1999 Week 1 - Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons

[@crawford371]

RIP Pat and John

[@bostonredsox49]

Korey Stringer too

[@dan.nguyen84]

It was the most anticipated matchup on paper between two teams that went 15-1 and 14-2 and played in the NFC championship game from the previous season. Unfortunately, Jamaal Anderson suffered a torn ACL the following week and the falcons never recovered. For the Vikings, they were off to a 2-4 start and Cunningham was benched in favor of Jeff George who led the team to a 8-2 finish before losing to the Rams in the divisional playoffs. Daunte Culpepper would become the starter the following season.

[@integrity101]

Cunningham getting benched in Philly & Minnesota hurt his legacy.

[@johnphilpot5205]

@@dan.nguyen84 he got benched because all those teams were trying to kill him. Those blitzes are hard to watch.

[@chrisuncleahmad666]

The only time ATL never had the Falcon logo at the 50 yard line in the Georgia Dome (Kickoff 99!)

[@survivor5044]

Bobby Hebert played for the Falcons from 1993-1996. This was after playing for the Saints from 1985-1989, 1991-1992. This is a player whose been on both sides of the rivalry. R.I.P to Dennis Green of the Minnesota Vikings. What you saw from Denny Green is what you got.

[@TheLAGopher]

If anything, the fact the Vikings were able to avenge their NFC Championship Loss in the very first game of the next season. Then go on to defeat the defending champion Broncos (Granted Elway had retired) in Denver.Made the 1999 season the most frustrating campaign during the Vikings 3 year Super Bowl contender window that was bookended by two NFC Championship appearances in 1998 and 2000.

[@AVH-z9m]

RIP Denny Green. He had maybe the great tirade in NFL history. Nothing scripted about it, wasn't trying to go viral. Just pure, unadulterated rage and frustration.

[@chrisuncleahmad666]

THEY ARE WHO WE THOUGHT THEY WERE

[@deanladue5367]

So much that he got a beer commercial out of that tirade. 🍺

[@StevenAsadi]

He was An Overrated Coach

[@fortynights1513]

@@StevenAsadiWho’s a coach nowadays that you’d consider Green about as good as?

[@pauljackson8282]

As one would expect, the Vikings won the game that didn't matter, and lost the game that did. Par for the course.

[@xking5v]

I hate it

[@johnphilpot5205]

I watched this live when I was 13.

[@dallascowboysnumber1fan]

I was 13 too but I remember watching my team dallas cowboys beat the pants off Washington redskins

[@brianivey73]

Love it, this was a tough matchup on Madden 99'

[@zacchaeuswilson6116]

You mean Madden 2000. In Madden 99...the Falcons weren't very good.

[@chuckyoder5765]

You can really see how the loss of Brian Billick affected the Vikings offense in 99 !

[@fortynights1513]

I’ve heard that the guy who they initially wanted to replace Billick with passed away before the season.

[@deanladue5367]

​@@fortynights1513 yep, the job was originally given to Vikings WR coach Chip Myers. If you look closely at their unis, you'll see Myers initials C.M on the upper left.

[@cbod14]

Man did The Atlanta Falcons fall from grace real fast. Losing in week one and then losing Jamal Anderson for the season a week later

[@fortynights1513]

If he’s healthy could they have won a couple more games?

[@deanladue5367]

@@fortynights1513 I don't think they could've kept up with St. Louis that season even with Anderson. In '99 the Rams were unstoppable.

[@fortynights1513]

@@deanladue5367I’m not asking if the Falcons are challenging the Rams or even going to the playoffs, but could they have been say 7-9 or 8-8 if Anderson is healthy the whole year.

[@OckGypsy]

0:05 John Maren.

[@jbsmg]

Ray Sherman was an atrocious offensive coordinator.

[@s.tavares3257]

Skol!

[@superintendentconfuser]

40:58