It was Deion Sanders first career game in the NFL and his impact was immediate. In September of 1989, on Sanders 2nd career punt return for the Falcons, the 22-year-old caught a booming punt against the Rams on the made-for-baseball dirt of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, the very surface on which he would play for the Atlanta Braves later in his career. Sanders muffed the kick, but picked it up while promptly breaking a tackle. He got wrapped up but broke a second tackle and ran backwards and to the right as two Rams chased him down. Sanders was cut off by another Los Angeles player and abruptly broke back left at the Falcon 30, badly faking his man out, then heading downhill. He outran several Rams, rapidly changing direction once more while following a blocker and sailed into the end zone. The Falcons would lose, 31-21, but the play exhibited the speed, flair, and big-play ability that would, quite literally, kick off a Hall of Fame career for the return man and defensive back.