Randy Smith: Do The Titans Have Another Miracle?

  • Thursday, January 16, 2020
  • Randy Smith
Randy Smith
Randy Smith
It's been twenty years since Voice of the Tennessee Titans Mike Keith called the "Music City Miracle". I'm sure you remember what I'm talking about. With just 16 seconds remaining in the game and the Buffalo Bills clinging to a 16-15 lead, the Titans decided their only chance at a win was a trick play. The Bills had kicked a field goal giving them that one point lead and when they kicked off, Frank Wycheck lateraled the ball to Kevin Dyson who took it to the house.
The Titans won the game  21-16 and Mike Keith's call has been selected the fourth best in NFL history.

As Mike described it as a miracle, it was and twenty years later Titans' fans are wondering if their team has at least one more. The Titans have upset two higher seeded teams, New England and Baltimore on the road and this weekend will face another with the winner advancing to the Super Bowl. The Titans are a touchdown underdog in Kansas City as they take on the Chiefs Sunday at 3:05. 

Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has emerged as a star in Nashville after unseating Marcus Mariota as the starter. His stats are not outstanding but he is a perfect example of the quarterback who, "won't get you beat." Of course Tannehill has running back Derrick Henry in the backfield with him and Henry has been "money" so far this postseason. He has rushed for 182 yards in the win over the Patriots and topped that performance with 195 more in the win over the Ravens. Henry even threw a touchdown pass against the Ravens and with Kansas City having just the 26th best rush defense in the NFL, I'm sure he's kept the Chiefs' defensive coaches up late trying to figure out how to stop him.   

The Titans' only appearance in the Super Bowl was twenty years ago and in the 2019 season it's really been a miracle they've gotten this far. After the first six games of the season, they were 2-4 and looked like anything but a playoff team. But Coach Mike Vrabel made the right decisions and his team is one more miracle away from the Super Bowl. 

When I was growing up in Nashville having a pro football team was never discussed or even thought about. But the city has changed so much since then. After twenty-three years folks likely can't remember when Nashville didn't have an NFL team. They have captured the hearts of their fans and made fans of people who have never been interested in them before. Twice the Titans have gotten it done in the playoffs and I'm not sure they really needed a miracle. Call it what you will if Tennessee pulls out another win on the road. But I'll say the Titans are just that good. 

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Randy Smith can be reached at rsmithsports@epbfi.com
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