Reeves Provides Inspiration for Falcons

Dan Reeves wasn’t on the sideline on Sunday. He didn’t need to be. Atlanta’s coach had done enough by visiting with the Falcons and sending them off a day earlier.

“He walked out of the hospital to see us off,” running back Jamal Anderson said. “He’s a good man.”

Reeves, however, returned to the hospital Sunday and watched from there as Anderson scored two touchdowns and Atlanta came from behind for a 24-17 victory over the Detroit Lions, clinching the Falcons’ first NFC West title in 18 years and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

“He just wasn’t feeling well. He’s resting,” said Stacey Wheeler, nurse administrator at Piedmont Hospital. “They’ll probably be doing some tests and readjusting his medication.”

Reeves, who had heart bypass surgery last Monday, was in stable condition, and Wheeler said the hospital probably would issue a statement this morning.

He had been released from the hospital on Friday.

“This win today was special, just special,” said Anderson, who broke the team’s single-season rushing record.

It was only the second division title in team history for the Falcons (13-2), who set a team record for victories in a season. The Falcons have won eight in a row and 11 of their last 12.

The Falcons’ last title came in 1980 when they went 12-4 under Leeman Bennett. They haven’t been in the playoffs since going 9-7 in 1995 and earning a wild-card berth under June Jones.

The Falcons, with defensive coordinator Rich Brooks acting as head coach, fought back from a 17-10 third-quarter deficit with two touchdowns in the fourth quarter against Detroit (5-10).

As they have done all season, the Falcons forced turnovers and took advantage. A rare fumble by Barry Sanders set up Atlanta’s first touchdown.

Chris Chandler, who completed 11 of 19 passes for 146 yards, made it 17-17 with 14:22 left in the fourth quarter with a 27-yard touchdown pass to Terrance Mathis.

Anderson, who rushed for 147 yards in 30 carries, has 1,743 yards for the season. The previous team record was 1,719, set by Gerald Riggs in 1985.

Anderson made a great twisting, spinning run of 26 yards to the one-yard line midway through the quarter, then plunged the final yard for the go-ahead touchdown.

“I was not going to be denied,” Anderson said. “Detroit would have had to have had 20 guys out there. When you believe like that, things can’t go wrong.”