View source for Music City Miracle

{{short description|2000 event in American football}}
{{For|2024 college football game also called the "Music City Miracle"|2024 Alabama vs. Vanderbilt football game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox NFL game
| name = Music City Miracle
| image = [[File:LP Field 2009 crop.jpg|250px]]
| caption = [[Nissan Stadium (Nashville)|Adelphia Coliseum]], the site of the game
| visitor = [[1999 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]
| visitor_abbr = BUF
| visitor_coach = [[Wade Phillips]]
| visitor_place = 5
| visitor_record = 11–5
| home = [[1999 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]]
| home_abbr = TEN
| home_coach = [[Jeff Fisher]]
| home_place = 4
| home_record = 13–3
| visitor_qtr1 = 0
| visitor_qtr2 = 0
| visitor_qtr3 = 7
| visitor_qtr4 = 9
| visitor_total = 16
| home_qtr1 = 0
| home_qtr2 = 12
| home_qtr3 = 0
| home_qtr4 = 10
| home_total = 22
| date = January 8, 2000
| stadium = [[Nissan Stadium (Nashville)|Adelphia Coliseum]]
| city = [[Nashville, Tennessee]]
| attendance = 66,782<ref>{{cite web|title=Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans – National Football League Game Summary|url=http://www.nflgsis.com/1999/post/01/909/Gamebook.pdf|publisher=NFL Enterprises, LLC|website=NFLGSIS.com|date=January 8, 2000|access-date=August 2, 2016}}</ref>
| odds =
| referee = [[Phil Luckett]]
| HOFers = '''Bills:''' [[Ralph Wilson]] (owner), [[Bruce Smith (defensive end)|Bruce Smith]], [[Thurman Thomas]], [[Andre Reed]]<br />'''Titans:''' [[Bruce Matthews (American football)|Bruce Matthews]]
| network = [[ESPN Sunday Night Football|ABC]]
| announcers = [[Mike Patrick]], [[Joe Theismann]], and [[Paul Maguire]]
}}

The '''Music City Miracle''' was an [[American football]] play that took place on January 8, 2000, during the [[National Football League]]'s (NFL) [[1999–2000 NFL playoffs|1999–2000 playoffs]]. It occurred at the end of the [[American Football Conference]] (AFC) Wild Card playoff game between the [[1999 Tennessee Titans season|Tennessee Titans]] and [[1999 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] at [[Nissan Stadium (Nashville)|Adelphia Coliseum]] (now Nissan Stadium) in [[Nashville, Tennessee]]. After the Bills had taken a 16–15 lead on a [[field goal]] with 16 seconds remaining in the game, on the ensuing [[kickoff return]], Titans tight end [[Frank Wycheck]] threw a [[lateral pass]] across the field to [[Kevin Dyson]], who then ran 75 yards to score the winning [[touchdown]] to earn a 22–16 victory.

==Background==
{{see also|1999 Tennessee Titans season|1999 Buffalo Bills season}}
The [[1999 Tennessee Titans season]] was the 40th in [[History of the Tennessee Titans|franchise history]] and the first in which they used the name Titans, having previously played as the Oilers. [[Steve McNair]] began the year as the team's starting quarterback. However, after an opening week victory, he was diagnosed with a ruptured disc, and [[Neil O'Donnell]] assumed the starting role.<ref>{{cite news |title=Titans' QB McNair out 6 weeks. Quarterback out for six weeks, having back surgery Sunday |url=https://www.deseret.com/1999/9/19/19466467/titans-qb-mcnair-out-6-weeks-br-quarterback-out-for-six-weeks-having-back-surgery-sunday |website=Deseret News |date=September 19, 1999 |access-date=December 16, 2023}}</ref> O'Donnell led the team to a 4–1 record before McNair returned to finish the season. The team's rushing attack was led by [[Eddie George]], who ran for 1,304 yards and nine touchdowns en route to a [[Pro Bowl]] appearance.<ref name="TitansStats">{{cite web |title=1999 Tennessee Titans Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1999.htm |website=Pro Football Reference}}</ref> The team leader in targets and receptions was tight end [[Frank Wycheck]], while [[Kevin Dyson]] led the team in receiving yards.<ref name="TitansStats"/> Rookie defensive end [[Jevon Kearse]], selected with the 16th pick in the [[1999 NFL draft]], had 14.5 sacks and led the NFL with eight forced fumbles, winning [[National Football League Rookie of the Year Award|Defensive Rookie of the Year]] at season's end.<ref>{{cite web |title=Jevon Kearse |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KearJe00.htm |website=Pro Football Reference}}</ref> The Titans finished 13–3; however, the [[1999 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]] won the [[AFC Central]] with a 14–2 record. Both of the Jaguars' losses came against the Titans.<ref name="Kerr">{{cite web |last=Kerr |first=Jeff |title=NFL playoffs: How 13-win teams like the Saints perform in rare appearances on Wild Card Weekend |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-playoffs-how-13-win-teams-like-the-saints-perform-in-rare-appearances-on-wild-card-weekend/ |work=[[CBS Sports]] |date=January 3, 2020 |access-date=December 17, 2023}}</ref> Given a Wild Card berth in the [[1999–2000 NFL playoffs|1999–2000 playoffs]], the Titans had the best record of any team in NFL history to not win its division.<ref name="Kerr"/>

The Buffalo Bills possessed one the NFL's best defenses in 1999. The unit allowed the fewest yards (252.8) and second fewest points (14.3) per game in the league.<ref>{{cite web|title=1999 NFL Team Defense Statistics|website=The Football Database|url=https://www.footballdb.com/stats/teamstat.html?group=D&cat=T&yr=1999&lg=NFL}}</ref> Running backs [[Jonathan Linton]] and [[Antowain Smith]] shared carries out of the backfield, while wide receiver [[Eric Moulds]] led the team with 994 receiving yards.<ref>{{cite web|title=1999 Buffalo Bills Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees|website=Pro Football Reference|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1999.htm}}</ref> Several veteran players who had been a part of the Bills' [[History of the Buffalo Bills#1990–1993: The Super Bowl years|four straight Super Bowl appearances]] in the early 1990s played minor roles, including [[Andre Reed]], [[Bruce Smith]], and [[Thurman Thomas]]. The Bills finished 11–5, qualifying for the postseason for the eighth time in the decade.

Prior to the teams' Wild Card game, some fans and media members believed that the winner could be a serious contender to represent the AFC in the [[Super Bowl XXXIV|Super Bowl]].<ref name="dunne">{{cite news|author=Dunne, Tyler|title=Fifteen Years Later, the 'Miracle' Lingers On for Bills|url=http://buffalonews.com/2015/10/10/fifteen-years-later-the-miracle-lingers-on-for-bills/|work=The Buffalo News|date=October 10, 2015}}</ref>

===Rob Johnson–Doug Flutie controversy===
Going into the game, Bills head coach [[Wade Phillips]] created a stir by starting quarterback [[Rob Johnson (American football)|Rob Johnson]], rather than [[Doug Flutie]]. Johnson and Flutie had competed for the starting job since the [[1998 Buffalo Bills season|1998 season]], with Flutie compiling a better record in regular season competition during 1998 and 1999.<ref name="h027">{{cite web | last=Talbot | first=Ryan | title=Rob Johnson still bitter about losing Buffalo Bills QB job to Doug Flutie | website=newyorkupstate | date=2017-08-10 | url=https://www.newyorkupstate.com/buffalo-bills/2017/08/rob_johnson_still_seems_upset_about_losing_buffalo_bills_qb_job_to_doug_flutie.html | access-date=2024-12-07}}</ref>

Flutie started the first 15 games of the [[1999 Buffalo Bills season|1999 season]], winning 10. With the Bills' playoff seed assured, Phillips rested Flutie in the final regular season contest. Johnson performed well in Flutie's absence, completing 75% of his passes and throwing for 287 yards and two touchdowns in a dominant victory over the [[1999 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]], who had won their previous 11 games.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bills end Colts' 11-game win streak|website=ESPN|via=Associated Press|date=January 2, 2000|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/1999/20000102/recap/indbuf.html|access-date=December 16, 2023}}</ref> Phillips subsequently named Johnson the starter for the Bills' first round playoff game. Titans head coach [[Jeff Fisher]] said that the decision left him "a little surprised" given that Flutie had been the Bills' starter for the majority of the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bills bench Flutie for Johnson|website=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs99/wild/s/2000/0103/266963.html|access-date=December 16, 2023}}</ref> Years later, Phillips wrote that the decision to start Johnson came at the urging of Bills owner [[Ralph Wilson]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Matt|last=Warren|title=Wade Phillips' reasoning for starting Rob Johnson over Doug Flutie is stupid|date=May 27, 2017|website=SB Nation|url=https://www.buffalorumblings.com/2017/5/27/15685890/wade-phillips-starting-quarterback-battle-rob-johnson-doug-flutie-controversy-ralph-wilson|access-date=December 16, 2023}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2023}}

===Previous playoff meeting===
The previous playoff game between the two teams had occurred in 1993, when the Titans were known as the [[Houston Oilers]]. Held at [[Rich Stadium]] in Buffalo, the game became known as [[The Comeback (American football)|The Comeback]] after the Bills rallied from a 35–3 deficit to win 41–38 in overtime.<ref name="Seminara">{{cite news |last=Seminara |first=Dave |title=The Greatest Rally, or the Biggest Fade? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/sports/football/bills-oilers-game-in-1993-is-greatest-comeback-that-ever-was-and-was-not.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 1, 2013 |access-date=December 16, 2023}}</ref> At the time, this was the largest comeback in NFL history.<ref name="Seminara"/>

==Game summary==

{{Americanfootballbox
|titlestyle=text-align:center; {{NFLPrimaryStyle|Tennessee Titans}};
|state=autocollapse
|title=1999–2000 Wild Card Playoff: Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans
|date=January 8, 2000
|time=11:30 a.m. CST
|road=Bills
|R1=0|R2=0|R3=7|R4=9
|home='''Titans'''
|H1=0|H2=12|H3=0|H4=10
|stadium=[[Nissan Stadium (Nashville)|Adelphia Coliseum]], [[Nashville, Tennessee]]
|attendance=66,782
|weather=40°F (4°C), Sunny
|referee=[[Phil Luckett]]
|TV=[[ESPN Sunday Night Football|ABC]]
|TVAnnouncers=[[Mike Patrick]], [[Joe Theismann]], and [[Paul Maguire]]
|reference= [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200001080oti.htm Boxscore]
|scoring=
;Second quarter
*TEN: Safety, [[Jevon Kearse]] sacked [[Rob Johnson (American football)|Rob Johnson]] in end zone
*TEN: [[Steve McNair]] 1 yard run ([[Al Del Greco]] kick)
*TEN: Del Greco 40 yard FG
;Third quarter
*BUF: [[Antowain Smith]] 4 yard run ([[Steve Christie]] kick)
;Fourth quarter
*BUF: Smith 1 yard run (pass failed)
*TEN: Del Greco 36 yard FG
*BUF: Christie 41 yard FG
*TEN: [[Kevin Dyson]] 75 yard kickoff return (Del Greco kick) <!-- this is the technically correct way to report the play; the lateral need not be mentioned, since Wycheck didn't advance the ball. -->
|stats=
;Top passers
*BUF – [[Rob Johnson (American football)|Rob Johnson]] – 10/22, 131 YDS, 0 TD, 0 INT
*TEN – [[Steve McNair]] – 13/24, 76 YDS, 0 TD, 1 INT
;Top rushers
*BUF – [[Antowain Smith]] – 14 CAR, 79 YDS, 2 TD
*TEN – [[Eddie George]] – 29 CAR, 106 YDS
;Top receivers
*BUF – [[Peerless Price]] – 5 REC, 62 YDS
*TEN – [[Frank Wycheck]] – 4 REC, 29 YDS
}}

===First half===
The Titans opened the scoring in the second quarter when [[Jevon Kearse]] sacked Buffalo quarterback [[Rob Johnson (American football)|Rob Johnson]] in the end zone for a safety.<ref name="ESPNrecap">{{cite web|title=Titans stun Bills in miracle finish|via=Associated Press|date=January 8, 2000|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/1999/20000108/recap/buften.html|access-date=January 13, 2023}}</ref> Johnson struggled against the Titans' defense throughout the game, completing just 10 of 22 passes while being sacked six times, twice by Kearse.<ref name="ESPNrecap"/><ref name="BoxScore">{{cite web|title=Wild Card - Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Titans - January 8th, 2000|website=Pro Football Reference|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200001080oti.htm}}</ref> Tennessee wide receiver [[Derrick Mason]] returned the free kick after the safety 42 yards to the Bills' 28-yard line; Titans quarterback [[Steve McNair]] scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to culminate the drive.<ref name="ESPNrecap"/><ref name="BoxScore"/> After their defense forced a punt, the Titans drove 56 yards in 11 plays.<ref name="BoxScore"/> Kicker [[Al Del Greco]] initially missed a 45-yard field goal attempt, but the Bills were penalized for defensive holding on the play and Del Greco's second attempt was good from 40 yards.<ref name="ESPNrecap"/> The field goal gave the Titans a 12–0 lead at halftime, the Bills having only gained 64 yards of offense while surrendering 44 yards on penalties.<ref name="ESPNrecap"/>

===Second half===
In the second half, the Bills rallied. On Buffalo's first play of the third quarter, [[Antowain Smith]] broke off a 44-yard run, sparking a 62-yard drive that ended with his 4-yard touchdown run.<ref name="ESPNrecap"/><ref name="BoxScore"/> Later in the quarter, [[Antoine Winfield Sr.]] intercepted a pass near midfield, but the Bills were unable to capitalize on the good field position, their subsequent drive resulting in a [[three-and-out]].<ref name="BoxScore"/> Following a Tennessee punt, the Bills received possession with 41 seconds remaining in the third quarter.<ref name="BoxScore"/> They drove 65 yards, including a 37-yard completion from Johnson to [[Eric Moulds]] and aided by a [[Red zone (gridiron football)|red zone]] roughing the passer penalty on Kearse.<ref name="ESPNrecap"/><ref name="BoxScore"/> Smith finished the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, giving the Bills a 13–12 lead after a failed two-point conversion attempt.<ref name="ESPNrecap"/><ref name="BoxScore"/> The teams then traded punts in what had become a low-scoring, defensive game. The Bills managed 219 total yards on offense during the contest, while the Titans were limited to just 194,<ref name="BoxScore"/> most of which were gained by running back [[Eddie George]], who accounted for 106 yards on 29 rushing attempts and another four yards on two receptions.<ref name="ESPNrecap"/>

Tennessee received possession with 6:15 remaining in the game. Titans receiver [[Isaac Byrd]]'s 16-yard punt return gave the Titans good field position at the Bills' 45-yard line.<ref name="ESPNrecap"/> On the second play of the drive, the Titans got a break when a McNair pass bounced off of linebacker [[John Holecek]]'s elbow and into the hands of [[Frank Wycheck]] for a completion.<ref name="ESPNrecap"/> The drive culminated in a 36-yard field goal by Del Greco, giving the Titans a 15–13 lead with 1:48 left in the game.<ref name="ESPNrecap"/> The ensuing Buffalo drive began at the Bills' 39-yard line after a 33-yard kickoff return by [[Kevin Williams (wide receiver, born 1971)|Kevin Williams]].<ref name="BoxScore"/> Johnson began the drive with a completion to rookie wide receiver [[Peerless Price]] for 14 yards and a first down.<ref name="BoxScore"/> After an incomplete pass, a 12-yard run by [[Jonathan Linton]] gave the Bills a first down on the Titans' 35-yard line with under a minute to play. On the next play from scrimmage, Johnson lost a shoe in a scramble, and with the clock running, he had no time to put it back on. With only one shoe, Johnson rolled out and completed a pass to Price, who broke a tackle and got out of bounds at the 24-yard line with 20 seconds left. After this play, Wade Phillips sent out the field goal unit for a 41-yard attempt. Bills kicker [[Steve Christie]], who had made the deciding field goal in overtime to cap the Bills' comeback win in the previous playoff meeting between the teams, converted the try. The Bills led 16–15 with 16 seconds remaining.<ref name="ESPNrecap"/><ref name="BoxScore"/>

===The play===
[[File:Music city miracle lateral.png|thumb|right|[[Kevin Dyson]] receiving the lateral pass]]
The kickoff return play was named "Home Run Throwback" by the Titans and was developed by special teams coordinator [[Alan Lowry]]. He had learned the play in 1982 as a member of the [[Dallas Cowboys]] coaching staff, watching [[1982 SMU Mustangs football team|SMU]] execute a similar kickoff return to score the winning touchdown in the final seconds of its game at [[1982 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team|Texas Tech]].<ref name="Wyatt">{{cite news|first=Jim|last=Wyatt|title=15 years later, Music City Miracle's legend keeps growing|newspaper=The Tennessean|date=January 8, 2015|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2015/01/07/titans-music-city-miracle-alan-lowry-frank-wycheck-kevin-dyson-lorenzo-neal/21341609/|access-date=January 20, 2023}}</ref> The Titans had practiced the play once a week during the regular season.<ref name="Wyatt"/> The practices usually involved starting kick returner Derrick Mason; however, he had suffered an injury earlier in the playoff game and was unavailable for the final seconds.<ref name="Wyatt"/><ref name="Davenport">{{cite news|first=Turron|last=Davenport|title=Music City Miracle turns 20: How it happened, where the players are now|website=ESPN|date=January 8, 2020|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28441088/music-city-miracle-turns-20-how-happened-where-players-now|access-date=January 20, 2023}}</ref> The second option for the play, [[Anthony Dorsett]], was also unavailable for the play due to cramps.<ref name="Wyatt"/><ref name="Davenport"/> As a result, the Titans put in Isaac Byrd as their main option to retrieve the lateral pass, with [[Kevin Dyson]] trailing behind him.<ref name="Davenport"/> As one of the team's leading wide receivers, Dyson rarely practiced with the special teams unit and was unfamiliar with the layout of the play. As a result, head coach [[Jeff Fisher]] called him over before the play and gave him a brief summary of what to expect.<ref name="Wyatt"/><ref name="Davenport"/>

After observing Frank Wycheck playing a throwing game during downtime at practice, Titans offensive coordinator [[Les Steckel]] had designed an option pass play with Wycheck in mind. The Titans ran that play against the [[1999 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]] during the 1999 regular season, and Wycheck threw a 61-yard touchdown pass. After the success of this play, Lowry assigned Wycheck to throw the lateral on Home Run Throwback.

Meanwhile, because the Bills defense had accumulated a large number of injuries, their coaches asked for volunteers to cover the kickoff. As a result, numerous defensive starters, who were inexperienced on special teams, were in the game on the play. Initially, the Bills planned on kicking the ball deep, but special teams coordinator [[Bruce DeHaven]] suggested that the Bills attempt a pooch kick, in which the ball is kicked higher and shorter than a regular kickoff to limit the opportunity for a runback.

[[Steve Christie]] executed the pooch, and the kick was fielded by [[Lorenzo Neal]]. Neal handed the ball backwards to Wycheck.<ref name="Wyatt"/><ref name="Davenport"/> Bills defenders converged on Wycheck on the right side of the field, breaking their running lanes in the process. As devised, Wycheck threw the ball across the field to Dyson. As Dyson caught the ball, the momentum of the play abruptly shifted to the left, catching every Bills defender except Christie out of position. Dyson thus had an open path in front of him and ran 75 yards into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown with three seconds remaining.<ref name="Wyatt"/><ref name="Davenport"/>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center
|width=100%
|align=center
|quote=Dyson and Byrd are deep. Taken by Neal. He gets it to Wycheck, Wycheck – that looked like a forward pass! Taken by Dyson. Dyson's down the sideline – Dyson's going to go all the way! And there is no flag! 
|source=[[Mike Patrick]] on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s TV broadcast<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoE0VLUz00o "Music City Miracle": 1999 AFC Wild Card Playoffs, Bills vs. Titans (NFL Full Game)] National Football League on YouTube</ref>
}}
{{col-break}}
{{Quote box |quoted=true |bgcolor=#FFFFF0 |salign=center
|width=100%
|align=center
|quote=Do the Titans have a miracle left in them in what has been a magical season to this point? If they do, they need it now. Christie kicks it high and short. Gonna be fielded by Lorenzo Neal at the 25, pitches it back to Wycheck, he throws it across the field to Dyson...(Color commentator [[Pat Ryan (American football)|Pat Ryan]]: "He's got something, he's got something...") 30, 40, 50, 40...(Ryan: "He's got it, he's got it, he's got it!") 20, 10, 5 – end zone! Touchdown Titans! There are no flags on the field! It's a miracle! Tennessee has pulled a miracle! A miracle for the Titans!
|source=[[Mike Keith (sportscaster)|Mike Keith]] on the [[Titans Radio Network]] broadcast<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuHffewDHpk ''NFL Top 10'' Playoff Finishes – #3: The Music City Miracle] NFL Films on YouTube</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ6IKj_eUK0 NFL Films Game of the Week: 1999 AFC Wild Card Playoffs, Bills vs. Titans] YouTube (originally broadcast by NFL Films)</ref>
}}
{{col-end}}

The play was reviewed by replay officials in order to determine whether Wycheck's throw had been a lateral, as had been called by referee [[Phil Luckett]]'s crew.<ref name="ESPNrecap"/> If the pass had gone forwards, the Titans would have been [[illegal forward pass|penalized]] at the spot of the throw and the touchdown would not have counted. Luckett upheld the call on the field, and the touchdown stood. Buffalo was unable to score on the Titans' subsequent kickoff, and the game ended in a 22–16 Tennessee victory.<ref name="BoxScore"/>

Upon crossing midfield, Dyson later said he considered going out of bounds in field goal range, as all the Titans needed was a field goal to win the game. However, upon seeing that the only player with a chance at tackling him was Christie, who was being blocked by two players, Dyson simply kept going into the end zone.<ref name="dunne"/>

== Officials ==
*'''Referee:''' [[Phil Luckett]] (#59)
*'''Umpire:''' Bob Wagner (#100)
*'''Head linesman:''' [[Mark Hittner]] (#28)
*'''Line judge:''' [[Byron Boston]] (#18)
*'''Field judge:''' [[Al Jury]] (#106)
*'''Side judge:''' Tommy Moore (#60)
*'''Back judge:''' Kirk Dornan (#6)

==Aftermath==

===Immediate===
The victory advanced the Titans to the AFC Divisional Round for the first time since [[1993 Houston Oilers season|1993]], when they were based in [[History of the Houston Oilers|Houston]]. Subsequent victories over the [[1999 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]] and the [[1999 Jacksonville Jaguars season|Jacksonville Jaguars]] sent the Titans to [[Super Bowl XXXIV]] to face the [[1999 St. Louis Rams season|St. Louis Rams]]. The Titans lost the Super Bowl in a close game that came down to the final play,<ref name="Walker">{{cite web|first=Teresa M.|last=Walker|title=NFL At 100: Miracle sent Bills, Titans opposite directions|website=Associated Press|date=October 1, 2019|url=https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-buffalo-bills-nfl-indianapolis-colts-nfl-at-100-b4f7a8cd367f4e3ea4bc9c4667723c52|access-date=April 22, 2024}}</ref> known as "[[Final play of Super Bowl XXXIV|One Yard Short]]" or "The Tackle".

The Bills fired special teams coordinator [[Bruce DeHaven]], who had been with the team for 13 seasons.<ref>{{cite web |author=Wilson, Allen |title=San Jose St. coach to handle Bills' special teams |url=http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20000121/1018556.htm |work=Buffalo News |date=January 21, 2000 |archivedate=March 2, 2000 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20000302003411/http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20000121/1018556.htm |accessdate=December 27, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> DeHaven was subsequently hired by the [[San Francisco 49ers]] and was eventually rehired by the Bills for three seasons beginning in [[2010 Buffalo Bills season|2010]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Bruce DeHaven|publisher=Carolina Panthers|url=https://www.panthers.com/team/coaches/bruce-dehaven/2a1f560f-f30e-4eb1-91ab-d7f60a5b46c3|access-date=April 22, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161210175226/http://www.panthers.com/team/coaches/bruce-dehaven/2a1f560f-f30e-4eb1-91ab-d7f60a5b46c3|archive-date=December 10, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> DeHaven's replacement in 2000, [[Ronnie Jones (American football)|Ronnie Jones]], was criticized for his performance by team owner [[Ralph Wilson]].<ref name="RonnieJones">{{cite web|title=Phillips refused to fire special teams coach|website=ESPN|date=January 9, 2001|url=https://a.espncdn.com/nfl/news/2001/0107/1001185.html|access-date=March 11, 2024}}</ref> Despite the ninth best offense and third best defense in the league, the [[2000 Buffalo Bills season|2000 Bills]] finished 8–8 and missed the playoffs.{{efn|The Bills' record included a 16–13 win over the [[2000 Tennessee Titans season|Titans]] in the first week of the season.}} Wilson demanded that Jones be fired as a result. When head coach [[Wade Phillips]] refused to do so, Wilson fired both Jones and Phillips.<ref name="RonnieJones"/> Phillips was succeeded by Titans defensive coordinator [[Gregg Williams]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Titans' defensive coordinator gets post|website=ESPN|via=Associated Press|date=February 5, 2001|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/2001/0131/1054160.html|access-date=March 11, 2024}}</ref>

===Long-term effect on the Bills===
The Music City Miracle was the last game in a Bills uniform for the remaining key members of the team's 1990s Super Bowl runs. [[Andre Reed]], [[Bruce Smith]], and [[Thurman Thomas]] were all released by the team in the offseason;<ref name="Walker"/> all three would eventually be inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].

Starting in 2000, the Bills missed the playoffs in 17 consecutive seasons, a streak that was the longest active playoff drought in [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|major American sports]] when it ended.<ref name="Walker"/><ref name="Benjamin">{{cite news|first=Cody|last=Benjamin|title=Bills' playoff berth snaps longest postseason drought in pro American sports|website=CBS Sports|date=January 1, 2018|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bills-playoff-berth-snaps-longest-postseason-drought-in-pro-american-sports/|access-date=April 23, 2024}}</ref> The streak eventually came to be known as "the Curse of [[Doug Flutie]]" under the assumption that Wade Phillips had cursed the Bills by benching Flutie before the Music City Miracle game.<ref>{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Salfino|title=The Curse of Doug Flutie Haunts the Buffalo Bills|website=Wall Street Journal|date=December 22, 2015|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-curse-of-doug-flutie-haunts-the-buffalo-bills-1450830876|access-date=April 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Filip|last=Bondy|title=The Curse Needs a New Home. Snow or Surf?|website=The New York Times|date=November 5, 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/06/sports/the-curse-needs-a-new-home-snow-or-surf.html|access-date=April 22, 2024}}</ref> The Curse of Flutie moniker was also applied to subsequent failures, particularly at the quarterback position, of teams that employed Phillips.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ta-Nehisi|last=Coates|author-link=Ta-Nehisi Coates|title=The Curse of Doug Flutie|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2008/12/the-curse-of-doug-flutie/6396/|website=The Atlantic|date=December 9, 2008|access-date=April 22, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first=Kerry|last=Byrne|title=The Curse of Flutie strikes again with injury to Texans' Schaub|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=November 16, 2011|url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2011/11/16/wade-phillips|access-date=April 22, 2024}}</ref> Ralph Wilson died on March 25, 2014, and the team was subsequently sold by his estate to [[Terry Pegula|Terry]] and [[Kim Pegula]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Pegulas' purchase of Bills officially approved by NFL owners|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=October 8, 2014|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/2014/10/08/buffalo-bills-sale-approved-terry-pegula-ralph-wilson#|access-date=April 23, 2024}}</ref> Buffalo's playoff drought ended during the [[2017 Buffalo Bills season|2017 season]], three years after the Pegulas assumed ownership of the franchise.<ref name="Benjamin"/>{{efn|The Bills' first playoff win after the Music City Miracle did not occur until January 9, 2021, following the [[2020 Buffalo Bills season|2020 season]].<ref>{{cite news|first=John|last=Wawrow|title=Bills beat Colts 27-24 for 1st playoff win in 25 years|website=Associated Press|date=January 9, 2021|url=https://apnews.com/article/nfl-football-josh-allen-micah-hyde-dawson-knox-edf88462d6a8e89586ef11fd12e7128e|access-date=April 23, 2024}}</ref>}} Notably, the Bills, needing and receiving additional help to clinch their playoff spot, won their final game of the season 22-16 over the [[2017 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]], which was coincidentally the same final score as the Music City Miracle.<ref name="Walker"/>

The Music City Miracle became one of a series of infamous moments in Buffalo sports history, including "[[Wide Right (Buffalo Bills)|Wide Right]]", [[1999 Stanley Cup Finals#Hull's series-ending goal|No Goal]]", and "[[13 Seconds]]". Bills fans generally refuse to call the game or the play by their standard name, instead referring to them as "The Immaculate Deception" or by other names that imply that [[Frank Wycheck]]'s lateral travelled forwards.<ref name="Walker"/> In his 2017 autobiography ''Son of Bum'', Wade Phillips called the play "The Music City Mistake".<ref>{{cite web|title=Wade Phillips kicked officiating crew out of Bills' facility over Music City Miracle|website=Pro Football Talk|date=June 4, 2017|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/wade-phillips-kicked-officiating-crew-out-of-bills-facility-over-music-city-miracle|access-date=April 23, 2024}}</ref>

===Legacy===
In 2004, [[NFL Films]] hired a computer analyst to determine whether or not the call on the field of a backward lateral was correct. The analyst determined that the ball indeed had not travelled forward and that the referee's call was correct.<ref>{{cite episode|title=Tennessee vs. Buffalo, 1/8/00|series=[[NFL Films Game of the Week]]|publisher=[[NFL Network]]|airdate=2004<!--According to the copyright notice on the episode.-->|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ6IKj_eUK0}}</ref>

During the NFL's [[2019 NFL season|centennial season]] in 2019, the Bills–Titans matchup in Week 5 was designated as one of 16 weekly games commemorating notable events in NFL history, namely the Music City Miracle.<ref name="historicrivals">{{Cite web |last=Teope |first=Herbie |date=April 17, 2019 |title=League reveals slate for NFL100 Game of the Week |url=https://www.nfl.com/news/league-reveals-slate-for-nfl100-game-of-the-week-0ap3000001026789 |access-date=August 26, 2019 |website=NFL.com}}</ref> In that game, the Titans were denied a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter after it was determined that quarterback [[Marcus Mariota]] had crossed the line of scrimmage prior to making a forward pass to the end zone. The Bills went on to win 14–7.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.niagara-gazette.com/sports/sullivan-bills-titans-come-full-circle-years-after-throwback/article_b3165dae-e88d-11e9-9c54-3750f014ed6a.html |title=Sullivan: Bills, Titans come full circle, 20 years after throwback |last=Sullivan |first=Jerry |date=October 6, 2019 |website=Niagara Gazette}}</ref>

During their win over the Bills in {{nfly|2021}}, the Titans attempted a lateral play during a first quarter punt return. After corralling the punt, Titans returner [[Chester Rogers]] threw the ball to teammate [[Chris Jackson (defensive back)|Chris Jackson]], who advanced the ball 22 yards before being tackled. However, the play was nullified by an [[illegal forward pass]] penalty, as Rogers' lateral had advanced five yards downfield.<ref>{{cite web |last=Tsujimoto |first=Ben |date=October 18, 2021 |title=Titans try repeat of Home Run Throwback against Bills, but this time it's ruled illegal |url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/titans-try-repeat-of-home-run-throwback-against-bills-but-this-time-its-ruled-illegal/article_46d3eefe-307a-11ec-bc1f-83ce96b41051.html |access-date=October 28, 2021 |website=The Buffalo News}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[The Play (American football)]]
*[[2007 Trinity vs. Millsaps football game]] 
*[[River City Relay]]
*[[Miracle in Miami]]
*[[List of nicknamed NFL games and plays]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Tennessee Titans}}
{{Buffalo Bills}}
{{NFL on ABC}}

[[Category:Tennessee Titans postseason]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bills postseason]]
[[Category:1999 NFL season]]
[[Category:NFL playoff games]]
[[Category:NFL plays]]
[[Category:2000 in sports in Tennessee]]
[[Category:21st century in Nashville, Tennessee]]
[[Category:NFL controversies]]
[[Category:January 2000 sports events in the United States]]
[[Category:Nicknamed sporting events]]