Flashback: When Atlanta won a trip to its first Super Bowl in 1999

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Flashback: The last time the Falcons went to the Super Bowl

The Falcons beat the Packers this year with a Super Bowl spot on the line. The win invited comparisons to the previous biggest win in team history, which occurred on Jan. 17, 1999 when the Falcons beat the Vikings in overtime to reach the Super Bowl for the only time in franchise history. Take a look back at photos from that memorable game in Minnesota.

990117 - Minneapolis, MN - Atlanta Falcons' coach Dan Reeves (R,cq) does the 'Dirty Bird' with teammates Jamal Anderson (32) and Rau Buchanan (34) after accepting the NFC trophy at the Metrodome Sunday, January 17, 1999. (DAVID TULIS/AJC staff)

Atlanta Falcons kicker Morten Andersen, right, and teammate Dan Stryzinski (4) celebrate after Andersen's game-winning 38- yard field goal to beat the Minnesota Vikings 30-27 in overtime for the NFC championship at the Metrodome in Minneapolis Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999. (AP Photo/Miami Herald, David Bergman)

Atlanta Journal-Constitution front page January 18, 1999, the day after the Atlanta Falcons won the NFC Championship

980117 Minneapolis, MN-FINAL DRIVE: Morten Andersen's field goal at the Metrodome Sunday beat the Vikings with a 30-27 score 1/17/99. (AJC Staff Photo/DAVID TULIS)

Falcons' Morten Andersen reacts to his winning field goal that sent the Falcons to the Super Bowl. (Marlene Karas / AJC)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons Morten Andersen (3rd from left)reacts and celebrates with his teammates after his winning field goal that sends the Faclcons to the Super Bowl. (AJC Staff Photo/Marlene)

Atlanta Falcons kicker Morten Andersen, left, quarterback Chris Chandler, right, and running back Jamal Anderson celebrate Atlanta's 30-27 overtime victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999, in Minneapolis. Andersen kicked a 38-yard field goal to give Atlanta the win. (AP Photo/Star Tribune, Brian Peterson)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-The Vikings Stalin Colinet (cq) takes a minute to compose himself following the Vikings 27-30 loss to the Falcons. (BEN GRAY/STAFF)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons Tony Martin, left with Ronnie Harris after the Falcons get to the Super Bowl.(AJC Staff Photo/Marlene Karas)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-: Falcons' kicker Morten Andersen (5) yells for joy while holding clenched fists after his game-winning field goal beat the Minnesota Vikings in overtime of the NFC Championship game. (AJC Staff Photo/DAVID TULIS)

990117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons Cornelius Bennett holds up the NFC championship trophy as the team celebrates their first trip to the super bowl. (AJC Staff Photo/Marlene Karas)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons Chris Chandler, left and Eugene Robinson, right with the NFC Championship trophy. (AJC Staff Photo/Marlene Karas)

Falcons' coach Dan Reeves hugs Terance Mathis after the Falcons beat the Vikings. (AJC Staff Photo/DAVID TULIS)

990117 - Minneapolis, MN -- Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Reeves (right) does the dirty bird with players Jamal Anderson #32 and Ray Buchanan #34. (DAVID TULIS/AJC staff)

990117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons
running back Jamal Anderson (cq) carries the NFC Championship trophy into the lockerroom following the Falcons' 30-27 overtime victory over the Vikings. (BEN GRAY/STAFF)

Falcons wide receivers Tony Martin (left) and Terance Mathis celebrate in the locker room following their 30-27 victory over the Vikings.(BEN GRAY/STAFF)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler (cq) scrambles past the Vikings Tony Williams (cq) during the Falcons' final scoring drive in overtime. (BEN GRAY/STAFF)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Falcons cornerback Randy Fuller (cq) undercuts Vikings quarterback Randall Cunningham (cq) during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game. (BEN GRAY/STAFF)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Terance Mathis rolls into the endzone with the tieing TD in the fourth quarter as Robert Griffith watches. MARLENE KARAS /STAFF

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons Jessie Tuggle has a few words for Minnnasota's Chris Carter after breaking up a pass intended for him. (AJC Staff Photo/Marlene Karas)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-: Falcons' QB Chris Chandler plays keep away while a score of defenders try to drag him down near midfield in 4th quarter action at the Metrodome Sunday 1/17/99. (AJC Staff Photo/DAVID TULIS)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons' RB Jamal Anderson gets wrapped up by Minnesota's #24 Robert Griffin in the first half. (AJC Staff Photo/Marlene Karas)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-FINAL DRIVE: Jamal Anderson drives toward Vikings territory on the final drive to help setup field position for the final field goal at the Metrodome Sunday 1/17/99. (AJC Staff Photo/DAVID TULIS)

Minnesota Vikings kicker Gary Anderson watches from the ground as his 39-yard field goal attempt sails wide of the uprights in the fourth quarter against the Atlanta Falcons during the NFC Championship on Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999, in Minneapolis. Also watching are the Falcons' Ronnie Bradford and Ray Buchanan (34). The Falcons went on to win 30-27 in overtime. (AP Photo/Beth A. Keiser)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons' RB Jamal Anderson break into the endzone for the Falcons first touchdown. (AJC Staff Photo/Marlene Karas)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-: Falcons' Jamal Anderson (32) drives for extra yardage dragging a host of Viking defenders in 4th quarter action at the Metrodome Sunday 1/17/99. (AJC Staff Photo/DAVID TULIS)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Minnesota's Randy Moss celebrates with teammate Greg DeLong after scoring a touchdown in the first half. (AJC Staff Photo/David Tulis)

990117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcon coach Dan Reeves walks out on the field in anger after as series of penalties in the first half. (AJC Staff Photo/Marlene Karas)

980117 - Minneapolis, MN -- Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Chis Chandler drops back to pass in the first half. (Ben Gray/AJC staff)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons Keith Brooking and Shane Dronett tackle Leroy Hoard in the first half. (AJC Staff Photo/Michael McCarter)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons #88 O. J. Santiago looses the ball as he is hit by Minnesota's #42 Orlando Thomas and another Viking in The first half. (AJC Staff Photo/David Tulis)

990117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Reeves watches his team during warm-ups. (AJC Staff Photo/David Tulis)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-O.J. Santiago gets up after a 26-yard reception which was the third play of the Falcons final drive. (BEN GRAY/STAFF)
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Chris Chandler (cq) scrambles past the Vikings Tony Williams (cq) during the Falcons' final scoring drive in overtime. (BEN GRAY/STAFF)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-: Falcons' Terance Mathis (81) looks up to celebrate his 4th quarter touchdown to setup the tie game and the eventual win over the Vikings at the Metrodome as teammate O.J. Santiago (R) helps celebrate Sunday 1/17/99. (AJC Staff Photo/DAVID TULIS)

980117 - Minneapolis, MN - Atlanta Falcons Terance Mathis, right, celebrates his game tying touchdown in the fourth quarter as Falcons Tony Martin gives him a bear hug. The Falcons defeated the Vikings for their first rip to the Super Bowl.(Marlene Karas/AJC staff)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons #81 Terance Mathis celebrates with teammates #88 O.J. Santiago and #80 Tony Martin in the first half. (AJC Staff Photo/David Tulis)

980117 Minneapolis, MN-: Falcons #34 Ray Buchanan gives the fists up after he broke up a pass in the 5th quarter and the Vikings had to give up the ball which lead to the Falcons victory. (AJC Staff Photo/MARLENE KARAS

Rep. Kathy Ashe, R-Atlanta, does the 'Dirty Bird' on the floor of the state House in Atlanta on Friday, Jan. 15, 1999. Ashe suggested the legislature do the 'Dirty Bird' to wish the Falcons good luck in their NFC Championship matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. (AP Photo/Alan Mothner)

990115 SUWANEE.........Falcon fans bid a hearty farewell as the players ride off in a charter bus to Hartsfield from Suwanee for the flight to Minnesota to engage the Vikings in Sunday's championship game. STAFF PHOTO BY W.A. BRIDGES JR. for SPORTS.

980117 Minneapolis, MN-Atlanta Falcons' fan Cheryl Ballard (cq) from Atlanta cheers on the team during the first half. (AJC Staff Photo/Marlene Karas)

Atlanta Falcons fans Ty Roberts, right, and Mike Palmgren, left cheer on the team at an Atlanta sports bar as they watch the Falcons play the Minnesota Vikings for the NFC Championship on Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999. (AP Photo/Alan Mothner)

Disappointed Minnesota Viking fans, from left, Heidi Clapp, Kindra Egge and Melissa Morissette, all of the Twin Cities, remain in the stands after the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Vikings 30-27 in overtime Sunday, Jan. 17, 1999, in Minneapolis. The three attended every home game. (AP Photo/Star Tribune, Brian Peterson)

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990117 - Minneapolis, MN - Atlanta Falcons' coach Dan Reeves (R,cq) does the 'Dirty Bird' with teammates Jamal Anderson (32) and Rau Buchanan (34) after accepting the NFC trophy at the Metrodome Sunday, January 17, 1999. (DAVID TULIS/AJC staff)

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