Times Free Press sports editor Stephen Hargis and veteran sports writer Lindsey Young have been lifelong fans of the Atlanta Falcons – yeah, yeah, we’re homers, get over it. That’s meant a lot more frustration than reasons to celebrate, though, because if the Falcons were known for anything through the years, it’s for teasing fans with hope, only to break their hearts in the end. Not much was expected of the team when this season began, but now, as the world prepares to watch tonight’s Super Bowl, we – along with all the other long-suffering Falcons fans – believe this time it will end differently.
Favorite Falcons memories
Lindsey: “This one’s easy. The 1998 NFC championship game was glorious in every aspect. Jamal Anderson’s bruising runs, Chris Chandler’s sharp passes, Gary Anderson’s improbable 38-yard missed field goal, Morten Andersen’s winning field goal in a 30-27 masterpiece to utterly shut Cris Carter and Randy Moss up in the Metrodome.”
Stephen: “The first game I ever went to was at the old Fulton County Stadium, and that was pretty cool. But I’d have to say by far my two best memories were the playoff games in the Georgia Dome against Seattle (2012 and this year) because my son Riley and I were there for both and got to celebrate together.”
Falcons memories we’d like to forget