That Vikings season was one of the most exciting that I can remember. The offense was incredibly dynamic — not the typical Central Division pound-it-out ground game. The games were just fun. Our only loss was at Tampa Bay. Most of the wins were quite easy, with big, fast plays and (rookie) Randy Moss, who had come into the limelight in a Monday night game at the Packers.
By 1998-99, we had been through four very painful Super Bowl losses. Everyone thought maybe we would finally get there and win. Maybe this was the team to break the curse. Even so, we knew Atlanta was no pushover. The Falcons had a great defense, and both teams were used to the noise of dome games.
On game day, everyone was decked in purple face paint and Vikings horns. Despite the January cold, ice and snow, the atmosphere was absolutely crazy. I had on my gray lucky Vikings sweatshirt that I had won in a drawing at work and had worn to every home game — all victories.
We were leading by a couple of touchdowns when quarterback Randall Cunningham fumbled and Atlanta scored. A hush came across the crowd. It was not the way to go into the locker room at halftime. You could see some worried faces.
In the second half, the Falcons came on strong. Even though the Vikings had lost a number of starters, they were still ahead, with a chance to seal the deal with a sure chip-in field goal. But no, a miss. Another hush, and further silence when the Falcons came back to tie. We got the ball back in regulation, but then the unthinkable: The NFL’s most powerful offense was taking the knee to end the game with a tie. Everyone was like, “What is going on?”
Going to overtime, you could tell the players were spent. When the Falcons’ field goal went through the uprights, it was like a feeling you get at a funeral for someone who unexpectedly died, like in an accident out of nowhere. The Metrodome felt like a morgue. No one said a word. People just put their heads down and shuffled out to the cold and snow. The Falcons were the better team that day.
The Metrodome has seen its last game, and a new stadium is under construction. While the Dome left Vikings fans with good and bad memories, this day was the worst.
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