1998 Atlanta Falcons season

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1998 NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

Personnel

• President – Taylor Smith

• Executive vice-president of football operations – Dan Reeves

• General manager – Harold Richardson

• Vice-president of football operations – Ron Hill

• Director of player personnel/College – Reed Johnson

• Director of player personnel/Pro – Chuck Connor

• Assistant to head coach/pro personnel – Marvin Bass

• Head coach – Dan Reeves

• Assistant head coach/defensive coordinator – Rich Brooks

• Offensive coordinator/running backs – George Sefcik

• Quarterbacks – Jack Burns

• Wide receivers – Rennie Simmons

• Tight ends – James Daniel

• Offensive line – Art Shell

• Offensive quality control – Ed West

• Defensive line – Bill Kollar

• Linebackers – Don Blackmon

• Secondary – Ron Meeks

• Defensive quality control – Brian Xanders

• Special teams – Joe DeCamillis

• Strength and conditioning – Al Miller

• Assistant strength and conditioning – Tim Jorgensen

Roster

53 active, 3 inactive, 5 practice squad

Regular season

Schedule

This was the first occasion when the Falcons played the New York Giants since 1988, and their first visit to Giants Stadium since 1982. This is due to old NFL scheduling formulas in place prior to 2002, whereby teams had no rotating schedule opposing members of other divisions within their own conference, but instead played interdivisional conference games according to position within a season's table.

Standings

Notable games

• October 4 vs. Carolina Panthers:

The Falcons' most decisive win of the season came in a 51–23 rout in the Georgia Dome. Jamal Anderson rushed for 117 yards and a touchdown while Chris Chandler threw for 189 yards and two touchdowns with two picks. From Tim Dwight’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:

Atlanta’s offense rolled up 41 points while the defense limited New England to just ten points at Foxboro Stadium 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 ran in two scores, Chris Chandler 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. As of 2025, this was the Falcons most recent win against New England.

• November 15 vs. San Francisco 49ers:

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 and Jerry Rice, but Jamal Anderson’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).

• December 6 vs. Indianapolis Colts:

The Falcons record their first-ever win against the Colts, ending a 10-game losing streak to them.

Postseason

NFC Divisional Playoff: vs. San Francisco 49ers

First quarter

• ATL – Jamal Anderson 2-yard run (Morten Anderson kick), 7:35. ''Falcons 7–0. '''Drive: 6 plays, 38 yards, 3:07.''''' Second quarter
• ATL – Jamal Anderson 34-yard run (Morten Anderson kick), 4:30. ''Falcons 14–0. '''Drive: 7 plays, 82 yards, 4:23.'''''
• SF – Jerry Rice 17-yard pass from Steve Young (Wade Richey kick), 1:16. **Falcons 14–7. **Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 2:02.'''''
• SF – Wade Richey 36-yard field goal, 0:01. ''Falcons 14–10. '''Drive: 5 plays, 18 yards, 0:38.''''' Third quarter
• ATL – Morten Anderson 29-yard field goal, 2:15. ''Falcons 17–10. '''Drive: 6 plays, 9 yards, 3:28.''''' Fourth quarter
• ATL – Morten Anderson 32-yard field goal, 11:30. ''Falcons 20–10. '''Drive: 7 plays, 21 yards, 3:50.'''''
• SF – Steve Young 8-yard run (Greg Clark pass from Ty Detmer), 4:28. ''Falcons 20–18. '''Drive: 13 plays, 87 yards, 7:36.''''' Top passers
• SF – Steve Young – 23/37, 289 yards, TD, 3 INT
• ATL – Chris Chandler – 13/19, 169 yards, INT Top rushers
• SF – Terry Kirby – 9 rushes, 22 yards
• ATL – Jamal Anderson – 29 rushes, 113 yards, 2 TD Top receivers
• SF – J. J. Stokes – 5 receptions, 76 yards
• ATL – Terance Mathis – 5 receptions, 71 yards

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. The Falcons, though, would not be denied as Jamal Anderson once again hauled the mail with 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Steve Young threw a touchdown to Jerry Rice and ran in a late fourth-quarter score; Ty Detmer 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. The Falcons moved on to face the #1 seed Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game.

NFC Championship: at Minnesota Vikings

Main article: 1998 NFC Championship Game

First quarter

• ATL – Jamal Anderson 5-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Morten Anderson kick), 8:21. ''Falcons 7–0. '''Drive: 12 plays, 76 yards, 6:39.'''''
• MIN – Randy Moss 31-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Gary Anderson kick), 5:33. ''Tied 7–7. '''Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards, 2:48.''''' Second quarter
• MIN – Gary Anderson 29-yard field goal, 9:52. ''Vikings 10–7. '''Drive: 12 plays, 48 yards, 6:16.'''''
• MIN – Randall Cunningham 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 5:53. ''Vikings 17–7. '''Drive: 6 plays, 33 yards, 3:41.'''''
• MIN – Gary Anderson 35-yard field goal, 2:45. ''Vikings 20–7. '''Drive: 6 plays, 39 yards, 1:28.'''''
• ATL – Terance Mathis 14-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Morten Anderson kick), 0:56. ''Vikings 20–14. '''Drive: 1 play, 14 yards, 0:03.''''' Third quarter
• ATL – Morten Anderson 27-yard field goal, 5:36. ''Vikings 20–17. '''Drive: 10 plays, 62 yards, 6:03.''''' Fourth quarter
• MIN – Matthew Hatchette 6-yard pass from Randall Cunningham (Gary Anderson kick), 13:41. ''Vikings 27–17. '''Drive: 15 plays, 82 yards, 6:55.'''''
• ATL – Morten Anderson 24-yard field goal, 11:02. ''Vikings 27–20. '''Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 2:39.'''''
• ATL – Terance Mathis 16-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Morten Anderson kick), 0:49. ''Tied 27–27. '''Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 1:18.''''' Overtime
• ATL – Morten Anderson 38-yard field goal, 3:08. ''Falcons 30–27. '''Drive: 10 plays, 70 yards, 5:20.''''' Top passers
• ATL – Chris Chandler – 27/43, 340 yards, 3 TD
• MIN – Randall Cunningham – 29/48, 266 yards, 2 TD Top rushers
• ATL – Jamal Anderson – 23 rushes, 67 yards
• MIN – Robert Smith – 21 rushes, 71 yards Top receivers
• ATL – Tony Martin – 5 receptions, 129 yards
• MIN – Randy Moss – 6 receptions, 75 yards, TD

The 16–1 Vikings, boasting the league's highest-scoring post-merger offense, were heavy favorites at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome and raced to a 20–7 lead in the second quarter off two Randall Cunningham touchdowns (one rushing and a throw to Randy Moss), but at the end of the first half Chris Chandler found Terance Mathis for a 14-yard score following a Cunningham fumble (forced by Chuck Smith near the end of the half). After a Morten Andersen 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). In the frantic final ten minutes of regulation, the Falcons, trailing 27-20, appeared poised to tie the game after Shane Dronett recovered a botched snap deep in Vikings territory, but they turned the ball over on downs after foregoing a field goal on fourth-and-four, when a Chandler pass to Mathis fell incomplete. In the final four minutes, Gary Anderson, who hadn't missed a field goal all season, sent a 38-yarder narrowly wide left. With just over two minutes remaining, Chandler then drove the Falcons downfield and connected with Mathis in the endzone with 49 seconds remaining. Both teams punted on their first overtime possession (the Vikings, who had the ball first and had nearly won when Eugene Robinson dove to defend a deep pass to an otherwise uncovered Moss). On their second drive of the extra period, Chandler connected with OJ Santiago for two big gains before Andersen nailed a 38-yard field goal; the 30–27 final sent the Falcons to Super Bowl XXXIII.

Super Bowl XXXIII: vs. Denver Broncos

Main article: Super Bowl XXXIII

First quarter

• ATL – Morten Anderson 32-yard field goal, 9:35. ''Falcons 3–0. '''Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards, 5:25.'''''
• DEN – Howard Griffith 1-yard run (Jason Elam kick), 3:55. ''Broncos 7–3. '''Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 5:40.''''' Second quarter
• DEN – Jason Elam 26-yard field goal, 9:17. ''Broncos 10–3. '''Drive: 11 plays, 63 yards, 4:58.'''''
• DEN – Rod Smith 80-yard pass from John Elway (Jason Elam kick), 4:54. ''Broncos 17–3. '''Drive: 1 play, 80 yards, 0:13.'''''
• ATL – Morten Anderson 28-yard field goal, 2:25. ''Broncos 17–6. '''Drive: 7 plays, 38 yards, 2:29.''''' Third quarter
• No scoring plays Fourth quarter
• DEN – Howard Griffith 1-yard run (Jason Elam kick), 14:56. ''Broncos 24–6. '''Drive: 5 plays, 24 yards, 1:50.'''''
• DEN – John Elway 3-yard run (Jason Elam kick), 11:20. ''Broncos 31–6. '''Drive: 3 plays, 48 yards, 1:17.'''''
• ATL – Tim Dwight 94-yard kickoff return (Morten Anderson kick), 11:01. Broncos 31–13.
• DEN – Jason Elam 37-yard field goal, 7:08. ''Broncos 34–13. '''Drive: 7 plays, 36 yards, 3:53.'''''
• ATL – Terance Mathis 3-yard pass from Chris Chandler (pass failed), 2:04. ''Broncos 34–19. '''Drive: 16 plays, 76 yards, 5:04.''''' Top passers
• DEN – John Elway – 18/29, 336 yards, TD, INT
• ATL – Chris Chandler – 19/35, 219 yards, TD, 3 INT Top rushers
• DEN – Terrell Davis – 25 rushes, 102 yards
• ATL – Jamal Anderson – 18 rushes, 96 yards Top receivers
• DEN – Rod Smith – 5 receptions, 152 yards, TD
• ATL – Terance Mathis – 7 receptions, 85 yards, TD The Falcons were unable to continue their success to the next season and finished the 1999 campaign at 5-11. Atlanta would not return to the Super Bowl until Super Bowl LI at the conclusion of the 2016 NFL season.

References

References

1. "A look back at the Falcons' Super season of 1998". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
2. (December 15, 1998). "PRO FOOTBALL; Reeves Undergoes Heart Surgery". New York Times.
3. "1998 Atlanta Falcons draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
4. "1998 Atlanta Falcons starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
5. Urena, Ivan; ''Pro Football Schedules: A Complete Historical Guide from 1933 to the Present'', p. 221 {{ISBN. 0786473517
6. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=521 History of the NFL’s Structure and Formats, Part Two]
7. "Indianapolis Colts vs. Atlanta Falcons".