In this famous image, Kevin Dyson tries to extend the ball into the end zone as Mike Jones brings him down.

The final play of Super Bowl XXXIV (also known as The Tackle^[1][2] and One Yard Short^[3][4]) happened in a game played between the St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans on January 30, 2000. Super Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference (NFC champion St The St Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville Tennessee. ^[5] It resulted in Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson being tackled by Rams linebacker Mike Jones at the one-yard line, preserving a 23-16 Rams victory. In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time Kevin Tyree Dyson (born June 23, 1975 in Logan, Utah) is a former American football Wide receiver of the National In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time Michael Anthony Jones (born April 15, 1969, in Kansas City, Missouri) is a former American football Linebacker in ^[6][7]

Legacy

Given the pressure of the Super Bowl and the wild game that preceded it, the Tackle is considered one of the greatest and most exciting game-ending plays in modern National Football League history, and the image of Dyson stretching the ball towards the goal line with Jones wrapped around him has become a staple of NFL highlights. The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. ESPN. com ranked The Tackle as the 35th greatest moment of the past 25 years in sports (as of 2007)^[8] and the second-greatest moment in Super Bowl history. ^[9] Fox Sports ranked The Tackle as the Greatest Clutch Play in Super Bowl History (as of 2007). Many consider Super Bowl XXXIV to be the greatest super bowl ever, and the tackle as the greatest Super Bowl ending ever. ^[10]

Going into the Super Bowl, the Rams' defense, including Jones, was a powerful and stout unit, overshadowed by the team's high-powered offense, known as The Greatest Show On Turf. The Greatest Show on Turf was the Nickname for the offense fielded by the St ^[11]

Play

The Titans had just used their final timeout with six seconds remaining. With no more timeouts remaining and the ball on the Rams' 10 yard line, the Titans, trailing by a touchdown, had one last chance to try to tie the game. A touchdown is the primary method of scoring in American and Canadian football. The plan was to use Titans tight end Frank Wycheck, who would be running straight up the field on the right side, to lure Jones away from Dyson, who would slant left through the middle of the field. The tight end ( TE) is a position in American football on the Offensive team. Francis John Wycheck (born October 14, 1971 in Philadelphia Pennsylvania) is a former American football Tight end in the NFL With Jones occupying Wycheck, quarterback Steve McNair would pass the ball to Dyson, who would be open from about five yards out for the score. Quarterback ( QB) is a position in American and Canadian football. Steve LaTreal McNair (born February 14, 1973) nicknamed Air McNair, is a former American football Quarterback in the National

As the play started, everything appeared to be going as was planned. Jones ran with Wycheck up the field from the beginning of the play. However, as the pass was being delivered to Dyson, Jones, who was at the goal line, glanced over his left shoulder and noticed an open Dyson catching the ball. He switched directions and began to run towards the Titans receiver. Dyson ran directly toward the goal, but his legs were wrapped up by Jones with about two and a half yards left to the goal line.

Since he was being tackled by the legs, there was still the possibility Dyson could reach towards the end zone and get the ball above the goal line. Both players went into a rolling motion of sorts as Dyson—his back in the air but nearly touching the ground, as his legs were on top of Jones—outstretched his hand with the football towards the goal line in the hopes of scoring the touchdown. Though his reach was close, and the ball mere inches away from the end zone, it was still not enough to score. As the rolling motion came to an end, with Jones now on top of Dyson's legs, his shoulder had touched the ground and, therefore, the game was over. Had Dyson scored and the extra point been made, it would have been the first Super Bowl to ever go into overtime. professional American football, the Super Bowl is the Championship game of the National Football League (NFL Overtime is an additional period of play specified under the rules of a Sport in order to bring the game to a decision and avoid declaring the contest a tie or draw However, if the Titans had made a two-point conversion if the TD was made, then the Titans would have won 24-23, which would have made Super Bowl XXXIV the second Super Bowl to have a one-point margin of victory (the first being Super Bowl XXV, which also aired on ABC). Super Bowl XXV was an American football game played on January 27 1991 at Tampa Stadium in Tampa Florida to decide the National Football League

The call

ABC Sports broadcaster Al Michaels made the following call as the play happened:

• "It is caught by Dyson. Alan Richard Michaels (born November 12, 1944) is an American Television Sportscaster. Can he get in? No, he cannot! Mike Jones made the tackle. . . and the Rams have won the Super Bowl!"

The St. Louis Rams radio announcer, Mike Bush, after seconds of St. Louis celebrating, said this:

• "St. Louis, the Gateway to the West, is now the gateway to the BEST. . . football team in the world!"

Westwood One/CBS Radio Sports broadcaster Howard David, during the national radio broadcast of the game:

• "Shotgun for McNair. Westwood One ( is an American Radio network. It is based in New York City, and it was previously managed by CBS Radio, the Radio Westwood One ( is an American Radio network. It is based in New York City, and it was previously managed by CBS Radio, the Radio Howard David is a veteran American sportscaster Biography Over the years David has been the radio Play-by-play man for several pro sports teams including . . takes the snap, looks to the right, throws. . . and it's complete the Titan at the one yard line and he's stopped short! The clock strikes triple zero. Kevin Dyson caught the ball and Mike Jones made the tackle at the one yard line to preserve a win for the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV. "

See also

• National Football League lore

External links

• Video of the play

References