The 1996 Houston Oilers season was the 37th season overall and 27th with the National Football League (NFL) and their final season in Houston. The team bested their previous season's output of 7–9,[1] but failed to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The Oilers only won two out of their eight games at home. However, on the road they won six out of eight games as the Oilers finished with an 8–8 record. Houston running back Eddie George won the Offensive Rookie of the Year with 1,368 yards rushing. Despite finishing 8–8 record, the Oilers failed to sell out any of its home games at the Houston Astrodome for the second consecutive season.
The Oilers had already established itself as a lame duck franchise; the league had approved the team's relocation to Nashville, Tennessee a year ahead of schedule, although it was not originally scheduled to take place until 1998.[2] With the team having given up on Houston, the city responded in kind: fan support and attendance dropped to negligible levels for the 1996 season, the team's radio network was all but disbanded, and the local broadcasts were being cut off in favor of preseason NBA basketball.[3] The Oilers, unwilling to continue in Houston after such a debacle, quickly moved to Memphis, Tennessee's Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in 1997, becoming the Tennessee Oilers (Memphis, too, would reject the "temporary" housing of the Oilers, forcing the team to move to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville until the new Nashville stadium was finished in 1999).
Offseason
NFL draft
[4]
Personnel
Staff
1996 Houston Oilers staff
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Front office
- Owner/chairman of the board/president – Bud Adams
- Executive vice-president/general manager – Floyd Reese
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
- Strength and conditioning – Steve Watterson
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Roster
[5]
Regular season
Schedule
| Week
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Date
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Opponent
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Result
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Record
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Venue
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Attendance
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| 1
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September 1
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Kansas City Chiefs
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L 19–20
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0–1
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Astrodome
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27,725
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| 2
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September 8
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at Jacksonville Jaguars
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W 34–27
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1–1
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Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
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66,468
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| 3
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September 15
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Baltimore Ravens
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W 29–13
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2–1
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Astrodome
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20,082
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| 4
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Bye
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| 5
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September 29
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at Pittsburgh Steelers
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L 16–30
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2–2
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Three Rivers Stadium
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58,608
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| 6
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October 6
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at Cincinnati Bengals
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W 30–27 (OT)
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3–2
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Cinergy Field
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44,680
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| 7
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October 13
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at Atlanta Falcons
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W 23–13
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4–2
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Georgia Dome
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35,401
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| 8
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October 20
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Pittsburgh Steelers
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W 23–13
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5–2
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Astrodome
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50,337
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| 9
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October 27
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San Francisco 49ers
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L 9–10
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5–3
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Astrodome
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53,664
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| 10
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November 3
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at Seattle Seahawks
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L 16–23
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5–4
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Kingdome
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36,320
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| 11
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November 10
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at New Orleans Saints
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W 31–14
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6–4
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Louisiana Superdome
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34,121
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| 12
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November 17
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Miami Dolphins
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L 20–23
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6–5
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Astrodome
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47,358
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| 13
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November 24
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Carolina Panthers
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L 6–31
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6–6
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Astrodome
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20,107
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| 14
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December 1
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at New York Jets
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W 35–10
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7–6
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Giants Stadium
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21,731
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| 15
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December 8
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Jacksonville Jaguars
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L 17–23
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7–7
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Astrodome
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20,196
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| 16
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December 15
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Cincinnati Bengals
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L 13–21
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7–8
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Astrodome
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15,131
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| 17
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December 22
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at Baltimore Ravens
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W 24–21
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8–8
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Memorial Stadium
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52,704
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| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
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Standings
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- KC – Pete Stoyanovich 35-yard field goal. Tied 10–10.
- HOU – Al Del Greco 44-yard field goal. Oilers 13–10.
- HOU – Al Del Greco 33-yard field goal. Oilers 16–10.
- KC – Lake Dawson 23-yard pass from Steve Bono (Pete Stoyanovich kick). Chiefs 17–16.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- KC – Pete Stoyanovich 43-yard field goal. Chiefs 20–16.
- HOU – Al Del Greco 22-yard field goal. Chiefs 20–19.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- HOU – Malcolm Floyd 63-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 17–10.
- JAC – Mike Hollis 37-yard field goal. Oilers 17–13.
- HOU – Frank Wycheck 7-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 24–13.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- HOU – Al Del Greco 29-yard field goal. Oilers 34–20.
- JAC – Keenan McCardell 3-yard pass from Mark Brunell (Mike Hollis kick). Oilers 34–27.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 3: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week Three: Baltimore Ravens at Houston Oilers – Game summary
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
- Date: September 15
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 20,082
- TV announcers (NBC): Dan Hicks and Bart Oates (blacked out locally)
- Box score
| Game information
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Top passers
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- HOU – Al Del Greco 44-yard field goal. Oilers 29–7.
- BAL – Herman Arvie 1-yard pass from Vinny Testaverde (pass failed). Oilers 29–13.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week Five: Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: September 29
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Mostly sunny, 53 °F (12 °C)
- Game attendance: 58,608
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Beasley Reece
- Box score
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- PIT – Norm Johnson 36-yard field goal. Steelers 20–0.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- PIT – Norm Johnson 36-yard field goal. Steelers 23–14.
- PIT – Darren Perry 13-yard interception return (Norm Johnson kick). Steelers 30–14.
- HOU – Shayne Edge run out of own end zone. Steelers 30–16.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 6: at Cincinnati Bengals
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- CIN – Doug Pelfrey 41-yard field goal. Tied 3–3.
- HOU – Frank Wycheck 9-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 10–3.
- CIN – Jimmy Spencer 59-yard fumble return (Doug Pelfrey kick). Tied 10–10.
- CIN – Doug Pelfrey 31-yard field goal. Bengals 13–10.
Third quarter
- CIN – Jeff Cothran 2-yard run (Doug Pelfrey kick). Bengals 20–10.
- HOU – Eddie George 45-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Bengals 20–17.
Fourth quarter
- HOU – Al Del Greco 32-yard field goal. Tied 20–20.
- CIN – Darnay Scott 1-yard pass from Jeff Blake (Doug Pelfrey kick). Bengals 27–20.
- HOU – Derek Russell 7-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Al Del Greco kick). Tied 27–27.
Overtime
- HOU – Al Del Greco 49-yard field goal. Oilers 30–27.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 7: at Atlanta Falcons
Week Seven: Houston Oilers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: October 13
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 35,401
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Beasley Reece
- Box score
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- HOU – Al Del Greco 27-yard field goal. Oilers 10–0.
Third quarter
- HOU – Steve McNair 10-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 17–0.
Fourth quarter
- ATL – Terance Mathis 3-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Morten Anderson kick). Oilers 17–7.
- HOU – Al Del Greco 33-yard field goal. Oilers 20–7.
- ATL – Terance Mathis 1-yard pass from Booby Hebert (pass failed). Oilers 20–13.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 8: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week Eight: Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Oilers – Game summary
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
- Date: October 20
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 50,337
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Beasley Reece (blacked out locally)
- Box score
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- PIT – Norm Johnson 26-yard field goal. Steelers 10–3.
- HOU – Al Del Greco 32-yard field goal. Steelers 10–6.
- HOU – Al Del Greco 48-yard field goal. Steelers 10–9.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- PIT – Norm Johnson 29-yard field goal. Steelers 13–9.
- HOU – Willie Davis 34-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 16–13.
- HOU – Eddie George 2-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 23–13.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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This would be the second-highest attended game of the season at the Astrodome, with a recorded of attendance of 50,337; however, many of these fans were Steelers' fans. Despite their home stadium being invaded by fans of the opposing team, the Oilers would win the game 23–13. This would be the last game the Oilers would win at the Astrodome.
Week 9: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week Nine: San Francisco 49ers at Houston Oilers – Game summary
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
- Date: October 27
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 53,664
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton and Matt Millen (blacked out locally)
- Box score
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- HOU – Al Del Greco 38-yard field goal. Tied 3–3.
- HOU – Al Del Greco 56-yard field goal. Oilers 6–3.
Third quarter
- HOU – Al Del Greco 39-yard field goal. Oilers 9–3.
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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With a recorded attendance of 53,664, this would be the highest attended game of the season at the Astrodome. Like the previous game, many of the fans in attendance were rooting for the opposing team. The Oilers led for most of the game, but Jeff Brohm would lead the 49ers on what would be the game-winning drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Terrell Owens early in the fourth quarter. The Oilers would have two more chances to take the lead back, but turned the ball over on downs on one drive and quarterback Steve McNair (who had replaced an ineffective Chris Chandler) threw an interception on the Oilers' final drive.
Week 10: at Seattle Seahawks
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- SEA – Todd Peterson 35-yard field goal. Seahawks 6–3.
Third quarter
- HOU – Al Del Greco 36-yard field goal. Tied 6–6.
- SEA – Todd Peterson 44-yard field goal. Seahawks 9–6.
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 11: at New Orleans Saints
Week Eleven: Houston Oilers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Date: November 10
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 34,121
- TV announcers (NBC): Dan Hicks and Bart Oates
- Box score
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- HOU – Erik Norgard 1-yard pass from Chris Chandler (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 21–3.
- NO – Doug Brien 49-yard field goal. Oilers 21–6.
Third quarter
- HOU – Eddie George 1-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 28–6.
Fourth quarter
- NO – Michael Haynes 34-yard pass from Jim Everett (Michael Haynes run). Oilers 28–14.
- HOU – Al Del Greco 25-yard field goal. Oilers 31–14.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 12: vs. Miami Dolphins
Week Twelve: Miami Dolphins at Houston Oilers – Game summary
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
- Date: November 17
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 47,358
- TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Bob Trumpy (blacked out locally)
- Box score
| Game information
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|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- MIA – Joe Nedney 44-yard field goal. Oilers 14–13.
- HOU – Al Del Greco 30-yard field goal. Oilers 17–13.
Fourth quarter
- MIA – Zach Thomas 26-yard interception return (Joe Nedney kick). Dolphins 20–17.
- HOU – Al Del Greco 33-yard field goal. Tied 20–20.
- MIA – Joe Nedney 29-yard field goal. Dolphins 23–20.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 13: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week Thirteen: Carolina Panthers at Houston Oilers – Game summary
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
- Date: November 24
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 20,107
- TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Harlan and Jerry Glanville (blacked out locally)
- Box score
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- CAR – Willie Green 12-yard pass from Steve Beuerlein (John Kasay kick). Panthers 17–3.
Fourth quarter
- HOU – Al Del Greco 45-yard field goal. Panthers 17–6.
- CAR – Sam Mills 41-yard fumble return (John Kasay kick). Panthers 24–6.
- CAR – Wesley Walls 40-yard pass from Steve Beuerlein (John Kasay kick). Panthers 31–6.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 14: at New York Jets
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- HOU – Eddie George 1-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 28–10.
- HOU – Rodney Thomas 24-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 35–10.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 15: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week Fifteen: Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Oilers – Game summary
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
- Date: December 8
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 20,196
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Donovan and Beasley Reece (blacked out locally)
- Box score
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- JAC – Natrone Means 5-yard run (Mike Hollis kick). Jaguars 17–7.
Fourth quarter
- HOU – Eddie George 6-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Jaguars 17–14.
- JAC – Mike Hollis 38-yard field goal. Jaguars 20–14.
- JAC – Mike Hollis 31-yard field goal. Jaguars 23–14.
- HOU – Al Del Greco 27-yard field goal. Jaguars 23–17.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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Week 16: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week Sixteen: Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Oilers – Game summary
at Astrodome, Houston, Texas
- Date: December 15
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 15,131
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Lampley and Bob Golic (blacked out locally)
- Box score
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
- HOU – Al Del Greco 42-yard field goal. Oilers 6–0.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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The Oilers would keep the Bengals scoreless in the first half, but were outscored 21–7 in the second half. This was the last game the Oilers would play in Houston. With the loss, the Oilers dropped to 7–8 and finished with a home record of 2–6.
During the 1995 season, owner Bud Adams announced that the team would be relocating to Tennessee. As a result, fan attendance had been abysmal for the 1996 season, with this game reaching a new low with a recorded attendance of only 15,131. The team's move to Tennessee was not scheduled to take place until 1998, but after a season of fan apathy that resulted in attendance woes, the NFL allowed Adams to move the team a year ahead of schedule. The Oilers would have stadium issues for the next two seasons, playing each season in a different temporary home. The team would play the next season at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee before moving to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee for 1998. The team would find a new permanent home stadium in 1999 at the Adelphia Coliseum in Nashville, with the team being renamed to the Tennessee Titans.
An NFL game would not be played in Houston again until September 8, 2002, with Houston's new NFL franchise, the Houston Texans, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 19–10. The Oilers, then known as the Tennessee Titans, would return to Houston later that year on December 29 to play the Texans. Tennessee would win the game 13–3.
Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens
Week Seventeen: Houston Oilers at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: December 22
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 27 °F (−3 °C)
- Game attendance: 52,704
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Donovan and Bart Oates
- Box score
| Game information
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First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- HOU – Steve McNair 24-yard run (Al Del Greco kick). Oilers 24–7.
Fourth quarter
- BAL – Michael Jackson 8-yard pass from Vinny Testaverde (Matt Stover kick). Oilers 24–14.
- BAL – Michael Jackson 4-yard pass from Vinny Testaverde (Matt Stover kick). Oilers 24–21.
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Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
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The Oilers traveled to Baltimore to take on the Ravens in the season finale. The Ravens' comeback attempt fell short, with the Oilers winning the game 24–21, finishing the franchise's last season as the Houston Oilers with an 8–8 record.
References
External links
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- Founded in 1960
- Formerly the Houston Oilers (1960–1996) and the Tennessee Oilers (1997–1998)
- Based and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee
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| Franchise | |
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| Stadiums | |
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| Culture | |
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| Lore | |
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| Rivalries | |
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| Division championships (11) | |
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| Conference championships (1) | |
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| League championships (2) | |
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| Retired numbers | |
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| Media | |
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| Current league affiliations | |
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| Former league affiliation | |
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| Key personnel | |
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