NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Each NFL team’s out of nowhere season

By Randy Gurzi

15 Nov 1998: Running back Jamal Anderson #32 and wide receiver Terance Mathis #81 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrate during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The Falcons defeated the 49ers 31-19.
15 Nov 1998: Running back Jamal Anderson #32 and wide receiver Terance Mathis #81 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrate during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The Falcons defeated the 49ers 31-19. /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
31 of 32
Next
Kevin Dyson, Tennessee Titans
Kevin Dyson, Tennessee Titans. (Photo by: Tom Hauck /Getty Images) /

Tennessee Titans: 1999, One-yard short

Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was one of the most exciting players to ever play the game of football. The No. 3 overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft out of Alcorn State, “Air” McNair spent his first couple of seasons in the league learning to play against the raised competition.

He became the full-time starter in 1997. After back-to-back 8-8 campaigns, he finally broke through in 1999.

This was the first season the team became known as the Titans (they remained the Oilers for a brief spell after moving from Houston in the late 1990s) and it started out with McNair suffering an inflamed disk that needed surgery. He missed five games, but the team was 4-1 with veteran Neil O’Donnell filling in.

McNair returned and finished with a record of 9-2 while throwing for 12 touchdowns and running eight more. His touchdown total on the ground was second on the team to Eddie George, who had 1,304 yards and nine scores.

Even with their 13 wins, the Titans had to go the wild card route in the AFC playoffs and they nearly were sent home that weekend. Down 16-13, the Titans pulled off the impossible, as they ran back a kickoff for a touchdown on a play dubbed the “Music City Miracle.” A play that started with a pitch back from fullback Lorenzo Neal to tight end Frank Wychek ended with Kevin Dyson scoring the game-winner.

They rode that high all the way to the Super Bowl, where they ultimately fell one-yard short. McNair and the Titans were trailing by seven to the then-St. Louis Rams and tried for one more miracle. McNair had guided the team down and hit Dyson inside the five, but he was tackled just short, ending their shot at a title.

Home/All-Time Lists