'That killed their spirit'

Closer Look: Robinson's pick sends Niners packing

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Posted: Sunday January 10, 1999 08:33 AM

Attack of the Dirty Birds: Robinson (41) and the Falcon defense clamped down on San Francisco by forcing three key interceptions Andy Lyons/Allsport

By Ryan Hunt, CNN/SI

ATLANTA -- Just call Atlanta free safety Eugene Robinson a Niner-killer.

Robinson, after all, is the only Falcon with a Super Bowl ring. And thanks to his key interception, he has the Falcons one win away from playing for rings of their own.

With Atlanta clinging to a 14-10 third-quarter lead, it was Robinson's interception -- and subsequent 77-yard return -- that thwarted a 49er rally. The 14-year NFL veteran, who is in his first season with the Falcons, had one of the three Falcon interceptions in Saturday's NFC Divisional playoff game at the Georgia Dome.

But Robinson's pick took more than just possession from San Francisco. It took away precious momentum.

Then again, Robinson isn't the NFL's active interception leader for nothing.

"For some reason, I can just read Steve Young," said Robinson, who picked off Young in a similar situation last season to help send Green Bay to the Super Bowl. "I don't know why, but I just see something with him.

"I'll tell you, that was the most pivotal play of the game. They had momentum. They were going down to score, at least get three points. When he stepped back, I just took off and ran over there. I knew he was going that way."

After San Francisco climbed back from an early 14-point deficit and stopped Atlanta on its first second-half possession, the Niners drove 36 yards downfield to the Falcons' 24. But facing a third-and-9, Young overthrew J.J. Stokes, and Robinson was there for the pick.

The turnover put the Falcons into field-goal range, which Atlanta converted into three points and a 17-10 lead. San Francisco never seriously threatened the Falcons again.

"That was really the difference in the ball game," Falcons coach Dan Reeves said. "The thing about it was, Eugene and the defense stepped up when they absolutely had to. I can't say enough about the big plays by our defense."

Big plays --and long runs -- against the 49ers are nothing new to Robinson. In last season's NFC Championship Game, he stepped in front of a Young pass and returned it a then-career-best 58 yards to seize momentum from San Francisco.

And Saturday's heroics prove Robinson has a knack of coming up big when it counts the most, which is one of the main reasons why Atlanta brought him in.

"Right before Eugene's interception, we were talking on the sidelines and he said we needed to come up with a big play," said Falcon strong safety William White, who intercepted two passes of his own Saturday. "That came at a crucial time. All year this team has been thriving off turnovers. That's really been the key to our success.

"That killed their spirit. Actually, he probably could have scored. Five years ago with fresher legs, he probably would have been in the end zone."

Experience does have its drawbacks.

 

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