1971 Houston Oilers season
NFL team season
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The 1971 Houston Oilers season was the team's 12th season, and second with the National Football League. The Oilers improved on their previous season's output of three victories, winning four games in 1971.[1] They missed the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
| 1971 Houston Oilers season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Bud Adams |
| General manager | John W. Breen |
| Head coach | Ed Hughes |
| Home stadium | Houston Astrodome |
| Results | |
| Record | 4–9–1 |
| Division place | 3rd AFC Central |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | FS Ken Houston |
The 1971 Oilers are the only team in NFL history to throw three-or-more interceptions in ten different games.[2] (The team was 2–7–1 in those games.)
One of the only bright spots was fifth year safety Ken Houston. Houston, who had the best season of his career, snagged 9 interceptions for 220 yards and 4 touchdowns (all career highs).
Offseason
NFL draft
| 1971 Houston Oilers draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Dan Pastorini * | Quarterback | Santa Clara | |
| 3 | 56 | Lynn Dickey | Quarterback | Kansas State | |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career | |||||
Roster
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 19 | at Cleveland Browns | L 0–31 | 0–1 | Cleveland Stadium | 73,387 | Recap |
| 2 | September 26 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 16–20 | 0–2 | Houston Astrodome | 46,498 | Recap |
| 3 | October 3 | New Orleans Saints | T 13–13 | 0–2–1 | Houston Astrodome | 47,966 | Recap |
| 4 | October 10 | at Washington Redskins | L 13–22 | 0–3–1 | RFK Stadium | 53,041 | Recap |
| 5 | October 17 | Detroit Lions | L 7–31 | 0–4–1 | Houston Astrodome | 45,885 | Recap |
| 6 | October 24 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 16–23 | 0–5–1 | Three Rivers Stadium | 45,872 | Recap |
| 7 | October 31 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 10–6 | 1–5–1 | Houston Astrodome | 37,947 | Recap |
| 8 | November 7 | at New England Patriots | L 20–28 | 1–6–1 | Schaefer Stadium | 53,155 | Recap |
| 9 | November 14 | at Oakland Raiders | L 21–41 | 1–7–1 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 54,705 | Recap |
| 10 | November 21 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 13–28 | 1–8–1 | Riverfront Stadium | 59,390 | Recap |
| 11 | November 28 | Cleveland Browns | L 24–37 | 1–9–1 | Houston Astrodome | 37,921 | Recap |
| 12 | December 5 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 29–3 | 2–9–1 | Houston Astrodome | 37,778 | Recap |
| 13 | December 12 | at Buffalo Bills | W 20–14 | 3–9–1 | War Memorial Stadium | 28,107 | Recap |
| 14 | December 19 | San Diego Chargers | W 49–33 | 4–9–1 | Houston Astrodome | 35,959 | Recap |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | |||||||
Standings
| AFC Central | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
| Cleveland Browns | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 5–1 | 7–4 | 285 | 273 | W5 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 4–2 | 5–6 | 246 | 292 | L1 |
| Houston Oilers | 4 | 9 | 1 | .308 | 2–4 | 4–7 | 251 | 330 | W3 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 4 | 10 | 0 | .286 | 1–5 | 3–8 | 284 | 265 | L3 |
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
