2002 Tennessee Titans season
Encyclopedia
The 2002
Tennessee Titans
season was the 43rd season the team was with the league
. The team improved upon their previous season
's output of 7–9, managing eleven victories. The Titans qualified for the playoffs, but were unable to reach the Super Bowl, instead losing to the Oakland Raiders
in the AFC Conference Championship.
For the third time in their history the Titans opened a football season in a different football division, this time in the debut Sunday of the AFC South
after their AFL
era in the league's Eastern division and then spending 32 seasons in the AFC Central. The Eagles, defending NFC East
champs, gave up a 14-yard Steve McNair
touchdown to Eddie George
, but then behind three Donovan McNabb
touchdown throws they raced to a 24–10 halftime lead. The Titans then shut down the Eagles offense as McNair and George helped score 17 unanswered Titans points, finishing up a 27–24 Titans win.
For only the second time since leaving Houston, the former Houston Oilers flew to Texas for football. The Cowboys were hosting the ex-Oilers a week after losing to Houston's present-day NFL squad
, but fell behind 10–7 at the half. The game turned against the Titans in the third quarter as Dexter Coakley
picked off McNair and ran back 52 yards for a touchdown; McNair later knocked himself out of the game when he ran to the sidelines and crashed into an equipment storage wagon, suffering a concussion. Quincy Carter
connected with Joey Galloway
from 38 yards out and wrapped up a 21–13 Cowboys win.
This game marked the first time the Titans played against a former division foe from the old AFC Central, the Cleveland Browns
. Tim Couch
opened up the scoring on a 14-yard throw to Andre Davis
in the first quarter. Eddie George
and McNair answered with a pair of touchdowns, then Andre Dyson
picked off Couch and ran the ball back 16 yards for a 21–7 halftime lead. Dennis Northcutt
ran back a punt 74 yards for a Cleveland score in the third quarter, and in the fourth a McNair score to Kevin Dyson
was answered by two Couch touchdowns, forcing overtime, and Phil Dawson
finished it off from 33 yards out and a 31–28 Browns win.
The 0–6 Bengals blew a chance to win late amid a 30–24 Titans lead when, at the Titans goal line, Corey Dillon
tripped over Matt O'Dwyer
and fell a yard short of a touchdown. The gaffe wiped out a 138-yard day by Dillon and the now-3-4 Titans had gathered momentum to finish out the season.
The Titans made their first trip to Indianapolis since winning in the 1999 playoffs and raced to a 23–0 lead. The Colts fumbled in the second quarter and Keith Bulluck
ran back a 61-yard touchdown. Steve McNair
threw only 19 times with 14 completions for 92 yards and one touchdown, while Peyton Manning
had to throw for 327 yards for two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Still, he was unable to lead a comeback, and the Titans won by a final score of 23-15.
Present Titans quarterback Steve McNair
played despite missing practice due to injuries incurred throughout the season, and matched up against the man who would eventually captain the Titans under center, Kerry Collins
. The 6–5 Giants took a 10–7 lead after a Collins score to Dan Campbell
, while McNair grabbed the Titans a 14–10 halftime lead on two touchdown throws. A second Collins touchdown (to Ron Dixon
) was followed by an exchange of field goals, a missed Joe Nedney
FG try, a Tiki Barber
rushing score marred by a missed two-point try, and McNair touchdown throw to Frank Wycheck
and McNair two-point run with seven seconds left in regulation. In overtime the Titans clawed downfield and Nedney finished it off after five minutes on a 38-yard field goal and a 32–29 Titans win.
The former Oilers returned to Houston for the first time since 1996, and a game of field goals ended in a four-yard Eddie George touchdown run, his first in Houston since a six-yard touchdown against Jacksonville
in December 1996 at the Astrodome. The win wrapped up Tennessee's first division title in two years and first in the AFC South
.
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
season was the 43rd season the team was with the league
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. The team improved upon their previous season
2001 Tennessee Titans season
The 2001 Tennessee Titans season was the Titans' 42nd season and their 32nd in the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Staff:-Schedule:-Standings:-References:* *...
's output of 7–9, managing eleven victories. The Titans qualified for the playoffs, but were unable to reach the Super Bowl, instead losing to the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the AFC Conference Championship.
Staff
| 2002 Tennessee Titans staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
|
|||||
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 8, 2002 | Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 27–24 | |
| 2 | September 15, 2002 | at Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
L 21–13 | |
| 3 | September 22, 2002 | Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 31–28 | |
| 4 | September 29, 2002 | at Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 52–25 | |
| 5 | October 6, 2002 | Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
L 31–14 | |
| 6 | October 13, 2002 | Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 23–14 | |
| 7 | Bye | |||
| 8 | October 27, 2002 | at Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
W 30–24 | |
| 9 | November 3, 2002 | at Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
W 23–15 | |
| 10 | November 10, 2002 | Houston Texans Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 17–10 | |
| 11 | November 17, 2002 | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
W 31–23 | |
| 12 | November 24, 2002 | at Baltimore Ravens Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his... |
L 13–12 | |
| 13 | December 1, 2002 | at New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 32–29 | |
| 14 | December 8, 2002 | Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
W 27–17 | |
| 15 | December 16, 2002 | New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... |
W 24–7 | |
| 16 | December 22, 2002 | at Jacksonville Jaguars Jacksonville Jaguars The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 28–10 | |
| 17 | December 29, 2002 | at Houston Texans Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 13–3 | |
Notable Games
- September 8 vs. Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia EaglesThe Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
For the third time in their history the Titans opened a football season in a different football division, this time in the debut Sunday of the AFC South
AFC South
The AFC South is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. It was created before the 2002 season when the league realigned divisions after expanding to 32 teams...
after their AFL
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
era in the league's Eastern division and then spending 32 seasons in the AFC Central. The Eagles, defending NFC East
NFC East
The NFC East is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins....
champs, gave up a 14-yard Steve McNair
Steve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
touchdown to Eddie George
Eddie George
Edward Nathan "Eddie" George, Jr. is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He played for the Tennessee Titans both in Tennessee and in Houston when the franchise was known as the Houston Oilers, and spent his final season with the Dallas Cowboys...
, but then behind three Donovan McNabb
Donovan McNabb
Donovan Jamal McNabb is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was the Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback from 1999 to 2009 and spent the 2010 season with the Washington Redskins and a portion of the 2011 season with the Minnesota Vikings. In college, McNabb played...
touchdown throws they raced to a 24–10 halftime lead. The Titans then shut down the Eagles offense as McNair and George helped score 17 unanswered Titans points, finishing up a 27–24 Titans win.
- September 15 @ Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
For only the second time since leaving Houston, the former Houston Oilers flew to Texas for football. The Cowboys were hosting the ex-Oilers a week after losing to Houston's present-day NFL squad
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, but fell behind 10–7 at the half. The game turned against the Titans in the third quarter as Dexter Coakley
Dexter Coakley
William Dexter Coakley is a former American football linebacker who played 10 seasons in the National Football League. He was a third round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1997 NFL Draft, out of Division I-AA school Appalachian State...
picked off McNair and ran back 52 yards for a touchdown; McNair later knocked himself out of the game when he ran to the sidelines and crashed into an equipment storage wagon, suffering a concussion. Quincy Carter
Quincy Carter
Lavonya Quintelle "Quincy" Carter is a former American football quarterback. He was drafted in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys...
connected with Joey Galloway
Joey Galloway
Joseph Scott Galloway is an American football wide receiver. He most recently played for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks eighth overall in the 1995 NFL Draft...
from 38 yards out and wrapped up a 21–13 Cowboys win.
- September 22 vs. Cleveland BrownsCleveland BrownsThe Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
This game marked the first time the Titans played against a former division foe from the old AFC Central, the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Tim Couch
Tim Couch
Timothy Scott "Tim" Couch is a former American football quarterback. He played college football at the University of Kentucky...
opened up the scoring on a 14-yard throw to Andre Davis
André Davis
André N. Davis is a American football wide receiver and kick returner who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
in the first quarter. Eddie George
Eddie George
Edward Nathan "Eddie" George, Jr. is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He played for the Tennessee Titans both in Tennessee and in Houston when the franchise was known as the Houston Oilers, and spent his final season with the Dallas Cowboys...
and McNair answered with a pair of touchdowns, then Andre Dyson
Andre Dyson
Andre Dyson is a former American football cornerback. He was originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Utah. Currently, he coaches cornerbacks at Weber State, in Ogden, Utah.He is the younger brother of former NFL wide...
picked off Couch and ran the ball back 16 yards for a 21–7 halftime lead. Dennis Northcutt
Dennis Northcutt
Dennis LaMont Northcutt is an American football wide receiver and punt returner who last played for the Detroit Lions...
ran back a punt 74 yards for a Cleveland score in the third quarter, and in the fourth a McNair score to Kevin Dyson
Kevin Dyson
Kevin Tyree Dyson is a former American football wide receiver of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Tennessee Oilers 16th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Utah....
was answered by two Couch touchdowns, forcing overtime, and Phil Dawson
Phil Dawson
Philip Drury Dawson is an American football placekicker for the Cleveland Browns in the National Football League. He holds the franchise record for most field goals made, passing Hall of Famer Lou Groza in 2010...
finished it off from 33 yards out and a 31–28 Browns win.
- October 27 @ Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
The 0–6 Bengals blew a chance to win late amid a 30–24 Titans lead when, at the Titans goal line, Corey Dillon
Corey Dillon
Corey James Dillon is a former American football running back. He played his ten-season career for the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots, wearing jersey number 28 for both teams. Dillon played college football the University of Washington where he wore the number 4.-High school...
tripped over Matt O'Dwyer
Matt O'Dwyer
Matt O'Dwyer is a former American football player who played in the National Football League from 1995 to 2005. A 6-foot-4, 315-pound lineman out of Northwestern University, O'Dwyer played for the New York Jets , the Cincinnati Bengals , and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers...
and fell a yard short of a touchdown. The gaffe wiped out a 138-yard day by Dillon and the now-3-4 Titans had gathered momentum to finish out the season.
- November 3, 2002 @ Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
The Titans made their first trip to Indianapolis since winning in the 1999 playoffs and raced to a 23–0 lead. The Colts fumbled in the second quarter and Keith Bulluck
Keith Bulluck
Keith J. Bulluck is an American Football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was drafted 30th overall by the Tennessee Titans in the 2000 NFL Draft. He played college football at Syracuse....
ran back a 61-yard touchdown. Steve McNair
Steve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
threw only 19 times with 14 completions for 92 yards and one touchdown, while Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
had to throw for 327 yards for two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Still, he was unable to lead a comeback, and the Titans won by a final score of 23-15.
- December 1 @ New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
Present Titans quarterback Steve McNair
Steve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
played despite missing practice due to injuries incurred throughout the season, and matched up against the man who would eventually captain the Titans under center, Kerry Collins
Kerry Collins
Kerry Michael Collins is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers with the fifth overall pick of the 1995 NFL Draft, the first choice in the franchise's history...
. The 6–5 Giants took a 10–7 lead after a Collins score to Dan Campbell
Dan Campbell
Daniel Allen Campbell is a former American football tight end and currently a tight ends coach for the Miami Dolphins. He played tight end for four teams in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the third round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at...
, while McNair grabbed the Titans a 14–10 halftime lead on two touchdown throws. A second Collins touchdown (to Ron Dixon
Ron Dixon
Ronald Dixon is a former American football wide receiver for the New York Giants in the National Football League. His most notable performance was his 97 yard kick return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXXV. Dixon's return was the only score for the Giants as they went on to lose to the Baltimore...
) was followed by an exchange of field goals, a missed Joe Nedney
Joe Nedney
Joseph Thomas Nedney is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. Born and raised in San Jose, California, Nedney played college football at San Jose State and signed as an undrafted player with the Miami Dolphins in 1996...
FG try, a Tiki Barber
Tiki Barber
Atiim Kiambu Hakeem-Ah "Tiki" Barber is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia....
rushing score marred by a missed two-point try, and McNair touchdown throw to Frank Wycheck
Frank Wycheck
Frank John Wycheck is a former American football tight end in the National Football League. Wycheck attended Archbishop Ryan High School in Northeast Philadelphia. Drafted in sixth round of the 1993 NFL Draft out of the University of Maryland by the Washington Redskins...
and McNair two-point run with seven seconds left in regulation. In overtime the Titans clawed downfield and Nedney finished it off after five minutes on a 38-yard field goal and a 32–29 Titans win.
- December 29 @ Houston TexansHouston TexansThe Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
The former Oilers returned to Houston for the first time since 1996, and a game of field goals ended in a four-yard Eddie George touchdown run, his first in Houston since a six-yard touchdown against Jacksonville
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in December 1996 at the Astrodome. The win wrapped up Tennessee's first division title in two years and first in the AFC South
AFC South
The AFC South is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. It was created before the 2002 season when the league realigned divisions after expanding to 32 teams...
.
Playoffs
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | January 11, 2003 | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
W 34–31 | |
| Conference Championship | January 19, 2003 | at Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 41–24 | |