The Tackle

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The Tackle (also known as The Stop) is the nickname given to the final play of Super Bowl XXXIV between the St. Louis Rams and the Tennessee Titans. 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.

Related Topics:
Nickname - Super Bowl XXXIV - St. Louis Rams - Tennessee Titans - Wide receiver - Kevin Dyson - Linebacker - Mike Jones

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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. 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. 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.

Related Topics:
Touchdown - Tight end - Frank Wycheck - Quarterback - Steve McNair

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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 about 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.

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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.

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Although Dyson was able to get the ball into the end zone with one final effort, he had already been ruled down beforehand, and as a result, there was no touchdown. Had Dyson scored and the extra point been made, it would have been the first Super Bowl to ever go into overtime.

Related Topics:
Super Bowl - Overtime

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