FLASHBACKS

SEPT. 26, 1999

at Jacksonville, Fla.

Tennessee 20, Jacksonville 19

While Jacksonville started the season amid Super Bowl hype, the Titans quietly started the campaign 3-0. In the first meeting between the AFC Central teams, the Titans used a late touchdown pass from Neil O’Donnell and a goal-line stand in the final 90 seconds to win.

The Titans trailed, 17-13, with 3:30 left when O’Donnell connected with backup fullback Michael Roan on a 12-yard scoring pass.

Mark Brunell drove the Jaguars inside the Tennessee 10 with a little more than a minute left. But on third and goal from the Titan three, cornerback Samari Rolle intercepted a pass in the end zone.

Jacksonville took a 3-0 lead with 3:25 left in the first quarter on a 42-yard field goal by Mike Hollis.

After Titan safety Anthony Dorsett intercepted a pass and returned the ball 43 yards to the Jaguar 32, O’Donnell got Tennessee to the 18 before the second-quarter drive fell apart. Brunell took over at his 26 and moved the Jaguars to the Titan eight.

Three incomplete passes followed. On fourth and eight with 15 seconds left, Jacksonville holder Bryan Barker faked a field-goal attempt and tried to run around left end but was stopped at the two.

Trailing 17-7, Tennessee began its comeback with a 44-yard field goal by Al Del Greco with 11:26 left. The Titan defense forced Jacksonville to go three-and-out. O’Donnell found Yancey Thigpen for 31 yards, leading to another Del Greco field goal that sliced the Tennessee deficit to 17-13.

Brunell had the Jaguars on the move on their next possession but again committed a critical mistake. Defensive end Kenny Holmes intercepted a pass intended for Jimmy Smith and returned it 19 yards to the Jacksonville 45.

O’Donnell’s 12-yard pass to Roan put the Titans ahead, 20-17.

Undaunted, Brunell took over at his 30 and quickly moved the Jaguars into scoring position. But his ill-conceived pass attempt to Smith ended Jacksonville’s hopes.

Tennessee took a safety as time expired.

*

DEC. 26, 1999 at Nashville

Tennessee 41, Jacksonville 14

Steve McNair threw a career-high five touchdown passes to five receivers, and the Titans routed the Jaguars.

Jacksonville came in with the NFL’s longest winning streak at 11 games, but only two victories had come against teams with winning records.

With a chance to clinch its second consecutive divisional title and a first-round bye, the Jaguars looked lifeless against the Titans, who trailed Jacksonville in the division by a game with one remaining.

Jacksonville had been trying to top the 1986 Chicago Bears’ record of fewest points given up in a 16-game season, only to see that effort fall apart in the first half. The Jaguars hadn’t given up more than 24 points in a game, and they did that in the first half, falling behind, 24-7.

The Titans held the ball for more than 20 minutes in the first half and totaled 278 yards. They scored on their first three possessions as McNair capped long drives with touchdown pass plays of four and 62 yards, and Al Del Greco kicked his first of two field goals.

The Titans finished with a season high in points and total offense with 476 yards. Eddie George became the first back to top 100 yards against Jacksonville as he carried 26 times for 102 yards. McNair completed 23 of 33 passes for 291 through three quarters.

The Jaguars looked ready to match Tennessee in their opening drive.

They marched down the field, but Titan cornerback Samari Rolle, whose interception preserved Tennessee’s 20-19 victory at Jacksonville in September, picked off Mark Brunell’s pass in the end zone. Jacksonville then went three and out on its next two possessions.

Brunell keyed the Jaguars’ first touchdown drive late in the second quarter by connecting with Jimmy Smith on a 62-yard pass play, and Fred Taylor scored on a one-yard run to pull Jacksonville to 17-7 with 2:54 left. But Brunell strained his left knee on an incomplete pass the play before Taylor’s touchdown and did not return. He completed four of 11 passes for 95 yards.

Quarterback Jay Fiedler wasn’t much better in replacing Brunell. He was sacked three times and completed eight of 22 passes for 101 yards.