Three times was very charming for the 1999 Tennessee Titans

There was a big-time misconception floated out there for years when it came to the National Football League and a team dominating another club. How many times have you heard someone blurt out “it’s hard to beat a team three times in a season?”

Here are the updated numbers. Since the merger in 1970, one team took both regular-season clashes from another team 25 times. On 16 occasions, the winning club completed the sweep. The last time it happened was just two seasons ago, and it occurred twice. The 49ers took three from the Seahawks, and the Eagles did the same to the Giants.

Perhaps there’s no better example of a three-game sweep that epitomized having another team’s number than what the Tennessee Titans accomplished in 1999. It was a campaign which resulted in an appearance in Super Bowl XXXIV. Jeff Fisher’s team fought hard in a 23-16 loss to the then-St. Louis Rams. It was a magical year for the Titans, but reaching the Super Bowl that year had a very unique meaning.

The Titans owned the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1999

Tom Coughlin’s Jacksonville Jaguars first took the field in 1995. By 1999, this expansion franchise was making its fourth consecutive playoff appearance. The team finished an NFL-best 14-2, ranking sixth in the league in scoring, while allowing a league-low 217 points. The offense was loaded with quarterback Mark Brunell, running back Fred Taylor, and wide receivers Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell. Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Boselli anchored the offensive line.

The Jaguars and Titans were members of the six-team AFC Central. Tennessee was no slouch, finishing 13-3 and grabbing a wild card berth that year. Fisher’s team swept Jacksonville during the regular season, winning on the road in Week 3 (20-19) and at Nashville in Week 16 (41-14). While these Jaguars were playoff seasoned, the Titans reached the playoffs for the first time since their days as the Houston Oilers in 1993.

Tennessee and Jacksonville were on a collision course to meet for a third time. Fisher’s club needed the “Music City Miracle” and a road win at Indianapolis to reach the AFC title game. The Jaguars easily disposed of Dan Marino’s and Jimmy Johnson’s Dolphins in the divisional round, 62-7.

Amazingly, the Titans pulled off the hat trick. A 33-14 win at Jacksonville sent the Titans to Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta. Coughlin’s club owned a 14-7 second-quarter lead, but Tennessee responded with 26 unanswered points. Steve McNair ran for 91 yards and two scores, and also threw a TD pass. Derrick Mason returned a kickoff 80 yards for a score after the Titans’ defense sacked Brunell for a safety.

Let’s do the math. The Jaguars were 0-3 vs. Tennessee in ’99, and Fisher’s team doubled them up on the scoreboard (94-47). Coughlin’s club was 15-0 vs. the rest of the NFL that year, outscoring those squads by a 425-163 count.

Truly a remarkable feat by the Super Bowl-bound Titans. Great memories for Tennessee fans as these clubs renew their series on Sunday.