1996 Houston Oilers season
OwnerBud Adams
General managerFloyd Reese
Head coachJeff Fisher
Home fieldHouston Astrodome
Results
Record8–8
Division place4th AFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersOLB John Henry Mills
SS Blaine Bishop
Uniform

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

1996 Houston Oilers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 14 Eddie George *  Running back Ohio State
2 38 Bryant Mix  Defensive end Alcorn State
2 48 Jason Layman  Offensive tackle Tennessee
3 74 Terry Killens  Linebacker Penn State
4 107 Kendrick Burton  Defensive end Alabama
4 109 Jon Runyan *  Offensive tackle Michigan
5 143 Rayna Stewart  Safety Northern Arizona
6 177 Anthony Dorsett  Cornerback Pittsburgh
7 218 Mike Archie  Running back Penn State
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[4]

Personnel

Staff

1996 Houston Oilers staff
Front office
  • Owner/chairman of the board/president – Bud Adams
  • Executive vice-president/general manager – Floyd Reese

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Steve Watterson

Roster

1996 Houston Oilers roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad

53 active, 2 inactive, 3 practice squad


Rookies in italics

[5]

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 1 Kansas City Chiefs L 19–20 0–1 Astrodome 27,725
2 September 8 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 34–27 1–1 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 66,468
3 September 15 Baltimore Ravens W 29–13 2–1 Astrodome 20,082
4 Bye
5 September 29 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 16–30 2–2 Three Rivers Stadium 58,608
6 October 6 at Cincinnati Bengals W 30–27 (OT) 3–2 Cinergy Field 44,680
7 October 13 at Atlanta Falcons W 23–13 4–2 Georgia Dome 35,401
8 October 20 Pittsburgh Steelers W 23–13 5–2 Astrodome 50,337
9 October 27 San Francisco 49ers L 9–10 5–3 Astrodome 53,664
10 November 3 at Seattle Seahawks L 16–23 5–4 Kingdome 36,320
11 November 10 at New Orleans Saints W 31–14 6–4 Louisiana Superdome 34,121
12 November 17 Miami Dolphins L 20–23 6–5 Astrodome 47,358
13 November 24 Carolina Panthers L 6–31 6–6 Astrodome 20,107
14 December 1 at New York Jets W 35–10 7–6 Giants Stadium 21,731
15 December 8 Jacksonville Jaguars L 17–23 7–7 Astrodome 20,196
16 December 15 Cincinnati Bengals L 13–21 7–8 Astrodome 15,131
17 December 22 at Baltimore Ravens W 24–21 8–8 Memorial Stadium 52,704
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

AFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(3) Pittsburgh Steelers 10 6 0 .625 344 257 L2
(5) Jacksonville Jaguars 9 7 0 .563 325 335 W5
Cincinnati Bengals 8 8 0 .500 372 369 W3
Houston Oilers 8 8 0 .500 345 319 W1
Baltimore Ravens 4 12 0 .250 371 441 L3

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Week One: Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 10 0320
Oilers 10 6 0319

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game information

Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars

Week Two: Houston Oilers at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Oilers 10 14 7334
Jaguars 10 3 7727

at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

  • Date: September 8
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 66,468
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dan Hicks and Bart Oates
  • Box score
Game information

Week 3: vs. Baltimore Ravens

Week Three: Baltimore Ravens at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ravens 0 7 0613
Oilers 14 3 9329

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

Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Five: Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Oilers 0 0 14216
Steelers 17 3 01030

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

Week 6: at Cincinnati Bengals

Week Six: Houston Oilers at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Oilers 3 7 710330
Bengals 0 13 77027

at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, Ohio

Game information

Week 7: at Atlanta Falcons

Week Seven: Houston Oilers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Oilers 7 3 7623
Falcons 0 0 01313

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

Week 8: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Eight: Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 7 3 0313
Oilers 3 6 01423

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

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
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers 3 0 0710
Oilers 0 6 039

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

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

Week Ten: Houston Oilers at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Oilers 3 0 31016
Seahawks 3 3 31423

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: November 3
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 36,320
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dan Hicks and Bob Golic
  • Box score
Game information

Week 11: at New Orleans Saints

Week Eleven: Houston Oilers at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Oilers 14 7 7331
Saints 3 3 0814

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

Week 12: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week Twelve: Miami Dolphins at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 0 10 31023
Oilers 14 0 3320

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

Week 13: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week Thirteen: Carolina Panthers at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 10 71431
Oilers 0 3 036

at Astrodom, 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

Week 14: at New York Jets

Week Fourteen: Houston Oilers at New York Jets – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Oilers 14 7 01435
Jets 0 10 0010

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game information

Week 15: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

Week Fifteen: Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Jaguars 7 3 7623
Oilers 0 7 01017

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

Week 16: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Week Sixteen: Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bengals 0 0 14721
Oilers 3 3 0713

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

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
Period 1 2 34Total
Oilers 10 7 7024
Ravens 7 0 01421

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

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

  1. ↑ 1996 Houston Oilers
  2. ↑ PRO FOOTBALL;N.F.L. Owners Approve Move To Nashville By the Oilers. The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  3. ↑ Oilers hope to prove lame ducks can soar. The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  4. ↑ "1996 Houston Oilers draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  5. ↑ "1996 Houston Oilers starters, roster, and players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
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