Atlanta's Jamal Anderson is revved up for the rematch.

Vikings at Falcons
4:15 p.m. ET, Fox
Line: Vikings by 4½
Preview | Baxter Bits

Why to watch: This rematch of the NFC Championship Game should provide early answers to some of 1999's most intriguing questions. Can Minnesota recover from its devastating defeat in late January and become the purple powerhouse that dominated last season? Was Atlanta a one-year wonder? Can Randall Cunningham rekindle the magic for another full season? Will Jeff George alienate another group of teammates? Who's the early NFC favorite?

Who to watch: Vikings WR Randy Moss says he was never healthy last season because of a nagging ankle injury, yet he's 100 percent now. Imagine what he might do this year. Falcons CBs Ray Buchanan and Ronnie Bradford will be tested often by Moss and Cris Carter. Falcons RB Jamal Anderson now has the big contract to match his big numbers. Vikings K Gary Anderson made every kick last season -- but the one that mattered most against Atlanta. Falcons WR Chris Calloway must replace Tony Martin's big-play threat. Vikings QB Cunningham misfired several times when Moss was open in the playoff loss to Atlanta.

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	Focal Point: Dirty Birds return? Inside the Playbook: Randy Moss Inside the Playbook: Jamal Anderson Vikes trying to bounce back Vikings preview Falcons preview

Vikings' numbers to know: Cunningham was sacked only 20 times during the entire 1998 regular season, yet the Falcons dropped him three times during the NFC title game. Watch Falcons DEs Chuck Smith and Lester Archambeau to see if they can bring that heat again.

Falcons' numbers to know: Atlanta controlled the clock better than any NFL team in '98, hogging the ball for an average of 33:10. The Dirty Birds will definitely need to play keep away from the Vikings' record-setting offense.

What it means: The loser of this one might need some professional help. The Vikings need a victory to restore their fragile psyche and avenge one of the worst losses in franchise history. The Falcons, meanwhile, are trying to prove to themselves -- and the rest of the NFL -- that last year's Super Bowl run was no fluke. We say, "Happy mental health," to the winner.

Sean Salisbury's breakdown
Vikings' game plan: The Minnesota offense will attack the same way it did in 1998, because the Vikings have the same personnel. The only difference is the guy calling the plays, new offensive coordinator Ray Sherman. Will he be as aggressive as Brian Billick was? Will he throw the ball deep 8-10 times in the game like last year? The Vikings' skill-position players are still explosive, with perhaps the best offensive line in football. They have every weapon a team would want.

What they lack is a fullback because Charles Evans is gone. Most importantly, the Vikings needs to establish an offensive rhythm under Sherman. Randall Cunningham will have to be patient, use the awesome weapons he has at his disposal, and make Sherman's offense flow.

On defense, the Vikings are very big, but they run well. Going against a big back like Jamal Anderson, who will carry the ball 30 times, the Vikings will try to load the line of scrimmage. Because the Falcons no longer have a deep threat in Tony Martin, the Vikings can squeeze the field and get more than one or two bodies hitting Anderson when he runs the ball.

Expect Minnesota to play zone on the outside against the Falcons' wideouts, get physical with tight end O.J. Santiago, and show eight- or nine-man fronts, challenging the Falcons to beat them down the field in a fade-throwing contest. The Vikings can't allow Anderson to beat them.

Falcons' game plan Defensively, I would never let Randy Moss see single coverage. If Cunningham sees single coverage on Moss, he will call an audible and challenge every time. The Falcons need to roll up the corners toward Moss and get someone in his face. Ray Buchanan will most likely be lined up against Moss, and he will try to maul and frustrate him.

Meanwhile, I would play a two-deep safety behind Buchanan. This could mean a lot of catches for Cris Carter, but I would rather allow 10-12 yard receptions instead of the 60-yarders. The Falcons should also get a linebacker in Carter's face, playing half run, half pass. If the Vikings rush for 225 yards, they win. But the Falcons can't let Moss catch six balls for 240 yards and three touchdowns. In addition, defensive coordinator Rich Brooks will make Cunningham read the field and go to a second or third option. He will try to force him to use different parts of the field.

The Falcons offense doesn't have Martin to stretch the defense with his speed, so they will try to manufacture things downfield, maybe using Tim Dwight more. He's their fastest player now, even though he's not an every-down receiver. He'll enter the game as a third or fourth receiver. They will have to create things for Dwight to get open.

Using the running threat of Anderson, the Falcons will have to sell play-action and hope the Vikings' safeties bite. Then Terance Mathis or Chris Calloway can sneak by and get open in the secondary. The Vikings are hurting at cornerback, but the Falcons don't have the outside speed with Martin gone. Atlanta has to attack Minnesota with Anderson first, and then get the ball to someone like Santiago.

The Falcons need Santiago to get a mismatch on a linebacker down the middle of the field. Anderson must rush for 120 yards for the Falcons to win, and Santiago needs some big catches.

Pivotal Player: Santiago. He'll be the pivotal player a lot this year because the Falcons won't have the speed on the outside. Some big plays from Santiago will compensate for whatever speed the Falcons lack with Martin gone.