As many of you recall, we owned the first half but the second half was all about the Titans. Long drive after long drive until they finally tied it up. The feeling of imminent doom and disappointment was palpable.
Then Bruce made his miracle comeback catch and run, and we were up by 7 once again. But I looked at the clock. The way the Titans offense had been playing, and the amount of time our D had been on the field in the second half, there was way too much time left even with only 2 minutes and change on the clock.
Mcnair and the Titans made play after play, methodically driving the ball against our gassed defense. This is the part I remember the best. I was standing by the wall in our living room, and as they made each play I was slamming my forearm against the wall in frustration. Nothing we did could seem to stop them from making plays and first downs. I remember Kevin Carter pulling himself from the game he was so tired.
Then the last play - McNair magically stays alive, hits Dyson, the TACKLE is made but he was reaching for the goal line did it cross the line????
The refs signal he was down (thank God no instant replay at that time) and the game is over RAMS WIN.
I was like many others, more stunned and worn out than exultant, although I certainly was joyful. Remember, the previous decade we were only one game from having the worst record of the decade, our last season was 4-12 and we were working with a backup QB.
I remember one other detail. We always have a party for Super Bowl and there are dishes to be done and mess to be cleaned up. Normally I would help with all this. My wife did not even ask. She quietly cleaned up everything and let me sit for the full hour afterwords watching the trophy presentation, the interviews, etc until coverage finally ended. I will always remember and appreciate this small act of service that showed that she knew how big the moment was for me.
Thanks for asking. Its fun to remember as we hopefully come to the end of yet another wasted decade.
