1991 Houston Oilers season

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1991 NFL draft

Personnel

Staff

• Owner/Chairman of the Board/President – Bud Adams

• Executive Vice President/general manager – Mike Holovak

• Assistant general manager – Floyd Reese

• Head coach – Jack Pardee

• Offensive coordinator – Kevin Gilbride

• Running Backs – Frank Novak

• Receivers – Chris Palmer

• Offensive line – Bob Young

• Defensive coordinator – Jim Eddy

• Defensive line – Jim Stanley

• Linebackers – Richard Smith

• Defensive backs – Pat Thomas

• Quality Control – Gregg Williams

• Special teams – Richard Smith

• Strength and Rehabilitation – Steve Watterson

Roster

47 active, 3 inactive, 2 practice squad

Preseason

Regular season

Schedule

Games summaries

Week 1 vs Raiders

;First quarter

• HOU – Allen Pinkett 8-yard run (kick failed), 5:37. Oilers 6–0. ;Second quarter
• HOU – Warren Moon 1-yard run (Ian Howfield kick), 13:40. Oilers 13–0.
• HOU – Ian Howfield 34-yard field goal, 5:27. Oilers 16–0.
• LA – Willie Gault 59-yard pass from Jay Schroeder (Jeff Jaeger kick), 2:44. Oilers 16–7. ;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. ;Top passers
• LA – Vince Evans – 6/10, 127 yards, TD, INT
• HOU – Warren Moon – 18/33, 250 yards, 2 TD ;Top rushers
• LA – Marcus Allen – 8 rushes, 17 yards
• HOU – Allen Pinkett – 26 rushes, 144 yards ;Top receivers
• LA – Sam Graddy – 3 receptions, 102 yards, TD
• HOU – Ernest Givins – 6 receptions, 90 yards, TD

Week 14

;Eagles

• Jim McMahon 12/20, 84 yards, int
• James Joseph 12 rush, 56 yards
• Roy Green 3 rec, 44 yards ;Oilers
• Warren Moon 24/46, 262 yards
• Allen Pinkett 6 rush, 10 yards
• Ernest Givens 6 rec, 89 yards

Standings

Playoffs

AFC Wild Card

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

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
• 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

References

1. "1991 Houston Oilers draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
2. "1991 Houston Oilers starters, roster, and players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
3. "1991 Houston Oilers (NFL)". Pro Football Archives.
4. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN. 0-7611-2480-2, p. 440