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NASHVILLE - John Lynch's experience in the final game was a microcosm of his entire season. It began with a big hit and ended with numbness.
On the opening series, Lynch's hit on receiver Justin McCareins in the end zone caused tempers to flare on both sides. By the end of the half, Lynch was on the sideline with a shoulder stinger, a recurring injury this season.
Lynch was not penalized for the hit, which replays showed was helmet to helmet. While trainers attended a shaken McCareins, offensive tackle Zach Piller and Lynch exchanged words.
"It's just football," Lynch said. "I was playing free safety. He put his arm up to catch the ball and I hit him. Obviously, you don't like to see someone laying on the ground. I talked to Justin and he's all right and that's a good thing. But that's football. You play this game physically."
The Titans kicked a 37-yard field goal on the next play. On the kickoff, Piller drew a 15-yard personal foul for leveling Jermaine Phillips at the end of the return.
On the Bucs' first possession, a Titans face-mask penalty was offset by a late unnecessary roughness penalty against Bucs receiver Keenan McCardell. Other first-half tensions also could be attributed to Lynch's early hit.
Seeing the escalating tempers, Titans coach Jeff Fisher tried to calm his playoff-bound team.
"John is not a dirty player," Fisher said. "He is a Pro Bowl safety. That was just one of those things. Things started to get a little out of hand. We had a couple of penalties that hurt us as a result, but we settled down. The officials did a good job of keeping things under control."
Late in the half, Lynch left the game after trying to tackle running back Chris Brown. Lynch, who missed two games this season and left several others because of nerve damage in his right shoulder, said he will consult with the Bucs medical staff this week as to the best way to proceed.
Surgery is an option, he said.
PICK PARTY: Brad Johnson was intercepted three times, giving him seven in the past two games and a career-high 21 for the season. He had 15 with the Redskins in 2000.
On the first interception, defensive end Jevon Kearse tipped a waist-high middle screen into the air and made a diving catch. On the second, safety Tank Williams anticipated a slant route by Michael Pittman. On the third, Johnson was hit as he threw.
"I feel bad for what happened on all three of them," Johnson said. "I don't feel bad for the way I read the play. I would have made the same play again on all three of them."
Johnson was replaced early in the third by Shaun King, whose 14-yard pass to Aaron Stecker was the Bucs' only touchdown. It was King's first scoring pass since Dec. 24, 2000.
King was 11 of 15 for 106 yards with one interception. He was sacked twice.
"I planned on playing Shaun a little bit," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said. "Obviously, we hoped the circumstances would have been better. But he has worked hard. He deserved an opportunity to go out and play a little bit. There have been a lot of tight games this season, it's been hard to get him in there. But I think he showed some of the things he's capable of doing."
GIMME THAT: Dwight Smith's first-half interception was his fifth, most for the Bucs this season and a high for Smith's three-year career in his first season as a starter.
"I had a few mistakes throughout the year that hopefully I can iron out and they won't happen next year," said Smith, who began the season at safety but moved to corner in the injury-riddled secondary. "It's time to go back to work."
Smith had four interceptions last season as the nickel corner.
MEASURING UP: Titans running back Eddie George reached two milestones with his 87 rushing yards against the Bucs. He posted 1,000 yards for the seventh season and eclipsed 10,000 for his career.
George, in his eighth year, is the 17th NFL player to reach 10,000 yards rushing..
"Getting close to it, people were telling me I was 5 yards away," George said. "I said, "Please don't tell me, because you tend to get over anxious and you just want to get it over with. ... I'm blessed and honored to be in that group, to play every game in my career and accomplish that goal is something I'm very proud of."
INJURY REPORT: Defensive tackle Anthony McFarland sprained his left ankle in the first quarter and did not return. Defensive tackle Warren Sapp sprained an ankle in the third, but returned.