PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : THE PLAYOFFS : Chiefs’ Thomas Has Heart Ailment

All-Pro linebacker Derrick Thomas stayed overnight in a hospital for observation Sunday after being treated for the same non-threatening heart ailment that afflicted President Bush last spring, the Kansas City Chiefs said.

Thomas, suffering an accelerated heartbeat, was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City during the second quarter of the Chiefs’ AFC wild-card victory over the Raiders Saturday.

Chief spokesman Bob Moore said Thomas’ condition was diagnosed as atrial fibrillation, and he was listed as probable for next week’s playoff game.

“He was treated for dizziness and a lightheaded condition which was a result of the accelerated heartbeat,” Moore said. “He had been taking cold medicine earlier in the day and that may have caused the problem. He was kept in the hospital overnight as a precautionary measure.”

Thomas, 24, was never in a life-threatening situation, Moore said. “This is not uncommon. Our doctors said this is the same condition that President Bush was treated for.”

The Atlanta Falcons’ first-round playoff victory over the New Orleans Saints didn’t surprise Coach Jerry Glanville. What came afterward did.

“Probably the most surprising thing came here at the airport,” Glanville said Sunday, a day after the Falcons’ 27-20 victory over the Saints.

Several thousand fans were at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport to greet the players after Atlanta’s first playoff game since 1982.

“Since I’ve been in pro football, that’s the biggest reception I’ve ever seen,” Glanville said. “It was good for our team to see that.”

Glanville, in his second season with the Falcons, took the team from a 5-11 record to a 10-6 record and second place in the NFC West behind the Saints.

Atlanta will play the NFC East champion Washington Redskins on Saturday in the second round. Washington was 14-2 in the regular season and beat the Falcons, 56-17, on Nov. 10.

The Falcons were without quarterback Chris Miller, offensive tackle Mike Kenn and cornerback Deion Sanders in that game. All were sidelined because of injuries.

“It doesn’t matter what happened the last time,” Glanville said. “We’ll go out and play. The first game has no bearing on this. We lost to the Saints the first time, too. That’s overrated.”

Washington Coach Joe Gibbs says their earlier victory will hurt the Redskins.

“Any time you beat somebody in the regular season, I think it works to their advantage when the teams play again,” Gibbs said.