NFL 2002 Standings and Scores

It's the second installment of the NFL's "Family Feud" this Sunday as cousins MICHAEL VICK of the Atlanta Falcons and AARON BROOKS of the New Orleans Saints square off in a key NFC South division showdown at the Georgia Dome.  And if the encore is even close to the first act between the teams, fans across the nation can expect non-stop excitement.

On October 27 at the Louisiana Superdome, Atlanta earned a heart-stopping 37-35 win in perhaps the NFL's most exhilarating game of 2002.  After the Saints grabbed a one-point lead with 2:20 remaining, Vick drove the Falcons 60 yards, setting up the game-winning 47-yard field goal by JAY FEELY as time expired to cap the thriller.  Vick finished with 91 yards rushing, including a pair of touchdown runs, and 195 yards passing, completing 66.7 percent of his attempts, while his cousin Brooks passed for 192 yards and two touchdowns, adding 38 yards rushing.

"To be involved in a game like that is a real thrill," said Falcons head coach DAN REEVES.  "I've been in this game for a long time, and the excitement of that one, going back and forth the entire time, was tremendous.  I know this week is going to be another great challenge for us and I'm expecting a super ballgame."

The Falcons are 5-3-1 after a cliffhanger last week, a 34-34 tie with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  They have a chance to close the gap on the 7-2 Saints, who are tied for first place in the division with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after a 34-24 win over the Carolina Panthers.  As usual, much of the focus will be on the dynamic quarterbacks, who in this case are also the closest of friends.

"Aaron and I talk all the time," says Vick.  "During the season, during the offseason, all the time.  It's fun going up against him and I'm sure we've both been looking forward to this Sunday since the last time we played."

Vick and Brooks are second cousins and grew up four years apart in Newport News, Virginia.  Brooks starred at Homer L. Ferguson High School where he earned Most Valuable Player honors his final two seasons, while Vick was a three-year starter at Warwick High.  Brooks was a college standout at Virginia, emerging as one of the most prominent Cavaliers' quarterbacks ever, while Vick burst on the scene at rival Virginia Tech, leading the Hokies into the national spotlight. 

"I told Mike after the game last time that it was the start of good things to come," Brooks says.  "I expect that kind of a game every time we play.  The crowd will be into it again this week and it's now a big-time rivalry between the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints.  We're looking forward to it."

In his first season as the full-time starter, Vick is developing a reputation for heroics with the clock winding down.  When the Falcons have had the ball in the final two minutes of a half and attempted to score, Vick has led the team to points five of seven times.  A closer look at those situations:

The Falcons' improving defense has also played a major role in the team's success.  Under WADE PHILLIPS in his first season as Atlanta's defensive coordinator, the unit has allowed 170 points in nine games, seventh-fewest in the NFL.

"I'm not driving the train," Phillips says.  "I'm just clanging the bell.  We have good players who are playing hard and making key plays.  We have to concentrate on continuing to make enough plays for us to win games."