Atlanta Wins 2nd NFC West Title

Dan Reeves wasn't on the sideline. He didn't need to be. Atlanta's coach had done enough by sending the Falcons off a day earlier.

"He walked out of the hospital to see us off," Jamal Anderson said Sunday. "He's a good man."

While Reeves recovered at home from bypass surgery, Anderson scored two touchdowns and Atlanta showed plenty of heart in a comeback 24-17 victory against the Detroit Lions, clinching the Falcons' first NFC West title in 18 years and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

"This win today was special, just special," said Anderson, who broke the club single-season rushing record. "It was a little scary, but I'm glad he got to watch us win."

It was just the second division title in team history for the Falcons (13-2), who set a club record for victories in a season. The Falcons have won eight in a row and 11 of their last 12.

The Falcons last title came in 1980 when they went 12-4 under coach Leeman Bennett. They haven't been in the playoffs since going 9-7 in 1995 and earning a wild-card berth for coach June Jones.

Reeves,

Atlanta defensive end Chuck Smith celebrates the Falcons' first NFC West title in 18 years. (AP)

"Dan Reeves is responsible for where we are now," Brooks said. "His visit to the team was meaningful."

As they have done all season, the Falcons forced turnovers and made the opponent pay. A rare fumble by Barry Sanders, one of three Detroit turnovers, set up Atlanta's first touchdown. The Falcons now have turned 38 takeaways into 126 points this season.

"I think the biggest thing in the ballgame was the turnovers," said Lions coach Bobby Ross, who will finish with the first losing season of his NFL career.

Chris Chandler, who completed 11 of 19 passes for 146 yards, made it 17-17 with 14:22 left in the fourth quarter on a 27-yard scoring strike to Terance Mathis.

Anderson, who rushed for 147 yards on 30 carries, now has 1,743 yards for the season, breaking the club record of 1,719 set by Gerald Riggs in 1985.

Anderson made a great twisting, spinning run of 26-yards to the 1 yard line midway through the quarter, then plunged the final yard for the go-ahead touchdown with 6:57 remaining.

"I was not going to be denied," Anderson said. "Detroit would have had to have had 20 guys out there. When you believe like that, things can't go wrong."

Chandler and Anderson hooked up on an 8-yard scoring play in the first quarter and Morten Andersen kicked a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter for the Falcons.

Frank Reich, who completed 15 of 26 for 148 yards with two interceptions, threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Tommie Boyd and a 2-yarder to Herman Moore. Jason Hanson added a 30-yard field goal for the Lions.

Reich was forced into the starting role when rookie Charlie Batch was knocked out for the season with a lower back injury last week at San Francisco. He took the Lions down the field on their first possession with Boyd reaching back for a nice catch on an 18-yard scoring pass over Elijah Williams.

Sanders' first fumble since Oct. 10, 1997, set up Atlanta's first score. Chuck Smith recovered the ball at the Detroit 9. Two plays later, Anderson took a swing pass, faked linebacker Allen Aldridge off his feet at the 7, then scooted into the end zone.

Andersen's field goal put Atlanta up 10-7 early in the second quarter, but the Lions -- behind the running of Sanders -- put together a nine-play scoring drive late in the quarter.

Sanders picked up 31 yards on five carries, setting up te TD pass to Moore. He wound up with 95 yards on 25 carries -- the third time in his last four games he has been held under 100 yards.

Reich hit completions of 21 and 19 yards to set up Hanson's field goal, giving Detroit a 17-10 lead with 1:43 left in the third quarter.

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