Over the next two weeks Philguard will be counting down the top 10 moments in the past 42 years in the big game. Today…
One yard short
Before “the greatest show on turf” slipped away, before Kurt Warner became the poster boy for talent rotting in menial jobs, before the Rams changed from yellow to gold there was Kevin Dyson, Mike Jones and One Yard.
When: Super Bowl XXXIV – January 30, 2000
Where: The Georgia Dome
In a lot of ways the end of Super Bowl 34 was fitting if only the spectacular stories that brought these two teams together.
The Rams had begun training camp with Trent Green at Quarterback. But a preseason injury forced Coach Dick Vermeil to start an unknown Kurt Warner under center. On top of that 2 new skill players would be joining the Rams on the offensive side of the ball. Marshal Faulk was traded to the Rams in the offseason and Tory Holt was selected with the 6th pick of the 1999 draft. Even so, the chemistry of Warner, Faulk, Holt, veteran Wide Receiver Isaac Bruce and Offensive Coordinator Mike Martz would give NFL fans a jolt. The Rams had finished the season 13-3 and beaten a tough Vikings team in the Divisional Round 49 to 37. The NFC Championship game would be an equal surprise and the Rams led 5-3 at half time on the way to a 11-6 victory to secure the second Super Bowl in team history.
The Titans also finished the season 13-3 (one win, a home victory over the Rams). Led by Steve McNair and Eddie George the Titans had gone into the playoffs without a first round bye, forced to host the Buffalo Bills on Wildcard Weekend. With 16 seconds left the Bills took a one point lead on a field goal. The ensuing kickoff would create another memorable NFL moment as the Titans would score on a 75 yard kick return known as the Music City Miracle. The Titans would ride the momentum past the Colts and Jaguars and into the Georgia Dome.
The Rams led at halftime 9-0 but each team had squandered opportunities to score and the second half both teams would be more efficient. The Titans had tied the score at 16 with 2:12 left in the game when Warner hit Bruce on the very next play from scrimmage for a 73 touchdown to take the lead with 1:54 seconds remaining on the clock. McNair engineered a drive down to Rams 26 yard line where he would face a 3rd and 5. McNair, unable to find an open receiver, danced around the backfield avoiding two sure sacks until he saw a wide open Kevin Dyson. With 6 seconds left, the Titans called a timeout with the ball sitting at the Rams 10 needing a touchdown to force overtime. McNair threw a slant pass to Dyson who caught the ball on the 5 yard line but Rams linebacker Mike Jones was able to grab Dyson’s legs and Dyson fell short of the endzone by 1 yard as time expired.