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Crashing back to Earth Chandler crumbles in biggest game of career
Posted: Monday February 01, 1999 03:33 AM
MIAMI (AP) -- In the NFC championship game, Chris Chandler looked like John Elway. In the Super Bowl, Chandler looked like ... well, the old Chris Chandler. The journeyman who ricocheted to five teams in his first nine seasons resurfaced against the Denver Broncos, throwing three interceptions Sunday night to doom any chances of an upset for the Atlanta Falcons. "We could have done things better," Chandler said. "But they did a good job covering things." Both Chandler and his teammates were new at all this, so maybe it was understandable they froze up against the savvy Broncos, who won their second straight championship with a 34-19 victory. A few days earlier, Chandler chuckled when a reporter pointed out he had a better quarterback rating than Elway the last two seasons. Even Chandler knew it was a ludicrous to give the Falcons an advantage at that position. Chandler, who had thrown only 13 interceptions all season, was picked off on three straight possessions in the second half, the first two coming when there was still a glimmer of hope for the Falcons. With Atlanta trailing 17-6, Chandler moved the Falcons to the Denver 41 with a 19-yard pass to Tony Martin and a 12-yard run of his own. But Chandler was sacked for a 6-yard loss, then misfired on a pass over the middle that was picked off by Darrius Johnson and returned 28 yards. Denver's Jason Elam missed his second straight field goal, keeping Atlanta hanging on by its fingertips. Once again, the Falcons couldn't maintain their grip. Chandler's pass was deflected at the line by Keith Traylor and landed right in the hands of Darrien Gordon, who returned it 58 yards to set up a touchdown run by Howard Griffith. The score was 24-6, the game was out of hand. "Things were there for the taking," Chandler said. "It was just unlucky things that happened. A guy tips a ball. You never plan on that." Chandler had one final chance, moving the Falcons to the Denver 21. But he overthrew a pass just short of the end zone, leaping in the air in disbelief as Gordon picked off another one. The 50-yard return that followed set up another touchdown. This season was over. "They covered things well in the red areas [inside the 20] and they deserve some credit," Chandler said. After a vagabond career, the 33-year-old quarterback finally found a home with the Falcons, who acquired him for mere fourth- and sixth-round draft picks prior to the 1997 season. Since then, he's been a Pro Bowler twice and actually posted better numbers the last two seasons than Elway. Chandler's stature vaulted even higher when he threw for 340 yards against the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings in the conference title game. He directed a game-tying touchdown drive with less than a minute to go in regulation, then drove the Falcons into range for the winning field goal in overtime. But the traits that marked Chandler's turn in life deserted him in the biggest game of his life. And Elway walked off the field as a unanimous choice for MVP, with his second straight Super Bowl victory.
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