Steve McNair succeeded more times than not against "New Browns"

As many of you have probably heard, former Houston Oilers/ Tennesee Titans and Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl quarterback Steve McNair was found dead in a Nashville condominium this past Saturday, July 4.

Police said that McNair suffered “two fatal gunshot wounds to the head” and “multiple bullet wounds to the chest.” A second body was found next to McNair, who was identified as Sahel Kazemi, who was reportedly lying under a gun believed to be the weapon.

Kazemi was believed to be McNair’s girlfriend, whom he had reportedly been dating for the past couple months. Police concluded that it was a murder-suicide and are talking with acquaintances of both victims.

When the Browns returned to the NFL in 1999 as an expansion team, they were placed in the AFC Central Division. The Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans were led by McNair and the two teams met twice a season from 1999-2001.

In 2002, the former home of the Titans, Houston, were awarded a new franchise, the Texans. The Titans were then placed in the AFC South Division. The Browns were moved to the AFC North Divison.

The Browns went three years without playing the Titans until a 2005 meeting. McNair then went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens during 2006 and 2007 before announcing his retirement following ’07.

As a tribute to the fallen former co-league MVP, I will highlight McNair’s performances against the “New Browns” as both a Tennessee Titan and Baltimore Raven.

1999 Season

Week Two: McNair did not play in the Titans’ victory due to an inflamed disc following a win over the Bengals in Week One. McNair would need surgery to repair the disc, while backup Neil O’Donnell led the Titans to a 4-1 record over the next five weeks. The Titans won the first meeting against the Browns, 26-9.

Week 12: The Browns and Titans met again where McNair and running back Eddie George rushed for three touchdowns, leading Tennessee to 33-21 win. In that game, McNair went 18-36, for 179 yards to go along with 7 rushes for 45 yards and a rushing touchdown. His 1-yard rushing touchdown put the Titans up for good, 20-14 in the third quarter.

2000 Season

Week 12: McNair struggled in this game, but received some help from George, who rushed for three touchdowns in a 24-10 win over Doug Pederson and the Browns. McNair threw four interceptions on 25 passes for 204 yards. He also gained 51 yards on the ground on eight carries.

Week 16: On this day, mother nature and the snow slowed down McNair, but not George. The former Heisman Trophy winner at Ohio State rushed 34 times for 176 yards and three scores, leading his team to a 24-0 shutout on the shores of Lake Erie. McNair completed just 10 passes on 18 attempts for 79 yards and an interception.

2001 Season

Week 12: McNair had one of his best games in his battles against the Browns, throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns.

Wide receiver Derrick Mason caught two of those touchdowns, one for 43 yards and the other for 71. Wide receiver Drew Bennett also hauled in a 5-yard touchdown from the former Alcorn State product. The Titans went on to win this game, 31-15.

Week 16: Browns quarterback Tim Couch stole the spotlight in this game, digging his team out of a 14-point hole in the fourth quarter to win 41-38. Couch completed 20 passes for 336 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. McNair went 16 of 25 for 274 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 34 yards on five carries.

2002 Season (First season in new divisional alignment)

Week Three:  Couch again outperformed McNair in this match up, defeating Tennessee 31-28 in overtime. Couch threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns, while McNair threw for 107 yards and two touchdowns.

2005 Season

Week Nine:  In what would be McNair’s final season in Tennessee, the former third overall pick in the 1995 draft came up short against the Browns for the third straight time.

McNair saw Trent Dilfer throw for 272 yards and a touchdown to lead the Browns to a 20-14 victory. McNair attempted a comeback on the last drive of the game but was intercepted by Brodney Pool. McNair’s final numbers were 18 of 41, for 235 yards, with a touchdown pass and an interception.

2006 Season

Week Three: McNair’s first game against the Browns in a new uniform was a successful one. He threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Todd Heap that helped dig the Ravens out of a 14-3 deficit in the fourth quarter.

McNair then led the Ravens down the field two more times for Matt Stover field goals, the last one giving Baltimore a 15-14 lead. The Ravens won the game by the same score and McNair gave his team a 3-0 start to the season. McNair finished the game completing 23 passes for 264 yards and a touchdown.

Week 15: The Ravens came into this game at 10-3 and needed a win and a Bengals loss to clinch their first playoff appearance since 2003. McNair attempted just four passes before leaving the game with an injury to his throwing hand.

His backup, Kyle Boller, came in and threw for 238 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Ravens to victory, 27-17.  McNair would come back the next week to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-7, throwing for 256 yards and three touchdowns.

2007 Season

Week Four: Baltimore came into Cleveland with a 2-1 record and an opportunity to separate themselves even more from the 1-2 Browns. However, ex-Ravens Derek Anderson and Jamal Lewis had other ideas.

McNair completed 34 passes on 53 attempts for 307 yards and a touchdown. The 34 completions and 53 pass attempts were both career highs, but McNair struggled in red-zone situations.

He went 4 of 8 for 28 yards inside the 20-yard line against a Cleveland defense that had allowed a league worst 11 touchdown passes. The loss was the Ravens’ third in their last four trips to Cleveland.

Week 11: McNair did not play in the final meeting between the two teams due to season-ending surgery on his left shoulder. He also battled a groin injury which he sustained on the second play of the season.

The Ravens lost the game, 33-30 in overtime after kicker Phil Dawson’s controversial field goal in the fourth quarter was overturned by the officials. The Ravens finished 2007 with a record of 5-11 and McNair announced his retirement following the end of the season.

McNair played in 10 games against the “New Browns.” His record in seven seasons versus the Browns was 6-4 (4-3 with Titans, 2-1 with Ravens). His career statistics against the Browns are as follows:

162 completions on 283 attempts (57%)

1,893 passing yards

10 TD, 7 INT, rush TD

Steve McNair should go down as one of the most influential quarterbacks in the history of the NFL. He, along with Warren Moon and Randall Cunningham, paved the way for African-American quarterbacks today such as Donovan McNabb, Daunte Culpepper, JaMarcus Russell, David Garrard, and Michael Vick.

McNair set a Super Bowl record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 64 yards on eight carries. On the final drive of that memorable Super Bowl against the St. Louis Rams, he eluded a number of defenders and completed a 16-yard strike to receiver Kevin Dyson that kept the Titans’ hopes alive.

Tennessee came up a yard short from tying the game, but McNair’s scramble to get the ball to Dyson epitomized the type of player that he was.

He sacrificed his body for his team and could beat opposing defenses with his arm and his feet. His loss will affect many who loved him and played with him during his 13-year career. He is one of three quarterbacks to throw for 30,000 yards and rush for 3,500 yards (Fran Tarkenton and Steve Young). Many will remember him for his accomplishments on the gridiron, while others will remember him for the controversy that will surround him in this murder case.