# 1984 Houston Oilers season

The 1984 Houston Oilers season was the 25th season overall and 15th with the league. The team improved upon their previous season's output of 2–14, winning three games, but failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. With hopes of improving the offense the Oilers won the bidding war to sign CFL star and future Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon. However, with Earl Campbell in full decline, the Oilers decided to trade him to the Saints after a 1–5 start. The move would leave a gaping hole at running back, but it was the defense that was a greater weak spot as the Oilers finished with a 3–13 record, allowing 457 points on the season.

## Regular season

Despite acquiring CFL star Warren Moon at quarterback, the Oilers stumbled out of the gate, falling to 0–10 before picking up a 17–16 win on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs. The following week they beat the New York Jets 31–20. In that game Moon tossed two touchdown passes to Tim Smith and one to Herkie Walls. The Oilers defense intercepted a Ken O'Brien pass. They picked up their third and final win of the season in overtime against the Pittsburgh Steelers 23–20. Moon connected with tight end Chris Dressell for a touchdown, while Steelersʼ quarterback Mark Malone tossed two interceptions – one to rookie Bo Eason and the other to Willie Tullis. The Oilers finished the season in last place in the AFC Central with a 3–13 record.

## Offseason

The 1984 draft would yield some solid players for Houston. They selected Dean Steinkuhler in round one. They used their second round choice to draft Doug Smith out of Auburn, but he spurred the Oilers to sign with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL. The draft also saw Houston land Johnny Meads, Jeff Donaldson, John Grimsley and Patrick Allen.

### Transactions

* October 10, 1984: The Houston Oilers traded running back Earl Campbell to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for their top choice in the 1985 NFL draft.

### NFL draft

The following players were selected in the 1984 NFL draft.
1984 Houston Oilers draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
| 1 | 2 | Dean Steinkuhler | Offensive tackle | Nebraska | |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

### Supplemental draft

The following players were selected in the 1984 NFL supplemental draft.
1984 Houston Oilers draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 2 | Mike Rozier * | Running back | Nebraska |
| 2 | 29 | Don Maggs | Tackle | Tulane |
| 3 | 58 | Lynn Madsen | Defensive Tackle | Washington |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | NFL.com recap |
| 1 | September 2 | Los Angeles Raiders | L 14–24 | 0–1 | Astrodome | Recap |
| 2 | September 9 | Indianapolis Colts | L 21–35 | 0–2 | Astrodome | Recap |
| 3 | September 16 | at San Diego Chargers | L 14–31 | 0–3 | Jack Murphy Stadium | Recap |
| 4 | September 23 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 10–42 | 0–4 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | Recap |
| 5 | September 30 | New Orleans Saints | L 10–27 | 0–5 | Astrodome | Recap |
| 6 | October 7 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 3–13 | 0–6 | Riverfront Stadium | Recap |
| 7 | October 14 | at Miami Dolphins | L 10–28 | 0–7 | Miami Orange Bowl | Recap |
| 8 | October 21 | San Francisco 49ers | L 21–34 | 0–8 | Astrodome | Recap |
| 9 | October 28 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 13–31 | 0–9 | Astrodome | Recap |
| 10 | November 4 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 7–35 | 0–10 | Three Rivers Stadium | Recap |
| 11 | November 11 | at Kansas City Chiefs | W 17–16 | 1–10 | Arrowhead Stadium | Recap |
| 12 | November 18 | New York Jets | W 20–31 | 2–10 | Astrodome | Recap |
| 13 | November 25 | at Cleveland Browns | L 10–27 | 2–11 | Cleveland Stadium | Recap |
| 14 | December 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 23–20 | 3–11 | Astrodome | Recap |
| 15 | December 9 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 16–27 | 3–12 | Anaheim Stadium | Recap |
| 16 | December 16 | Cleveland Browns | L 20–27 | 3–13 | Astrodome | Recap |

### Standings

AFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Pittsburgh Steelers$^{(3)}$ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 6–6 | 387 | 310 | W2 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 5–1 | 6–6 | 339 | 339 | W4 |
| Cleveland Browns | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 3–3 | 4–8 | 250 | 297 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 1–5 | 3–9 | 240 | 437 | L2 |

### Season summary
#### Week 2: vs. Indianapolis Colts

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts | 0 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Oilers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
at Astrodome • Houston, Texas
* Date: September 9, 1984
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 43,820
* Referee: Fred Wyant
* TV announcers (NBC): Phil Stone (play-by-play) and Reggie Rucker (color commentator)
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
Colts
Oilers :
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | IND | HOU |
| 1 | | | | | Oilers | Campbell 2-yard touchdown run, Kempf kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Colts | Pagel 1-yard touchdown run, Biasucci kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Oilers | Campbell 15-yard touchdown run, Kempf kick good | 7 | 14 |
| 2 | | | | | Colts | Dickey 15-yard touchdown run, Biasucci kick good | 14 | 14 |
| 2 | | | | | Colts | Butler 31-yard touchdown reception from Pagel, Biasucci kick good | 21 | 14 |
| 3 | | | | | Colts | Butler 14-yard touchdown reception from Pagel, Biasucci kick good | 28 | 14 |
| 4 | | | | | Oilers | Campbell 1-yard touchdown run, Kempf kick good | 28 | 21 |
| 4 | | | | | Colts | Porter 33-yard touchdown reception from Pagel, Biasucci kick good | 35 | 21 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 35 | 21 |

#### Week 8 (Sunday, October 21, 1984): vs. San Francisco 49ers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers (7–1) | 10 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 34 |
| Oilers (0–8) | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
at Houston Astrodome • Houston, Texas
* Date: October 21, 1984
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: indoors
* Game attendance: 39,900
* Referee: Gene Barth
* TV announcers (CBS): Tom Brookshier (play-by-play) and Wayne Walker (color commentator)
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| SF | Passing | Joe Montana | 25/35, 353 YDS, 3 TDs, 1 INT |
| SF | Rushing | Wendell Tyler | 23 CAR, 108 YDS |
| SF | Receiving | Dwight Clark | 5 REC, 127 YDS, 1 TD |
| HOU | Passing | Warren Moon | 25/33, 356 YDS, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| HOU | Rushing | Larry Moriarty | 9 CAR, 36 YDS, 1 TD |
| HOU | Receiving | Tim Smith | 6 REC, 101 YDS, 1 TD |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | SF | HOU |
| 1 | 9:56 | | | | 49ers | Francis 11-yard touchdown reception from Montana, Wersching kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 1 | 3:17 | | | | 49ers | 26-yard field goal by Wersching | 10 | 0 |
| 2 | 14:49 | | | | Oilers | Moriarty 1-yard touchdown run, Kempf kick good | 10 | 7 |
| 2 | 0:29 | | | | 49ers | Tyler 26-yard touchdown reception from Montana, Wersching kick good | 17 | 7 |
| 3 | 12:22 | | | | 49ers | 22-yard field goal by Wersching | 20 | 7 |
| 3 | 5:42 | | | | Oilers | Smith 45-yard touchdown reception from Moon, Kemof kick good | 20 | 14 |
| 4 | 7:50 | | | | 49ers | Craig 5-yard touchdown run, Wersching kick good | 27 | 14 |
| 4 | 5:18 | | | | Oilers | Williams 29-yard touchdown reception from Moon, Kempf kick good | 27 | 21 |
| 4 | 5:00 | | | | 49ers | Clark 80-yard touchdown reception from Montana, Wersching kick good | 34 | 21 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 34 | 21 |
* Point spread: 49ers by 11
* Over/Under: 42.0 (over)
* Time of Game:
| 49ers | Game Statistics | Oilers |
| 25 | First downs | 22 |
| 38–164 | Rushes–yards | 18–82 |
| 353 | Passing yards | 356 |
| 25–35–1 | Passes | 25–33–2 |
| 1–0 | Sacked–yards | 2–6 |
| 353 | Net passing yards | 350 |
| 517 | Total yards | 432 |
| 85 | Return yards | 105 |
| 3–49.3 | Punts | 3–46.3 |
| 2–0 | Fumbles–lost | 3–1 |
| 8–70 | Penalties–yards | 7–75 |
| 34:13 | Time of Possession | 25:47 |

#### Week 15

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oilers | 3 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| Rams | 17 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California
* Date: December 9, 1984
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Sunny, 58 °F or 14.4 °C
* Game attendance: 49,092
* Referee: Fred Silva
* TV: NBC
* Pro-Football-Reference.com, The Football Database
Game information :
First quarter
LA – Drew Hill 57-yard pass from Jeff Kemp (Mike Lansford kick), 13:08. Rams 7–0. Drive:
HOU – Joe Cooper 21-yard field goal, 7:22. Rams 7–3. Drive:
LA – Eric Dickerson 7-yard run (Mike Lansford kick), 4:28. Rams 14–3. Drive:
LA – Mike Lansford 35-yard field goal, 1:42. Rams 17–3. Drive:
Second quarter
HOU – Joe Cooper 42-yard field goal, 13:19. Rams 17–6. Drive:
HOU – Larry Moriarty 4-yard run (Joe Cooper kick), 6:13. Rams 17–13. Drive:
LA – Mike Lansford 19-yard field goal, 2:26. Rams 20–13. Drive:
Third quarter
HOU – Joe Cooper 18 yard field goal, 7:50. Rams 20–16. Drive:
Fourth quarter
LA – Eric Dickerson 6–yard run, 5:49. Rams 27–16. Drive:
Top passers
HOU – Warren Moon – 19/29, 200 yards, INT
LA – Jeff Kemp – 12/23, 199 yards, TD
Top rushers
HOU – Larry Moriarty – 24 rushes, 102 yards, TD
LA – Eric Dickerson – 27 rushes, 215 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
HOU – Tim Smith – 6 receptions, 69 yards
LA – Drew Hill – 1 reception, 57 yards, TD :