1997_Tennessee_Oilers_season
1997 Tennessee Oilers season
38th season in franchise history, first in Tennessee
The 1997 Tennessee Oilers season was their 38th season overall and 28th in the National Football League (NFL). It was the team's first season in Memphis, Tennessee after moving from Houston, and they played at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Quick Facts Tennessee Oilers season, Owner ...
| 1997 Tennessee Oilers season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Bud Adams |
| General manager | Floyd Reese |
| Head coach | Jeff Fisher |
| Home field | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 8–8 |
| Division place | 3rd AFC Central |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers | RB Eddie George G Bruce Matthews |
| Uniform | |
Close
Led by head coach Jeff Fisher, the Oilers finished the season with 8 wins and 8 losses, and did not qualify for the playoffs. Despite defeating the Oakland Raiders 24–21 in their first game in their new city, they lost the next four games and would not recover.
NFL draft
Main article: 1997 NFL Draft
More information Round, Pick ...
| 1997 Tennessee Oilers draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 | Kenny Holmes | Defensive end | Miami (FL) | |
| 2 | 46 | Joey Kent | Wide receiver | Tennessee | |
| 3 | 75 | Denard Walker | Cornerback | LSU | |
| 3 | 81 | Scott Sanderson | Offensive tackle | Washington State | |
| 4 | 98 | Derrick Mason * | Wide receiver | Michigan State | |
| 4 | 107 | Pratt Lyons | Defensive end | Troy | |
| 5 | 143 | George McCullough | Defensive back | Baylor | |
| 6 | 181 | Dennis Stallings | Linebacker | Illinois | |
| 7 | 216 | Armon Williams | Defensive back | Arizona | |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career | |||||
Close
Staff
|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
Reserve lists
53 active, 3 inactive, 3 practice squad
| ||||||
More information Week, Date ...
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 2 | New Orleans Saints | L 12–21 | 0–1 | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | Recap |
| 2 | August 9 | Washington Redskins | L 12–18 | 0–2 | Vanderbilt Stadium | Recap |
| 3 | August 16 | San Diego Chargers | L 7–21 | 0–3 | Vanderbilt Stadium | Recap |
| 4 | August 22 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 10–34 | 0–4 | Texas Stadium | Recap |
Close
The Oilers' new stadium would not be ready until 1999, however, and the largest stadium in Nashville at the time, Vanderbilt Stadium on the campus of Vanderbilt University, seated only 41,000. At first, Bud Adams rejected Vanderbilt Stadium even as a temporary facility and announced that the renamed Tennessee Oilers would play the next two seasons at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis. The team would be based in Nashville, commuting to Memphis only for games—in effect, consigning the Oilers to 32 road games for the next two years. Even though this arrangement was acceptable to the NFL and the Oilers at the time, few people in either Memphis or Nashville were pleased by it. Memphis had made numerous attempts to get an NFL team (including the Memphis Hound Dogs and the Memphis Grizzlies court case), and many people in the area wanted nothing to do with a team that would be lost in only two years—especially to longtime rival Nashville. Conversely, Nashvillians showed little inclination to drive over 200 miles (300 km) to see "their" team. As a result, attendance at the Liberty Bowl was disastrous: on at least two occasions, fewer than 18,000 fans came to the stadium to see the Oilers, a number smaller than the attendance figures the team was getting in Houston after they had announced the move, and smaller than the fan bases the USFL's Memphis Showboats and XFL's Memphis Maniax had drawn/would draw to the same stadium. If not for the attendance of fans supporting the Oilers' opponents, attendance would likely have even been smaller than it was for the CFL's Memphis Mad Dogs. Even in weeks when the Oilers drew over 30,000 fans (which only happened twice), many of the attendees were fans of the opposing team, padding the attendance totals.
Schedule
More information Week, Date ...
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 31 | Oakland Raiders | W 24–21 (OT) | 1–0 | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | Recap | |
| 2 | September 7 | at Miami Dolphins | L 13–16 (OT) | 1–1 | Pro Player Stadium | Recap | |
| 3 | Bye | ||||||
| 4 | September 21 | Baltimore Ravens | L 10–36 | 1–2 | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | Recap | |
| 5 | September 28 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 24–37 | 1–3 | Three Rivers Stadium | Recap | |
| 6 | October 5 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 13–16 | 1–4 | Kingdome | Recap | |
| 7 | October 12 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 30–7 | 2–4 | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | Recap | |
| 8 | October 19 | Washington Redskins | W 28–14 | 3–4 | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | Recap | |
| 9 | October 26 | at Arizona Cardinals | W 41–14 | 4–4 | Sun Devil Stadium | Recap | |
| 10 | November 2 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 24–30 | 4–5 | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | Recap | |
| 11 | November 9 | New York Giants | W 10–6 | 5–5 | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | Recap | |
| 12 | November 16 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | L 9–17 | 5–6 | Alltel Stadium | Recap | |
| 13 | November 23 | Buffalo Bills | W 31–14 | 6–6 | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | Recap | |
| 14 | November 27 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 27–14 | 7–6 | Texas Stadium | Recap | |
| 15 | December 4 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 14–41 | 7–7 | Cinergy Field | Recap | |
| 16 | December 14 | at Baltimore Ravens | L 19–21 | 7–8 | Memorial Stadium | Recap | |
| 17 | December 21 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 16–6 | 8–8 | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | Recap | |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. | |||||||
Close
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Oakland Raiders
More information Period, OT ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raiders | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
| Oilers | 10 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 24 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week One: Oakland Raiders at Tennessee Oilers – Game summary
at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee
- Date: August 31
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 81 °F (27 °C)
- Game attendance: 30,171
- Referee: Johnny Grier
- TV: NBC
- Box score
Week 2: at Miami Dolphins
More information Period, OT ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Dolphins | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 16 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Two: Tennessee Oilers at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
- Date: September 7
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 81 °F (27 °C)
- Game attendance: 64,439
- Referee: Bill Carollo
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Jim Mora
- Box score
Week 4: vs. Baltimore Ravens
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ravens | 3 | 17 | 3 | 13 | 36 |
| Oilers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Four: Baltimore Ravens at Tennessee Oilers – Game summary
at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee
- Date: September 21
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 71 °F (22 °C)
- Game attendance: 17,737
- Box score
Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | 0 | 6 | 3 | 15 | 24 |
| Steelers | 10 | 21 | 3 | 3 | 37 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Five: Tennessee Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: September 28
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 60 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 57,507
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Donovan and Beasley Reece
- Box score
Week 6: at Seattle Seahawks
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
| Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 10 | 6 | 16 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Six: Tennessee Oilers at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington
- Date: October 5
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 49,897
- Referee: Dick Hantak
- TV: NBC
- Box score
Week 7: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bengals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Oilers | 7 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 30 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Seven: Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Oilers – Game summary
at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee
- Date: October 12
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 74 °F (23 °C)
- Game attendance: 17,071
- Box score
Week 8: vs. Washington Redskins
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Redskins | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| Oilers | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week 9: at Arizona Cardinals
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | 3 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 41 |
| Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Nine: Tennessee Oilers at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Week 10: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jaguars | 17 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 30 |
| Oilers | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Ten: Jacksonville Jaguars at Tennessee Oilers – Game summary
at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee
- Date: November 2
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 55 °F (13 °C)
- Game attendance: 27,208
- Box score
Week 11: vs. New York Giants
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giants | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Oilers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Eleven: New York Giants at Tennessee Oilers – Game summary
at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee
- Date: November 9
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 46 °F (8 °C)
- Game attendance: 26,744
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV: Fox
- Box score
Week 12: at Jacksonville Jaguars
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Jaguars | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Twelve: Tennessee Oilers at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
- Date: November 16
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 56 °F (13 °C)
- Game attendance: 70,070
- Box score
Week 13: vs. Buffalo Bills
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bills | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Oilers | 14 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 31 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Thirteen: Buffalo Bills at Tennessee Oilers – Game summary
at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee
- Date: November 23
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Rain, 40 °F (4 °C)
- Game attendance: 23,571
- TV announcers (NBC): Joel Meyers and Beasley Reece
- Box score
Week 14: at Dallas Cowboys
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | 14 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 27 |
| Cowboys | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Fourteen: Tennessee Oilers at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas
- Date: November 27
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Clear, 66 °F (19 °C)
- Game attendance: 63,421
- Box score
Week 15: at Cincinnati Bengals
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| Bengals | 14 | 14 | 10 | 3 | 41 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Fifteen: Tennessee Oilers at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
at Cinergy Field, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Date: December 4
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CST/8:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Light rain, 42 °F (6 °C)
- Game attendance: 49,086
- TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann and Ron Jaworski
- Box score
Week 16: at Baltimore Ravens
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | 3 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 19 |
| Ravens | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 21 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Sixteen: Tennessee Oilers at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: December 14
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 35 °F (2 °C)
- Game attendance: 60,558
- Box score
Week 17: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
More information Period, Total ...
| Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steelers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Oilers | 3 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
Close
More information Game information ...
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Close
Week Seventeen: Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Oilers – Game summary
at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee
- Date: December 24
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 47 °F (8 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,677
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Bob Trumpy
- Box score
Standings
More information AFC Central, W ...
| AFC Central | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| (2) Pittsburgh Steelers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 372 | 307 | L1 |
| (5) Jacksonville Jaguars | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 394 | 318 | W2 |
| Tennessee Oilers | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 333 | 310 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 355 | 405 | W3 |
| Baltimore Ravens | 6 | 9 | 1 | .406 | 326 | 345 | L1 |
Close
- "1997 Tennessee Oilers draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
- "1997 Tennessee Oilers starters, roster, and players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 28, 2014.