NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The officials gave Tennessee one final chance at the end zone, and the Titans knew they would put the ball back into the hands of quarterback Steve McNair.

        So did the Baltimore Ravens.

        This time, the Ravens stopped McNair short of the goal line with no time left Monday night, preserving a 16-10 victory that will rank among the wackiest finishes ever.

        “We knew that's the only thing they wanted to do,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said. “They weren't going to put the ball in someone else's hands. If you watch film on them, you know that they run quarterback sneaks an awful lot.”

        McNair thought he had scored the winning touchdown on just such a sneak minutes earlier on a hurried play with the clock ticking down. Officials signaled a touchdown, but confusion then reigned over an offsides penalty.

        Officials talked with each other, then Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher and Baltimore coach Brian Billick.

        Finally, referee Bernie Kukar said the offsides penalty had been a dead-ball foul, moved the ball about a foot from the goal line and gave the Titans one last play.

        According to NFL Director of Officiating Mike Pereira:

        “During the last two minutes of a half, once the ball has been respotted for the succeeding down ... the umpire, upon signal from the referee, is to step away from the ball. At this point, a snap may be made.

        “If the ball is snapped before all members of the defensive team have taken their proper position on the line of scrimmage, play is to be stopped immediately, and that team penalized five yards for offside.”

        Then came McNair's second sneak. He had nothing up the middle.

        “Who wouldn't sneak it on the 1-yard line?” Baltimore linebacker Jamie Sharper said. “Our big dogs up front, Goose (Tony Siragusa) and Sam (Adams) blew up the middle, and he couldn't get any push.” Then he tried to come around the outside, and me and Corey (Harris) smacked him.”

        The Ravens started sprinting toward the locker room, a few bottles and cups flew onto the field and Titans receiver Derrick Mason threw his helmet down and kicked a pylon.

        The Titans could have thrown the ball, but Fisher said he thought McNair would find a way to score.

        Said Titans coach Jeff Fisher: “We thought we'd jam it in, and the game was going to be over.”

        The Titans (3-5) find themselves in danger of missing the playoffs.

        • McNair will wear a cast on his throwing hand for at least a day after aggravating an injury. Doctors found an apparent hairline break in McNair's thumb, which he originally hurt last season. McNair couldn't hold a ball Tuesday.

        He had the flu the past couple of days and was given fluids intravenously at halftime Monday.

        Also, tight end Frank Wycheck sprained an ankle Monday and his status for Sunday's game against the Bengals is uncertain.

        • The mother of Titans running back Eddie George was released from jail early Tuesday in Nashville after being charged with driving under the influence and child endangerment involving George's 4-year-old son.

        Donna Jean George, 50, of St. Louis was released on $10,000 bond.

        “The events of last night that involved my son and mom are truly unfortunate,” Eddie George said Tuesday. “I regard this as a personal and family matter that my mom and I will work through.”

        A police affidavit said the 50-year-old woman was pulled over in downtown Nashville shortly before the Titans' Monday night game with Baltimore at Adelphia Coliseum.

        Titans coach Jeff Fisher did not tell George about his mother until after the team's 16-10 loss.

        BRONCOS:

        Running back Terrell Davis was recovering on Tuesday from arthroscopic knee surgery and is expected to be sidelined 10 days. He had surgery Monday to repair cartilage in his left knee, the team said.

        DOLPHINS:

        Receiver O.J. McDuffie and tight end Alonzo Mayes will return to practice Wednesday after being taken off Miami's reserve/physically unable to perform list.

RADEL: Take the battle to Bengals Bengals Q&A with Mark Curnutte Sidelines could be used to patch field Dugans is making his role special Bengals 2002 preseason schedule announced Cowher apologizes for run-in with Browns' Fuller NFL notebook

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