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By RICK STROUD, TIMES WIRES
© St. Petersburg Times, published January 30, 2000
The Rams are the third team to win their division and go to the Super Bowl one season after finishing last in the division. Cincinnati did it twice, in 1981 and '88.
This is the second meeting of the season between the Rams and Titans. On Oct. 31 in Nashville, Tennessee took a 21-0 first-quarter lead and held on for a 24-21 win. The Titans marched down the field for a touchdown on their first drive, then took advantage of two Kurt Warner fumbles for two more scores.
The Titans are the sixth team to advance to the Super Bowl after making the playoffs as a wild-card entry. Only two wild-card teams have won the Super Bowl, Oakland in XV and Denver in XXXII. The Titans also are the last of the original AFL teams to make it to Super Bowl.
Look for some team to have a fast start. In the regular season, the Titans outscored opponents 113-44 in the first quarter. That's the second-highest total in the league this season to -- you guessed it -- the Rams' 123 points.
Rams coach Dick Vermeil is the fourth coach to lead two different teams to the Super Bowl (Eagles, 1980). Dan Reeves (Broncos and Falcons), Bill Parcells (Giants and Patriots) and Don Shula (Colts and Dolphins) are the other three.
The Titans led the NFL with 24 fumble recoveries and their plus-18 turnover differential was second in league. The Rams were plus-5.