Rating the big games from best to worst
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Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson is pulled down by Rams linebacker Mike Jones on the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV. (Bill Steber / The Tennessean / USA TODAY Network)
St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16
Date/site: Jan. 30, 2000, Georgia Dome (Atlanta)
MVP: Kurt Warner, Rams QB
Winning coach: Dick Vermeil
The skinny: Through 2½ quarters, Super Bowl XXXIV was somewhat of a snoozer. It certainly didn’t appear to be a game headed for a fantastic finish.
The Rams tallied the game’s first touchdown midway through the third quarter, with Torry Holt scoring on a 9-yard pass from Kurt Warner. Building on three first-half field goals, St. Louis led 16-0.
That’s when Tennessee went to work, embarking on a 12-play, seven-minute drive. The Titans drove 66 yards, with Eddie George carrying seven times, including the ultimate 1-yard touchdown plunge. The Titans defense then forced a three-and-out by the Rams, allowing Tennessee to cobble together another long drive.
The Titans leaned on George again, with the tailback carrying eight times during a 13-play, 79-yard drive. George capped this drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to pull his team within three points, and the Titans tied the game 16-16 on a field goal with 2:12 left.
Then the real action began, with Warner immediately completing a 74-yard touchdown strike to Isaac Bruce. That left almost two minutes for the Titans to drive 88 yards for a potential tying or winning score. Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair dinked and dunked the Titans downfield, pulling his team to the Rams’ 10-yard line with a 16-yard pass to Kevin Dyson.
With five seconds left, McNair connected with Dyson again, but Rams linebacker Mike Jones hauled Dyson down at the 1 as time expired.
