War Room Edge: Position Matchups

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Posted: Thursday January 14, 1999 12:51 PM

The War Room breaks down Sunday's NFC Championship game between the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings, position by position, with those matchups leading up to an overall edge.

Quarterback

The Falcons have followed the leadership of their journeyman veteran signal-caller Chris Chandler to 15 victories this season. The Falcons' balanced offense was effective with Chandler under center, finishing seventh overall in the NFL. Chandler is an extremely proficient ballhandler who excels in Dan Reeves' play-action passing game. He spreads the ball around effectively to a quality receiving corps.

Across the Dome, veteran All-Pro Randall Cunningham comes into this game as the league’s highest-rated passer leading the NFL’s highest scoring offense. Home Dome advantage to Cunningham. WAR ROOM EDGE: Vikings

Running Back

Minnesota will start a healthy Robert Smith, backed up by bruising Leroy Hoard. Smith quietly gained 124 yards against Arizona, while Hoard scored three touchdowns (2 rushing & 1 receiving). The explosive Smith is equally dangerous as a receiver out of the backfield especially on the Vikings' screen passes that are so effective balancing their vertical passing game and strong ground attack.

The Falcons have ridden on the strong back of powerful running back Jamal Anderson. Anderson banged his way to over 1,800 yards this season averaging around 120 yards per game and setting the pace for the Atlanta offense. The 1998 All-Pro running back had a tremendous season and proved to be extremely durable. Anderson must control the game for Atlanta so this one does not become a shootout. If Anderson pounds out yards on the ground the Falcons total offense can get in sync. This game may be determined by which team can establish a strong rushing attack. Minnesota has a terrific one-two punch but the edge goes to Anderson. WAR ROOM EDGE: Falcons

Wide Receiver

Atlanta has a pair of outstanding receivers in Tony Martin and Terance Mathis. This duo is a perfect fit for the play-action vertical passing game employed by the Falcons. Minnesota has the best trio of receivers in the NFL and exceptional backups to boot.

The game-breaking ability of rookie sensation Randy Moss and veteran TD machine Cris Carter is bolstered by the return of Jake Reed. Minnesota wins all match ups and can beat you deep or work you over underneath with a variety of potent aerial weapons. WAR ROOM EDGE: Vikings

Tight End

Veteran Andrew Glover gives Minnesota excellent size blocking for the run and tremendous skills receiving with the speed to stretch the crease and get downfield. When opponents key on the explosive wide receivers Glover can stick the dagger in as he did to Arizona, scoring a TD.

Atlanta will line up with a very talented tight end in O.J. Santiago. Santiago is an adequate blocker but is a serious receiving threat that gets favorable matchups each week. Last week against the 49ers he was shut out. The originator of the “Dirty Bird” touchdown dance would love to find the end zone. Based on the divisional playoff perfomances by each tight end give the edge to Glover. WAR ROOM EDGE: Vikings.

Offensive Line

The Falcons' front five have improved and become a cohesive unit over the course of the season. This unit allowed too many sacks of oft-injured Chandler but gained confidence each week and have paved the way for Anderson’s season. This group must protect Chandler in the Metrodome and continue to give Anderson room to run for Atlanta to win the NFC. Minnesota has the NFL’s most underrated offensive line as the offense averages 121 yards rushing and an astounding 270 yards passing per game on the highest scoring team in NFL history. With two Pro Bowlers (left guard Randall McDaniel & center Jeff Cristy) out of the five starters (left tackle Todd Steussie, right guard David Dixon & right tackle Korey Stringer) their peers recognized the quality of this unit after such a tremendous season. This unit has been terrific blocking for the run as well as protecting Cunningham en route to the highest QB rating in the NFL. WAR ROOM EDGE: Vikings.

Defensive Line

The aggressive Minnesota defensive front held opponents to 101 yards rushing per game and provided good quarterback pressure that translated into 34 turnovers. The Vikings key run stoppers are DTs Tony Williams and Jerry Ball while DEs Derrick Alexander, Duane Clemons and Stalin Colinet are solid on the edges. The stud of the group is All-Pro John Randle who has been sliding around the defensive front playing both tackle and end to keep opponents off balance. Atlanta has been outstanding stopping the run giving up only 75 yards per game. DE Lester Archambeau had his best season and DE Chuck Smith was again outstanding but failed to qualify for the NFL’s Fastest Man Competition on his fumble return against the 49ers. The interior DTs Travis Hall and Shane Dronett have been strong run stuffers all season and must keep Robert Smith and Leroy Hoard from having big games. The Falcons front four will face the challenge of an outstanding Vikings offensive line and a pair of talented running backs plus the unique offensive looks presented by Brian Billick (i.e. David Palmer running the option at QB). Both teams have only allowed 18 points per game. The Falcons pass rush will have an impact on Minnesota’s aerial productivity while the Vikings must focus on stopping the ground game. WAR ROOM EDGE: Falcons.

Linebackers

Atlanta gets excellent leadership and experience from their LB corps with Jessie Tuggle in the middle, Henri Crockett and a veteran with Super Bowl experience Cornelius Bennett. First-round pick Keith Brooking heads up the Falcons reserves. These linebackers were very productive and they were they were best in the NFL creating 44 turnovers during the regular season. This unit excelled stuffing the run holding opponents to 75 yards per game. Minnesota also had tremendous production from their athletic linebackers Dwayne Rudd and Dixon Edwards with All-Pro run stopper Ed McDaniel in the middle. This group has a serious challenge ahead of them facing Jamal Anderson and they must tackle better than they did against Arizona. Edwards returns from injury but Kailee Wong played strong in relief for him and remains a solid reserve. Both teams have good LB corps but the edge leans slightly to Atlanta for their penchant for creating turnovers (25 fumbles). WAR ROOM EDGE: Falcons.0

Defensive backs

Minnesota has been equally opportunistic all season with a secondary that is well coached and continues to improve each game. The thieving Vikings have had 19 interceptions with Jimmy Hitchcock having a penchant for returning them for scores. DC Corey Fuller has had a good season as well with back up Ramos McDonald handling the nickel cover chores. Safeties Orlando Thomas and Robert Griffith also have been ball hawks as teams are forced to throw against Minnesota as they are playing from behind due to the Vikings high scoring offense.

Atlanta fields a secondary that was struggling early in the year but has come together under the leadership of veteran free agent FS Eugene Robinson. Robinson brings a wealth of experience to his team having started for the Packers Super Bowl Championship team. Both teams field quality secondary’s that have improved each week over the course of the season with an edge still favors the depth of Minnesota. Both units have given up over 200+yards per game to opponents but have a knack for creating turnovers and making a big plays. And both units have faced excellent receivers this season. The Falcons faced the 49ers tremendous troika of receivers three times this fall and will implement similar schemes to slow down Minnesota's aerial powerhouse. Atlanta will put Ray Buchanan on Randy Moss and attempt to control Reed and Carter with the rest of the secondary with FS Robinson keeping everyone in front of him to avoid giving up big plays. The difference in this playoff game will be the noisy confines of the Metrodome with single coverage match ups forced by the Vikings arsenal of receiving weapons in spread formations puts Atlanta at more of a disadvantage than Minnesota. WAR ROOM EDGE: Even -– unless the Vikes post an early lead.

Special Teams

Atlanta has an exciting rookie return man in Tim Dwight, who has gone the distance this season and had a huge return last week against San Francisco to give Atlanta great field position. The former Iowa star is familiar with the Metrodome from his Big Ten days. Minnesota counters with lightning quick return man David Palmer who is capable of big plays with each touch of the ball. Atlanta punter Dan Stryzinski is adequate while veteran place-kicker Morten Andersen is an outstanding Dome kicker. While Minnesota’s Mitch Berger is a double threat as he spends more time kicking off than punting behind the powerful Minnesota offense. His kickoffs are nearly always touchbacks, especially in the Metrodome, forcing the Vikings opponents to start from their own 20-yard line after nearly every score. Add to that the Vikings place-kicker is veteran Gary Anderson, who completed the 1998 regular season with a perfect record hitting all of his extra points and every single field goal attempted this season. Mr. Automatic gives the edge to Minnesota. WAR ROOM EDGE: Vikings.

The War Room Edge

These are clearly the two best teams in the NFC, and there are many similarities between the two. Both have good balance on offense between the pass and the run, both have outstanding head coaches, and both have aggressive and gambling defenses that create turnovers and big plays. However, the Metrodome is a real home field advantage for Minnesota, and they simply have too many offensive weapons for Atlanta to contend with. Unless Jamal Anderson is able to keep the Viking offense on the sidelines with a huge day running the football, Minnesota will control this game and should win in fairly easy fashion. War Room Edge: Minnesota.