1996 Houston Oilers: The End Of An Era

The Houston Oilers came into existence in 1960 with the rest of the old American Football League. They won the first two AFL championships. In the late 1970s, they had the “Luv Ya Blue” teams of Earl Campbell that reached a pair of AFC Championship Games. In the late 1980s and early 1990s there was Warren Moon, the run-and-shoot passing offense and seven straight playoff trips. The 1996 Houston Oilers marked the end of an era—the last season before the franchise relocated to Nashville.

After Moon departed following the 1993 season, the Oilers had collapsed to 2-14. They rebounded to 7-9 in 1995, their first year under new head coach Jeff Fisher. In ’96, even playing amidst collapsing fan support due to the announced relocation, Houston continued their steady improvement and got to .500.

The running game was the key. The Oilers drafted Eddie George, the Heisman Trophy-winning back out of Ohio State. George ran for 1,368 yards and won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. His path was paved by Pro Bowlers up front in center Mark Stepnoski and Hall of Fame left guard Bruce Matthews.

Chris Chandler was the veteran quarterback, keeping the seat warm while 23-year-old Steve McNair learned the ropes. The result was a passing game that was up and down. Chandler’s 58 percent completion rate, 6.6 yards-per-attempt, and 16-11 TD/INT ratio were all a bit below the league average.

Tight end Frank Wycheck led the team in catches at 53, while Chris Sanders had the ability to stretch the field. Otherwise, the receiving corps was limited, including Willie Davis, Derek Russell, and veteran running back Ronnie Harmon.

Even without a great passing game though, the consistency of the ground attack was good enough for Houston to rank 10^th in the NFL in points scored.

The defense had a Pro Bowler in strong safety Blaine Bishop. But other than corner Darryl Lewis’ five interceptions and the 7 ½ sacks of defensive end Anthony Cook, nothing really popped from a big-play standpoint. The Oiler D finished 16^th in a 30-team league for points allowed.

Houston opened the season at home with the Kansas City Chiefs, a consistent contender in this era, although they fell short of the playoffs this year. The Oilers played well defensively and hung in the game. They might have won it, but they kept settling for short field goals—including a 22-yarder in the fourth quarter that was the final points in a 20-19 defeat.

They went on the road to play Jacksonville, a franchise in just its second year of existence, but one that would leap into contention this year. Houston controlled the ground game, winning rush yardage 181-72. Defensive back Marcus Robertson intercepted two passes. Chandler went 14/22 for 226 yards, three touchdowns and no mistakes. The Oilers built a 31-13 lead and hung on to win, 34-27.

Houston returned home to face the Baltimore Ravens, playing their first year in a new city since relocating from Cleveland. Chandler opened up quickly, with a short TD pass to Wycheck and an 18-yard strike to Davis. With the quick 14-zip lead, the Oilers controlled the game on the ground, forced three turnovers, took care of the ball themselves, and coasted to a 29-13 win.

After an early bye week, Houston traveled to Pittsburgh. The Steelers were coming off a Super Bowl appearance in 1995 and were the favorite in the old AFC Central Division that both teams shared (in ’96, that division included Jacksonville, Baltimore, and the Cincinnati Bengals). The Oilers played poorly, turning it over five times, digging themselves an early 17-0 hole and losing 30-17.

The road trip to Cincinnati was for the Sunday Night audience and it was a good one. George ran for 152 yards. But Houston also gave up a defensive touchdown and was staring at a 27-20 deficit in the fourth quarter. Chandler threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to tie it, and the Oilers won 30-27 in overtime.

They went on to Atlanta to face a bad Falcons team. George churned out 109 yards. Chandler started the game sharp, going 9/13 for 146 yards before he hurt his ankle. McNair came in and managed the rest of the game, protecting the 23-13 win.

Pittsburgh made the return trip to the old Astrodome for a late afternoon kickoff. Chandler was back in the lineup. It took three quarters for the offense to find its footing, and they trailed 13-9. But in the fourth quarter, Chandler threw a 34-yard touchdown pass, capping off a day where he went 23/38 for 258 yards. George added a TD run for insurance and the Oilers had their second straight 23-13 triumph.

A home game with another elite team, the San Francisco 49ers, was a defensive battle. Chandler was knocked out again and McNair came off the bench. Houston clung to a 9-3 lead thanks to some long field goals by Al Del Greco, including a 56-yarder. But the Oilers lost turnovers 2-0 and eventually took a 10-9 defeat.

Houston traveled to mediocre Seattle, with Chandler still on the shelf. McNair went 12/18 for 225 yards and had the Oilers up 16-9 in the fourth quarter. They outrushed the Seahawks 128-32. It should have led to a win. But the secondary was being carved up and Seattle pulled even 16-16. Houston still got lined up for a makeable field goal to win it. Instead, it was blocked and returned for a touchdown. The Oilers had a stunning and disheartening 23-16 loss.

A trip to New Orleans to face a horrible Saints team was the necessary tonic. Chandler returned and started the game by hitting Sanders on a 42-yard touchdown pass and then tossing an 11-yard scoring pass to Harmon. Houston had a quick 14-0 lead. Harmon finished with seven catches for 108 yards, George ran for 91 yards, and the Oilers churned out a 31-13 win.

At 6-4, Houston was aiming for the playoffs. They hosted Miami for a late afternoon game. Chandler again got the Oilers off to a quick start, hitting Russell from 18 yards, Wycheck from 15 yards and staking his team to a 14-0 lead for the second straight week. This time though, the offense bogged down. There was no running game. The Dolphins got back into the game, Chandler threw a late Pick-6 and Houston took a damaging 23-20 loss to another team on the playoff fringe.

Carolina came in next. The Panthers were in their second year of existence but were en route to a 12-4 season and a trip to the NFC Championship Game. The Oilers played a bad game, turning it over four times, with both Chandler and McNair intercepted. The afternoon ended with a 31-6 loss that dropped Houston to 6-6.

As the season headed into the homestretch, the San Diego Chargers were in the final playoff spot at 7-5. Houston, Indianapolis and Miami were both chasing at 6-6. Jacksonville, Cincinnati, and Oakland were 5-7.

The Oilers went on the road to play the woeful New York Jets. McNair got the start, and he threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Wycheck, and then hit Sanders on an 83-yard strike. Houston had another early 14-0 cushion. They kept right on rolling, behind 141 yards rushing from George and cruised to a 35-10 win.

In the meantime, San Diego lost. Houston, along with Indianapolis, were tied for the last playoff spot, with Jacksonville, Oakland, and Miami a game off the pace.

No one had circled Oilers-Jaguars in the Astrodome on December 8 at the start of the season. But this game now loomed large in the playoff picture, even if only 20,000 fans showed up to cheer on their departing franchise.

McNair played the best game of his young career, going 24/38 for 308 yards. Sanders caught seven passes for 127 yards. But the offensive line struggled. He was sacked five times and the running game. couldn’t get going. Houston lost a tough 23-17 game.

The Chargers also lost, so the Colts were at 8-6 and in pole position. The Oilers were now joined by the Jaguars and Chargers at 7-7. There was no room for error.

Cincinnati came in for the final home game of the season and in the existence of the Houston Oiler franchise. Only 15,000 fans showed. Houston played a lifeless game. Chandler started and threw three interceptions, one of which was brought back to the house. The Oilers lost 21-13. Events elsewhere in the league eliminated them from contention.

McNair got the start in Baltimore to end the season, and he played well, going 19/24 for 238 yards and leading Houston to a 24-21 win. The victory got them to 8-8. Even if it was short of the playoffs, it still marked improvement, and McNair was ready to assume the reins next season.

From the standpoint of the organization, this was the gradual start of better things to come. They held steady at 8-8 over the next two seasons as McNair got his sea legs, and then had a 1999 breakthrough where they reached the Super Bowl as the Tennessee Titans.

But for the city it was a sad time, the start of a brief stretch in the NFL wilderness until the league gave Houston the Texans in 2002. There was a lot of good going on in Houston sports in the mid-to-late 1990s, with the Rockets winning a couple of NBA championships and the Astros winning several division titles. But the loss of the Oilers was a hard blow to a city that loved its football.