NFL Primetime 1998 Divisional Playoff Saturday (ESPN January 9th, 1999)

Chris Berman and Tom Jackson host ESPN NFL Primetime for Divisional Playoff Saturday, where the Atlanta Falcons defeated Steve Young, Jerry Rice and the San Francisco 49ers 20-18, while John Elway and the Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos destroyed Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins 38-3.
Atlanta running back Jamal Anderson rushed for 113 yards and two touchdowns, while the Falcons defense intercepted three passes from quarterback Steve Young as they barely escaped with a victory in the first playoff game ever played at the Georgia Dome. This would eventually prove to be the final postseason game in Young's Hall of Fame career, as well as the final game for 49ers defensive end Chris Doleman, who finished his 14-season career with 142.5 sacks.
Denver blew out Miami, outgaining them in rushing yards 250-14 and scoring touchdowns on their first three possessions.
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[@duckbutters8778]

It's crazy to think that there was a time where a highlight show could get you damn near as fired up and excited as the actual games. Primetime was must see TV every week.

[@CandlestickSec7]

Honestly, although RedZone and clips on apps have reduced the novelty, the Primetime clips uploaded here from this season are really good. Boomer hasn’t lost much and Booger makes a very good substitute for TJ. And they play all the classic music too.

[@juanpabloperez9063]

i have in VHS all primetime shows from 1992 to 1998

[@Diljabar]

The last hoorah of the great Niners dynasty at Atlanta.

[@JerseyNYC83]

Broncos-look at how we made Marino look bad. 1999 Jaguars-hold my beer

[@Bull1908]

And sandwiched between those playoff games Marino and Jimmy Johnson got their final playoff win over the Seahawks a year later lol.

[@PhilJHaast7695]

Marino was slipping by this point. Next year would be his worst.

[@STP43FAN1]

That Seahawks-Dolphins playoff game pitted a team that lost six of its last seven against a team that lost seven of its last nine.

[@juanpabloperez9063]

Every year that turtle Marino reached the playoffs, he took a beating, every year a new humiliation

[@wq113ca]

98 broncos win superbowl 99 jaguars win titans bitch award

[@mikedurden4393]

That was such an unforgettable season. Had just gotten married and she went down to see a dying friend in Florida. They were originally from Atlanta. When White intercepted, I high-fived dad hugged him. Nicole called, almost in tears. I broke down. It took 18 years to get over Dallas. The New England fans can hush.

[@chrisuncleahmad]

17:03 Neil Smith 😂

[@jasperdriver8546]

Once Garrison Hearst went out of the game that was the difference for the Falcons winning the game

[@johnselwitz5362]

I’m so glad they got rid of that artificial turf. It was like playing on concrete

[@JHATDRUMMER1976]

dan reeves was my fav. coach. he could wear a trench coat and a business suit on the sidelines and look better than 99 percent of the coaches today

[@wq113ca]

Especially on Super Bowl Sunday when he was losing by 30 all the time

[@jeromeashley9972]

Ed macaffery father of christian macaffery

[@encycl07pedia-]

McCaffrey*

[@charismatic9904]

Always wondered how a 49ers vs vikes game would have gone...I mean 49ers damn near beat the dirty birds that year.

[@jasonwalker9091]

charismatic9904 No Cowboys,No 49ers,No Packers 1st time since 1991 those teams not in the Championship game, it was new blood of the Dirty Birds of Hotlanta , lot of people didn't believe in the Falcons everyone though the Vikings was going to the Super Bowl with being 15-1 and putting up the most points in a season in 98 with Carter, Randy Moss and Cunningham but Falcons had good defense with experience veterans of Cornelius Bennett ( Buffalo Days) and Eugene Robinson ( Seahawks,1996 Green bay packers team). It was the final game for Chris Doleman and the great Charles Haley on the 49ers

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

Vikings would've aired it out on the 49ers. They didn't match up the same way.

[@timlevis3630]

@@jasonwalker9091 That was until old Eugene got caught with a hooker,I know he was preaching god to her. He still got beat deep in a blowout. What falcon happened!

[@STP43FAN1]

As good as Steve Young was he was never as in control in playoff football as he was in the regular season. Winning this game may have been the confidence builder the Falcons needed.

[@InYourHouse316]

I’m a diehard niner fan and niner fans have wondered this for years, especially if Hearst never got hurt. But I think the niners secondary was so bad by 98 that Minnesota would’ve torched us easily. 1998 was the 49ers last truly great overall offense, too. Possibly been better than most of the teams in the 80s and earlier 90s except for 89 and 94

[@bobbybrown5196]

I was at the MNF game Phins vs Broncos. I was so pumped for the rematch especially when it was like 75 degrees in Denver, but of course the WR could hold on to a damn ball and the defense gave up 31 SMH

[@MrMomoneyz]

The niners got their revenge in the NFC Champ 2013.

[@chandlersbryant4047]

2012 NFC Championship Game* but Both Lost the Super Bowls

[@juanpabloperez9063]

15 years later i dont think was a revenge

[@hurvyb]

The 49ers shouldn’t even have been in that game they got a lucky call the previous week against Green Bay

[@F1DeLCaShFl0w88]

6:27 that kicker with the block was nuts

[@Bull1908]

A Year later the Dolphins would win first playoff game since Super Bowl VIII beating the Seahawks on Wild Card Weekend lol.

[@mikeyoungblood1642]

Wrong...they won a playoff game in 1994...beat the Chiefs in the Wild Card

[@Bull1908]

@@mikeyoungblood1642 Your right, they ended Joe Montana's career beating them lol.

[@gluserty]

@@Bull1908 Dolphins also beat the Bills in the 1998 playoffs. Oops, I was premature with my comment: that Seahawks game was Miami first playoff ROAD win since Super Bowl VIII. That's a long time for sure, but I doubt the Dolphins were the better team in those matchups. Up to this point, that road playoff win is the last for them up to right now as well, although the Dolphins make the playoffs less frequently these days (2002-current).

[@wq113ca]

First road playoff win since Super Bowl 8

[@andyprovin9108]

Jimmy Johnson and the Dolphins were outscored 100-10 in back to back Divisional Playoff games...my heart breaks

[@charismatic9904]

You and me both. Dolphin fan since early 80s. Excitement every year...then we lose the divisional round every year. 94. 95 wc. 97 wc. 98. 99. 2000. 93 going 9-2 and then finishing 9-7. the debacle of 99. The crap of 98. ugh. but sadly, I long for those days now. At least we were a contender yearly. since 2002 we suck ass.

[@bobbybrown5196]

Yeah and stupid ass people blame Marino for not wining.

[@juanpabloperez9063]

​@@charismatic9904 The fault was mantain the turtle Marino

[@wq113ca]

@@charismatic9904you forgot 92 when bills stomp on you in Miami again!!!

[@charismatic9904]

@@wq113ca damn you are dumb. That was the 92 afc title game. He clearly spoke of the DIVISIONAL round. Learn to read. Btw don't gloat. Cowboys redskins giants sure handled those bills in the SB lol. And lately you cant even get by KC.

[@bigbopper8747]

The niners had no timeouts so even that catch was made at the end the clock would've ran out

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

Someone explain to me how Marv Levy, who stole his ticket to success from Sam Wyche and the Bengals (no huddle offense) is in the Hall of Fame as a coach, but Dan Reeves, who took two teams to four Super Bowls AND another team to the postseason in the Giants, is not? Ridiculous.

[@PhilJHaast7695]

You've got a point. The 98 Falcons upsetting Minnesota was Reeves's crowning achievement, and he coached underdog teams to the maximum potential before in Denver.

[@chandlersbryant4047]

@JBSptfn I mean the Defenses For 2 Of those Super Bowl appearances (87 against Washington and 89 against San Francisco) were Both among the Top 10 Best in the League those Seasons so It's Not all Elway. By your Logic Elway rode Terrell Davis to both of his Super Bowl Wins in 97 and 98

[@redpillfreedom6692]

Plus over 200 career wins.

[@mikedurden4393]

I don’t know why Reeves, Nobis, Tuggle, Van Note, and Kenn aren’t in. I’m worried Ryan won’t get in for losses that weren’t his fault. Ryan, Julio and Jarrett are your most likeliest. Glanville deserves honors for the Grits Blitz…

[@jasonfields2798]

Garrison "First I Look At The" Hearst

[@jasonwalker9091]

What was supposed to be a shootout between two Hall of Fame QB'S between " Dan the Man " & " Mr. 4th Quarter" in their 1st and only meeting in the playoffs would turn into a last meal before execution game for the Fish, I knew they were doomed against the most dominant team in the NFL with Terrell Davis getting his 2,000 yards in 1998 and Elway wanted to get one more ring before he retired to end a Cinderella season and great career to one of the most exciting and proflic passers in the game, he should stayed for the 1999 season and Terrell Davis career would end not in good fashion and it wasn't the same for him. This was the Next to Final playoff game at Old Mile High Stadium

[@markvincent1011]

No, the AFC Championship Game the following week (against the Jets) would be the last playoff game at Mile High Stadium.

[@Chenglor91]

@@markvincent1011 Correct.

[@ArshadKhan-ys9ey]

Even if John stayed for more 1 more year, they would not 3peat!

[@TommyBackwater41]

I’d forgotten how good Chris Bergman and Tom Jackson were . Quit watching ESPN yrs ago when they went Leftwing ahole on us but those guys were great .

[@andyprovin9108]

If the refs dont blow the Bills at Pats then the Bills/Dolphins wildcard game is in Buffalo instead of Miami and I'm certain the Bills win that game then instead play the Broncos, and I'm also certain they would've gave the Broncos a much better fight than Miami did here

[@chrisuncleahmad]

BUF could not have fared any worse. Maybe they don’t win, but they keep it close. Would have been a similar score to the Jets/Broncos score

[@AmirKhan-yv8jm]

No one in the AFC was stopping the Broncos that season!

[@jefferyrobertson7520]

1998 Atlanta Falcons with 14 wins and 2 lose known as The dirty bird clinch NFC West Division crown last time was 1982 during the strike-shortened season it was totally amazing for the Falcons