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Warner, Rams edge Titans to win Super Bowl XXXIV
ATLANTA--Less than 24 hours after winning Super Bowl XXXIV Most Valuable Player honors, Kurt Warner was introduced at the annual MVP news conference by NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Like most league observers who have been amazed by Warner's football pilgrimage, Tagliabue summed things up when he said "I'll remember last night for the rest of my life." After all, it was only five years ago that an undrafted Warner was cut by the Green Bay Packers and bagging groceries at an Iowa Hy-Vee. That was followed by three years with the Iowa Barnstormers in the Arena Football League and a season with the Amsterdam Admirals in Europe. Now here Warner stood, not only as Super Bowl MVP and the owner of the game's record for passing yards (414), but also as the NFL's regular-season MVP after throwing 41 touchdowns during the year. "You may think of this as a Hollywood story," the 28-year-old Warner told the media. "But it's just my life."
The Rams came out firing in Super Bowl XXXIV against the Tennessee Titans. Led by Warner's right arm, the Rams reached the Red Zone on each of their first six possessions. Yet, all that time up-and-down the field resulted in just 16 points; three Jeff Wilkins field goals in the first half and a nine-yard touchdown reception by Torry Holt midway through the third quarter.
Meanwhile, the St. Louis defense was also enjoying success in shutting down Steve McNair and the Titans offense. The first-half yardage totals said it all; Rams 294 (277 passing), Titans 89. "I knew that I had to have a good game for us to win the Super Bowl--no question about that," Warner said to reporters. "But if you are a quarterback and you don't feel like you can make the plays and don't feel like you have got to make plays every week, then you are in the wrong business and the wrong position."
Following Holt's score, McNair engineered a 12-play, 66-yard drive that took seven minutes off the clock. Eddie George's one-yard run with 14 seconds to play in the third quarter cut the Rams lead to 16-6 (the two-point conversion failed). McNair duplicated his magic on Tennessee's next drive; throwing and running the Titans into Rams territory. Then, a
21-yard pass to Jackie Harris put the ball on the St. Louis 3-yard line. George broke the plane again, capping a 13-play, 79-yard drive that chewed up another seven minutes. Rams 16, Titans 13. Tennessee's defense held and an Al Del Greco field goal tied the game with just 2:12 to play. The comeback was the largest in Super Bowl history.
But Warner wasn't done. On the next play from scrimmage, he connected with Isaac Bruce for a 73-yard touchdown. The game was tied for all of 18 seconds. The call came from Rams offensive coordinator Mike Martz who would be taking over for coach Dick Vermeil after the season. "It's what we call 'Twins right, Ace right, 999 Halfback Balloon,'" said Martz after the game. "We had five seconds left before the two-minute warning. We wanted to take a shot to Isaac over there, and we hadn't gotten it done during the game, for whatever reason."
With 1:54 remaining in Super Bowl XXXIV, McNair and the Titans got one more chance and went to work. A 27-yard quarterback scramble, a penalty, and a 16-yard pass helped move the ball all the way to the Rams 10-yard line with six seconds to play. Tennessee then called its final time out to design a play. The decision? A slant to WR Kevin Dyson who made the catch inside the 5-yard line and angled for the end zone. But Rams linebacker Mike Jones wrapped up Dyson and pulled him down, his outstretched arms landing less than a yard from the end zone.
"When I saw that ball go in the air, I said 'It's a touchdown,'" Vermeil told reporters. "I was ready to call coach Martz and tell him to get the script ready for overtime." Bruce added "This one is for Jerome Bettis, Troy Drayton, and even Darryl Henley. This is for all of them. And this is for Los Angeles and St. Louis. We did it for both cities."
About the Author
Keith Gentili is an award-winning sports writer and editor with ThatsMyTicket.com, a manufacturer of Sports and Concert Ticket Frames. Their products capture the experience and memory of attending significant events by combining elements such as stats, stories, headlines, and licensed photography with actual tickets and personal pictures.
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