Two aging kickers with the surnames Anderson and Andersen were significant factors in the outcome of this classic NFC title game. January 17, 1999 was supposed to be a celebratory day in Vikings history. Looking to make its first Super Bowl appearance since the 1970s, Minnesota had gone 15-1 in the regular season and was an 11-point favorite at home against the Falcons. And after a Randall Cunningham touchdown pass and run and two Gary Anderson field goals made it 20-7 Vikings in the second quarter, the Metrodome crowd could sense victory. Cunningham threw another TD pass in the fourth quarter to pull ahead, 27-17, but the Falcons’ 38-year-old Morten Andersen nailed his second field goal of the half. The Vikings on their subsequent possessions punted, lost a fumble, and – with just a few minutes left – the 39-year-old Anderson, who had hit 35 of 35 field goals during the regular season, missed a 38-yard field goal attempt. With under a minute left, Falcons QB Chris Chandler threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Terance Mathis to force overtime. In OT, after two failed possessions by Minnesota and one by Atlanta, the Falcons’ Andersen kicked a 38-yard field goal to win the NFC Championship and crush the dreams of the Vikings faithful. ― NFL 100
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