Editing Super Bowl XXXIV (section)

==Background==
===Host selection process===
NFL owners awarded Super Bowl XXXIV to Atlanta during their October 31, 1996, meeting in New Orleans. A total of five cities submitted bids: [[Miami]] ([[Hard Rock Stadium|Joe Robbie Stadium]]), [[Atlanta]] ([[Georgia Dome]]), [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] ([[Raymond James Stadium]]), [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]/[[Tempe, Arizona|Tempe]] ([[Sun Devil Stadium]]), and [[Los Angeles]] ([[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum|Coliseum]]). The Los Angeles host committee originally was going to partner with [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]] ([[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]]),<ref name="KennJ09-01-1996pg25">{{cite news|title=Los Angeles puts in bid to host Super Bowl|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kennebec-journal/152268938/|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|first=Patrick|last=McGreevy|page=25|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=September 1, 1996|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> but switched their plans to the Coliseum after a renovation plan was announced.<ref name="LAT10-13-1996pg373">{{cite news|title=L.A. Coliseum Design Reflect a Marriage of Old and New|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/152269149/|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|first=Jodi|last=Wilgoren|page=373|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 13, 1996|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="LAT10-30-1996pg102">{{cite news|title=L.A. Will Make a Play for Football|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/152269314/|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|first=T.J.|last=Simers|page=102|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=October 13, 1996|access-date=July 29, 2024}}{{Open access}}</ref> However, the Los Angeles bid was dismissed when their delegation failed to convince the owners that planned stadium renovations would be completed in time.<ref name="OS11011996b"/>

Owners initially planned on selecting only two hosts (XXXIII and XXXIV), but decided to name three after strong showings by the respective delegations. Miami, Atlanta, and Tampa were selected to host [[Super Bowl XXIII|XXXIII]], XXXIV, and [[Super Bowl XXXV|XXXV]], respectively.<ref name="OS11011996a">{{cite news|title=Florida's Super Bowls: Miami '99, Tampa '01 (part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8409532//|newspaper=The Orlando Sentinel|page=27|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=November 1, 1996|access-date=January 17, 2017}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="OS11011996b">{{cite news|title=Florida's Super Bowls: Miami '99, Tampa '01 (part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8409537//|newspaper=The Orlando Sentinel|page=31|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=November 1, 1996|access-date=January 17, 2017}}{{Open access}}</ref> This was the second time that Atlanta hosted the game, the first being [[Super Bowl XXVIII|XXVIII]]. Atlanta garnered a sympathy vote as [[Atlanta Falcons|Falcons]] owner [[Rankin M. Smith Sr.|Rankin Smith]] was terminally ill.<ref name="ttrib07-09-2000pg41">{{cite news|title=Signed, sealed, and delivered|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/163185405/|newspaper=The Tampa Tribune|first=Carter|last=Gaddis|page=41|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=July 9, 2000|access-date=January 27, 2025}}{{Open access}}</ref> Due to logistical conflicts, Atlanta would not be able to host the Super Bowl again until 2005, and some NFL owners desired to award the game to the city before Smith died (which occurred nearly a year later in October 1997). [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] owner [[Malcolm Glazer]] protested afterwards, feeling that he had been promised the game after securing funding for a [[Raymond James Stadium|new stadium]].<ref name="ttrib07-09-2000pg41"/> As a result, [[Super Bowl XXXV|XXXV]] was added to agenda, and Tampa was selected for that game.

===St. Louis Rams===
{{Main|1999 St. Louis Rams season}}
The Rams entered 1999 having been among the league's stragglers for a decade.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles Rams Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/index.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The reasons are many, including, some suggest, mismanagement by executive John Shaw. The franchise [[National Football League franchise moves and mergers|moved]] to [[The Dome at America's Center|a taxpayer-funded stadium]] in [[St. Louis|St. Louis, Missouri]] for [[1995 St. Louis Rams season|the 1995 season]] but continued to struggle. In 1997, the team hired [[Dick Vermeil]] as their head coach, bringing him back to the NFL after 15 years of retirement. Vermeil had previously turned the [[Philadelphia Eagles]] from one of the worst teams in the league into a Super Bowl team in 1980, but his first two seasons in St. Louis were hardly stellar, winning just five games in 1997 and four in 1998.

Little was expected of the Rams for 1999. Indeed, ''[[ESPN The Magazine]]'''s 1999 NFL preview predicted the Rams would be the worst team in the NFL, worse even than [[1999 Cleveland Browns season|the Cleveland Browns]], who had returned as an [[expansion team]] that year. [[Trent Green]], who had just been signed as the Rams starting quarterback, suffered a season-ending knee injury in the preseason, making undrafted [[quarterback]] [[Kurt Warner]] the team's new starter. Warner, who started the season as a backup to Green, had previously played for the [[Iowa Barnstormers]] of the [[Arena Football League]] and the [[Amsterdam Admirals]] of [[NFL Europe]].<ref>Sandler (2007) p. 18</ref>

The Rams proceeded to shock the NFL with an NFC-best 13–3 regular season record and outscored their opponents 526–242, the highest scoring margin (284) of any Super Bowl champion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Louis Rams 1999 Games and Schedule |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/1999/gamelog/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

The Rams' high-powered offense, run by offensive coordinator [[Mike Martz]], was nicknamed "[[The Greatest Show on Turf]]". In Warner's first NFL season in [[1998 St. Louis Rams season|1998]], he played only one game and threw just 11 passes. But in 1999, he experienced one of the most spectacular seasons ever by a quarterback, recording a [[passer rating]] of 109.2, completing 65.1 percent of his passes for 4,353 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just 13 interceptions, and earning the [[National Football League Most Valuable Player Award|NFL Most Valuable Player Award]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kurt Warner 1999 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WarnKu00/gamelog/1999/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 Awards Voting |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/awards_1999.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Besides Warner, several other Rams compiled significant statistics. Halfback [[Marshall Faulk]], in his first year in St. Louis after spending five seasons with [[Indianapolis Colts|Indianapolis]], had the best season of his career and won the [[AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award|NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award]], while finishing second in MVP voting to Warner. He scored 12 touchdowns, rushed for 1,381 yards, and recorded a team-leading 87 receptions for 1,048 yards. In all, Faulk gained a record 2,429 total yards and became just the second running back in NFL history to gain over 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season ([[Roger Craig (American football)|Roger Craig]] was the first to do it, in 1985).<ref name=Sandlerp1819>Sandler (2007) p. 18-19</ref> Faulk held the NFL record for yards from scrimmage in a single season until Tennessee's [[Chris Johnson (running back)|Chris Johnson]] broke it in 2009. Faulk wasn't the only weapon at Warner's disposal in 1999. Veteran receiver [[Isaac Bruce]] was the top Rams receiver with 77 receptions for 1,165 yards and 12 touchdowns. while breakout rookie wide receiver [[Torry Holt]] recorded 52 receptions, 788 yards, and 6 touchdowns. Even the team's third wide receiver, [[Az-Zahir Hakim]], was a big contributor by catching 36 passes for 677 yards and 8 touchdowns, while also returning punts for 461 yards and another touchdown. The Rams' offensive line was led by [[Pro Bowl]]ers [[Orlando Pace]] and [[Adam Timmerman]]. Timmerman, acquired by the Rams in 1999, had previously won [[Super Bowl XXXI]] with the [[1996 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]. On special teams, receiver [[Tony Horne]] returned 30 kickoffs for 892 yards and 2 touchdowns, giving him an NFL-leading 29.7 yards per return average.<ref>Sandler (2007) p. 19</ref> Overall, St. Louis's offense led the league in total yards gained (6,639), scoring (526 points), and passing touchdowns (42).

The Rams' defense led the league in fewest rushing yards allowed (1,189) and fewest rushing touchdowns allowed (4), while giving up just 242 points. Overall, the defense ranked 4th in the league in fewest total yards (5,056).<ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1999/opp.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The line was anchored by Pro Bowl defensive end [[Kevin Carter (American football)|Kevin Carter]] and defensive end [[Grant Wistrom]]. Carter led the league with 17 [[Quarterback sack|sacks]], while Wistrom recorded 8.5 sacks and 2 interceptions, returning both for touchdowns and a combined total of 131 yards. Behind them, the Rams had three linebackers: [[London Fletcher]] (66 tackles and 3 sacks), [[Mike Jones (linebacker)|Mike Jones]] (4 interceptions for 96 return yards and 2 touchdowns, and 2 fumble recoveries for 51 return yards and a touchdown), and [[Todd Collins (linebacker)|Todd Collins]] (72 tackles, a sack, and 2 interceptions for 16 yards). The secondary was led by Pro Bowler [[Todd Lyght]] (6 interceptions), [[Dexter McCleon]] (4 interceptions), and rookie [[Dré Bly]] (3 interceptions).<ref>Sandler (2007) p. 20-22</ref>

This was the Rams' first playoff appearance since [[1989 Los Angeles Rams season|1989]] and only the second [[Super Bowl XIV|Super Bowl]] appearance in team history.<ref>{{cite book |title=Kurt Warner and the St. Louis Rams: Super Bowl XXXIV (Super Bowl Superstars) |last=Sandler |first=Michael |year=2007 |publisher=Bearport Publishing |isbn=978-1-59716-539-6}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Los Angeles Rams Playoff History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/ram/playoffs.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Tennessee Titans===
{{Main|1999 Tennessee Titans season}}
The Titans advanced to their first Super Bowl in team history, after originating as a charter member of the [[American Football League]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The History of the Tennessee Titans (NFL Today) |last=Frisch |first=Aaron |date=July 2004 |publisher=Creative Education. |isbn=1-58341-316-2 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/historyoftenness0000fris }}</ref> From 1960 to 1996, the team was owned by [[Houston, Texas]] businessman [[Bud Adams]] and known as the [[History of the Houston Oilers|Houston Oilers]]. By 1995, however, Adams, like Rams owner [[Georgia Frontiere]], was lured to move his team from Houston, in this case to a new stadium in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. Since this new stadium was not ready until the 1999 season, Adams decided to move his team to [[Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], Tennessee in [[1997 NFL season|1997]] after playing before small Houston crowds in [[1996 NFL season|1996]].

The renamed Tennessee Oilers also played before sparse Memphis crowds, and thus spent the [[1998 NFL season|1998 season]] playing at Nashville's [[Vanderbilt Stadium]]. After the new Adelphia Coliseum (now known as [[Nissan Stadium]]) was completed in 1999, the team's name was changed to Tennessee Titans.<ref>{{cite news |title= Tennessee will have a name of its own |url= http://www.nfl.com/Titans/news/980729name.html |work=[[NFL.com]] |date= July 29, 1998 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20000824043206/http://www.nfl.com/Titans/news/980729name.html |archive-date= August 24, 2000 |access-date= September 8, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Tennessee Titans (NFL Today) |last=Nelson |first=Julie |year=2000 |publisher=[[Creative Education]] |isbn=1-58341-062-7}}</ref> With Tennessee's Super Bowl appearance, every former AFL team had now played in the Super Bowl, including the original eight AFL teams and two AFL expansion teams: the [[list of Miami Dolphins seasons|Miami Dolphins]] and the [[list of Cincinnati Bengals seasons|Cincinnati Bengals]].

The 1999 Titans were led by quarterback [[Steve McNair]] and running back [[Eddie George]]. McNair had missed five games due to injuries during the season, but he was still able to put up solid numbers, throwing for 2,179 yards and 12 touchdowns with 8 interceptions. Despite his injury problems, McNair finished the season as the second-leading rusher on the team with 337 yards and 8 touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steve McNair 1999 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McNaSt00/gamelog/1999/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> When McNair was out with injuries, the team was able to rely on backup QB [[Neil O'Donnell]], who threw for 1,382 yards and 10 touchdowns, with only 5 interceptions. George also had an outstanding season, rushing for 1,304 yards, and catching 47 passes for 458 yards (his receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns were all career highs). In all, George scored a grand total of 13 touchdowns, and was selected to play in the [[Pro Bowl]] for the 3rd consecutive year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eddie George 1999 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GeorEd00/gamelog/1999/ |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 NFL Pro Bowlers |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1999/probowl.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Tennessee Titans: Season to Remember |last1=Fisher |first1=Jeff |last2=Jones |first2=Donn |year=2001 |publisher=Sports & Entertainment Group w/Hambleton-Hill Publishing, Inc. |location=Nashville |isbn=1-58029-109-0}}</ref>

Another contributor on the Titans' offense was fullback [[Lorenzo Neal]], who frequently served as George's lead blocker and was widely considered one of the best blocking backs in the league. The team did not have any outstanding deep threats, but wide receiver [[Yancey Thigpen]] recorded 38 receptions for 648 yards, wide receiver [[Kevin Dyson]] had 54 receptions for 658 yards, and tight end [[Frank Wycheck]] caught 69 passes for 641 yards. Thigpen, however, would not play in the Super Bowl because of a right foot fracture he suffered in the AFC Championship Game.<ref name="Titans Singing Now">{{cite news|title=Titans Singing Now|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2000/01/24/titans-singing-now/|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|date=January 24, 2000|access-date=December 5, 2023}}</ref> Up front, their line was anchored by Pro Bowl tackle [[Bruce Matthews (American football)|Bruce Matthews]].<ref>Fisher (2001) pg. 15–21</ref> On special teams, [[Derrick Mason]] racked up 1,030 combined return yards and a touchdown.

Tennessee's defense was also extremely effective. Pro Bowl defensive end [[Jevon Kearse]] anchored the line, recording 14.5 sacks to go along with 8 forced fumbles and was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year. The linebackers corps was led by [[Eddie Robinson (linebacker)|Eddie Robinson]], who recorded 64 tackles and 6 sacks, while also recovering and forcing 3 fumbles. Their secondary was led by cornerback [[Samari Rolle]], who led the team with 4 interceptions,<ref>Fisher (2001) pg. 17–18</ref> and veteran safety [[Marcus Robertson]], who would miss the game with a broken leg.<ref name="Titans Singing Now"/>

The Titans finished the regular season with a 13–3 record (including a home win over the Rams), but finished second behind the 14–2 [[1999 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]] (who had the best record in the NFL that season) in the [[AFC North|AFC Central]]. The Jaguars' only two losses were to the Titans, but Tennessee's three losses forced them to enter the playoffs as a [[wild card (sports)|wild-card]] team.<ref>Fisher (2001) pg. 7</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1999 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1999/index.htm |access-date=2024-06-17 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

===Playoffs===
{{further|1999–2000 NFL playoffs}}
Playing in his first ever NFL playoff game, Warner threw for 395 yards and 5 touchdowns, with 1 interception, as the Rams defeated the [[1999 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]], 49–37 in St. Louis, by scoring 35 unanswered points in the second half. Bruce caught 4 passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. Faulk gained 101 combined rushing/receiving yards and scored 2 touchdowns. Although Vikings quarterback [[Jeff George]] threw for 423 yards and 4 touchdowns, three of his scores occurred late in the 4th quarter, after the Rams had already put the game away.<ref>Brenner (2000) page 7-8</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Minnesota Vikings at St. Louis Rams - January 16th, 2000 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200001160ram.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

The Rams then narrowly defeated the [[1999 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season|Tampa Bay Buccaneers]], 11–6 at home, in a hard-fought defensive struggle in the [[NFC Championship Game]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Tampa Bay Buccaneers at St. Louis Rams - January 23rd, 2000 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200001230ram.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The first half ended with the Rams leading 5–3 on a [[Jeff Wilkins]] field goal and after a bad snap by the Buccaneers went through their own end zone for a safety. Tampa Bay then scored a field goal in the 3rd quarter to take the lead. But Warner threw a 30-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to receiver [[Ricky Proehl]] with 4:44 left in the game.<ref>Brenner (2000) page 8</ref>

Meanwhile, the Titans started out their postseason by narrowly defeating the [[1999 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]], 22–16 in Nashville, on a famous, trick kickoff return play that became known in NFL lore as the [[Music City Miracle]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wild Card - Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans - January 8th, 2000 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200001080oti.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Tennessee jumped to a 12–0 halftime lead with an [[Al Del Greco]] field goal, a safety by Kearse, and a McNair touchdown run. However, Buffalo came back to take the lead, 13–12 with [[Antowain Smith]]'s two touchdown runs in the second half (the two-point conversion after Smith's second touchdown failed). In the 4th quarter, the Titans regained the lead after Del Greco kicked his second field goal. With 16 seconds left in the game, Bills kicker [[Steve Christie]] made what seemed to be the game-winning 41-yard field goal to give his team the lead, 16–15. However, Neal received the ensuing kickoff and handed the ball off to Wycheck, who then lateraled the ball to Dyson on the other side of the field, who eventually ran 75 yards to the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.<ref>Fisher (2001) pg. 28</ref> The play was reviewed to determine whether Wycheck had lateraled the ball to Dyson or made an illegal forward pass. Referee [[Phil Luckett]] upheld the original call on the field of a touchdown, giving Tennessee the win.

The Titans then defeated the [[1999 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]], 19–16 in Indianapolis.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts - January 16th, 2000 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200001160clt.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> After both teams exchanged field goals in the first half, George scored on a 68-yard touchdown run to give his team a 13–9 lead. Del Greco then kicked two more field goals in the 4th quarter to put the game away. George finished the game with a franchise playoff record 162 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Del Greco made four field goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=football_dynamic&id=174 |title=The Official Website of the Indianapolis Colts |access-date=March 29, 2008 |work=[[Colts.com]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325115257/http://www.colts.com/sub.cfm?page=football_dynamic&id=174 |archive-date=March 25, 2008 }}</ref>

The Titans then eliminated the [[1999 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]], 33–14, in the [[AFC Championship Game]] at Jacksonville.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars - January 23rd, 2000 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200001230jax.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Jaguars finished the 1999 regular season with a league-best 14–2 record, and advanced to the AFC title game after crushing the [[1999 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]] 62–7 and limiting future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame|Hall of Fame]] quarterback [[Dan Marino]] to just 11 of 25 completions for 95 yards and 1 touchdown, with 2 interceptions. However, Tennessee's defense dominated the Jaguars in the AFC Championship Game, forcing 6 turnovers.<ref name="Michael" /> Jacksonville led 14–10 at halftime, but the Titans then scored 23 unanswered points on two touchdown runs by McNair, a safety, and [[Derrick Mason]]'s 80-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Although McNair passed for only 112 yards and one touchdown with one interception, he rushed for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns on 9 carries. George rushed for 86 yards and caught 3 passes for 19 yards.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/2000/playoffs/conf_afc/news/2000/01/23/titans_jaguars_ap/ |title=McNair, Titans rush into Super Bowl with win over Jags |access-date=March 29, 2008 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|publisher=[[CNN]] |date=February 6, 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030202112709/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/nfl/2000/playoffs/conf_afc/news/2000/01/23/titans_jaguars_ap |archive-date=February 2, 2003 }} Unfortunately for the Titans, they lost star Safety [[Marcus Robertson]] to a broken ankle.</ref>