The 1989 Houston Oilers season was the franchise's 30th season and their 20th in the National Football League (NFL). The franchise scored 365 points while the defense gave up 412 points. Their record of 9 wins and 7 losses resulted in a second-place finish in the AFC Central Division. The Oilers appeared once on Monday Night Football and appeared in the playoffs for the third consecutive year. It would be Jerry Glanville’s final year as the Oilers coach. Despite making the playoffs, the Oilers, like their arch rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, had a negative point differential, making them the first teams since the 1984 Giants with this distinction.
Offseason
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1989 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeSteve AveryFullbackNorthern MichiganScott BednarskiFullbackTCUTwalure BoydWide receiverWyomingDaryl llikainenGuardNorth Dakota StateWesley KeckFullbackNorth Texas State
Personnel
Roster
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 10 at Minnesota Vikings L 7–38 0–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 54,015 2 September 17 at San Diego Chargers W 34–27 1–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 42,013 3 September 24 Buffalo Bills L 41–47 (OT) 1–2 Astrodome 57,278 4 October 1 Miami Dolphins W 39–7 2–2 Astrodome 53,326 5 October 8 at New England Patriots L 13–23 2–3 Sullivan Stadium 59,828 6 October 15 at Chicago Bears W 33–28 3–3 Soldier Field 64,383 7 October 22 Pittsburgh Steelers W 27–0 4–3 Astrodome 59,091 8 October 29 at Cleveland Browns L 17–28 4–4 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 78,765 9 November 5 Detroit Lions W 35–31 5–4 Astrodome 48,056 10 Cincinnati Bengals W 26–24 6–4 Astrodome 60,694 11 November 19 Los Angeles Raiders W 23–7 7–4 Astrodome 59,198 12 November 26 at Kansas City Chiefs L 0–34 7–5 Arrowhead Stadium 51,342 13 December 3 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 23–16 8–5 Three Rivers Stadium 40,541 14 December 10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 20–17 9–5 Astrodome 54,532 15 December 17 at Cincinnati Bengals L 7–61 9–6 Riverfront Stadium 47,510 16 Cleveland Browns L 20–24 9–7 Astrodome 58,852 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Playoffs Week Date Opponent Result Attendance Wildcard December 31 Pittsburgh Steelers L 23–26 (OT) 58,406
Standings
Game summaries
Week 3
. Retrieved 2021-Jun-05.
Playoffs
AFC Wildcard Game
Steelers defensive back Rod Woodson recovered a fumble to set up Gary Anderson's winning 51-yard field goal in overtime to give Pittsburgh the win. The Steelers scored first with running back Tim Worley's 1-yard rushing touchdown. But from that point on until the fourth quarter, the two teams exchanged 6 field goals. In the final period, Oilers quarterback Warren Moon, who finished the game with 315 passing yards, threw two touchdowns to wide receiver Ernest Givins, an 18-yarder and a 9-yarder. However, Pittsburgh running back Merrill Hoge tied the game on a 2-yard rushing touchdown with 46 seconds left in regulation.
Hoge finished the game with 100 rushing yards on just 17 carries, along with 3 receptions for 26 yards.
Awards and records Ray Childress, 1989 AFC Pro Bowl selection Warren Moon, Pro Bowl Warren Moon, All-Pro selection Warren Moon, Man of the Year
Milestones Warren Moon, 1st 400 Yard Passing Game (414)
References
External links 1989 Houston Oilers at Pro-Football-Reference.com