Before Steve McNair left the podium Sunday afternoon, a reporter asked the Titans quarterback if he thought he had just played his final game at the Coliseum.

McNair paused, smiled and said he hoped not.

So do we.

McNair's Sunday performance in the loss to Seattle left you wanting more. McNair left the 40,000 or so in attendance with visions of 2002 and 2003 dancing in their heads. It wasn't AARP but MVP as McNair fit the balls in and his receivers made the plays.

''We wanted to come out aggressive and continue to work the ball downfield,'' McNair said. ''The offensive line did an excellent job today protecting me, the receivers made plays, especially with run after catch.''

''I told the guys early in the week we have to win outside. We have to win the one on one battles.''

The receivers listened. Just a week after the group recorded more drops than catches, they produced their best numbers of the season. A total of 14 catches for Bennett, Calico and Roby for 172 yards.

Their work on the outside gave Ben Troupe chances down the middle. He produced a career day with 116 yards on 10 catches.

And McNair looked the most comfortable he's been all season. The Titans mixed in some no back to give the team a boost on third down. It seemed to be a kind of Alcorn State energy drink for the quarterback.

''We started throwing the ball around, running the ball doing things with keeping me on the move,'' McNair said. ''You know when you have things like that going for you like doing a lot of running, doing a lot of boot-legging you don’t need treatment.''

Though he got hit a couple of times after he got rid of the ball, McNair did not get sacked Sunday. Quite a testament to the entire offense, considering the Seahawks came into Sunday with an NFL-best 45 quarterback sacks.

It's obviously been a tough year for the Titans quarterback. He's looked uncomfortable at times. He came into the season leading an offense with just two proven weapons, Drew Bennett and Erron Kinney. Bo Scaife has been the only other consistent threat that has developed over the course of the season.

McNair has watched as the Titans have been unable to establish the kind of ''pound-it-down-your throat'' run game that helped smooth over some similar lack of weaponry in the late 90s. Much of that has to do with a running back tandem that's not been consistently healthy or available.

And McNair obviously knew he needed to help the defense by keeping drives alive and not putting them in tough situations. That has led him at times to be conservative offensively, at times even too conservative. All the while, offensive Coordinator Norm Chow remained patient with McNair, encouraging him to take the keys to the car.

''Be smart, but go for it,'' Chow said in a recent interview on Titans Radio. ''Make something happen.''

This week, McNair made it happen. It didn't net the Titans a third-straight home win and there are no moral wins. But the Titans did score 24 straight on the team set to take homefield advantage as the NFC's number one seed. The Titans did not wither when Shaun Alexander led the Seahawks to a quick 14-0 lead on what seemed to be almost effortless drives.

The Titans did what they've done so many times before. They climbed on those broad Mississippi-bred shoulders of Steve McNair and let him lead them the way.

And McNair proved he's still got plenty of tread left on his tires.

''Overall, I feel pretty good,'' McNair said. ''During the course of the week when you have a couple injuries here and there you have to rest a lot longer then I have in the past, but that is something we have to deal with.''

''It’s not like they need me on Wednesday or Thursday. They need me on Sunday.''

Make no mistake. The Titans do need to begin the planning process for McNair's replacement. Whether that involves using a first round pick in April's draft remains to be seen. But General Manager Floyd Reese and Head Coach Jeff Fisher no doubt have a plan.

And they no doubt have a plan to work through the $50 million bonus due to number nine in a few months. No doubt McNair's agent Bus Cook does as well. He's old hat on this planning for the future stuff thanks to another Mississippi quarterback.

But in a season where there's been more disappointment than excitement, raise a toast to Steve McNair. Tonight, he deserves it.

''I’m always positive,'' McNair said Sunday before he left the podium. ''I always want to stay positive about the situation. I’m a Tennessee Titan now and hopefully will be in the future.''

Here, here.