ATLANTA, Jan. 30 – Two teams that practically no one thought would be here when the season began produced one of the most memorable finishes in Super Bowl history. The St. Louis Rams survived by the narrowest of margins, holding on to beat the Tennessee Titans, 23-16, when linebacker Mike Jones tackled wide receiver Kevin Dyson inches shy of the goal line and a tying touchdown as time expired. It was an evening of football theater at its best. The Titans overcame a 16-point, third-quarter deficit to tie the game with just over two minutes remaining. But the Rams reclaimed the lead with 1 minute 54 seconds left on a 73-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kurt Warner to wide receiver Isaac Bruce. "We knew it would be tough," said Rams Coach Dick Vermeil, who got his first Super Bowl victory 19 years after he made his first Super Bowl coaching appearance with the Philadelphia Eagles. "World championship games are supposed to be tough, hard-fought football games, and I think we showed America what the Super Bowl is supposed to be about." A game filled with passion and drama played before a crowd of 72,625 at the Georgia Dome will be remembered for its final play. Said Titans Coach Jeff Fisher: "We made our minds up at halftime we were going to win the game. We came within six inches of getting it done." Tennessee was at the Rams 10-yard line with six seconds to go, and quarterback Steve McNair fired a completion to Dyson. But Jones made the tackle at the 1, and Dyson's attempt to reach out and get the ball over the goal line failed to set off a jubilant on-field celebration by the Rams. "You dream of making an interception or fumble recovery or sack, not necessarily making a tackle to win the game," Jones said. "I was in position to make a play, and fortunately I made it. I knew I was at the 2- or 3-yard line, and the only way he could get in was if I missed the tackle." Dyson said: "He just made a great play. I thought I was going to get in there. I didn't think he had a good grip on me, and I stretched out, but I was just short." | 
