While McNair Rests, O’Donnell Responds

The Tennessee Titans gave themselves the best confidence boost possible Sunday, winning with their best player on the sidelines, resting his aching legs for the postseason.

Steve McNair dressed but didn’t play, and veteran Neil O’Donnell threw two touchdown passes to Derrick Mason in his first start since Sept. 23, 2001. Gary Anderson kicked four field goals, and the Titans routed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 33-13.

Indianapolis’ 20-17 victory over Houston clinched the AFC South title for the Colts and left Tennessee (12-4) with the AFC’s No. 5 seeding and a trip to Baltimore for the wild-card round next weekend. Baltimore has won the last five games against the Titans and six of seven.

Tennessee had four interceptions, three against Brad Johnson, and two sacks in holding Tampa Bay to 274 yards.

The loss made Tampa Bay (7-9) the first defending Super Bowl champion with a losing record since Denver in 1999.

Coach Jeff Fisher said McNair could have played, but Fisher chose to avoid risking another injury to a quarterback who already has a strained right calf and a sprained left ankle with a cracked bone spur.

The Titans turned to O’Donnell, the man they cut twice this year for salary cap reasons but re-signed after backup Billy Volek lacerated his spleen in his only NFL start in place of the injured McNair.

O’Donnell completed 18 of 27 passes for 232 yards. He had plenty of help as Eddie George carried 26 times for 87 yards and became the 17th back in the NFL with 10,000 yards rushing in his career.

“I had a lot of tough Sundays the past four months, but this was one of the better ones,” O’Donnell said.