By JIM WYATT
The Tennessean

Steelers cornerback Dewayne Washington (20) gets a roughing the kicker call as Titans kicker Joe Nedney (6) misses his field goal in overtime. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - While looking to add an extra piece of motivation leading up to his team's AFC divisional playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessse Titans Coach Jeff Fisher turned off the lights during a meeting at the team hotel Friday night and showed clips from Remember the Titans.

When the lights came back on, there was Herman Boone, the high school coach who was the inspiration for the movie.

"He told us we were going to win because we were Titans," defensive tackle John Thornton said. "He told us the game was going to be close, we were going to trade scores and we were going to win at the end and that is how it happened. It's funny."

But even Hollywood couldn't have scripted the ending of Tennessee's 34-31 overtime victory Saturday over the Steelers. No one would believe it.

Fireworks before the game-winning field goal? A quarterback leading a game-winning drive with a chunk of his thumb missing? The Titans winning despite committing four turnovers and losing several key players to injuries? It all happened, and after the smoke cleared, the Titans had advanced to next week's AFC Championship Game against the winner of Sunday's Raiders-Jets game.

"I've never seen anything like this game," Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse said. "It was the longest 60 minutes of football."

And then overtime started - when the true wackiness began.

After Tennessee won the coin toss, quarterback Steve McNair guided the Titans down the field to the Pittsburgh 13-yard line. Three kicks and a mess of fireworks later, Titans kicker Joe Nedney won the game on a 26-yard field goal.

Nedney's first attempt prompted fireworks after it sailed through uprights, but it didn't count because the Steelers called a timeout. He kicked it again, but missed, only Steelers cornerback Dewayne Washington was called for running into the kicker.

Then came the game-winner for Nedney, who misfired on a 48-yard attempt on the final play of regulation.

"The dream that I had wasn't quite like what happened," said Nedney, who's now a perfect 50 of 50 from 29 yards and in during his 7-year career. "It ended right, but it was crazy."

A wild celebration on the field ensued, as players hugged and swapped high-fives. It was a great reward for McNair, who completed 27 of 44 passes for 338 yards and two touchdowns, and his teammates, who rallied from a 20-14 third quarter deficit after blowing a 14-0 lead. McNair was forced to miss two plays in the fourth quarter after having a chunk of skin ripped off the top of his thumb on his throwing hand.

"Steve said, 'Hey, I'm going to finish this game,' " Fisher said. "That's been the story all year with him."

But while the Titans were celebrating, once again an opponent left the Coliseum feeling like it had been robbed. During the 1999 playoffs, the Buffalo Bills complained that the Music City Miracle started with a forward lateral. This time, it was the Steelers doing the griping.

Many of the Steelers felt the running into the kicker should not have been called, and pointed to several other calls during the course of the game that went against them, including a 64-yard punt return by Antwaan Randle El that was called back because of a penalty.

The Steelers also argued that they tried to call a time out before Nedney's final kick.

"The only thing that matters is the ref took the game from us, plain and simple," Steelers linebacker Joey Porter said. "He should lose his job for that."

Steelers Coach Bill Cowher was just as upset.

"I'm not going to blame anything on this game, we had our opportunities to win this game and we didn't," he said. "We had something taken away from us today, too."

But the Titans are still fighting for things bigger and better - a trip to San Diego. They lost running back Eddie George in the first quarter with a concussion, had several other players leave the field with injuries, and found a way to win when things didn't look so good.

On offense, they used a career game from tight end Frank Wycheck (10 catches, 123 yards) and some big plays down the stretch from receiver Justin McCareins, who had two big catches in the overtime drive.

On defense, they did just enough to hold on, despite allowing Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox to throw for 266 yards and two touchdowns.

And now they're just one win away from the Super Bowl.

"Games like this you fight and claw for every little inch and we fought and clawed for everything we got today," receiver Derrick Mason said.

Boone, an honorary captain who watched the game from the Titans sideline in a leather jacket and cowboy hat, thinks the Titans are a team of destiny - at least that's what he told the team.

Time will tell.

"Destiny?" Mason asked, repeating the last word of a question. "I don't know, but I know I have a bunch of great guys in this locker room, guys that are not going to quit no matter what."

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