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1991 Houston Oilers season

{{short description|32nd season in franchise history}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = Houston Oilers

| year = 1991

| record = 11–5

| division_place = 1st AFC Central

| coach = Jack Pardee

| general manager = Mike Holovak

| owner = Bud Adams

| stadium = Houston Astrodome

| playoffs = Won Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Jets) 17–10
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Broncos) 24–26

| uniform = 180px

| shortnavlink = Oilers seasons

}}

The {{nfly|1991}} Houston Oilers season was the 32nd season and their 22nd in the National Football League (NFL). Haywood Jeffires would become the second Oiler to have 100 receptions in a season. The first Oiler to accomplish the feat was Charley Hennigan in 1964. Jeffires would be the fifth receiver in NFL history to have a 100 reception season. The Oilers scored 386 points and gave up 251 points. The franchise earned its first division title since the AFL-NFL merger, having last won a division title in the 1967 American Football League season. The franchise finished the season with 11 wins compared to 5 losses and appeared twice on Monday Night Football.

Offseason

= NFL draft =

{{Main|1991 NFL draft}}

{{NFL team draft start

| year = 1991

| teamname = Houston Oilers

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 28

| player = Mike Dumas

| position = Defensive back

| college = Indiana

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 38

| player = Darryll Lewis

| position = Defensive back

| college = Arizona

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| probowl = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 44

| player = John Flannery

| position = Guard

| college = Syracuse

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 71

| player = Steve Jackson

| position = Defensive back

| college = Purdue

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 79

| player = Kevin Donnalley

| position = Guard

| college = North Carolina

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 101

| player = David Rocker

| position = Defensive tackle

| college = Auburn

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 102

| player = Marcus Robertson

| position = Defensive back

| college = Iowa State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| probowl = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 129

| player = Gary Wellman

| position = Wide receiver

| college = USC

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 183

| player = Kyle Freeman

| position = Linebacker

| college = Angelo State

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 8

| pick = 214

| player = Gary Brown

| position = Running back

| college = Penn State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 9

| pick = 240

| player = Shawn Jefferson

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Central Florida

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 10

| pick = 267

| player = Curtis Moore

| position = Linebacker

| college = Kansas

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 11

| pick = 294

| player = James Smith

| position = Defensive back

| college = Richmond

| notes =

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 12

| pick = 325

| player = Alex Johnson

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Miami (FL)

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft end

| hof = no

}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1991_draft.htm |title=1991 Houston Oilers draftees |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=January 11, 2014 }}

Personnel

= Staff =

{{NFL final staff

| year = 1991

| team = Houston Oilers

| front_office =

| head_coach =

| offensive =

| defensive =

| special_teams =

  • Special teams – Richard Smith

| strength =

  • Strength and Rehabilitation – Steve Watterson

}}

= Roster =

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1991

| team = Houston Oilers

| quarterbacks =

{{NFLplayer|14|Cody Carlson}}

{{NFLplayer| 1|Warren Moon}}

{{NFLplayer|10|Reggie Slack}}

| running_backs =

{{NFLplayer|33|Gary Brown|d=running back|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|30|Victor Jones|d=running back}}

{{NFLplayer|20|Allen Pinkett|KR}}

{{NFLplayer|44|Lorenzo White}}

| wide_receivers =

{{NFLplayer|87|Pat Coleman|KR/PR}}

{{NFLplayer|80|Curtis Duncan}}

{{NFLplayer|81|Ernest Givins|PR}}

{{NFLplayer|83|Leonard Harris|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|85|Drew Hill}}

{{NFLplayer|84|Haywood Jeffires}}

{{NFLplayer|86|Alex Johnson|d=wide receiver|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|82|Tony Jones|d=wide receiver}}

| tight_ends =

| offensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|66|Doug Dawson|G}}

{{NFLplayer|77|Kevin Donnalley|rookie=y|G/T}}

{{NFLplayer|55|John Flannery|d=American football|rookie=y|C/G}}

{{NFLplayer|78|Don Maggs|T}}

{{NFLplayer|74|Bruce Matthews|d=American football|C}}

{{NFLplayer|63|Mike Munchak|G}}

{{NFLplayer|70|Dean Steinkuhler|T}}

{{NFLplayer|73|David Williams|d=offensive lineman|T}}

| defensive_linemen =

{{NFLplayer|76|Jeff Alm|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|79|Ray Childress|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|95|William Fuller|d=American football|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|90|Ezra Johnson|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|96|Sean Jones|d=defensive end|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|94|Glenn Montgomery|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|99|Doug Smith|d=defensive lineman|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|97|Lee Williams|d=American football|DE}}

| linebackers =

{{NFLplayer|51|Eric Fairs|MLB}}

{{NFLplayer|56|Scott Kozak|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|57|Lamar Lathon|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|91|Johnny Meads|OLB}}

{{NFLplayer|53|Eugene Seale|MLB}}

{{NFLplayer|54|Al Smith|d=American football|MLB}}

| defensive_back =

{{NFLplayer|28|Cris Dishman|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|38|Mike Dumas|rookie=y|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|24|Steve Jackson|d=defensive back|rookie=y|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|23|Richard Johnson|d=defensive back|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|29|Darryll Lewis|rookie=y|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|25|Bubba McDowell|SS}}

{{NFLplayer|26|Bo Orlando|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|31|Marcus Robertson|rookie=y|CB/S}}

| special_teams =

{{NFLplayer| 3|Al Del Greco|K}}

{{NFLplayer| 9|Greg Montgomery|P}}

| reserve_lists =

{{NFLplayer|93|Rick Graf|LB|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|64|Erik Norgard|C/G|IR}}

{{NFLplayer|72|Willis Peguese|DE|IR}}

47 active, 3 inactive, 2 practice squad

| practice_squad =

{{NFLplayer|89|Frank Miotke|WR}}

{{NFLplayer|88|Gary Wellman|rookie=y|WR}}

}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1991_roster.htm |title=1991 Houston Oilers starters, roster, and players |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=October 28, 2014 }}

Preseason

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Attendance

style="background:#fcc"

! 1

| {{dow tooltip|August 3, 1991}}

| at San Diego Chargers

| L 29–31

| 0–1

| Jack Murphy Stadium

| 43,042

style="background:#fcc"

! 2

| {{dow tooltip|August 9, 1991}}

| Atlanta Falcons

| L 7–36

| 0–2

| Astrodome

| 52,140

style="background:#cfc"

! 3

| August 18

| Dallas Cowboys

| W 30–20

| 1–2

| Astrodome

| 53,314

style="background:#cfc"

! 4

| {{dow tooltip|August 22, 1991}}

| vs. Los Angeles Rams

| W 16–13

| 2–2

| Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

| 63,200

{{cite web|url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/1991nflhou.html|title=1991 Houston Oilers (NFL)|publisher=Pro Football Archives|access-date=November 11, 2023}}

Regular season

  • October 13, 1991 – Warren Moon threw for 423 yards against the New York Jets.
  • November 10, 1991 – Warren Moon threw for 432 yards against the Dallas Cowboys.
  • October 13, 1991 – Haywood Jeffires set an Oilers record with most receptions in one game with 13.

= Schedule =

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"| Attendance

style="background:#cfc"

! 1

| September 1

| Los Angeles Raiders

| W 47–17

| 1–0

| Astrodome

| 61,367

style="background:#cfc"

! 2

| September 8

| at Cincinnati Bengals

| W 30–7

| 2–0

| Riverfront Stadium

| 56,463

style="background:#cfc"

! 3

| September 16

| Kansas City Chiefs

| W 17–7

| 3–0

| Astrodome

| 61,058

style="background:#fcc"

! 4

| September 22

| at New England Patriots

| L 20–24

| 3–1

| Foxboro Stadium

| 30,702

5

| colspan="6" align="center"| Bye

style="background:#cfc"

! 6

| October 6

| Denver Broncos

| W 42–14

| 4–1

| Astrodome

| 59,145

style="background:#cfc"

! 7

| October 13

| at New York Jets

| W 23–20

| 5–1

| Giants Stadium

| 70,758

style="background:#cfc"

! 8

| October 20

| at Miami Dolphins

| W 17–13

| 6–1

| Joe Robbie Stadium

| 60,705

style="background:#cfc"

! 9

| October 27

| Cincinnati Bengals

| W 35–3

| 7–1

| Astrodome

| 58,634

style="background:#fcc"

! 10

| November 3

| at Washington Redskins

| L 13–16 {{Small|(OT)}}

| 7–2

| RFK Stadium

| 55,096

style="background:#cfc"

! 11

| November 10

| Dallas Cowboys

| W 26–23 {{Small|(OT)}}

| 8–2

| Astrodome

| 63,001

style="background:#cfc"

! 12

| November 17

| Cleveland Browns

| W 28–24

| 9–2

| Astrodome

| 58,155

style="background:#fcc"

! 13

| November 24

| at Pittsburgh Steelers

| L 14–26

| 9–3

| Three Rivers Stadium

| 45,795

style="background:#fcc"

! 14

| December 2

| Philadelphia Eagles

| L 6–13

| 9–4

| Astrodome

| 61,141

style="background:#cfc"

! 15

| December 8

| Pittsburgh Steelers

| W 31–6

| 10–4

| Astrodome

| 59,225

style="background:#cfc"

! 16

| December 15

| at Cleveland Browns

| W 17–14

| 11–4

| Cleveland Municipal Stadium

| 55,680

style="background:#fcc"

! 17

| December 21

| at New York Giants

| L 20–24

| 11–5

| Giants Stadium

| 63,421

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}"

|colspan="8"| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

= Games summaries =

== Week 1 vs Raiders==

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Week One: Los Angeles Raiders (0–0) at Houston Oilers (0–0)

|date=September 1

|time=4:00 p.m.

|road=Raiders

|R1=0 |R2=7 |R3=3 |R4=7

|home=Oilers

|H1=6 |H2=10 |H3=21 |H4=10

|stadium=Astrodome, Houston, Texas

|attendance=61,367

|weather=Indoors (dome)

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199109010oti.htm Box Score], [https://www.footballdb.com/games/boxscore/los-angeles-raiders-vs-houston-oilers-1991090111 Box Score]

|scoring=

;First quarter

  • HOU – Allen Pinkett 8-yard run (kick failed), 5:37. Oilers 6–0.

;Second quarter

;Third quarter

  • HOU – Ernest Givins 22-yard pass from Warren Moon (Ian Howfield kick), 12:17. Oilers 23–7.
  • LA – Jeff Jaeger 39-yard field goal, 7:24. Oilers 23–10.
  • HOU – Tony Jones 28-yard pass from Warren Moon (Ian Howfield kick), 5:59. Oilers 30–10.
  • HOU – Mike Dumas 19-yard fumble return (Ian Howfield kick), 3:45. Oilers 37–10.

;Fourth quarter

  • HOU – Ian Howfield 46-yard field goal, 9:43. Oilers 40–10.
  • LA – Sam Graddy 80-yard pass from Vince Evans (Jeff Jaeger kick), 9:29. Oilers 40–10.
  • HOU – Gary Brown 39-yard run (Ian Howfield kick), 1:52. Oilers 47–10.

|stats=

;Top passers

;Top rushers

;Top receivers

}}

== Week 14 ==

{{See also|1991 Philadelphia Eagles season}}

{{Americanfootballbox

|bg=

|bg2=

|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Houston Oilers|year=1991|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=collapsed

|title=Philadelphia Eagles (7–5) at Houston Oilers (9–3)

|date=December 2

|time=9:00 p.m. EST

|road=Eagles

|R1=0 |R2=0 |R3=10 |R4=3

|home=Oilers

|H1=0 |H2=3 |H3=3 |H4=0

|stadium=Astrodome • Houston, Texas

|attendance=

|weather=Indoors (dome)

|referee= Tom Dooley

|TV=ABC

|TVAnnouncers=Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, and Dan Dierdorf

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199112020oti.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]

|stats=

{{Col-begin}}

{{Col-2}}

;Eagles

{{Col-2}}

;Oilers

{{Col-end}}

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=PHI|HomeName=HOU|state=collapsed}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=2

| Time=

| Team=Oilers

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=42

| Kicker=Del Greco

| Visitor=0

| Home=3

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=

| Team=Eagles

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=23

| Kicker=Ruzek

| Visitor=3

| Home=3

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=3

| Time=

| Team=Eagles

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=RecTD

| Receiver=Jackson

| QB=Kemp

| yards=21

| kickresult=good

| Kicker=Ruzek

| 2pt type=run/pass

| 2pt result=good/failed/incomplete

| Visitor=10

| Home=3

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=Oilers

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=47

| Kicker=Del Greco

| Visitor=10

| Home=6

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry

| Quarter=4

| Time=

| Team=Eagles

| DrivePlays=

| DriveLength=

| DriveTime=

| Type=FG

| yards=29

| Kicker=Ruzek

| Visitor=13

| Home=6

}}

{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=13|Home=6}}

= Standings =

{{1991 AFC Central standings}}

Playoffs

= AFC Wild Card =

{{Americanfootballbox | title=Houston Oilers 17, New York Jets 10

|Road=Jets

|R1=0

|R2=10

|R3=0

|R4=0

|Home=Oilers

|H1=7

|H2=7

|H3=0

|H4=3

|stadium= Astrodome, Houston, Texas

|time= 4:00 p.m. EST/3:00 p.m. CST

|weather= Played indoors, domed stadium

|TV=NBC

|TVAnnouncers= Marv Albert and Paul Maguire

|referee= Tom White

|attendance= 61,485

}}

After leading 14–10 at halftime, the Oilers stopped the Jets twice inside the 5-yard line in the second half to preserve the victory. Houston quarterback Warren Moon threw two touchdowns in the first half, both to Ernest Givins for 5 and 20 yards. This would be the team's last playoff win while playing in Houston and would not win another playoff game until the Music City Miracle during the 1999 playoffs, their third season in Tennessee and their first season as the Titans.

= AFC Divisional Playoff =

{{Americanfootballbox | title=Denver Broncos 26, Houston Oilers 24

|Road=Oilers

|R1=14

|R2=7

|R3=0

|R4=3

|Home=Broncos

|H1=6

|H2=7

|H3=3

|H4=10

|stadium= Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

|time= 4:00 p.m. EST/2:00 p.m. MST

|weather= {{convert|30|°F|°C}}, cloudy

|TV=NBC

|TVAnnouncers= Charlie Jones and Todd Christensen

|referee= Johnny Grier

|attendance= 75,301

}}

Trailing 24–23 with 2:07 left in the game, quarterback John Elway led the Broncos from their own 2-yard line to the winning 28-yard field goal with 16 seconds remaining. On the drive, he converted on two fourth downs. On fourth down and 6 from the Denver 28, he rushed for 7 yards. Then on fourth down and 10, he completed a 44-yard pass to wide receiver Vance Johnson.

The Oilers jumped to a 14–0 lead with quarterback Warren Moon's two touchdown passes to wide receivers Haywood Jeffires and Drew Hill for 15 and 9 yards, respectively. Elway then completed a 10-yard touchdown to Johnson, but kicker David Treadwell missed the extra point. Moon responded by throwing a 6-yard touchdown to wide receiver Curtis Duncan to give Houston a 21–6 lead, but Denver running back Greg Lewis scored a 1-yard touchdown before halftime. In the second half, the Oilers were limited to only a 25-yard field goal by kicker Al Del Greco, which gave Houston a 24–16 lead in the fourth quarter. The Broncos then marched 80 yards to score on Lewis' 1-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 24–23.

Elway's comeback is now known solely as The Drive II.

Awards and records

  • Haywood Jeffires – Houston Oilers record, most receptions in one game, (13)
  • Haywood Jeffires, All Pro selection
  • Haywood Jeffires, Pro Bowl selection
  • Warren Moon, Pro Bowl selection
  • Warren Moon, Houston Oilers record, most passing yards in a season (4,690)
  • Warren Moon, NFL leader, most passing yards in a season (4,690)

= Milestones =

  • Haywood Jeffires – 1st 100 reception season NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN|0-7611-2480-2}}, p. 440
  • Haywood Jeffires – 2nd 1,000 yard receiving season (1,181 yards)
  • Warren Moon, 2nd 4,000 yard passing season (4,690)
  • Warren Moon, 3rd 400 yard passing game (423 vs. New York Jets)
  • Warren Moon, 4th 400 yard passing game (432 vs. Dallas Cowboys)

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Tennessee Titans}}

{{Tennessee Titans seasons}}

{{1991 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1991 Houston Oilers Season}}

Houston Oilers

Category:Houston Oilers seasons

Category:AFC Central championship seasons

Houston