NFL Tragedy #4: One Yard Short
Super Bowl XXXIV, between the St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans, came down to the final play.
This Super Bowl wasn't supposed to be close. The Rams, led by NFL MVP Kurt Warner, was the "greatest show on turf". They were going to rack up points, and by halftime the audience was going to shift gears and start to focus on watching commercials.
The Titans on the other hand, were a team that was so talented and well coached, that they were sure to go to a number of Super Bowls in the near future.
Both teams were so good, the average fan at the time expected to see one of them become a dynasty.
That's why they play the game.
Up until the start of the second half, it was a defensive struggle. The Titans defense played masterfully, and kept their team in the game.
Titans FG kicker Al Del Greco kicked a game-tying 43-yard field goal with only 2:12 left to play. The drama is on.
Finally, the greatest show on turf arrived. One the next play from scrimmage, Rams quarterback Kurt Warner hit a deep pass to WR Isaac Bruce, who caught the ball on the Titans 38-yard line, made a great move on Anthony Dorsett, and ran into the end zone to take a 23-16 lead for the Rams with 1:54 remaining in regulation play.
But the Rams defense was tired. Even though they had a hard time scoring, the Titans had pounded St. Louis, and it was starting to catch up to them. Titans QB Steve McNair had his best drive of the game, leading them to the Rams 10-yard line with six seconds left and no timeouts remaining.
The Titans needed a touchdown to tie the game. This was the play. It was all on the line. Would Steve McNair become the next Joe Montana?
The ball was snapped, and McNair completed a quick slant to Kevin Dyson at the three yard line.
Rams LB Mike Jones threw his arms around him and stopped him on the one yard line.
The Titans were one yard short.
They have never been back to a Super Bowl.
In reflection, McNair, Eddie George, and co. were either over-hyped or underachieved. Yet if they made it one yard further, all might have been different.
Previous NFL Tragid Moments:
Numbers seven through ten are here, and number six is here. Number five is here. Enjoy...and try to forget.
More sports.
posted by Nominal Me | Thursday, February 03, 2005
|
2 Comments:
Maybe it the 'English Teacher' in me which prompts me to make this comment, but for all its worth - Here it is :
The way you write makes one actually picture the scene. One might say its a commentary, but in reality you have a knack of making people visualize the words ... Pretty good I would say. Continue the commentary - Ever thought of writing for the sports Column of your local news paper?
Ok before you label me Jobless - got to get back to correcting over 60 test papers which will either make or break my week end !!!
C ya
Thanks for the compliment. Living in New York City though, my "local" newspapers have circulations well into the thousands, and aren't about to hire a blogger to do sports.
Post a Comment
|<< Home