1973 Houston Oilers season
The 1973 Houston Oilers season was the 4th season in league and the 14th overall. The team matched their previous season's output of 1–13.[1] They missed the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season, and it was Houston's second-consecutive 1-13 record.
Coach Bill Peterson left the team after an 0-5 start, and was replaced by coaching veteran Sid Gillman, who went 1-8 to finish the season. The Oilers' offense struggled in 1973, ranking last in rushing yards (1388), second worst in yards per play (3.9), and third-worst in both total yards (3307) and first downs (tied at 193).[2]
The '73 Oilers had one of the worst defenses of all time, statistically; they gave up 447 points during the season, the most ever for a 14-game season in the merger era (1970-1977).[3] Only three teams ever -- the 1966 Giants, the 1963 Broncos, and the 1961 Raiders -- gave up more points in a 14-game season.[4] Their point-differential of -248 points was the worst in the league that year, and remains one of the ten worst in NFL history.[5] (The second-worst team, the Philadelphia Eagles, gave up 393 points, or 3.8 fewer points per game.) Houston also gave up a league-high 26 touchdown passes in 1973.
Schedule
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Attendance |
| 1 |
September 16, 1973 |
at New York Giants |
L 34–14 |
57,979
|
| 2 |
September 23, 1973 |
at Cincinnati Bengals |
L 24–10 |
51,823
|
| 3 |
September 30, 1973 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
L 36–7 |
39,331
|
| 4 |
October 7, 1973 |
Los Angeles Rams |
L 31–26 |
34,875
|
| 5 |
October 14, 1973 |
Denver Broncos |
L 48–20 |
32,801
|
| 6 |
October 21, 1973 |
at Cleveland Browns |
L 42–13 |
61,146
|
| 7 |
October 28, 1973 |
at Chicago Bears |
L 35–14 |
43,755
|
| 8 |
November 4, 1973 |
at Baltimore Colts |
W 31–27 |
52,707
|
| 9 |
November 11, 1973 |
Cleveland Browns |
L 23–13 |
37,230
|
| 10 |
November 18, 1973 |
at Kansas City Chiefs |
L 38–14 |
68,444
|
| 11 |
November 25, 1973 |
New England Patriots |
L 32–0 |
27,344
|
| 12 |
December 2, 1973 |
Oakland Raiders |
L 17–6 |
25,801
|
| 13 |
December 9, 1973 |
at Pittsburgh Steelers |
L 33–7 |
38,004
|
| 14 |
December 16, 1973 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
L 27–24 |
21,955
|
Standings
References
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| Franchise |
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| Stadiums |
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| Culture |
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| Lore |
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| Head Coaches |
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| Division Championships (9) |
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| Super Bowl Appearances (1) |
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| League championships (2) |
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| Retired Numbers |
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| Seasons |
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| Current League Affiliations |
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Houston Oilers / Tennessee Oilers / Tennessee Titans seasons
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