1999 St. Louis Rams season

The 1999 St. Louis Rams season was the team's 62nd year with the National Football League (NFL) and the fifth season in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams finished the regular-season with a record of 13–3, and defeated the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.

1999 St. Louis Rams season
OwnerGeorgia Frontiere
General managerDick Vermeil
Head coachDick Vermeil
Home fieldTrans World Dome
Local radioKSD–FM 93.7
Results
Record13–3
Division place1st NFC West
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Vikings) 49–37
Won NFC Championship
(vs. Buccaneers) 11–6
Won Super Bowl XXXIV
(vs. Titans) 23–16
Pro BowlersQB Kurt Warner
RB Marshall Faulk
WR Isaac Bruce
T Orlando Pace
DT D'Marco Farr
DE Kevin Carter
CB Todd Lyght
Team MVPMarshall Faulk
Team ROYTorry Holt

It was the team's first playoff appearance in St. Louis, their first since 1989, and their first division title since 1985. The Rams were undefeated at home for the first time since 1973.[1] On the road, the Rams were 5–3.

In the post-season, they defeated the Minnesota Vikings, who had just posted one of the greatest offenses in NFL history the year before, by a score of 49–37 in the NFC Divisional Playoffs and went on to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 11–6 in the NFC Championship Game. These were the first NFL playoff games ever played in St. Louis. The Rams then won their first ever Super Bowl title, defeating the Tennessee Titans by a score of 23–16 in Super Bowl XXXIV. The game was played on January 30, 2000 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. It was also the franchise's first NFL championship since 1951, when the Rams played in Los Angeles. The Rams also became the first “dome-field” (indoor home games) team to win a Super Bowl. It was also the last time that the Rams won the Super Bowl prior to 2021.

It was the first season of the Rams’ “Greatest Show on Turf” offense. The 1999 Rams remain one of only five teams in NFL history to score more than 30 points twelve separate times in a single season.[note 1][2] On defense, the Rams recorded seven interceptions returned for touchdowns, third most in NFL history.[3]

The Rams were the third St. Louis-based pro sports team to win a major championship, joining the, then, nine-time World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball and the 1957–58 St. Louis (now Atlanta) Hawks of the NBA. They would be followed by two more World Series championships by the St. Louis Cardinals and a championship by the St. Louis Blues in the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals which made St. Louis the eighth city to win a championship in each of the four major U.S. sports.

Quarterback Kurt Warner was the MVP in both the regular season and in Super Bowl XXXIV.

It was the final season the Rams wore their 1973–1999 uniforms that had been synonymous with their time in Los Angeles (they brought them back as their home uniform set beginning in 2018 after their return to Los Angeles). This season would start a period of strength for the Rams, as they would post a winning record in all but one season from this year to 2003. The 1999 Rams team ranked #11 on the 100 greatest teams of all time presented by the NFL on its 100th anniversary.[4][5]

Offseason

After a poor showing from the Rams offense in the previous 1998 season, Rams VP John Shaw suggested the Rams hire Mike Martz, and Vermeil and the team agreed. Martz advocated for the Rams to sign quarterback Trent Green from Washington, which the team did. This made Tony Banks expendable, and he was traded to the Ravens, which moved Kurt Warner from third-string to backup quarterback. VP Shaw also acquired Marshall Faulk from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for two draft picks.[6] The team also signed guard Adam Timmerman and linebacker Todd Collins, both of whom became starters.

NFL Draft
Main article: 1999 NFL Draft
1999 St. Louis Rams draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 6 Torry Holt *  Wide receiver NC State
2 41 Dré Bly *  Cornerback North Carolina
3 68 Rich Coady  Safety Texas A&M
4 101 Joe Germaine  Quarterback Ohio State
5 145 Cameron Spikes  Guard Texas A&M
6 176 Lionel Barnes  Defensive end Louisiana–Monroe
7 252 Rodney Williams  Punter Georgia Tech
Und Und James Hodgins  Fullback San Jose State
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[7]

Personnel

Staff
1999 St. Louis Rams staff
Front office
  • Chairman – Georgia Frontiere
  • Vice chairman – Stan Kroenke
  • President – John Shaw
  • Senior vice president – Jay Zygmunt
  • General manager/President of football operations – Dick Vermeil
  • Vice president of football operations – Lynn Stiles
  • Senior vice president of administration – Bob Wallace
  • Director of player personnel – John Becker

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Chris Clausen
  • Strength and conditioning – Dana LeDuc

Final roster
1999 St. Louis Rams final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists
  • 63 John Flannery OG (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 10 Trent Green QB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 94 Gaylon Hyder DT (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 70 Willie Jones T (NF-Inj.Tooltip Non-football injury and illness)
  • 11 Rick Tuten P (IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 5 inactive, 3 practice squad

Preseason

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 7 Oakland Raiders L 17–18 0–1 Trans World Dome Recap
2 August 21 at Chicago Bears L 24–38 0–2 Soldier Field Recap
3 August 28 San Diego Chargers W 24–21 1–2 Trans World Dome Recap
4 September 2 at Detroit Lions W 17–6 2–2 Pontiac Silverdome Recap

Regular season

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 12 Baltimore Ravens W 27–10 1–0 Trans World Dome Recap
2 Bye
3 September 26 Atlanta Falcons W 35–7 2–0 Trans World Dome Recap
4 October 3 at Cincinnati Bengals W 38–10 3–0 Cinergy Field Recap
5 October 10 San Francisco 49ers W 42–20 4–0 Trans World Dome Recap
6 October 17 at Atlanta Falcons W 41–13 5–0 Georgia Dome Recap
7 October 24 Cleveland Browns W 34–3 6–0 Trans World Dome Recap
8 October 31 at Tennessee Titans L 21–24 6–1 Adelphia Coliseum Recap
9 November 7 at Detroit Lions L 27–31 6–2 Pontiac Silverdome Recap
10 November 14 Carolina Panthers W 35–10 7–2 Trans World Dome Recap
11 November 21 at San Francisco 49ers W 23–7 8–2 3Com Park Recap
12 November 28 New Orleans Saints W 43–12 9–2 Trans World Dome Recap
13 December 5 at Carolina Panthers W 34–21 10–2 Ericsson Stadium Recap
14 December 12 at New Orleans Saints W 30–14 11–2 Louisiana Superdome Recap
15 December 19 New York Giants W 31–10 12–2 Trans World Dome Recap
16 December 26 Chicago Bears W 34–12 13–2 Trans World Dome Recap
17 January 2, 2000 at Philadelphia Eagles L 31–38 13–3 Veterans Stadium Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 1: Baltimore Ravens at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ravens 0 3 7010
Rams 3 14 01027

at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

Game information

Quarterback Kurt Warner threw for 309 yards and three touchdowns in his first NFL start. The Rams pass defense notched five sacks and two interceptions against Ravens quarterback Scott Mitchell.

Week 3: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 3: Atlanta Falcons at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 0 707
Rams 7 21 7035

at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

Game information

Kurt Warner was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week, completing 17 of 25 passes for 275 yards, three touchdown passes and also ran for another. Warner threw his first touchdown pass on the first play of the second quarter, hooking up with Torry Holt on a 38-yard strike. After an interception by defensive back Todd Lyght, Warner hit Isaac Bruce with a 46-yard touchdown. Bruce caught three passes for 68 yards. Marshall Faulk broke off with a 58-yard run down to the Falcons' 22-yard line. Three plays later, Warner's 17-yard scoring pass to Faulk gave the Rams a 28–0 lead. Faulk had his first 100-yard game for the Rams with 172 yards from scrimmage. After the Falcons got their only points midway through the third quarter. Warner broke loose for a 5-yard touchdown run as the Rams have their first win against Atlanta since 1996.

Week 4: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 4: St. Louis Rams at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 7 14 14338
Bengals 3 0 0710

at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, Ohio

  • Date: October 3
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 62 °F (16.7 °C) relative humidity 57%, no wind
  • Game attendance: 45,481
  • Referee: Phil Luckett
  • TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Brian Baldinger and Pete Peterson
  • Recap
Game information

With this win the Rams moved to 3–0 in Kurt Warner's first three games as starting quarterback

Week 5: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 5: San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 3 14 3020
Rams 21 7 7742

at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

Game information

The Rams got off to a strong start with Kurt Warner throwing touchdown passes to Isaac Bruce on each of the team’s first three possessions. Isaac Bruce totaled 134 receiving yards and four touchdowns during the game. This game ended the Rams’ 17-game losing streak against the 49ers that began in 1990. It was also the Rams' first home win against the 49ers since 1986, when they were located in Los Angeles.

Week 6: at Atlanta Falcons
Week 6: St. Louis Rams at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 14 14 6741
Falcons 0 10 0313

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: October 17
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 51,973
  • Referee: Ron Blum
  • TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee and Brian Baldinger
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Faulk gained 181 rushing yards, and the Rams defense generated two interceptions and four sacks. The Rams moved to 5–0 with this win over the 1998 NFC champions.

Week 7: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 7: Cleveland Browns at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Browns 3 0 003
Rams 14 7 31034

at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Date: October 24
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 65,866
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson and Brent Jones
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Marshall Faulk ran for 133 yards, and the Rams defense racked up three turnovers. The Rams ran their record to 6–0 against the revived Cleveland franchise.

Week 8: at Tennessee Titans
Week 8: St. Louis Rams at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 0 14721
Titans 21 0 3024

at Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tennessee

Game information

Despite a second half comeback, 21 unanswered first half points by Titans, due in part to two first-quarter fumbles by Kurt Warner in the Rams’ own half that Tennessee converted into touchdowns, enables them to inflict the Rams’ first defeat in a Super Bowl preview. Rams right offensive tackle Fred Miller had a miserable game, committing five false starts and two holding penalties.

Week 9: at Detroit Lions
Week 9: St. Louis Rams at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 2 10 01527
Lions 0 10 111031

at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan

  • Date: November 7
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 73,224
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Matt Millen and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Detroit converted a 4th-and-26 in the fourth quarter on the game-winning touchdown drive.

Week 10: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 10: Carolina Panthers at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 7 3 0010
Rams 14 7 7735

at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Date: November 14
  • Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
  • Game weather: indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 65,965
  • Referee: Phil Luckett
  • TV announcers (Fox): Ray Bentley, Ron Pitts and Pete Peterson
  • Recap
Game information

Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 11: St. Louis Rams at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 3 10 10023
49ers 0 7 007

at 3Com Park, San Francisco, California

Game information

With this win the Rams swept the 49ers for the first time since the 1980 season nineteen years previously.

Week 12: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 12: New Orleans Saints at St. Louis Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 3 9 0012
Rams 7 8 72143

at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

Game information

Week 13: at Carolina Panthers
1 234Total
• Rams 14 7013 34
Panthers 0 777 21
Scoring summary
14:48STLRoland Williams 14 yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 7–0
19:19STLAz-Zahir Hakim 48 yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 14–0
210:33STLAz-Zahir Hakim 49 yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 21–0
214:19CARWesley Walls 15 yard pass from Steve Beuerlein (John Kasay kick)STL 21–7
39:43CARDonald Hayes 36 yard pass from Steve Beuerlein (John Kasay kick)STL 21–14
40:10STLJeff Wilkins 44 yard field goalSTL 24–14
40:29CARPatrick Jeffers 71 yard pass from Steve Beuerlein (John Kasay kick)STL 24–21
45:12STLDre' Bly 53 yard interception return (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 31–21
411:21STLJeff Wilkins 29 yard field goalSTL 34–21

[8]

The Rams won their tenth game and clinched the NFC West Division title for the first time since 1985.

Week 14: at New Orleans Saints
1 234Total
• Rams 7 1733 30
Saints 6 800 14
Scoring summary
14:19NORDoug Brien 29 yard field goalNOR 3–0
19:21STLRobert Holcombe 1 yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 7–3
113:31NORDoug Brien 26 yard field goalSTL 7–6
25:51NORCam Cleeland 2 yard pass from Billy Joe Tolliver (Eddie Kennison pass from Tolliver)NOR 14–7
27:36STLJeff Wilkins 40 yard field goalNOR 14–10
211:32STLMarshall Faulk 4 yard rush (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 17–14
214:09STLMarshall Faulk 30 yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 24–14
35:40STLJeff Wilkins 30 yard field goalSTL 27–14
42:29STLJeff Wilkins 38 yard field goalSTL 30–14

[9]

The Rams pass defense pressured the Saints offense, racking up three interceptions and six sacks. The Rams clinched a first-round bye for the first time under the playoff format adopted in 1990.

Week 15: vs. New York Giants
1 234Total
Giants 0 037 10
• Rams 3 7714 31
Scoring summary
111:36STLJeff Wilkins 47 yard field goalSTL 3–0
21:29STLAz-Zahir Hakim 3 yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 10–0
34:52NYGCary Blanchard 23 yard field goalSTL 10–3
39:35STLDevin Bush 45 yard interception return (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 17–3
41:02STLAz-Zahir Hakim 65 yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 24–3
47:50STLMike Jones 22 yard interception return (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 31–3
410:12NYGIke Hilliard 7 yard pass from Kerry Collins (Cary Blanchard kick)STL 31–10

[10]

With a 12–2 record with two games remaining, the Rams clinched home field advantage for the first time since 1978.

Week 16: vs. Chicago Bears
1 234Total
Bears 0 066 12
• Rams 0 17143 34
Scoring summary
26:24STLMarshall Faulk 48 yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 7–0
212:49STLRoland Williams 2 yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 14–0
214:16STLJeff Wilkins 38 yard field goalSTL 17–0
35:01STLIsaac Bruce 4 yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 24–0
36:52STLGrant Wistrom 40 yard interception return (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 31–0
312:00CHIBobby Engram 8 yard pass from Shane Matthews (pass failed)STL 31–6
43:42CHIBobby Engram 4 yard pass from Shane Matthews (pass failed)STL 31–12
49:55STLJeff Wilkins 28 yard field goalSTL 34–12

[11]

Marshall Faulk racked up 204 receiving yards, in addition to 54 rushing yards on 10 carries. With this victory, the Rams set single-season franchise records for most home wins with 8 and most overall wins with 13 (a record they would break two years later). Additionally, the Rams finished with a perfect home record for the first time since the 1973 season.

Week 17: at Philadelphia Eagles
1 234Total
Rams 7 1077 31
• Eagles 3 14714 38
  • Date: January 2, 2000
  • Location: Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia
  • Game start: 1:02 p.m.
  • Elapsed time: 3:24
  • Game attendance: 60,700
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12.2 °C), humidity 74%, wind 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h; 4.3 kn)
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert (play–by–play), Tim Green (color commentator)
Scoring summary
15:18STLMarshall Faulk 8 yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 7–0
17:33PHIDavid Akers 46 yard field goalSTL 7–3
23:03STLMarshall Faulk 1 yard rush (Jeff Wilkins kick)STL 14–3
24:46PHITorrance Small 63 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (Norm Johnson kick)STL 14–10
28:40STLJeff Wilkins 47 yard field goalSTL 17–10
214:28PHIDuce Staley 3 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (Norm Johnson kick)17–17
32:45PHIMike Mamula 41 yard interception return (Norm Johnson kick)PHI 24–17
35:38STLTorry Holt 15 yard pass from Kurt Warner (Jeff Wilkins kick)24–24
44:05PHIChad Lewis 5 yard pass from Donovan McNabb (Norm Johnson kick)PHI 31–24
413:44PHIAl Harris 17 yard interception return (Norm Johnson kick)PHI 38–24
414:01STLTorry Holt 63 yard pass from Joe Germaine (Jeff Wilkins kick)PHI 38–31

[12]

The Rams traveled to Philadelphia for their season finale against the struggling Eagles. The Rams rested a number of starters for much of the game, having already clinched home-field playoffs. Despite dominating Philadelphia offensively, St. Louis was doomed by a seven-turnover afternoon, with three lost fumbles and four interceptions, two of which were returned for Eagles touchdowns. The Rams lost, 38–31, but nevertheless earned the top seed in the NFC playoffs with a 13–3 record.

Standings
NFC West
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(1) St. Louis Rams 1330.813526242L1
Carolina Panthers 880.500421381W1
Atlanta Falcons 5110.313285380W2
San Francisco 49ers 4120.250295453L3
New Orleans Saints 3130.188260434L1

Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner at the Super Bowl XXXIV post-game press conference

Warner was the backup quarterback for the St. Louis Rams during the 1998 regular season and the 1999 preseason. When starting quarterback Trent Green was injured in a preseason game, Warner took over as the starter. With the support of running back Marshall Faulk and wide receivers Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Az-Zahir Hakim and Ricky Proehl, Warner completed one of the top seasons by a quarterback in NFL history by throwing for 4,353 yards with 41 touchdown passes and a completion rate of 65.1 percent. The Rams' high-powered offense was nicknamed "The Greatest Show on Turf" and registered the first in a string of three consecutive 500-point seasons, an NFL record. Warner threw three touchdown passes in each of the first three games in the 1999 season, his first three NFL starts. He is the only NFL quarterback in history to accomplish that feat, and only the second other than Dan Marino to do it in his first two NFL starts.

Warner really drew attention, however, in the season's fourth game against the San Francisco 49ers, who had been NFC West Division champs for 12 of the previous 13 seasons. The Rams had lost 17 of their previous 18 meetings with the 49ers and had a 3–0 record along with the 49ers’ 3–1 record. Warner threw three touchdown passes on the Rams' first three possessions of the game and four in the first half to propel the Rams to a 28–10 halftime lead on the way to a 42–20 victory. Warner finished the game with five touchdown passes, giving him 14 in four games and, more importantly, the Rams a 4–0 record. After many years of defeats and losing records, football experts finally had to take notice.

Warner's breakout season from a career in anonymity was so unexpected that Sports Illustrated featured him on their October 18 cover with the caption “Who IS this guy?”[13] He was named the 1999 NFL MVP at the season's end.

In the NFL playoffs, Warner led the Rams to a Super Bowl XXXIV victory against the Tennessee Titans. He threw for two touchdowns and a then Super Bowl record 414 passing yards, including a 73-yard touchdown to Isaac Bruce when the game was tied with just over two minutes to play. Warner also set a Super Bowl record by attempting 45 passes without a single interception.

Warner was awarded the 1999 Super Bowl MVP, becoming one of only seven players to win both the league MVP and Super Bowl MVP awards in the same year. The others are Bart Starr in 1966, Terry Bradshaw in 1978, Joe Montana in 1989, Emmitt Smith in 1993, Steve Young in 1994, and Patrick Mahomes in 2023.

Playoffs
Main article: 1999–2000 NFL playoffs
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site Recap
NFC Divisional January 16, 2000 Minnesota Vikings W 49–37 1–0 Trans World Dome Recap
NFC Championship January 23, 2000 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 11–6 2–0 Trans World Dome Recap
Super Bowl XXXIV January 30, 2000 vs. Tennessee Titans W 23–16 3–0 Georgia Dome Recap

NFC Divisional Playoff
St. Louis Rams 49, Minnesota Vikings 37
Period 1 2 34Total
Vikings 3 14 02037
Rams 14 0 211449

at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

As expected, this match between the two high powered offenses produced a lot of points (86), and yards (880, 475 by St. Louis, 405 by Minnesota). But after falling behind 17–14, St. Louis stormed to victory with 35 consecutive second half points to open a 49–17 lead early in the fourth quarter. Warner threw for 391 yards and five touchdown passes to five different receivers, and Bruce accounted for 133 receiving yards. It was also the first NFL Playoff game ever played in St. Louis.

NFC Championship Game
St. Louis Rams 11, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6
Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 3 0 306
Rams 3 2 0611

at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

The Rams and Buccaneers, a rematch of the 1979 NFC Championship game, would slug it out for most of the game, with the Buccaneers defense holding the Rams highly-potent offense in check. Tampa Bay, weak on offense, could only muster 163 passing yards all game against the Rams defense, with the Rams defense notching two interceptions and five sacks. The Buccaneers would only muster two field goals, and gave up a costly safety in the second quarter when a bad snap from center went over the head of rookie quarterback Shaun King and out of the endzone. Despite this, the Buccaneers nursed an unusual 6–5 lead into the 4th Quarter. The Rams broke open a defense dominated game when Kurt Warner threw a touchdown pass to Ricky Proehl, his first and only touchdown catch of the season, with 4:44 left in the game.

The Buccaneers would mount a drive on their final possession, however a replay overturned what appeared to be a 2nd down reception by Buccaneers wide receiver Bert Emanuel which would have set up a short-yardage 3rd down. Emanuel dove for a catch and clasped the ball between two hands, then upon falling, the ball touched the turf while in Emanuel's hands. The ruling on the field was a completed catch, but was overturned on review because the ball had touched the ground before Emanuel was deemed in possession of it. Following this, the Buccaneers threw incomplete passes on 3rd and 4th down and the Rams were able to kneel out the clock.

This was the Rams’ first NFC Championship win since the 1979 season.

Super Bowl XXXIV
Main article: Super Bowl XXXIV
St. Louis Rams 23, Tennessee Titans 16
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 3 6 7723
Titans 0 0 61016

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

The first half of Super Bowl XXXIV had been uncharacteristically low-scoring for St. Louis, as they scored only three Jeff Wilkins field goals in the first half. The Rams finally got into the end zone in the third quarter, with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Warner to Torry Holt, giving St. Louis a 16–0 lead. Tennessee, however, scored 16 unanswered points with two Eddie George touchdown runs (1- and 2-yards respectively, the first with a failed two-point conversion attempt), and a 43-yard Al Del Greco field goal.

On St. Louis’ first play from scrimmage after Tennessee's tying field goal, Warner threw a 73-yard touchdown to Isaac Bruce to take a 23–16 lead with just under two minutes left in the game, which would give Tennessee one more chance to tie the game with a touchdown.

The Titans took over the ball at their own 10-yard line with 1:54 left in the game after committing a holding penalty on the ensuing kickoff. McNair started out the drive with a pair of completions to Mason and Wycheck for gains of 9 and 7 yards to reach the 28-yard line. Then after throwing an incompletion, defensive back Dre' Bly’s 15-yard facemask penalty while tackling McNair on a 12-yard scramble gave the Titans a first down at the St. Louis 45-yard line. On the next play, St. Louis was penalized 5 yards for being offsides, moving the ball to the 40-yard line with 59 seconds left. McNair then ran for 2 yards, followed by a 7-yard completion to wide receiver Kevin Dyson. Three plays later, with the Titans facing 3rd down and 5 to go, McNair was hit by two Rams’ defenders, but he escaped and completed a 16-yard pass to Dyson to gain a first down at the Rams 10-yard line.

Tennessee then used up their final timeout with just 6 seconds left in the game, giving them a chance for one last play. McNair threw a short pass to Kevin Dyson down the middle, which looked certain to tie up the game until Rams linebacker Mike Jones tackled Dyson at the one-yard line as time expired. Dyson tried to stretch his arm and the football across the goal line, but he had already gone down, so it was too late. This final play has gone down in NFL history as simply “The Tackle”.

Team statistics
  • Led NFL in total yards (400.8 yards per game)
  • Led NFL in passing yards (272.1 yards per game)
  • Led NFL in scoring (32.9 points per game)
  • Led NFL in rushing defense (74.3 yards per game)
  • Led NFL (tied with JAX) in sacks (57)

Player awards and records
League Leaders
PassingKurt Warner (109.2 rating)
Passing touchdownsKurt Warner (41 TDs)
Kickoff returnsTony Horne (29.7 average yards)
SacksKevin Carter (17)

Notes
  1. The other five teams are the 2007 and 2011 New England Patriots, plus the 2013 Denver Broncos, and the 2018 Kansas City Chiefs

References
  1. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 267
  2. Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, requiring Points For >= 30, sorted by most games in season matching criteria.
  3. "Bears picking on history". Pro Football Hall of Fame. October 29, 2012. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  4. "NFL Top 100 Teams". Pro Football Reference.
  5. "100 Greatest Teams: Numbers 100-1 SUPERCUT". NFL.com.
  6. “Vermeil changes for better”, Baltimore Sun, January 25, 2000.
  7. "1999 St. Louis Rams draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  8. St. Louis Rams at Carolina Panthers – December 5th, 1999
  9. St. Louis Rams at New Orleans Saints – December 12th, 1999
  10. New York Giants at St. Louis Rams – December 19th, 1999
  11. Chicago Bears at St. Louis Rams – December 26th, 1999
  12. St. Louis Rams at Philadelphia Eagles – January 2nd, 2000
  13. "SI.com – Oct. 18, 1999". Archived from the original on June 12, 2007. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
  14. "Maxwell Football Club - Bert Bell Award Past Recipients". Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved August 3, 2012.
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