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{{short description|35th season in franchise history}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox NFL season
{{Infobox NFL team season
| team = Houston Oilers
| team = Houston Oilers
| year = 1994
| year = 1994
| record = 2–14
| record = 2–14
| division_place = 4th [[AFC North|AFC Central]]
| division_place = 4th [[AFC North|AFC Central]]
| general_manager = [[Floyd Reese]]
| coach = [[Jack Pardee]] <small>(10 games)</small><br />[[Jeff Fisher]] <small>(final 6 games)</small>
| stadium = [[Reliant Astrodome|Astrodome]]
| owner = [[Bud Adams]]
| coach = [[Jack Pardee]] <small>(fired on November 14, 1-9 record)</small><br />[[Jeff Fisher]] <small>(interim; 1-5 record)</small>
| playoffs = ''did not qualify''
| stadium = [[Reliant Astrodome|Houston Astrodome]]
| playoffs = ''Did not qualify''
| pro_bowlers = C [[Bruce Matthews (American football)|Bruce Matthews]]<br />CB [[Darryll Lewis]]
| uniform = [[File:Houston oilers uniforms.png|180px]]
| shortnavlink = Oilers seasons
}}
}}


The '''[[1994 NFL season|1994]] [[Houston Oilers]] season''' was the 35th season overall and 25th with the [[National Football League]] (NFL).<ref>[http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1994.htm 1994 Houston Oilers]</ref>
The '''1994 [[Houston Oilers]] season''' was the 35th season overall the Oilers played and their 25th with the [[National Football League]] (NFL), and was part of the [[1994 NFL season]].<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1994.htm 1994 Houston Oilers]</ref> The Oilers missed the playoffs for the first time since 1986.


Despite finishing with a 12–4 record and a first round bye the [[1993 Houston Oilers season|previous season]], team owner [[Bud Adams]] made good on a threat to break up the team if they did not win the Super Bowl. The two biggest losses the Oilers suffered were the trading of [[Warren Moon]], the team's longtime starting quarterback, to the [[Minnesota Vikings]] and the departure of defensive coordinator [[Buddy Ryan]], who was hired to coach the [[Arizona Cardinals]]. With Moon being replaced by career backup [[Cody Carlson]] and the defense left without its leader, the 1994 Oilers went into a tailspin despite returning several of their explosive offensive players such as [[Ernest Givins]] and [[Haywood Jeffires]]. The team started out with only one win in their first ten games, which led to the resignation of head coach [[Jack Pardee]]. When the season was over the Oilers stood at 2–14, tying their [[1983 Houston Oilers season|1983 squad]] with the team's fewest wins in a sixteen game season and the second fewest overall, with the [[1972 Houston Oilers season|1972]] and [[1973 Houston Oilers season|1973]] squads only winning once each season. The ten-game swing is the worst season-to-season drop in games won in NFL history, which would later be tied by the [[2013 Houston Texans season|2013 Houston Texans]]. Seven of their fourteen losses came by three points or fewer.
Two notable losses the Oilers suffered were the trading of [[Warren Moon]], the team’s longtime starting quarterback, to [[1994 Minnesota Vikings season|the Minnesota Vikings]] and the departure of defensive coordinator [[Buddy Ryan]], who was hired to coach the [[Arizona Cardinals]]. With Moon being replaced by career backup [[Cody Carlson]] and the defense left without its leader, the 1994 Oilers went into a tailspin despite returning several of their explosive offensive players such as [[Ernest Givins]] and [[Haywood Jeffires]]. The team started out with only one win in their first ten games, which led to head coach [[Jack Pardee]] and offensive coordinator [[Kevin Gilbride]] being fired. [[Jeff Fisher]], who had just joined the team that year as Ryan's replacement as defensive coordinator, was promoted to head coach.


Carlson did not last the season as he suffered a series of injuries that proved to be career ending. [[Billy Joe Tolliver]] ended up making the most starts of any Oilers quarterback, losing all seven of his starts. Neither Tolliver, Carlson, or third quarterback [[Bucky Richardson]] threw for more than six touchdowns (Carlson only managed one in five starts) and Tolliver and Carlson threw more interceptions than touchdowns. Running back Gary Brown could not repeat his 1,000-yard total from the previous year, managing only 648. Givins, who had recorded nearly 900 receiving yards in 1993, fell to 521 in 1994 while seeing his receptions total drop to 35. Jeffires' numbers improved slightly, and he led the Oilers in receiving touchdowns with six, but he was not elected to the Pro Bowl as he had been in 1993. Slaughter, meanwhile, only caught two touchdowns, which was his lowest total to that point in his career. The offense finished last in the league in points scored and 26th in total yardage.
Although the Oilers finished with the worst record that season, they did not receive the #1 pick in the [[1995 NFL Draft]] due to the entry of the expansion [[Carolina Panthers]] and [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] into the league (under NFL rules, a new team is automatically granted the first pick in their first draft, unless they decide to give it up as the Panthers would do). However, the news was not all negative. With the high pick the Oilers chose [[Steve McNair]], who would go on to become one of the franchise's all-time great players, and after Pardee resigned his defensive coordinator [[Jeff Fisher]] was promoted to replace him. Fisher would go on to lead the franchise, which moved to [[Tennessee]] under his watch, for the remaining five games of the [[1994 NFL season|1994 season]] and stay for the next sixteen seasons before he was fired following the [[2010 Tennessee Titans season|2010 season]].

The defense, which lost several of its key pieces from the previous season including its two leaders in sacks, also fell off. After giving up the fourth-lowest point total in 1993, the Oilers allowed a total of 352 points in 1994. Despite that, three players recorded at least six sacks with [[Lamar Lathon]] leading with 8.5. [[Darryll Lewis]] recorded five interceptions in his first full season as a starter, with fellow cornerback [[Cris Dishman]] getting four and returning one for a touchdown, and safety [[Marcus Robertson]] adding three of his own. The defense also managed to improve on their total yardage allowed from 1993, moving up from ninth in that category despite finishing near the bottom of the league in points allowed.

When the season was over the Oilers stood at 2–14, tying their [[1983 Houston Oilers season|1983 squad]] with the team’s fewest wins in a sixteen game season and the second-fewest overall, with the [[1972 Houston Oilers season|1972]], [[1973 Houston Oilers season|1973]], [[1982 Houston Oilers season|1982]] squads only winning once each season. The ten-game swing is the worst season-to-season drop in games won in NFL history, which would later be tied by the [[2013 Houston Texans season|2013 Houston Texans]]. Seven of their fourteen losses came by three points or fewer.

Although the Oilers finished with the worst record that season, they did not receive the #1 pick in the [[1995 NFL draft]] due to the entry of the expansion [[History of the Carolina Panthers|Carolina Panthers]] and [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] into the league (under NFL rules, a new team is automatically granted the first pick in their first draft, unless they decide to give it up as the Panthers would do). However, the news was not all negative. With the high pick the Oilers chose [[Steve McNair]], who would go on to become one of the franchise’s all-time great players.


==Offseason==
==Offseason==
After having imploded in the playoffs against [[1993 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City]] in the [[1993-94_NFL_playoffs#AFC:_Kansas_City_Chiefs_28.2C_Houston_Oilers_20|1993 playoffs]], the Oilers traded long-time [[quarterback]] [[Warren Moon]] to [[1994 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]], leaving [[Cody Carlson]] as the starter for the 1994 season.
After having imploded in the playoffs against [[1993 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City]] in the [[1993–94 NFL playoffs#AFC: Kansas City Chiefs 28.2C Houston Oilers 20|1993 playoffs]], the Oilers traded long-time [[quarterback]] [[Warren Moon]] to [[1994 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]], leaving [[Cody Carlson]] as the starter for the 1994 season. Carlson, however, was severely injured early in the season and would eventually retire due to said injuries after the season.

===NFL Draft===
{{main|1994 NFL draft}}
{{NFL team draft start
| year = 1994
| teamname = Houston Oilers
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 1
| pick = 26
| player = [[Henry Ford (defensive lineman)|Henry Ford]]
| position = [[Defensive tackle]]
| college = [[Arkansas Razorbacks football|Arkansas]]
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 2
| pick = 60
| player = [[Jeremy Nunley]]
| position = [[Defensive end]]
| college = [[Alabama Crimson Tide football|Alabama]]
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 3
| pick = 101
| player = [[Malcolm Floyd]]
| position = [[Wide receiver]]
| college = [[Fresno State Bulldogs football|Fresno State]]
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 4
| pick = 119
| player = [[Mike Davis (defensive back, born 1972)|Mike Davis]]
| position = [[Cornerback]]
| college = [[Cincinnati Bearcats football|Cincinnati]]
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 4
| pick = 129
| player = Sean Jackson
| position = [[Running back]]
| college = [[Florida State Seminoles football|Florida State]]
| notes =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 5
| pick = 157
| player = [[Roderick Lewis]]
| position = [[Tight end]]
| college = [[Arizona Wildcats football|Arizona]]
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 5
| pick = 161
| player = Jim Reid
| position = [[Offensive tackle]]
| college = [[Virginia Cavaliers football|Virginia]]
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 6
| pick = 187
| player = [[Lee Gissendaner]]
| position = [[Wide receiver]]
| college = [[Northwestern Wildcats football|Northwestern]]
| notes =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 6
| pick = 194
| player = [[Barron Wortham]]
| position = [[Linebacker]]
| college = [[UTEP Miners football|UTEP]]
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 7
| pick = 220
| player = [[Lemanski Hall]]
| position = Linebacker
| college = Alabama
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
}}
{{NFL team draft end
| probowl = no
| hof = no
}}
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1994_draft.htm |title=1994 Houston Oilers draftees |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=October 27, 2014 }}</ref>


==Personnel==
==Personnel==

===Staff===
===Staff===
{{NFL final staff
{{NFL final staff
Line 26: Line 139:


| front_office =
| front_office =
* Owner/Chairman of the Board/President – [[Bud Adams]]
* Owner/chairman of the board/president – [[Bud Adams]]
* Executive Vice President/General Manager – [[Floyd Reese]]
* Executive vice-president/general manager – [[Floyd Reese]]
* Vice President of Player Personnel and Scouting – [[Mike Holovak]]
* Vice-president of player personnel and scouting – [[Mike Holovak]]


| head_coach =
| head_coach =
* Head Coach – [[Jack Pardee]]
* Head coach – [[Jack Pardee]]
* Assistant Head Coach/Offense – [[Kevin Gilbride]]
* Assistant head coach/offense – [[Kevin Gilbride]]


| offensive =
| offensive =
* Offensive Coordinator – [[Dick Coury]]
* Offensive coordinator – [[Dick Coury]]
* Running backs – [[Frank Novak (American football)|Frank Novak]]
* Receivers – [[Charlie Baggett]]
* Receivers – [[Charlie Baggett]]
* Offensive Line – [[Bob Young (American football)|Bob Young]]
* Offensive line – [[Bob Young (offensive lineman)|Bob Young]]


| defensive =
| defensive =
* Defensive Coordinator – [[Jeff Fisher]]
* Defensive coordinator – [[Jeff Fisher]]
* Defensive Line – [[Jim Stanley]]
* Defensive line – [[Jim Stanley (American football)|Jim Stanley]]
* Linebackers – [[Gregg Williams]]
* Linebackers – [[Gregg Williams]]
* Defensive Backs – [[Tom Bettis]]
* Defensive backs – [[Tom Bettis]]
* Quality Control – [[Frank Bush]]
* Quality control – [[Frank Bush]]


| special_teams =
| special_teams =
* Special Teams – [[Frank Novak (American football)|Frank Novak]]
* Special teams – Frank Novak


| strength =
| strength =
Line 54: Line 168:


===Roster===
===Roster===
{{NFL season roster
{| class="toccolours" style="text-align: left;"
| year = 1994
|-
| team = Houston Oilers
! colspan="7" style="{{NFLPrimaryColor|Houston Oilers}}; color:white; border:2px solid #C60C30; text-align: center;"|'''1994 Houston Oilers roster'''
|-
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Quarterbacks'''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">14</span> [[Cody Carlson]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">&nbsp;7</span> [[Bucky Richardson]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">11</span> [[Billy Joe Tolliver]]


| quarterbacks =
'''Running Backs'''
{{NFLplayer|14|Cody Carlson}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">33</span> [[Gary Brown (running back)|Gary Brown]]
{{NFLplayer|&nbsp;7|Bucky Richardson}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">47</span> [[Le'Shai Maston]]
{{NFLplayer|11|Billy Joe Tolliver}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">37</span> [[Todd McNair]]
{{NFLplayer|10|Lee Williamson|d=American football}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">32</span> [[Spencer Tillman]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">44</span> [[Lorenzo White]]


| running_backs =
'''Wide Receivers'''
{{NFLplayer|33|Gary Brown|d=running back}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">89</span> [[Reggie A. Brown]]
{{NFLplayer|47|Le'Shai Maston|FB}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">87</span> [[Pat Coleman]]
{{NFLplayer|37|Todd McNair}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">83</span> [[Malcolm Floyd]]
{{NFLplayer|32|Spencer Tillman}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">81</span> [[Ernest Givins]]
{{NFLplayer|44|Lorenzo White}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">82</span> [[Travis Hannah]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">80</span> [[Haywood Jeffires]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">84</span> [[Webster Slaughter]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">88</span> [[Gary Wellman]]


| wide_receivers =
'''Tight Ends'''
{{NFLplayer|87|Pat Coleman}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">85</span> [[Pat Carter]]
* {{player|83}} ''[[Malcolm Floyd|Malcolm Seabron]]''
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">49</span> [[Roderick Lewis]]
{{NFLplayer|81|Ernest Givins}}
{{NFLplayer|82|Travis Hannah}}
{{NFLplayer|80|Haywood Jeffires}}
{{NFLplayer|84|Webster Slaughter}}
{{NFLplayer|88|Gary Wellman}}


| tight_ends =
| style="width: 25px;" |
{{NFLplayer|85|Pat Carter}}
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Offensive Linemen'''
{{NFLplayer|49|Roderick Lewis|rookie=y}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">77</span> [[Kevin Donnalley]] G/T
{{NFLplayer|48|John Henry Mills}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">55</span> [[John Flannery (American football)|John Flannery]] C
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">72</span> [[Brad Hopkins]] T
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">74</span> [[Bruce Matthews (American football)|Bruce Matthews]] G/T
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">64</span> [[Erik Norgard]] G/C
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">70</span> [[Stan Thomas (American football)|Stan Thomas]] T
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">73</span> [[David Williams (offensive lineman)|David Williams]] T


| offensive_linemen =
'''Defensive Linemen'''
{{NFLplayer|77|Kevin Donnalley|G}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">79</span> [[Ray Childress]] DT/DE
{{NFLplayer|55|John Flannery|d=American football|G}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">90</span> [[Kenny Davidson]] DE
{{NFLplayer|72|Brad Hopkins|T}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">92</span> [[Henry Ford (American football)|Henry Ford]] DT/DE
{{NFLplayer|74|Bruce Matthews|d=American football|C}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">78</span> [[Keith McCants]] DE
{{NFLplayer|64|Erik Norgard|C/G}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">94</span> [[Glenn Montgomery]] DT
{{NFLplayer|67|Jim Reid|d=offensive lineman|rookie=y|T}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">93</span> [[Jeremy Nunley]] DE
{{NFLplayer|75|Bill Schultz|d=American football|G}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">68</span> [[Tim Roberts (American football)|Tim Roberts]] DE
{{NFLplayer|70|Stan Thomas|d=American football|T}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">71</span> [[Mike Teeter]] DE/DT
{{NFLplayer|73|David Williams|d=offensive lineman|T}}


| defensive_linemen =
| style="width: 25px;" |
{{NFLplayer|79|Ray Childress|DT}}
| style="font-size: 95%;" valign="top" | '''Linebackers'''
{{NFLplayer|90|Kenny Davidson|d=American football|DE}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">56</span> [[Micheal Barrow]] ROLB
{{NFLplayer|92|Henry Ford|d=defensive lineman|rookie=y|DE}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">59</span> [[Joe Bowden]] OLB
{{NFLplayer|57|Lamar Lathon|DE}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">53</span> [[Brett Faryniarz]] OLB
{{NFLplayer|94|Glenn Montgomery|DT}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">57</span> [[Lamar Lathon]] OLB/DE
{{NFLplayer|93|Jeremy Nunley|rookie=y|DE}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">48</span> [[John Henry Mills]] LB/TE
{{NFLplayer|68|Tim Roberts|d=American football|DT}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">50</span> [[Eddie Robinson (linebacker)|Eddie Robinson]] LOLB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">54</span> [[Al Smith (American football)|Al Smith]] MLB
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">52</span> [[Barron Wortham]] MLB


| linebackers =
'''Defensive Backs'''
{{NFLplayer|56|Micheal Barrow|OLB}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">22</span> [[Tomur Barnes]] CB
{{NFLplayer|59|Joe Bowden|OLB}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">23</span> [[Blaine Bishop]] SS
{{NFLplayer|53|Brett Faryniarz|OLB}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">30</span> [[Mike Davis (defensive back, born 1972)|Mike Davis]] S
{{NFLplayer|51|Lemanski Hall|rookie=y|OLB}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">28</span> [[Cris Dishman]] CB
{{NFLplayer|50|Eddie Robinson|d3=Jr.|OLB}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">24</span> [[Steve Jackson (defensive back)|Steve Jackson]] CB
{{NFLplayer|54|Al Smith|d=American football|MLB}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">29</span> [[Darryll Lewis]] CB
{{NFLplayer|52|Barron Wortham|rookie=y|MLB}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">25</span> [[Bubba McDowell]]
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">26</span> [[Bo Orlando]] S
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">31</span> [[Marcus Robertson]] FS


| defensive_back =
'''Special Teams'''
{{NFLplayer|22|Tomur Barnes|CB}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">16</span> [[Rich Camarillo]] P
{{NFLplayer|23|Blaine Bishop|SS}}
* <span style="font-family: Courier New;">&nbsp;3</span> [[Al Del Greco]] K
{{NFLplayer|30|Mike Davis|d=defensive back, born 1972|rookie=y|CB}}
|}
{{NFLplayer|28|Cris Dishman|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|24|Steve Jackson|d=defensive back|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|29|Darryll Lewis|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|25|Bubba McDowell|SS}}
{{NFLplayer|26|Bo Orlando|FS}}
{{NFLplayer|31|Marcus Robertson|FS}}

| special_teams =
{{NFLplayer|16|Rich Camarillo|P}}
{{NFLplayer|&nbsp;3|Al Del Greco|K}}

| reserve_lists =
{{NFLplayer|89|Reggie Brown|d=wide receiver, born 1970|WR|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|41|Sean Jackson|d=American football|rookie=y|RB|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|71|Mike Teeter|DE|IR}}

<small>53 active, 3 inactive, 2 practice squad</small>


| practice_squad =
{{NFLplayer|86|Mario Bailey|WR}}
{{NFLplayer|98|Willie Jennings|rookie=y|DT}}


}}
<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1994_roster.htm |title=1994 Houston Oilers starters, roster, and players |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=October 28, 2014 }}</ref>


==Regular season==
==Regular season==

===Schedule===
===Schedule===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1994|border=2}}"| Week
! Week
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1994|border=2}}"| Date
! Date
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1994|border=2}}"| Opponent
! Opponent
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1994|border=2}}"| Result
! Result
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1994|border=2}}"| Record
! Attendance
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1994|border=2}}"| Venue
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1994|border=2}}"| Recap
| 1
|-style="background:#fcc"
| September 4, 1994
! 1
| September 4
| at [[1994 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]]
| at [[1994 Indianapolis Colts season|Indianapolis Colts]]
| L 45–21
| '''L''' 21–45
| 0–1
| <center>47,372</center>
| [[RCA Dome]]
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199409040clt.htm Recap]
| 2
|-style="background:#fcc"
| September 11, 1994
! 2
| September 11
| at [[1994 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]
| at [[1994 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]
| L 20–17
| '''L''' 17–20
| 0–2
| <center>64,402</center>
| [[Texas Stadium]]
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199409110dal.htm Recap]
| 3
|-style="background:#fcc"
| September 18, 1994
! 3
| September 18
| [[1994 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]
| [[1994 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]
| L 15–7
| '''L''' 7–15
| 0–3
| <center>55,424</center>
| [[Astrodome]]
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199409180oti.htm Recap]
| 4
|-style="background:#cfc"
| September 25, 1994
! 4
| [[1994 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]
| September 25
| W 20–13
| '''[[1994 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]'''
| <center>44,253</center>
| '''W''' 20–13
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| 5
| 1–3
| Astrodome
| October 3, 1994
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199409250oti.htm Recap]
| at [[1994 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]
|-style="background:#fcc"
| L 30–14
! 5
| <center>57,274</center>
| {{dow tooltip|October 3, 1994}}
| at '''[[1994 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]'''
| '''L''' 14–30
| 1–4
| [[Three Rivers Stadium]]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199410030pit.htm Recap]
|-
|-
| 6
! 6
| colspan=4 align="center" | ''Bye''
| colspan=6 |''[[Bye (sports)|Bye]]''
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
|-style="background:#fcc"
| 7
! 7
| October 13, 1994
| {{dow tooltip|October 13, 1994}}
| [[1994 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]
| '''[[1994 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]'''
| L 11–8
| '''L''' 8–11
| 1–5
| <center>50,364</center>
| Astrodome
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199410130oti.htm Recap]
| 8
|-style="background:#fcc"
| October 24, 1994
! 8
|{{dow tooltip| October 24, 1994}}
| at [[1994 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]]
| at [[1994 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]]
| L 21–6
| '''L''' 6–21
| 1–6
| <center>65,233</center>
| [[Veterans Stadium]]
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199410240phi.htm Recap]
| 9
|-style="background:#fcc"
| October 30, 1994
! 9
| October 30
| at [[1994 Los Angeles Raiders season|Los Angeles Raiders]]
| at [[1994 Los Angeles Raiders season|Los Angeles Raiders]]
| L 17–14
| '''L''' 14–17
| 1–7
| <center>40,473</center>
| [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199410300rai.htm Recap]
| 10
|-style="background:#fcc"
| November 6, 1994
! 10
| Pittsburgh Steelers
| November 6
| L 9–12
| '''Pittsburgh Steelers'''
| <center>47,822</center>
| '''L''' 9–12 {{Small|(OT)}}
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| 11
| 1–8
| Astrodome
| November 13, 1994
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199411060oti.htm Recap]
| at Cincinnati Bengals
|-style="background:#fcc"
| L 34–31
! 11
| <center>54,908</center>
| November 13
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| at '''Cincinnati Bengals'''
| 12
| '''L''' 31–34
| November 21, 1994
| 1–9
| [[Riverfront Stadium]]
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199411130cin.htm Recap]
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 12
| November 21
| [[1994 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]
| [[1994 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]
| L 13–10
| '''L''' 10–13
| 1–10
| <center>53,201</center>
| Astrodome
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199411210oti.htm Recap]
| 13
|-style="background:#fcc"
| November 27, 1994
! 13
| at Cleveland Browns
| November 27
| L 34–10
| at '''Cleveland Browns'''
| <center>65,088</center>
| '''L''' 10–34
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| 14
| 1–11
| [[Cleveland Stadium]]
| December 4, 1994
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199411270cle.htm Recap]
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 14
| December 4
| [[1994 Arizona Cardinals season|Arizona Cardinals]]
| [[1994 Arizona Cardinals season|Arizona Cardinals]]
| L 30–12
| '''L''' 12–30
| 1–12
| <center>39,821</center>
| Astrodome
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199412040oti.htm Recap]
| 15
|-style="background:#fcc"
| December 11, 1994
! 15
| December 11
| [[1994 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]
| [[1994 Seattle Seahawks season|Seattle Seahawks]]
| L 16–14
| '''L''' 14–16
| 1–13
| <center>31,453</center>
| Astrodome
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199412110oti.htm Recap]
| 16
|-style="background:#fcc"
| December 18, 1994
! 16
| December 18
| at [[1994 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]
| at [[1994 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]
| L 31–9
| '''L''' 9–31
| 1–14
| <center>74,474</center>
| [[Arrowhead Stadium]]
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199412180kan.htm Recap]
| 17
|-style="background:#cfc"
| December 24, 1994
! 17
| {{dow tooltip|December 24, 1994}}
| [[1994 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]
| [[1994 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]
| W 24–10
| '''W''' 24–10
| 2–14
| <center>31,176</center>
| Astrodome
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199412240oti.htm Recap]
|-style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Houston Oilers|year=1994|border=2}}"
|colspan="8"| '''Note:''' Intra-division opponents are in '''bold''' text.
|}
|}

===Game summaries===

====Week 14====
{{AFB game box start
|Title=
|Visitor=Cardinals
|V1=0 |V2=10 |V3=0 |V4=20
|Host=Oilers
|H1=9 |H2=3 |H3=0 |H4=0
|Date=December 4
|Location=[[Astrodome]], [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], [[Texas]]
|StartTime=3:00 p.m.
|TimeZone=CST
|ElapsedTime=
|Attendance=39,821
|Weather=played indoors, [[dome]]d stadium
|Referee=[[Red Cashion]]
|TVAnnouncers=
|TVStation=Fox
}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |FirstEntry=yes |Quarter=Q1 |Time=9:33 |Team=HOU |Event=Safety, [[Lamar Lathon]] tackled [[Jay Schroeder]] in end zone |Score=HOU 2–0}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=Q1 |Time=11:50 |Team=HOU |Event=[[Cris Dishman]] 36 yard interception return ([[Al Del Greco]] kick) |Score=HOU 9–0}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=Q2 |Time=2:59 |Team=ARI |Event=[[Larry Centers]] 1 yard rush ([[Greg Davis (placekicker)|Greg Davis]] kick) |Score=HOU 9–7}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=Q2 |Time=10:45 |Team=ARI |Event=[[Greg Davis (placekicker)|Greg Davis]] 25 yard field goal |Score=ARI 10–9}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=Q2 |Time=13:42 |Team=HOU |Event=[[Al Del Greco]] 34 yard field goal |Score=HOU 12–10}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=Q4 |Time=2:57 |Team=ARI |Event=[[Gary Clark (American football)|Gary Clark]] 13 yard pass from [[Jay Schroeder]] ([[Ronald Moore (American football)|Ronald Moore]] run) |Score=ARI 18–12}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=Q4 |Time= |Team=ARI |Event=[[Greg Davis (placekicker)|Greg Davis]] 23 yard field goal |Score=ARI 21–12}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=Q4 |Time= |Team=ARI |Event=[[Larry Centers]] 4 yard rush ([[Greg Davis (placekicker)|Greg Davis]] kick) |Score=ARI 28–12}}
{{AFB Game Box Scoring Entry |Quarter=Q4 |Time= |Team=ARI |Event=Safety, [[Eric Swann]] tackled [[Billy Joe Tolliver]] in end zone |Score=ARI 30–12|LastEntry=yes}}
{{AFB game box end}}
<ref>[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199412040oti.htm Arizona Cardinals at Houston Oilers – December 4th, 1994]. Retrieved 2018-Sep-10.</ref>
{{Clear}}

This ninth successive defeat for the Oilers has the unusual distinction of being the most recent NFL game as of [[2019 NFL season|2019]] during which ''both'' teams scored a [[Safety (gridiron football score)|safety]], and one of only eight since at least [[1940 NFL season|1940]].<ref>''[[Pro-Football-Reference.com|Pro Football Reference]]''; [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=game&year_min=1940&year_max=2017&game_type=E&game_num_min=0&game_num_max=99&week_num_min=0&week_num_max=99&temperature_gtlt=lt&c1stat=safety_md_opp&c1comp=gte&c1val=1&c2stat=safety_md&c2comp=gte&c2val=1&c5val=1.0&order_by=game_date&order_by_asc=Y In a single game, from 1940 to 2017, requiring opp Safeties >= 1 and Safeties >= 1, sorted by ascending Date]</ref>

====Week 17====
{{Clear}}


===Standings===
===Standings===
Line 248: Line 451:


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1994.htm 1994 Houston Oilers] at [[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]
* [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1994.htm 1994 Houston Oilers] at [[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]


{{Tennessee Titans}}
{{Tennessee Titans}}
Line 255: Line 458:


{{DEFAULTSORT:1994 Houston Oilers Season}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1994 Houston Oilers Season}}
[[Category:Tennessee Titans seasons|1994]]
[[Category:Houston Oilers seasons]]
[[Category:1994 National Football League season by team|Houston Oilers]]
[[Category:1994 National Football League season by team|Houston Oilers]]
[[Category:1994 in sports in Texas|Houston]]

Latest revision as of 22:17, 29 December 2024

1994 Houston Oilers season
OwnerBud Adams
General managerFloyd Reese
Head coachJack Pardee (fired on November 14, 1-9 record)
Jeff Fisher (interim; 1-5 record)
Home fieldHouston Astrodome
Results
Record2–14
Division place4th AFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersC Bruce Matthews
CB Darryll Lewis
Uniform

The 1994 Houston Oilers season was the 35th season overall the Oilers played and their 25th with the National Football League (NFL), and was part of the 1994 NFL season.[1] The Oilers missed the playoffs for the first time since 1986.

Two notable losses the Oilers suffered were the trading of Warren Moon, the team’s longtime starting quarterback, to the Minnesota Vikings and the departure of defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, who was hired to coach the Arizona Cardinals. With Moon being replaced by career backup Cody Carlson and the defense left without its leader, the 1994 Oilers went into a tailspin despite returning several of their explosive offensive players such as Ernest Givins and Haywood Jeffires. The team started out with only one win in their first ten games, which led to head coach Jack Pardee and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride being fired. Jeff Fisher, who had just joined the team that year as Ryan's replacement as defensive coordinator, was promoted to head coach.

Carlson did not last the season as he suffered a series of injuries that proved to be career ending. Billy Joe Tolliver ended up making the most starts of any Oilers quarterback, losing all seven of his starts. Neither Tolliver, Carlson, or third quarterback Bucky Richardson threw for more than six touchdowns (Carlson only managed one in five starts) and Tolliver and Carlson threw more interceptions than touchdowns. Running back Gary Brown could not repeat his 1,000-yard total from the previous year, managing only 648. Givins, who had recorded nearly 900 receiving yards in 1993, fell to 521 in 1994 while seeing his receptions total drop to 35. Jeffires' numbers improved slightly, and he led the Oilers in receiving touchdowns with six, but he was not elected to the Pro Bowl as he had been in 1993. Slaughter, meanwhile, only caught two touchdowns, which was his lowest total to that point in his career. The offense finished last in the league in points scored and 26th in total yardage.

The defense, which lost several of its key pieces from the previous season including its two leaders in sacks, also fell off. After giving up the fourth-lowest point total in 1993, the Oilers allowed a total of 352 points in 1994. Despite that, three players recorded at least six sacks with Lamar Lathon leading with 8.5. Darryll Lewis recorded five interceptions in his first full season as a starter, with fellow cornerback Cris Dishman getting four and returning one for a touchdown, and safety Marcus Robertson adding three of his own. The defense also managed to improve on their total yardage allowed from 1993, moving up from ninth in that category despite finishing near the bottom of the league in points allowed.

When the season was over the Oilers stood at 2–14, tying their 1983 squad with the team’s fewest wins in a sixteen game season and the second-fewest overall, with the 1972, 1973, 1982 squads only winning once each season. The ten-game swing is the worst season-to-season drop in games won in NFL history, which would later be tied by the 2013 Houston Texans. Seven of their fourteen losses came by three points or fewer.

Although the Oilers finished with the worst record that season, they did not receive the #1 pick in the 1995 NFL draft due to the entry of the expansion Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars into the league (under NFL rules, a new team is automatically granted the first pick in their first draft, unless they decide to give it up as the Panthers would do). However, the news was not all negative. With the high pick the Oilers chose Steve McNair, who would go on to become one of the franchise’s all-time great players.

Offseason

[edit]

After having imploded in the playoffs against Kansas City in the 1993 playoffs, the Oilers traded long-time quarterback Warren Moon to Minnesota, leaving Cody Carlson as the starter for the 1994 season. Carlson, however, was severely injured early in the season and would eventually retire due to said injuries after the season.

NFL Draft

[edit]
Main article: 1994 NFL draft
1994 Houston Oilers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 26 Henry Ford  Defensive tackle Arkansas
2 60 Jeremy Nunley  Defensive end Alabama
3 101 Malcolm Floyd  Wide receiver Fresno State
4 119 Mike Davis  Cornerback Cincinnati
4 129 Sean Jackson  Running back Florida State
5 157 Roderick Lewis  Tight end Arizona
5 161 Jim Reid  Offensive tackle Virginia
6 187 Lee Gissendaner  Wide receiver Northwestern
6 194 Barron Wortham  Linebacker UTEP
7 220 Lemanski Hall  Linebacker Alabama
      Made roster  

[2]

Personnel

[edit]

Staff

[edit]
1994 Houston Oilers staff

Front office

  • Owner/chairman of the board/president – Bud Adams
  • Executive vice-president/general manager – Floyd Reese
  • Vice-president of player personnel and scouting – Mike Holovak

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Frank Novak

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Rehabilitation – Steve Watterson


Roster

[edit]
1994 Houston Oilers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

Reserve


53 active, 3 inactive, 2 practice squad
Rookies in italics

[3]

Regular season

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 4 at Indianapolis Colts L 21–45 0–1 RCA Dome Recap
2 September 11 at Dallas Cowboys L 17–20 0–2 Texas Stadium Recap
3 September 18 Buffalo Bills L 7–15 0–3 Astrodome Recap
4 September 25 Cincinnati Bengals W 20–13 1–3 Astrodome Recap
5 October 3 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 14–30 1–4 Three Rivers Stadium Recap
6 Bye
7 October 13 Cleveland Browns L 8–11 1–5 Astrodome Recap
8 October 24 at Philadelphia Eagles L 6–21 1–6 Veterans Stadium Recap
9 October 30 at Los Angeles Raiders L 14–17 1–7 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap
10 November 6 Pittsburgh Steelers L 9–12 (OT) 1–8 Astrodome Recap
11 November 13 at Cincinnati Bengals L 31–34 1–9 Riverfront Stadium Recap
12 November 21 New York Giants L 10–13 1–10 Astrodome Recap
13 November 27 at Cleveland Browns L 10–34 1–11 Cleveland Stadium Recap
14 December 4 Arizona Cardinals L 12–30 1–12 Astrodome Recap
15 December 11 Seattle Seahawks L 14–16 1–13 Astrodome Recap
16 December 18 at Kansas City Chiefs L 9–31 1–14 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
17 December 24 New York Jets W 24–10 2–14 Astrodome Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

[edit]

Week 14

[edit]
1 234Total
• Cardinals 0 10020 30
Oilers 9 300 12
Scoring summary
Q19:33HOUSafety, Lamar Lathon tackled Jay Schroeder in end zoneHOU 2–0
Q111:50HOUCris Dishman 36 yard interception return (Al Del Greco kick)HOU 9–0
Q22:59ARILarry Centers 1 yard rush (Greg Davis kick)HOU 9–7
Q210:45ARIGreg Davis 25 yard field goalARI 10–9
Q213:42HOUAl Del Greco 34 yard field goalHOU 12–10
Q42:57ARIGary Clark 13 yard pass from Jay Schroeder (Ronald Moore run)ARI 18–12
Q4ARIGreg Davis 23 yard field goalARI 21–12
Q4ARILarry Centers 4 yard rush (Greg Davis kick)ARI 28–12
Q4ARISafety, Eric Swann tackled Billy Joe Tolliver in end zoneARI 30–12

[4]

This ninth successive defeat for the Oilers has the unusual distinction of being the most recent NFL game as of 2019 during which both teams scored a safety, and one of only eight since at least 1940.[5]

Week 17

[edit]

Standings

[edit]
AFC Central
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(1) Pittsburgh Steelers 12 4 0 .750 316 234 L1
(4) Cleveland Browns 11 5 0 .688 340 204 W1
Cincinnati Bengals 3 13 0 .188 276 406 W1
Houston Oilers 2 14 0 .125 226 352 W1

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 1994 Houston Oilers
  2. ^ "1994 Houston Oilers draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
  3. ^ "1994 Houston Oilers starters, roster, and players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  4. ^ Arizona Cardinals at Houston Oilers – December 4th, 1994. Retrieved 2018-Sep-10.
  5. ^ Pro Football Reference; In a single game, from 1940 to 2017, requiring opp Safeties >= 1 and Safeties >= 1, sorted by ascending Date
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=1994_Houston_Oilers_season&oldid=1266058234"