In my most recent article, I ranked the top ten most devastating losses during the franchise’s Tennessee Titan era. This list included a few playoff defeats courtesy of the hated Ravens and of course, the team’s heartbreaking Super Bowl XXXIV loss to the Rams.
As promised, today we’re going to continue our trip down memory lane by taking a look at the ten (actually eleven) most memorable wins during the organization’s tenure in Nashville.
10. 2008 Regular Season- Titans 31 Steelers 14
We’ll start the list off with the pinnacle moment of last year’s 13-3 Titan squad.
In a highly-anticipated showdown to determine AFC supremacy, despite the absence of Albert Haynesworth, the Titans issued a titanic beatdown to the eventual World Champion Steelers.
It’s too bad that the teams didn’t get the opportunity to do it again in the AFC Championship Game, thanks to the Titans’ 13-10 playoff loss to the Ravens.
10a. 1999 Regular Season- Titans 36 Bengals 35
In addition to being an exciting game, this contest also has sentimental value as a result of it being the first regular season game played at what was then known as Adelphia Coliseum.
Thanks to miscues, the Titans blew a 26-7 lead as the Bengals scored 28 unanswered points. Fortunately, the Bengals lived up to their “Bungles” moniker by allowing the Titans to come-from-behind for a memorable 36-35 victory.
9. 2006 Regular Season- Titans 24 Giants 21
Trailing 21-0 after three quarters, the Titans staged a comeback for the ages by rallying to score 24 points in their unforgettable 24-21 victory over the G-Men.
The comeback was led by the performances of rookie signal-caller Vince Young and a guy who went by the name of Pacman Jones. Also playing a big role in the Titans’ victory was the Giants’ DE/LB Mathias Kiwanuka, thanks to his inability to tackle VY on a pivotal 4th and 10 play.
8. 2007 Regular Season- Titans 38 Texans 36
Despite having a 32-7 lead, the Titans nearly blew this one by allowing the Texans to take a 36-35 lead with less than a minute to go. Thanks to a clutch Kerry Collins completion to Roydell Williams, the Titans sealed the victory with an NFL record eighth Rob Bironas field goal.
7. 2006 Regular Season- Titans 20 Colts 17
Speaking of Bironas, his heroics also served as the engine behind this thrilling Titan victory. His mammoth 60-yard field goal provided the young Titans with an improbable win over the eventual Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts.
6. 2002 Regular Season- Titans 32 Giants 29
This was definitely one of Steve McNair’s shining moments during his storied career as a Titan.
Battling nagging injuries, “Air” McNair came through with an impressive 30-43, 334 yard performance against the Giants. His performance also consisted of three touchdown passes and a game-tying two-point conversion run that served as a symbol of McNair’s grit.
Steve McNair: What a warrior.
5. 2000 AFC Divisional Playoffs- Titans 19 Colts 16
Coming off of the “Music City Miracle” (more on that later), a confident Titan team headed to Indy to face a young Peyton Manning Colts’ squad. Despite the final score, the Titans were in control for most of the game.
The one thing that I remember the most about this contest was Eddie George’s game-breaking scamper: a sixty-eight yarder where George was looking at the RCA Dome’s scoreboard to keep an eye on the Colt defenders pursuing him.
4. 2003 AFC Divisional Playoffs- Titans 34 Steelers 31
Ironically, I just watched the NFL Network re-air of this classic ballgame a few days ago.
This game had it all: a 338 yard passing performance by Steve McNair, the younger version of Justin McCareins, the one that unlike 2008’s version, actually made big plays instead of dropping big catches, the Tommy Maddox comeback story and last but not least, the Oscar-worthy theatrics of Titans’ kicker Joe Nedney.
3. 2004 AFC Wild Card Game- Titans 20 Ravens 17
Eddie George’s finest moment in Nashville, IMO.
The resilient George ran with the might of an angry Greek god, fearlessly taking on his nemesis Ray Lewis despite a painful shoulder injury. George’s courage played a pivotal role in the Titans’ revenge of the bitter defeats suffered at the hands of the Ravens in previous years.
2. 2000 AFC Championship Game- Titans 33 Jaguars 14
Against the rest of the NFL, the 1999 Jacksonville Jaguars were 15-0. Unfortunately for them, they also had to compete against the Titans, who with their commanding 33-14 victory over the Jags in the AFC Title game, finished 3-0 against Jacksonville that season.
Despite the words of Fred “Fraud” Taylor, the Titans went to Jacksonville and took the AFC Title without much of a fight. While turnovers and penalties plagued the Jags, the determined Titans played with a level of focus and execution that paved the way for the franchise’s first (and only) Super Bowl appearance.
1. 2000 AFC Wild Card Game- Titans 22 Bills 16
The Music City Miracle.
Nearly 10 years later, this unforgettable play still serves as the franchise’s signature moment since it’s move from Houston to Nashville. Whether you were at the game or in other locations, the majority of Tennessee Titan fans can recall their exact whereabouts as they witnessed the famous “Homerun Throwback” play.
So what do you think, guys? What are your opinions on my top ten list of most memorable Titan wins?
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