02-08-2025
Titans' best moments: When Vince Young led fourth-quarter comeback over Giants
We are not here to bully Mathias Kiwanuka.
The best-played quarter in the history of Tennessee Titans football came on Nov. 26, 2006 against the New York Giants. Maybe not the most important or the most significant. But pure best? No question.
It's where we find No. 7 on The Tennessean's list of Tennessee Titans' best moments.
Some background: Eli Manning and the Giants led 21-0 at the start of the fourth quarter. After a Giants turnover-on-downs and a Titans punt, cornerback Adam 'Pacman' Jones intercepted Manning to get the Titans rolling.
Quarterback Vince Young leads a nine-play, 46-yard touchdown drive. The defense forces a three-and-out. Jones chunks a long punt return. Young runs in another touchdown. The defense forces another punt.
And… now we kind of have to bully Mathias Kiwanuka.
For those who don't remember, Kiwanuka was a darn good football player. A two-time All-American at Boston College. A two-time Super Bowl winner with the Giants. Logged 38.5 career sacks.
But here, well, let's just say he should've had 39.5 career sacks.
Fourth-and-10 and 2:45 left.
Titans backed up at their own 24-yard line. Young is buying time in the pocket. Kiwanuka spins out of tackle Michael Roos' grasp and right into Young's waist. He wraps Young up as cleanly as anyone's ever wrapped anyone up. Textbook. Game over…
…if Kiwanuka finishes the tackle. Instead he just… kinda… lets Young go?
More: Tennessee Titans fans shouldn't fret — yet — about Cam Ward's growing pains | Estes
Young scrambles around some more, pump fakes, builds speed and ends up maneuvering 19 yards upfield for the first down.
Then came a 20-yard gain. Then a 16-yard gain. Then a 14-yard TD to tie the score. Then Jones picks off Manning again. Two more Young completions. A 49-yard Rob Bironas field goal. The Titans win, 24-21, in regulation.
Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@ Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans' best moments: Vince Young leads win over New York Giants
