The last Tennessee Titans home playoff win: Joe Nedney, Tommy Maddox and a thrilling OT
The Tennessee Titans last won a home playoff game 19 years ago.
And what a game it was.
The Titans beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-31 in overtime of the AFC Divisional Playoffs at what was then called The Coliseum (How many names can one stadium have?) on Jan. 11, 2003.
Ben Roethlisberger was still in college. A.J. Brown was 5 years old.
LIVE UPDATES: Tennessee Titans vs. Cincinnati Bengals live score updates: AFC divisional round
EYES ON SUPER BOWL: How Derrick Henry's injury put him on a mission to win Tennessee Titans' most elusive prize — the Super Bowl
GENTRY ESTES: I'd learned not to doubt Tennessee Titans' Derrick Henry. I'm not starting now
It was the old guard of the Titans in their prime; Steve McNair, Eddie George, Derrick Mason and Frank Wycheck all contributed to the win. Keith Bulluck led the team in tackles, and Samari Rolle had an interception.
But it wasn't easy. The game contained four lead changes in the second half and in overtime, and the ending left then-Steelers coach Bill Cowher yelling at the officials.
Let's dive into it.
Tennessee Titans 34, Pittsburgh Steelers 31 (OT)
Date: January 11, 2003
Place: The Coliseum
Attendance: 68,809
Stakes: Winner to the AFC Championship Game to face Oakland Raiders
Background of 2002 season: In 2002, the divisional realignment left these two in different divisions for the first time. Tennessee won 9 of its last 10 regular season games (five by eight points or less) with a balanced team to earn the No. 2 seed in the AFC. Pittsburgh won the AFC North, then orchestrated an all-timer of a comeback to beat Cleveland in the AFC wild card round the week before this game.
TL;DR game summary: Titans took early 14-0 lead, but Steelers clawed back to 14-13 at halftime. McNair had over 300 passing yards and three total touchdowns as Titans pushed lead back to 28-20. Hines Ward's touchdown catch from Tommy Maddox and a Steelers field goal gave Pittsburgh the lead. Titans kicker Joe Nedney made a 42-yarder to tie in the fourth quarter, but missed a 48-yarder as regulation time expired.
The ending: Titans won OT coin toss, and Justin McCareins made a pair of long catch-and-run plays to put Tennessee in field goal range. Pittsburgh was granted a timeout as Nedney hit a 31-yard field goal to win. As fireworks went off at the stadium (literally), Nedney would have to line up again.
Nedney's next attempt was no good, but Steelers defensive back Dewayne Washington was penalized for running into a flailing Nedney. The Titans kicker then nailed a 26-yard game winner as Cowher again tried to call timeout. The timeout was not granted, and Tennessee moved on. Cowher, irritated by the ending, chased down the officials before they left the field.
The highlights: Thanks to YouTube.
The headline in The Tennessean: Still kicking!
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Last Tennessee Titans home playoff win: Joe Nedney and a thrilling OT
