Vikings, Falcons make rare trip to NFC title game

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome,
Minneapolis, Minn., Sunday, Jan. 17

AT A GLANCE: It’s not a traditional NFC title matchup, but the Vikings and Falcons have had superb seasons and will play for a trip to Miami. No team that makes its home in a dome has ever reached the Super Bowl, but one of these teams will.

The winds of change swept through the NFC this season, shifting the balance of power and providing a conference-championship matchup that few people could have envisioned when the NFL campaign kicked off in September.

For the first time since 1992, the NFC title game will not include the Cowboys, Packers or 49ers. The Vikings haven’t played in an NFC championship game since ’88, and the Falcons have never played in an NFC championship game.

The Vikings (16-1) and Falcons (15-2) may not have glorious postseason histories, but both teams have fashioned their best regular-season records ever, and both are coming off playoff wins in which they thoroughly outplayed their opponents.

The Vikings and Falcons have met only twice in the ’90’s. Both games were played in Atlanta, and both were won by the Vikings. Minnesota beat the Falcons 20-19 in ’91 and 23-17 in ’96.

WHEN THE FALCONS HAVE THE BALL:

Atlanta must control the ball and make the most of its possessions. The Falcons can keep the Vikings’ quick-strike offense off the field by grinding it out with RB Jamal Anderson. The 234-pounder has the stamina to carry the ball 30 or more times vs. Minnesota.

Viking DT’s Jerry Ball and Tony Williams must occupy Falcon blockers when Atlanta runs inside, giving MLB Ed McDaniel and SS Robert Griffith a clear path to the ballcarrier. Look for the Falcons to double-team the 345-pound Ball on running plays with C Robbie Tobeck and one of their guards. Speedy Viking OLB Dwayne Rudd is very good in pursuit, and DL John Randle is capable of disrupting the Falcon running game by using his incredible quickness to shoot gaps and blow up plays in the backfield.

The Falcons balance their powerful running game with a potent passing game, but Atlanta’s aerial attack works best when opposing defenses are going all out to stop Anderson. The Falcons would prefer to throw when they want to (on first down and in 2nd-and-short situations) rather than when they have to (on 3rd-and-long).

Falcon QB Chris Chandler is an efficient passer who throws one of the better deep balls in the game. His primary targets are WR’s Tony Martin and Terance Mathis, who combined for 130 catches and 2,317 receiving yards during the regular season. Viking CB’s Corey Fuller and Jimmy Hitchcock are solid cover men who can afford to give up receptions underneath but can’t afford to be beaten deep.

The Falcons absolutely must keep Randle, who has been playing end in the Vikings’ base defense and moving to tackle in nickel and dime sets, from getting to Chandler.