NFL History: Ranking the 30 best wild card teams in NFL history

Ranking the 30 best wild card teams in NFL history: 8. 1999 Tennessee Titans

The 1999 Tennessee Titans had the best record for a Wild Card team in the history of football. They also played in the closest Super Bowl ever possibly outside of the Patriots-Falcons Super Bowl that needed overtime (and a crazy Tom Brady comeback) to find a winner. The Titans and Jaguars were dominating the league in ’99, and the Jags only two losses all season were to the Titans, but somehow the Titans still fell behind them in the standings.

So, the Titans had to take the long way to the Super Bowl.

This was a stacked Titans team that had a prime Eddie George, a young Steve McNair, and three receivers who broke 600 yards that season. There was talent across the depth chart, and McNair was quickly becoming one of the best players at his position. Once in the playoffs, it was never easy. However, this was a team that was ready to make a jump.

In the Wild Card round, things were just silly. The Buffalo Bills came back from a 12-0 deficit to take a 13-12 lead in the fourth quarter. The Titans offense finally woke back up and kicked a go-ahead field goal with 1:47 left in the game. The Bills, not to be deterred, ran down the field and kicked their own go-ahead field goal with 16 seconds left. The next play is one of the most famous of all time. The Bills kicked the ball to Lorenzo Neal. He pitches the ball to Frank Wycheck, who then sends it to Kevin Dyson. Gone, 75 yards to the end zone as time expires. The Music City Miracle sends the Titans to the next round.

The Titans would stop the comeback attempt of Peyton Manning and the Colts in the next round setting up another matchup with the Jaguars. The Titans would go 3-0 against the top seed in the AFC on its way to a Super Bowl berth with the “Greatest Show on Turf”.

There, the entire state of Tennessee felt heartbreak of the most epic proportion. One yard. They were one yard away from being Super Bowl champions, but now, more than 20 years later, Titans fans are still waiting for that first championship.