The Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Frank Wycheck doesn't track his stats. He simply catches passes. But when Derrick Mason took over as Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair's favorite target, people noticed and started asking Wycheck what was wrong.

Coach Jeff Fisher kept promising that the Titans hadn't forgotten about the 10-year veteran. Still, Wycheck couldn't help but wonder if he was too old for the NFL.

"I just wasn't getting a lot of opportunities, and sometimes you sit back and question yourself," the 31-year-old Wycheck said. "Am I doing things right? Am I too old? Can I do this anymore? And sometimes it plays with your confidence."

Wycheck answered all the questions - and his own doubts - by turning in the best day of his career in the Titans' 34-31 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend.

He caught 10 passes for 123 yards with a touchdown, helping the Titans reach Sunday's AFC championship game against the Oakland Raiders.

Wycheck is 12 catches shy of becoming only the fourth tight end in NFL history with 500 in a career, joining Shannon Sharpe and Hall of Fame members Ozzie Newsome and Kellen Winslow.

"He's been very patient this year and gone about his job," Fisher said.

Wycheck led the franchise in receptions for five straight seasons from 1996-00. Even though Mason led the Titans in 2001 with 73 catches, Wycheck still had 60 for 672 yards.

But Wycheck's numbers dropped to 40 catches for 346 yards in 2002, his worst season statistically since 1995, his first with the Houston Oilers and McNair's rookie year.

In November, Wycheck got a concussion against the Houston Texans and sat out against Pittsburgh the next week, ending his streak of consecutive games at 121.

But his stars already were down. Wycheck went through four games with just one reception each and two games in December without a single catch. He was shut out on Dec. 16 by New England, ending a stretch of 99 straight games with at least a catch.

"It's been a frustrating year for me statistically, but I attribute that to the offense and the way guys stepped up all around Steve, and he's got a lot more places to go with the ball," Wycheck said.

The Titans do have their best receiving corps since McNair became a starter in 1997.

"I don't think Frank will ever be forgotten. He's always going to be a part of our game plan," McNair said. "That's the price of being a great tight end."

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