All that stands between American football's greatest scoring team, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Super Bowl on January 31st is the Atlanta Falcons in Minneapolis tomorrow.

The Falcons have won 10 games in a row. The Vikings have won nine in a row. Minnesota beat Atlanta in 13 of 19 prior meetings. But both have a history of play-off frustration.

The Falcons have never gone this deep into the play-offs in their 33-year history but have stunned rivals under NFL Coach of the Year Dan Reeves.

"I said we were going to be the best-kept secret in the NFL and I can judge talent," said Atlanta safety Eugene Robinson, a member of Green Bay's Super Bowl teams the past two seasons.

The Vikings, who averaged 34.8 points a game during a 15-1 season, are in their first National Conference final since 1988 and trying to win their first Super Bowl after losses in 1970, 1974, 1975 and 1977.

Quarterback Randall Cunningham, who had retired and was installing bathrooms, was signed as a backup and replaced injured Brad Johnson on his way to being the top-rated NFL passer, gaining more than 3,000 yards.

With rookie sensation Randy Moss plus veterans Cris Carter and Jake Reed as receivers and rusher Robert Smith keeping defenses honest, the Vikings offer more talent than most rivals have been able to shut down.

"You have to defend a lot of things. We're tough to defend," Reed said.