playoffs as the #2 seed in the NFC, becoming the first 14-win team not to receive home field advantage throughout the playoffs. However, they did receive a bye into the divisional round. Three weeks after his surgery and two weeks after being re-admitted to the hospital due to an accelerated heartbeat, Reeves returned to work full-time and would return to the sideline for their division-round showdown with the 49ers, who were coming off of a comeback victory over the Green Bay Packers. The Dome was again filled to capacity as the Falcons charged to a 10-0 first half lead and held on for 20–18 victory, advancing to their first NFC Championship game in franchise history. 1998 NFC Championship game Next was a journey to the Metrodome and a January 17 date with the league's most feared offense, the top-seeded Minnesota Vikings. The then highest scoring team in NFL history, the 1998 Vikings wielded an explosive, record-setting passing attack powered by Randall Cunningham and Minnesota's deadly trio of wide receivers Randy Moss, Jake Reed, and Cris Carter, and finished the regular season 15–1. Despite Atlanta's impressive 14-2 regular season, they were heavy underdogs heading into Minnesota, with few pundits believing they could keep the game close, and virtually none predicting a win. The Falcons' offense prepared all week for the deafening cacophony of the Metrodome, and promptly opened the game with a touchdown drive that quieted the crowd and propelled the team to an early 7–0 lead. However, the Vikings responded with a 5-play, 80-yard touchdown drive of their own. Minnesota would proceed to tally 20 unanswered points in the first half, pressing the Falcons against the ropes with a 20–7 lead. The pivotal moment in the contest came with 1:17 left in the first half. The Vikings had just taken over from a punt on their own 18. High on a dominating first half, they chose to throw the ball in an attempt to put the game away before halftime. Opting for three consecutive downfield passes, Minnesota was dumbfounded when DE Chuck Smith managed to beat Todd Steussie on 3rd down to force a Randall Cunningham fumble. The Falcons recovered on the Minnesota 14 and cashed in with a Chandler to Terance Mathis touchdown on the next play, mending the rift to a more manageable 20–14 going into the break. In the second half and with the momentum completely reversed