Reeves’ Visit Is Inspiration for the Falcons

Dan Reeves made a surprise visit to the Atlanta locker room before Sunday’s game against Miami, urging the Falcons to keep playing like champions heading into the playoffs.

They did.

With seemingly nothing to play for, the NFC West champions jumped to a 21-0 lead over the Dolphins only eight minutes into the game and cruised to a 38-16 victory, completing the best regular season in Falcon history.

Reeves, recovering from heart bypass surgery, missed his second consecutive game, watching it on television from his home. But in a brief appearance at the Georgia Dome, he stressed to the Falcons (14-2) that it was important to go into playoffs on a roll.

“It was definitely a motivating factor for us,” said Chris Chandler, who threw two touchdown passes before leaving because of a strained back. “Dan reminded us that any time you’re keeping score, the game means something.”

Atlanta had already clinched its first division title since 1980, a first-round playoff bye and the No. 2-seeding in the NFC behind Minnesota. Now, the Falcons go into the postseason with a nine-game winning streak, becoming only the seventh 14-victory team in the last decade.

Not bad for a team that was 3-13 only two seasons ago.

“We can go all the way,” said tight end O.J. Santiago, who caught both of Chandler’s touchdown passes.

The Dolphins (10-6), coming off a Monday night victory over Denver, needed another win to ensure a home game in the first round of the playoffs. But Miami played like a team that didn’t care, losing four fumbles while Dan Marino was intercepted twice.

“They were ready to play and we were not,” Coach Jimmy Johnson said. “I am embarrassed by the way we played in the first quarter.”

The Dolphins still earned a home playoff game when New England lost to the Jets, 31-10. Miami will play host to Buffalo next weekend.

Jamal Anderson carried 18 times for 103 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown. He set an NFL record for most rushing attempts in a season, finishing with 410 to eclipse by three the mark set by Tampa Bay’s James Wilder in 1984.

“That’s one of those records you don’t want to approach every year,” said Anderson, who rushed for 1,846 yards this season. “But I feel good.”

Marino threw for 320 yards--his third consecutive 300-yard game--but it didn’t matter. The Dolphins gave up a season high for points despite allowing an NFL-best 265 for the season.

“It’s nice to have a home game,” Marino said, “but it would have been a whole lot nicer to have won today and go into the playoffs with momentum.”

The Falcons scored on their first play from scrimmage when Chandler rolled out and hit a wide-open Santiago with a short pass in the flat. The tight end broke through two tacklers and rambled for a 62-yard touchdown.

On Atlanta’s next possession, Chandler hooked up with Tony Martin on a 53-yard pass, setting up a three-yard scoring toss to Santiago. After throwing the pass, Chandler was pulled down awkwardly by Kenny Mixon and hobbled off the field.

Chandler wasn’t seriously injured, but watched the rest of the game from the sideline while Steve DeBerg, 44, and Tony Graziani finished up.

“It was kind of a precautionary thing,” Chandler said. “We kept on scoring, which made the decision easy.”