First Look: NFC Championship

By HOUSTON MITCHELL

Jan. 11, 1999 12 AM PT

* How they got here: Atlanta won the NFC West and defeated San Francisco, 20-18, in a divisional playoff game; Minnesota won the NFC Central and defeated Arizona, 41-21, in a divisional playoff game.

* 1998 meetings: Did not play each other. Minnesota and Atlanta last played each other in 1996, a game won by the Vikings, 23-17. The Vikings lead the overall series, 12-6.

* About Atlanta: This will be the first conference title game in a dome, and the winner will be the first dome team to reach a Super Bowl. The problem for the Falcons, of course, will be that the game won’t be at the Georgia Dome. What the Falcons have going for them is experience at some positions. Chris Chandler, 11-year NFL quarterback, is unlikely to be as rattled as Arizona’s Jake Plummer was in the first 20 minutes in the Metrodome on Sunday.

* About Minnesota: The Vikings present a big problem for the Falcons: Stop Randy Moss, and Cris Carter makes plays. Stop both and it’s Robert Smith running up yardage. Stop all of them and a role player like Leroy Hoard or David Palmer can put up big numbers behind an offensive line with three Pro Bowl members--left tackle Todd Steussie, left guard Randall McDaniel and center Jeff Christy. The Vikings aren’t a perfect team. But they almost have a perfect offense.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

HOW THEY COMPARE

*--*

CATEGORY ATL MIN Points scored 27.6 34.8 Points allowed 18.1 18.5 Rushing offense 131.3 121.0 Passing offense 211.6 270.5 Total offense 342.9 391.5 Rushing defense 75.2 100.9 Passing defense 220.7 215.8 Total defense 295.9 316.6

*--*

The Leaders

QUARTERBACKS

Randall Cunningham, Vikings

Avg. game: 19-30, 265 yards, 2.4 TDs

Chris Chandler, Falcons

Avg. game: 14-23, 225 yards, 1.8 TDs

RUNNING BACKS

Robert Smith, Vikings

Avg. game: 17 carries, 79 yards

Jamal Anderson, Falcons

Avg. game: 26 carries, 115 yards