The Buffalo Bills were one of the more dominant teams in the NFL in the early and late 90s. There was no surprise that they found themselves in the playoffs in the 1999 NFL season. It was likely the last run for Bills legends such as Andre Reed, Bruce Smith and Thurman Thomas. This run meant more.

Buffalo earned the fifth seed in the playoffs after going 11-5 during the regular season. Is it the opponent in the first round of the playoffs? The Tennessee Titans, who were known as the Houston Oilers throughout the early 90s. The Oilers found success, typically getting to the playoffs, but could never get past the divisional round. They wanted a Super Bowl appearance.

It’d be a tall task for the Titans, as the Bills owned one of the better defenses in the NFL, but they went 13-3 and weren’t a team ready to give up.

Setting up the Iconic Play

The Titans dominated the first half. Tennessee started the scoring in the second quarter when defensive end Jevon Kearse sacked Bills quaterback Rob Johnson for a safety.

Titans quaterback Steve McNair scored the only touchdown in the first half via a one-yard touchdown run. Tennessee took a 12-0 lead into halftime, controlling the game defensively. Johnson was sacked six times, fumbled three times and threw 131 passing yards.

The second half was a different story. Buffalo stored back.

Bills running back Antowain Smith scored a four-yard touchdown run to get Buffalo in the game. Buffalo scored another touchdown, giving them the lead 13-12 in the fourth quarter.

A Crazy Fourth Quarter

With six minutes remaining, the Titans got the ball back, trying to regain the lead. That’s exactly what they did after kicker Del Greco drilled a 36-yard field goal to take a 15-13 lead late in the fourth quarter.

The Bills needed a response. Johnson struggled all day, but if they were to move on in the playoffs, he needed to step up and make plays.

That’s exactly what he did.

Johnson lost his shoe during a scramble, and with one shoe, he completed a game to Bills receiver Peerless Price, who broke a tackle and got out of bounds in Tennessee territory. Bill’s head coach, Wade Phillips, decided to send out the field goal team with under 20 seconds remaining to try to win the game. Bills kicker Steve Christie had the entire city of Buffalo holding its breath. The ball was snapped, and Christie ran up to make the kick. The ball was off and good. Christie made the 41-yard attempt and gave Buffalo the lead 16-15 with just mere seconds remaining.

Music City Miracle

The return play was named “Home Run Throwback” and was developed by Titans special teams coordinator Alan Lowry. Tennessee practiced it once per week throughout the regular season, but the two main options who would receive the lateral weren’t available. Derrick Mason suffered an injury during the game, and Anthony Dorsett wasn’t available either.

Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson was chosen to execute the play, and head coach Jeff Fisher had to call him over beforehand to explain the play. Bill’s special teams coordinator, Bruce DeHaven, opted for a poach kick, which resulted in the shorter kick on the play.

The ball found Titnas receiver Frank Wycheck’s hand, who knew how to execute the lateral pass. Bills defenders surround Wycheck, who ran up the right side of the field, and as practiced, Wycheck threw the ball back across the field to Dyson. Dyson caught the ball, and you could see the wide-open lane in front of him. He ran 75 yards and into the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown score with three seconds remaining.

The officials reviewed the play and confirmed it. The Titans won the game 22-16, with the play going down in history.

The aftermath

The Titans advanced in the playoffs and eventually reached the Super Bowl. They lost to the St. Louis Rams 23-16, and the run would go down as one of the greatest playoff runs in franchise history.

For the Bills, it would essentially blow up their roster and go on one of the more disappointing runs in franchise history. The team missed the playoffs for the next 17 seasons.