the momentum and the TO and TD on the next play got the Falcons right back into the game.
I was 13 when this game was played I remember going to school and my friends in shock over vikings not getting to sb I feel for vikings fans imagine a broncos vikings sb that year what could have been
Unfortunately I wasn’t really old enough to even be interested in football. But as a diehard, I had to look back and study the team I chose for rest of my life, and see our successes and failures, our challenges and our unexpecteds. When I looked back at those two amazing Super Bowl seasons we had , this one in particular, and saw what led up to it - I would have LOVED to have seen two powerhouse teams go at it for the championship. Two teams that were chasing perfection that year, face off in the final game of the post-season. I, also, was shocked when I found out that Minnesota, a team with one loss didn’t make it to the big dance. I had to go back and watch this to find out what the heck went wrong. An almost field goal and an almost interception that would have sealed the deal and possibly given us an amazing matchup. Pathetic Atlanta was nothing. We socked them good. I also feel bad for Viks fans on this game. Crazy how it all fell apart. Glad we got our back-to-backs but I always wonder….”what if…” Not exactly something you here from a fan of a team who joined a select-few franchises to do it twice in a row. But it often begs the curiosity - for me anyways.
The fact that the Falcons were 14-2 and still underdogs by some significant margin showed how primed the Vikings were
That’s crazy they made this look like a david n golliath story when they should’ve been hyping it up to be a heavyweight matchup
Up 20-7 with :59 and you call a pass in your own territory. That's the turning point
Not only that it was 3rd and 10 inside their own 20 yard line.
53:50, by the way.
My god that's so bad
98 Vikings along with 07 patriots two of the best teams I've ever seen and neither won the title
Randy Moss was on both teams. 2nd greatest wide receiver ever. Never won a ring.
Then he is not the 2nd greatest receiver
btez31 because he didnt get a ring???
btez31 Bruh its not a wide recievers fault they lost a sb 😂😂
Bruh...it is his fault.. he had 1 reception in the 2007 superbowl...in fact.. after catching 23 TDs in 2007 regular season... he taught 3 reception in total 2007 playoffs (1 receptions each game)
Rest in Peace John Madden. When Pat Summerall and John Madden were calling games in the 1990's... you knew these were big time games. RIP both of them. 🙏
Summerall unforgettable voice
@@danielabramson2464 same. Loved Pat's voice and how he said his name I thought he sounded cool.
@@ramsesstafford4640 especially in the madden video games growing up
No truer words.
I doubt there will ever be anyone as good as Summerall and Madden. Rip
My dad who I'd never seen cry in my whole life, wiped away a tear and said, "a little part of me just died, son"
me as well. vike fan for 50 years. I was 39 when this game was played. still waiting.
+@@robbieg4700 Just think how Buffalo fans feel? This was sad. A Bronco-Viking Superbowl. Somebody had to lose.
Nice reference to himym ;)
This game ALWAYS gets ranked #1 on all-time worst Minnesota sports moments
Lol
Hurtful to watch this. If they would've won, Dennis Green would've been in the Hall of Fame. He was such a consistent winning head coach and had great eyes for talent. Great leader who know how to push the buttons for his star players to perform well. Very underrated coach RIP to D Green and RIP To Dan Reeves another underrated head coach.
They still would have had to face the Denver Broncos, who were having an excellent season! Yes, I think that would have been a much better game!
RIP Korey Stringer and Denny Green (and Pat Sumerrall)
And Shane Dronett of the Falcons
And Orlando Thomas
@@wb6162 Didn't know it at the time but Orlando may've been the "weakest link" on the D that yr. He was good against the run (on run blitzes) & making head-on tackles (not open field, per se) but as a FS he had ZERO INT's (that yr) which shouldn't happen for a FS (who's like a centerfielder....ala Paul Krause). Part of it may've been loss of speed/step or two.
And Pat Summerall.
It is strange watching dead people .
I will never forget watching this game. Was stunned beyond belief that the Falcons upset the Vikings in their own stadium and that Gary Andersen choose the absolute worst possible time to miss his very first kick of that season.
The Vikings-Broncos is the BEST Super Bowl matchup we never got to have!
Anderson miss oh my. But after rewatching, In OT, 2nd Vikings possession, 3rd and 10 u have 21 year old ferrari Moss vs Fossil 35 year old Eugene Robinson. Cunningham under throws it to Moss who had an easy game winning TD. Not a fan of either team but DEN VS ATL was the worst SB I ever saw up to that point. I wonder how Vikings vs DEN would of been.
Favre vs Manning in 2009 would have been great too.
So agreed. This team at least deserved a shot in the big game.
I'm sure Anderson has never lived this down. I'm not saying it was all his fault but when a player has a chance to win it for his team and chokes, that's something you never get over. Just ask Scott Norwood and the late Jackie Smith. These players didn't just lose games; they lost championships.
Sin duda Denver vs Minnesota hubiera Sido un juegazo!
Lowkey one of the best matchups in NFL history. I mean, how many times has a 15-1 team played a 14-2 team? In hindsight, this was every bit the game it should've been. Minny's offense was so damn explosive, I think it overshadowed the kind of season Atlanta had. And if it wasn't for their own damn mistakes, the Falcons would've been much more competitive in Super Bowl XXXIII. They lost it as much as Denver won it.
This was real football then
If Atlanta had a better qb they would have beat Denver.
2005 AFC Title Game 14-2 New England Patriots vs 15-1 Pittsburgh Steelers. That's the only other one I can think of
Exactly. Yes, the Falcons were 1-year wonders, but they weren't some 8-8 or 9-7 team. They were 14-2, and one of those losses came on the road against a very good Jets team in a game Chandler didn't play.
Super Bowl 19 was another: San Fran 15-1 vs. Miami 14-2
I was there. The field goal looked good from my end of the field, and for about a second and a half, before I saw the refs signal no good, I knew what it felt like to be going to a Super Bowl. It was a great second and a half.
Its sad also that these youtube videos/channels get a lot of idiots (kids? adults?) who think themselves "funny" but don't realize that not only are they NOT "funny" but really can't "think" either (as in comprehension; articulation; etc.). I get your point of excitement leading to letdown....all in a "second and a half." 😢
@Jacob Gonzalez lmao salty vikings fan!! Trash team, trash fanbase!!
😆😆 Viking fans are 🐱
@Allen Iverson I hope you stay stuck, Chuck
@@RedtheCat2014 You sir are a moron
The fumble cost them the game before halftime. You can always pinpoint that moment when the game changed. That was it. Dead on
11:13 - Chris Chandler throws 5-yard TD pass to Jamal Anderson
16:34 - Randall Cunningham finds Randy Moss for 30-yard TD
24:36 - Harold Green fumbles, recovered by Vikings
32:56 - Gary Anderson makes 29-yard FG
34:00 - O.J. Santiago fumbles, recovered by Vikings
38:55 - Cunningham rushes in for 1-yard TD
47:50 - Gary Anderson makes 35-yard FG
53:48 - Cunningham is strip sacked, fumble recovered by Falcons
55:18 - Chandler zings 14-yard TD pass to Terrance Mathis
1:14:51 - Morten Anderson makes 27-yard FG
1:25:06 - Cunningham slings 5-yard TD pass to Mathew Hatchette
1:30:58 - Morten Anderson makes 24-yard FG
1:38:30 - Vikings mishandle snap and Falcons recover fumble
1:41:48 - Falcons are unable to convert on 4th down
1:53:20 - Gary Anderson misses 38-yard FG
1:58:28 - Chandler finds Mathis for 16-yard TD
2:23:10 - Falcons begin game-winning drive
2:31:12 - Morten Anderson makes 38-yard FG to send Falcons to Super Bowl
NFL
man the vikings and broncos would've been probably the best superbowl imo but gary Anderson spoiled it
NFL u da real mvp
NFL 🏈🏈🎯
NFL Thanks
had to watch this after watching the falcons win today against the packers.hehehe
I never got to watch this game because I had to work that day. I'd always heard it was an all time classic and now I get to watch it to find out. Thanks!!
ps My condolences to Vikings fans everywhere. I know this one hurts.
I was born 7 years later
@@fortniterobloxleague4059 unfortunate
@@lertmelernyers8672 I was born December of 2004, the year when The Patriots (which I’m a fan of) won super bowl 39
@@fortniterobloxleague4059 ahhh yes the original spy gate vs the eagles
@@lertmelernyers8672 back when Andy Reid coached the Eagles
This was definitely one of the most shocking NFC Championship games ever. I remember watching this at 17. Thinking the Vikings have this in the bag. The SB that year would've been EPIC.
Giants-49ers 1991...
This was the first NFC title game of my lifetime where I was stunned at the winner. 1990 and 1992, the Giants and Cowboys were STRONG teams. The Vikings felt like a juggernaut and Atlanta, still the most overlooked 14-2 team of all time, just played its best game to win this. Just didn't have it two weeks later in Miami.
Vikings fans are not going to be happy today.
Zaynesd same
Nathaniel Levesque I'm still not giving up on my team (Vikings) though. we gone come back
Nathaniel Levesque I'm pissed and triggered already
Sovereign Truth One day..hopefully in our lifetime. The cubs just won, now, it's our turn too.
***** I've shed tears after the 98' loss, as I was an adolescent..came close after the 09' loss, and when that day when they finally win the super bowl comes, I'm sure I'll shed tears of joy.
I've followed the Vikings and the Chargers most of my life and both teams could have a 90 point lead with one second to go and the game would stil be in doubt
no doubt about that. i saw that game. im still in cardiac arrest.
I think the Vikings would have been better off psychologically if Anderson were a mediocre kicker. Then when he missed they'd have shrugged it off and said 'We knew he'd do that, let's go make a stop and win this' But by being perfect, and missing it, The Vikings defense was in shock and felt like there was some destiny for the Falcons.
Same with the falcons the falcons,lions, Vikings,and chargers are chokers
@@martavion873at least we aren’t alone.
@@Johnhargrove18 Fr
The Vikings lost this game when Cunningham fumbled at the end of the first half. Going into the locker room with a 20-7 lead instead of a 20-14 lead was a big deal.
Bro he missed moss twice in OT for touchdowns. I always thought Gary anderson costed them but randell deserved a boat load of blame
I think the Vikings got greedy and were trying to score on that drive instead of just playing for field position since the half was almost up. Years later OC Brian Billick practically admitted it in an interview.
They didn’t lose because of that they still was in the drivers seat the whole game the other self inflicted wounds along with the fumble cost them the game
Why did Green tell his team to kneel on a 3rd and 2 with 40 seconds left. They had 2 timeouts and Atlanta had zero. You could at least run it and call timeout if you get the first down. If you don't then the clock runs out. It makes absolute zero sense. The stupidity of past and present NFL coaches clock management makes my blood boil.
I'm a Falcons fan, and that's something I've asked myself about for over 20 years now. I think Minnesota got conservative and Atlanta capitalized on it, especially after Gary Anderson missed that 38 yard FG.
Yup I’ll never forget watching that thinking WTF is goin on ( I’m an eagles fan) we sucked that yr an I was ridin wit Minnesota I still can’t believe it 🤦🏾♂️
Frozen at the wheel, I personally thought Dennis Green was a very good head coach. But in one of the biggest moments of that game, he froze and backed down. It's too bad that for the rest of his coaching career Dennis was continually second guessed for that decision. RIP Dennis Green.
It was a "tell" for sure. Made many a fan feel their throat muscles for the very first time as it showed what was going on in his/their hearts. FEAR/Dread. I know i felt it when Gary missed that FG. The letdown, dread, was palpable in that stadium and for Vike-fans all over the TV audience that day, after THAT miss.
It's the whole playing not to lose instead of playing to win. If Robert Smith or Leroy Hoard fumbles, Denny Green is the biggest fool since Joe Gibbs tried to throw that screen pass in Super Bowl XVIII that Jack Squirek picked off for a TD. And remember, John Madden was VEHEMENTLY against the Patriots going for the win a couple years after this...it was just how the game was played.
Somewhere in the multiverse, there's an epic Broncos/Vikings Super Bowl we'll never get to see.
Amen
Denver still would have won. It was John Elway’s last game.
@@Matthew-pf7sbidk the Vikings were super good that year they broke records and if they won the super bowl they would been top 5 best nfl team in all time
@@Matthew-pf7sbI don't think defense of vikings outdoors would be as good on defense without noise
@meversusme7728 the dirty bird lol one year wonder
The Minnesota Vikings are the like the Phoenix Suns of the NFL. Both rock the color purple, both have seasons with good runs, and both are ringless franchises.
This game is why I’m SO grateful not to be a Vikings fan. They’d already been through enough disappointments over the years leading up to this game and then the unimaginable happened. Vikings had this one LOCKED UP and still found a way to blow it. What a colossal nightmare for ANY hard core football fan to have to endure. And the Super Bowl would have been a classic if Minnesota had played Denver. Instead, Atlanta gets blown out by the Broncos. I remember how devastated Chris Carter was afterwards. It looked as though that loss sucked the life out of him.
Atlanta showed serious heart in this game. They were down several times and never gave up.
Are you joking it was awful f****** second-half game plan and Gary Anderson missed a chip-shot they didn't show f****** s*** they just got lucky and they were the worst team to ever play in a Superbowl and then ver didn't even seem to even try to win that game I mean that was the biggest cake walk I've ever seen at least the 49ers Broncos Super Bowl is competitive for 1/4 you can't say that about the Atlanta Falcons 98 Atlanta Falcons the worst team to ever play in a Superbowl. Or maybe tied with the Rex Grossman lead Chicago Bears
@@aaronbradley3232 You're jealous, aren't you? The Falcons were for real in this game.
I look back at this game, and at the 1998 season, and all can i say is... Wow! What a time! 1998 was the miracle season in Atlanta. I only wish the Falcons can finally win one before i die
@@aaronbradley3232 The Falcons played their hearts out unbelievable effort and were a very good team. How do you blame a guy who misses one field goal in 2 years?? But the guy who really stunk up the place was Cunningham. So many under thrown balls. What an amazing game, a true classic.
lcrossmk8 the Falcons were overachievers that year. And they went back to sucking in 1999. Starting with the Vikings getting their revenge in week 1 in Atlanta.
First time I have watched any part of this game since 98, because it's too painful. I still just cannot believe we had the lead and the ball with just over 2 minutes, at home, and we LOST! Just sickening.
I wasn’t born till almost 7 years after this
Randall Cunningham in my humble opinion was the most exciting player to ever play the game of football.
We? You were on the Vikings?
@@andrewbaran661 winning is exciting
@@TL2354 I agree. However, I remember some dropped passes & fumbles by Keith Jackson in the 88' and 89' playoffs. These things happen, but they happened early and ruined Randall's momentum. Anyway, watching Cunningham play was fantastic. And I can only wish I saw him lead his team to the championship.
There's no way on this God's green Earth that somebody like a Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Patrick Mahomes take a knee on 3rd and 6 on the 26 yard line with :30 to go and 2 time outs.
Even Donovan McNabb (who I thought was underrated when he played) would’ve tried playing that out. Heck even one-off QBs or just ones that were decent for short stretches like Jake Delhomme and David Garrard would’ve probably decided to play it out instead of taking a knee.
Don't blame Randall because he didn't call the play. I agree with you that none of those QBs you mentioned would have taken a knee. But that's because their coaches wouldn't have called a play like that. Just simply considering the odds of the Vikings and Falcons at that point: The Vikings had the ball, making their odds of winning much greater than the Falcons....at that point in the game. So why on earth would any coach decide to even the odds to 50/50? As bad of a call that was, a call that was even worse was at the end of the 1st half when instead of protecting the ball and milking the clock, a pass play was called. RC had the ball stripped, Falcons recovered and scored before halftime. That was just one of a few key plays that cost the Vikings the game.
Greatest. NFC Title Game. Ever...Period. End of Story.
I don't know about that,, What about the catch???
49ers and Dallas!!
I'll go with that one!!
Vikings are a joke
As a vikings fan who was only 1 when this game happened, I cannot believe they just kneeled the ball without giving randy moss another shot.
I was negative 6 years old
I did see the game live, I personally think that at that point Dennis Green lost his nerve. RIP Dennis Green. 🙏🙏
I was there and I recall everyone in my section just looking around at each other and wondering what we were missing. Two great and future HOF receivers and they are kneeling down? At that point I knew we were doomed. I still hold a grudge against Denny for that one.
@@poopdeckpappy2658 - that last drive before the missed field goal was the worst time management ever. They should have told robert smith to stay in bounds. Atlanta only had one timeout
@@fortniterobloxleague4059 i was positive 18 year old
This is one of the saddest most disappointing games I have ever seen smh. Atlanta deserved the victory and did what they had to, but we as football fans were robbed of the greatness of the Vikings and perhaps one of the greatest Super Bowls ever between the Broncos vs Vikings. Definitely one of the saddest days in NFL history.
The Vikings didn't want it bad enough to play in the super bowl. The falcons did!!!!! I'm sorry dude
Facts to the beginning post. I remember so looking forward to a potential match-up against 2 teams that had all-time great regular seasons. That would have been the biggest SB match-up since the late 70's Cowboys and Steelers SB. Atlanta didn't belong on the same field as that Broncos team.
@@jesseowensrobinsonjr.2460I think they wanted it they was just to cocky and thought they could just blow though them
Yall wasn’t robbed outta anything lol the falcons deserved to go to the super bowl if anything the vikings robbed yall outta a good matchup by choking
I was living in Columbus, Georgia when this game was played. When the Falcons won this game, half the town went crazy!! NOBODY thought the Falcons had a chance in Hell of going in to Minnesota and winning that game!! Big time upset!! That was the year of the Dirty Birds!!
Man... I'm reminded just how much Madden liked to call out the criminally obvious.
He’s kind of like Troy Aikman
One of my Madden NFL video games exaggerates Madden doing that. Every time a player runs for a first down, Madden always says, "He knew where he had to go, and he got there." LOL!!!
@Jamie Koering I’m saying that John Madden was the current Troy Aikman where he is a color commentator
Frank Caliendo had a bit about how John Madden would just say what it was obvious
Greatest victory in Falcons history imo
That's 2016 nfc championship
@@dv9691 definitely not lol packers lost the game from the start, Atlanta was supposed to lose this game.
Greatest NFC Title Game period.
@@musicman76enator 2014 NFCCG > 1998 NFCCG imo.
That was Super Bowl 51…oh wait
This game proves that great teams don’t always get to the Super Bowl, yet alone win a Super Bowl. Great teams are just great and one always knows when they are watching greatness. Unfortunately, it only takes one team on a good day to end an amazing season, but that doesn’t mean the loser isn’t great.
Blair Walsh meet Anderson, Anderson meet Blair Walsh. You two are both meant for each other.
Ndudi Enwereuzor Anderson is light years ahead of Walsh. Walsh lost multiple regular season games the last two seasons.
1:57:47...this is what they mean when they say football is a game of inches. Just BARELY missed getting the game sealing INT that sends Minny to the Super Bowl and one of the best matchups of my lifetime against Denver.
Is it?
Almost every sport is a game of inches though. In any sport there is the potential for a player to come within inches or millimeters of scoring or making a big play but just barely missing. Except maybe for boxing....
The legend of Chris Chandler
The true and honest Christian Weston Chandler imo
@@hopchop4607he was like a more clutch stronger arm Alex smith or Chad Pennington
2nd best super bowl that never happened. vikings - broncos
1st btw is 1985 dolphins-bears
Emil the first best!!!
49ers bills
Patrick McCallum oh yeah, Tom Landry led Cowboys vs the John Madden led Raiders. That would’ve been good.
@@jayNicks10 That super bowl would have had the highest female viewership in history because of Ken Stabler and Roger Staubach
@@ATLKing404 Maybe. Maybe not. My 2-cents vote (re: female viewership) would've been Joe "Willie" Namath vs. Roman "the Stud" Gabriel...ala NYJ vs. L.A. Rams...biggest pop's, audiences w/ Nat'l & "5th Ave" recognition also.
Rams were "close" in '68 & '69 losing to eventual NFL champs, Colts, Vikings in tough/close losses.
Jets made it in '68 and contenders/close in '69 w/ tough loss to Chiefs.
Both started to fizzle come '70 season onwards)
But who knows? May've been one (or two?) helluva SB for the ages w/ NY vs. LA.
(tho' rainy weather in NOLA would've sucked, big time.)
One of if not the greatest championship games ever played.
100% agreed
1986 and 1987 AFC championship games were great, too. Browns shoulda beat the Broncos both times.
@@CrazeyLazeyHazeyDazey That's for sure! Hopefully, the Browns go back sometime.
Most definitely not
So many people have the last name of Anderson in this game lol
James MT Including the man who choked the game away
JIM PATS LOSE Not really. He had to dive for it to even have a chance at interception it.
And Vikes had randle mcdaniel, John randle, ed mcdaniel and randle Cunningham
What’s so funny?
That field looks like it would hurt to play on. Looks like a huge mat.
its furry concrete, your right
@@rickchyczewski576 I played on astroturf in high school. Might as well be playing in a parking lot
Hal Norman it’s concrete with carpet over it lol not even a mat
It's because the quality makes it look bad
Concrete with a green mat laid over it..pretty brutal
Even after the missed FG, Minnesota still had many opportunities to stop them.
zach rizzo I was just cringing as a bystander fan seeing that missed int right before the end of regulation, or when Cunningham under-threw Moss in OT. They had it in their grasp... must’ve been pure torture.
I agree, can't blame Anderson's missed field goal for viking loss, best I rember Vikings still had lead in the game after miss, if anybody wants to blame the loss on any one that would be the Viking defense, all they had to was stop falcons and get the ball back, falcons went down the field and scored like they weren't even out there and that's what happend to vikings
Plus the vikings won the coin toss to get the ball in overtime! They failed to get past the 50 yard line and punted.
As a Falcons fan who was living overseas in 1998, I am seeing this game for the first time. Clearly Atlanta was playing a much better team, and the Vikings deserve at least as much credit for losing the game as the Falcons do for winning it. Despite all the emphasis on Gary Andersen missing that field goal in the fourth quarter, there were several other times in the game when the Vikings let the Falcons stay in the game by dumb mistakes or poor play-calling.
+ If the Vikings just take a knee to end the first half, they go into the locker room leading 20-7. Instead Atlanta recovers a fumble and goes in down by only 6.
+ On the crucial fourth-quarter drive that ended in Andersen's missed field goal, the Vikings clock management was non-existent. Robert Smith ran out of bounds on his first three carries on the drive. On the first three plays of the drive, Minnesota managed to only run one minute off the clock. Considering how well they were moving the ball, if they had managed the clock properly (i.e., kept it running) they could have run out the clock and Gary Andersen would not now be regarded as the scapegoat.
+ In the last minute of regulation, needing only a field goal to win it, the Vikings looked as if they did not want to win the game. This was also true of the way their offense played in overtime. There was no urgency (unlike Tom Brady in overtime against the Falcons in the Super Bowl - I can't believe I'm bringing up such a painful memory).
+ The amazing lack of targets for Randy Moss after the first quarter was inexcusable. The guy was a foot taller than any defender on the field the entire game. Just throw it to him one out of every three plays in the game, and the Vikings win the game in a blowout. I can't believe Brian Billick became a head coach after the terrible play-calling in this game with arguably the best offense in NFL history.
Yes you are correct. That viking fumble before the half and the quick atlanta TD was the turning point. It kept atlanta in the game. what the hell were they thinking passing on their own 15 yard line right before the half? Vikings would get the ball back after the half anyways. no disrespect to atlanta but I believe the viking's coaches lost this game.
I named three points late in the game that the Vikings could've won. It wasn't just Gary Anderson, Robert Griffith dropped a potential game winning interception with a minute to go and Randy Moss was open for a game winning touchdown on the Vikings' second possession of overtime, but Randall Cunningham underthrew him and Eugene Robinson knocked down the pass.
agree-the Vikes taking a knee at the end of regulation was a big mistake when you have Randy Moss on your team; As a Falcons fan Chris Chandler showed great poise under pressure in the Metrodome-a lot of heart at the end of the game but he held tough taking some big hits!
Best commentator duo ever.
Yes!! They actually focused on the game! Replay analysis on every play. Imagine that! Now its all about the sideshows and kissing a**
Just lost two of the best minds in football with Reeves and Madden.Thought to honor them both with by replaying this game( one my favorite nfc battles)on NewYears Day,2022.R.I.P. and Thanks for the memories.
Maybe it's just me, but one of the first thing I noticed is how sharp the uniforms used to look. I love the old Vikings and Falcons unis. Simple design, the bold block numbers, not those fancy fonts and stripes they have now. I also forgot that NFL jerseys used to have this thing called sleeves, and those sleeves had pads underneath them.
totally agree, love the clean designs and bulkier fits. nike has produced some awful jerseys since they took over 10 years ago. look at how the browns, jaguars and bucs have had a jersey redesign twice in the past decade, going from some tacky new aesthetic and then back to their roots or a simple design (jags). hopefully nike doesn't turn the nfl into the nba with 5+ jerseys for each team every season, though the LA teams are already headed that way
You’re not wrong
1000% in agreement. The unis didn't look too 'busy' and emphasized team colors instead of alternates and other things. It gave them a much more classic aesthetic.
The block numbers and letters is the biggest thing. Sleeves too. Nike did good with the seahawks. Minnesota good too but I miss their shiny helmets
that freaking AstroTurf was disgusting, everyone had a leg injury
I don’t know why they had those types of turf
Yes, and I believe it was a neck injury this 1998 season to Michael Irvin in Philly that prompted the NFL to adopt much more player friendly turf.
Yeah but check how Moss bounces off of it with each stride
Everyone?
Just finished watching the 2009 nfc championship game, now this, because I hate myself.
I do this about once a year and also the Walsh misses field goal skol brother skol
I make it a point not to watch the games Indy loses. Not sure I love myself, but I don't need the torture.
Rough I it’s kinda like if the Vikings face a nfc south team in the nfc champ their hearts get torn in half 😕
All the hypotheticals about If the Falcons would have lost this game Denver would have smoked the Vikings. Those huge Denver O linemen would have killed the clock cut blocking the hell out of those Vikings D linemen and Linebackers with TD running all over them. They would have pulled the same thing Parcels and Belichek did to the Bills in 1990. Anyway 4 Vikings defensive starters including Randall were injured and 2 weeks is not enough time to recover. Neil Smith, Steve Atwater and crew would have feasted on Cunningham and Robert Smith. It would have been fun to see though.
I'm a Viking fan
NFL STOP
Bill Thompson nope. No it's not..
Is Philly even a city anymore? It's just rubble now.
Yes I'd have to say the Vikings have been tortured more than anyone now that we have a Lombardi Trophy I'm talking about the Eagles it's not even close well no not even Buffalo because Buffalo hasn't been snake bitten over decades it was only the 90s
@@joejay4646 well it's still a city well there are neighborhoods that are all the rubble but it's pretty much a cesspool of drug abuse drug addicts and Welfare mothers once you leave downtown
Vikings had 3 chances to score at the end of the game and came away with nothing. Underwhelming performance by one of the "greatest" offenses of all time.
commentary on fox was so much better then it is now
My dog and cat singing sound better than Puck and Aikings.
michael edwards yes cuz John Madden lol
Summeral is a great play by play man
I can't believe it's been over 25 years.🏈🇺🇸
It's 2023 and I'm watching this.
Such a blast of nostalgia. I remember this game so well.
Me too brother, I was pulling for the vikes. To this day I still can't fathom how the Vikings lost this game, the good old days
@@jessejohnson3138 even as Packers fan so nostalgic watching this
The falcons are who we thought they were!
You know, this game is remembered for Gary Anderson's missed FG, but really, if you're the Vikings, and you want to go to the Super Bowl, you should be able to stop Atlanta from driving 70 yards for the tying score. Instead Atlanta scores in a little under a minute, ties it up and ends up winning in OT. Don't get me wrong, Anderson could have iced the game, but letting Chris Chandler lead the drive for that score is just terrible, he even threw up a couple of ducks but Minnesota didn't seem capable of grabbing that brass ring.
After watching Atlanta's game winning drive for the first time, I actually see the Vikings curse in play. The Vikes had a couple of opportunities to end this game via interceptions during the drive and screwed the pooch. Pure Vikings fashion.
One detail that gets lost on the drive that ended in Anderson's miss is that Robert Smith ran out of bounds three times. Why? That just gives your opponent more time in the event that your team screws up
I wish you could post the interview with Dan Reeves and others as they did the Dirty Bird dance together. It was right after this game while they were still on the field.
Why did the Vikings kneel at the end with 30 seconds left?
playing not to lose
failure of a franchise
Always wondered that myself, especially when you have the best deep threat receiver this sport has ever seen in Randy Moss. Two timeouts and in only a 3rd and 2 situation, I don’t know why they kneeled. It might have just been the philosophy a lot of teams used even back in the late 90’s because I can remember Madden being shocked that the Patriots didn’t kneel out the clock and settle for overtime in Super Bowl 36 and that was with over a minute left.
Dom Tes I’ve been saying
That for years
Because it's sports entertainment!
Dennis Green said it was because he didn't want to punt but that doesn't make sense. They could have ran the ball, and if they got the first they could call a timeout and have a 1st and 10, and if they didn't get it the clock would just run out (because the Falcons had no timeouts) so there would have been no need to punt. Poor game management.
2:01:10
"WOW!" -Pat (RIP)
"Being up here, this is fun! Being those two guys there, it's not a lot of fun but this is where you wanna be!" -John
👍
I watched this so many times, what a great game!! Wish football still had this kinda feel to it.
🏆🏈 At least the Vikings won the NFL Championship in 1969 against the Cleveland Browns before the merger in 1970 with the AFL. There were still 2 separate leagues back then. Even the Buffalo Bills won 2 AFL Championships in the earlier 1960s.
I can't blame this Vikings loss on Gary Anderson alone. Even though he missed it by wide left, the Falcons still needed a touchdown to tied the game. Vikings defense didn't step up to stop them. Then in overtime, Vikings had the ball 1st and still couldn't do anything with it. and even if Viking went to the super bowl, they would have lost to the Broncos too.
Harry Vue, I think you hit the nail right on the head with these points man. Even though Andersen missed the field goal, like you said, Atlanta's offense still needed a TD, and all that would have done was TIE the game. And in overtime, you never know what can happen. Still though, I feel that both teams played great, and it is my hope that someday in my life, I'll be able to call the Falcons World Champions, and then the Vikings as World Champions. Doesn't matter the order to me, I just want to see both teams win one in my lifetime. I was six years old when this game happened, and I think I did root for Atlanta because no one really gave Atlanta a chance. I actually thought they'd lose against the Niners the week before because of the fact that the Niners had so much momentum coming into that game.
Harry Vue Moss could have scored three TDs, they still were going to lose to Denver.
Harry V also at 1:55:42 could have intercepted it and sealed the game.
Harry V and again at 1:57:55.
Only disagreement....the VIKINGS would have crushed the Broncos.
Moss was a killer and a monster when with the vikings
Chris Chandler balled his ass off in this game. Seriously one the best pure QB performances I've ever seen!
Yes!
Looked a lot like Brady this game.
Man that Vikings vs Broncos SB would of been EPIC
Broncos would’ve won though anyway
@@terrylee773 Most likely, yes. However, it would've been more exciting to watch.
@@terrylee773hell nah lol vikings would’ve rolled them
@kevonsidek9737 the same way they rolled the falcons?
@@mrmartinez99301the vikings lost that game more than the falcons won it let’s be real lol they had four self inflicted wounds that gifted the falcons the game lol
The Denver Broncos had the perfect storm in the '98 playoffs: Down 10-0 in the AFC Championship game at halftime, then the Jets experience a total meltdown in the second half, and then they avoid playing the best team in the SB, the Vikings....
If the Vikings were “the best team” then how come they didn’t beat the Falcons?
Before the Broncos played their game, Mike Shanahan and his team were watching this game and we relieved that the Vikings lost. That distraction almost cost them the game. As explained in America's Game: The Story of the 1998 Broncos.
John and Pat two of the greatest
Tim Dwight is still one of my favorite players. He was a play-maker where you just find a way to get the football in his hands.
Former Iowa speedster and was in the Michael vick trade
@@ericsigersmith2831 Tim Dwight wasn't some throwaway in that deal either.
@@Miller2h41 nope im pretty sure the chargers insisted on him being in the deal
@@ericsigersmith2831 Dan Reeves had to be reluctant to give Tim Dwight away.
Never seen someone play with so much hype.
I always thought it was insane to act like the Falcons were no good. They were 16-2 coming into the game!!! How big an upset is to *ever* lose to a team that has won 89% of its games so far!?!
The Vikings were considered an all time great team while the falcons were considered great
@@tristanrogers8518 i didn’t say it wasn’t an upset. But a 14-2 team is a *real* challenge on any given day.
This was such an upset. Watching the game back I still can’t believe Minnesota lost. They outplayed Atlanta right until the last 2 1/2 minutes of regulation.
Thank you for uploading the classics, NFL...
(NFC Champs: 1998, 2016)
"The Miss" and "Georgia Dome Farewell"
2:05:33 - I remember being enraged that the Vikings would just take a knee and run the clock out on 3rd down with 30 seconds left! Especially in a championship game with a deep threat like Moss. Might be the lamest playoff play call of all time.
IceveinsProductions I remember t
feeling the same way.
True. Gary Anderson gets all the smoke for the miss, but after that miss
1) the defense gives up a 70 yard td drive.
2) the coaching staff sits on the ball instead of taking a shot with the best deep ball offense ever
3) the offense fails to score after getting the ball TWICE in overtime
4) the defense gives up another scoring drive, the field goal to end it.
But yeah, let's blame the kicker because it's easier to do that.
@@ericruiz1036 Agreed 💯! But I do think Chris Chandler deserves alot of credit for shredding the Vikings defense and outplaying Cunningham as well
The Vikings were unstoppable in 1998 that year they should have been in the Superbowl and faced Elway and the Broncos
and Lost. The injuries they suffered in this game, especially at LB would have given Broncos trophy
But they didn't. So don't complain
+3412 2319 I'm not complaining about anything I'm not a Viking fan I just say the Vikings in 98 were the best team that year and were favored to go to the superbowl
I saw the '98 Vikings in person when they played the Tennessee Oilers late in the season. They were impressive. A remarkable comeback win for the Falcons against a great Minnesota team.
9ers should've been there
My darkest day as a sports fan. I was at this game and was at all the Vikings' home games that year. They were so dominant. But were NEVER the same team after that RC fumble late in the first half. Denny went conservative, stopped attacking and was playing not to lose. So much talk about the missed FG, but so many "what if" plays. Robert Griffith's dropped interception in the end zone comes immediately to mind.
Granted I was a dumb hungover 22 year old watching this game, got real irritated when Green decided to kneel at the end. You could have thrown a few bombs to Moss to get into Field Goal Position letting Anderson redeem himself. Always thought Green gave up
randall cuntingham was a loser.
Vikings coaches lost this game on terrible play calling and atlanta took advantage of it. Atlanta deserved to win. I knew we were doomed on that terrible fumble before half
@@MrUnsolvedMystery Truth.
Kneeling the ball with time and timeouts and all they needed was a field goal. Will never understand that.
Bring back The Dirty Bird for this Super Bowl Falcons!
30 seconds left and 2 timeouts. Cunningham, Carter, moss and the vikings take a knee to ot??? They deserved this L
They had those guys all game and couldn't score in the entire second half! Then they also couldn't score in overtime. Don't forget the Vikings offense had the ball TWICE in overtime and failed 🥶🥶🥶
Amazing win for the Falcons, Vikings loaded with HOFers or HOFers to be or should be, while the Falcons only had one, Morton Andersen. Poor Gary Anderson, that one kick (the only miss on a FG and PA the entire season) has kept him out of the HOF, which is totally unfair, deserves to be in. Course the list of deserving Vikings is long due to lack of success in the playoffs and Super Bowl losses.
2:05:30 As others have noted, the kneel-down on the 3rd down at the end of regulation was indefensible. You can argue that the Vikings wanted to avoid a debilitating turnover (e.g. INT, sack-fumble) or an incompletion that would have given the ball back to the Falcons. Even if you buy that, why not just run the ball? It was 3rd and 3 and they had a terrific running back. If they don't get it....fine....you're off to OT. If they do get it, they had 2 timeouts so they could have stopped the clock and still had 1 timeout to get into FG range. If they were going conservative (which was still dumb), THAT would have been the route to go. Don't waste the opportunity to win the game.
I love the overtime rules in this era,both teams know what they've got to do....JUST F-ING DO IT!! NO EXCUSES!!
I was at this game !!! I have not watched it in over 24 years !!! I seen grown men cry that day and i was one of them !!!
How loud was the stadium? Any stories from that day you remember?
terrible pro-minnesota officiating, falcons had to overcome them and the vikings.
That's funny first three penalties were on the Vikings. Maybe you did not see that
RIP John Madden, Pat Summeral, Dennis Green and Dan Reeves
Being an Eagles fan it breaks my heart that Randall Cunningham was just a field goal away from playing in his first Super Bowl, if the Vikes had won the Broncos would've had more of a challenge and Elway would've had to fight hard to get his 2nd ring
Randall was the best ever scrambling type QB he was so dangerous because he had the arm to match his legs the running type QBs usually don't have elite passing.
As far as a full game/ season for my Falcons, this was the most complete game from beginning to end that they have ever played. The Madden gods smiled upon me in those final seconds and ever since this game we have not played that beutiful complete game from start to finish like we did this day.
Shut up
Especially in that super bowl lost to the Patriots
I was so pissed after Minnesota lost this game. I wanted a Minnesota-Denver Super Bowl badly! They were not only the two best teams in the NFL that year, they were two of the best teams I had ever seen to that point. That would of been the best Super Bowl ever! Oh what could of been.
This was my first football game I watched on TV. I am a Falcons fan and my wife is Vikings Fan...I brought up this game the other week and she punched me in the nose because of it. LOL
Day for Torturing Vikes fans hahaha
Aaron Rodgers MVP packers are gonna lose in the Superbowl
Aaron Rodgers MVP like the packers haven't ever choked in a NFC championship
+Minny Paul yeah but we have 4 super bowls and the Vikings have none
at least were not named after an indian food company
Ryan Wentland and?? Your point?
Two things i remember about this game:
1. Mad at Dennis Green, why are you running out the clock? My uncle: "You have the highest scoring team ever and three great receivers and you do that. I give up!" He was quiet and hardly said a word until my parents and I went home cause we were visiting him!
2. Robert Griffith. On TV that night, I saw the missed INT that would have saved Gary and put them in the Super Bowl. That is reason #2 why the Vikings lost and wow. 1:57:54 DAMN
The most exciting player to ever play in the NFL Randy Moss. Watching the ball sail in the air and land in Randy Moss's arms was like an art form. The guy had a style that was completely unique.
Watching that pass that he let go through his hands in the endzone forcing the Vikings to settle for a field goal (20-7) instead of the score being 24-7 was a thing of beauty too....I guess
Barry Sanders
biggest POS ever in the nfl
@@mrtnt3462 I don’t get it
2:22:05
A better thrown ball (leading the receiver) and Moss walks into the end zone. Vikings go to the SB.
War damn eagle
Anderson hits the field goal with 2 min left Vikings were in the Super-Bowl ... Heart breaker for sure
@@funkyflights
Blaming the kicker is a convenient way to shift blame from everyone else
George or Culpepper would have gotten him that ball there...
@@jackjohnson5714 or Brad Johnson
Both the 07 pats and the 98 Vikings had Moss.
moss must have been a curse on those teams.
The Niners’ Jim Harbaugh v. Ravens’ John Harbaugh Super Bowl match also had Randy Moss as a wide receiver for the losing Niners.
@donsweet6133 Randy Moss did nothing his final season with the Niners in 2012 he was washed up by then
Watching this game on the 22nd Anniversary of the game. This was a Falcons classic! 1/17/21
Just saw the nfls greatest games on this which is gold also
Why is the nfl torturing vikings fans today? 😅
Diego Lara lmao dude Im thinking they must have had another video and chose this by mistake. Like straight up the teo biggest losses for the Vikings in maybe franchise history
Diego Lara The NFL is doing three greatest Games for each team. Atlanta and New Orleans going to their only Super Bowl by beating Minnesota is a part of that. They're releasing both games for Championship Sunday
HolywowwwW3wwaA3a3aaaaawod Underfed
Holywood Underfed photo W33
Vikings weren’t going to beat the Broncos in the SB imo
One of the greatest games ever if you are a Falcon Fan!
I was 16 when this happened. It was my first experience as a Vikings fan with a letdown.
The missed FG didn't decide the game, Cunningham's fumble late in the first half with the Vikings up 20-7 did them in. They had all the momentum and the TO and TD on the next play got the Falcons right back into the game.
Same with Hurts fumble in the Super Bowl.
"The Falcons are who we thought they were" Dennis Green
They were brave and bold
When did he say that?
😂😂😂
@TL2354 2006 when he was coaching the Cardinals after a crushing come from behind win by the Bears and sports writers asking dumb questions
What are the odds that if Gary Anderson kicked it "correctly" that it would have been blocked?
This is the best team I've ever seen.
I was 13 when this game was played I remember going to school and my friends in shock over vikings not getting to sb I feel for vikings fans imagine a broncos vikings sb that year what could have been
Unfortunately I wasn’t really old enough to even be interested in football.
But as a diehard, I had to look back and study the team I chose for rest of my life, and see our successes and failures, our challenges and our unexpecteds. When I looked back at those two amazing Super Bowl seasons we had , this one in particular, and saw what led up to it - I would have LOVED to have seen two powerhouse teams go at it for the championship.
Two teams that were chasing perfection that year, face off in the final game of the post-season.
I, also, was shocked when I found out that Minnesota, a team with one loss didn’t make it to the big dance. I had to go back and watch this to find out what the heck went wrong.
An almost field goal and an almost interception that would have sealed the deal and possibly given us an amazing matchup.
Pathetic Atlanta was nothing. We socked them good. I also feel bad for Viks fans on this game.
Crazy how it all fell apart.
Glad we got our back-to-backs but I always wonder….”what if…”
Not exactly something you here from a fan of a team who joined a select-few franchises to do it twice in a row. But it often begs the curiosity - for me anyways.
i was 20 the last time vikings were even in the SB. now i'm 65.