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Show Page - THE HERALD, Provo, Utah, Football Section, Wednesday, August 34 26, 1992 , December date could be key So Oilers' Bowl hopes By DAVE GOLDBERG AP Football Writer The Houston Oilers might want to look ahead to Dec. 27, a Sunday evening on the final weekend of the regular weekend. THAT could be their Super Bowl. The evening's activity is a game in the Astrodome against the Buffalo Bills that might decide home-fiel- d advantage for the AFC playoffs. Given the Oilers' recent his- a league leading five tory straighi playoff appearances but never a voyage beyond the second round playing in the Astrodome be might mandatory in what could be a last shot at the Super Bowl. The key to this aged cast is Warren Moon, who disputes that description. "With only one exception, we should be at our peak years," says Moon, who will turn 36 in November. Be that as it may, the biggest problem for Houston may be paying attention in what is arguably the NFL's weakest division. The Oilers won it last year at 5 but were eliminated a game away from the AFC title game when John directed an drive in the final minutes to beat them in Denver Both Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Bill Cowher have new coaches Noll as the Steel- Chuck replacing 11-- El-w- ay 87-ya- rd 26-2- 4. Cincinnati Bengal c 6 g 13 t uj M Seattle baby-coac- coach on what should be by far the best team in the division. Moon remains one of the NFL's premier passers. Last season, he joined Dan Marino as the only quarterback ever to throw for 4.000 yards two years in a row. He might not make it this year as Pardee and offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride try to add more run to the the The main runner Lorenzo White, who is finally starting to live up to his promise after holdouts, injuries and the shadows ol Mike Rozier and Alan Pinkett, now departed. "We're a team, so we're going to pass," White says. "But I do want to run the football and I think we can do well at that, too." Moon and Pardee also want that it's tough to score inside the 20 without a running game. Moreover, Drew Hill and Tony Jones defected to Atlanta under Plan B, depriving Moon of two important ot Cleveland Btowna Indianapolis Pittsburgh Houston Indianapolis N.Y.Jets Miami LA. Raiders Kansas City San Diego 27 Minnesota Danvar San Diego Green Bay OPEN DATE OPEN DATE OPEN DATE OPEN DATE Houston Pittsburgh Cincinnati Cleveland Green Bay Denver 8 8 18 Cincinnati 19 Pittsburgh 25 Houston New England i Cleveland Cincinnati 8 Chicago Jets m 15 N. o 22 Detroit Y. Cincinnati Kansas City Pittsburgh Houston Houston Cleveland Buffalo San Diego Minnesota Detroit Minnesota Miami Indianapolis f Detroit 26 29 Pittsburgh Chicago Cincinnati 6 Cleveland Cincinnati Seattle 7 But he still has Ernest Givins, Haywood Jeffires, Curtis Duncan, et. al. to run his quick routes and a veteran line anchored by center Bruce Matthews and guard Mike Munchak to block. The defense, as usual, has more questions. But Ray Childress is one of the better unsung linemen in the NFL, middle linebacker Al Smith made the Pro Bowl last season and Lee Williams should provide a pass rush in his second year. Corner-bac- k Cris Dishman and safety Bubba McDowell anchor the You can take your pick with the rest of the division. Cowher has the some superb talent in Pittsburgh, like tight end Eric Green, cornerback Rod Woodson, and safety Carnell n Pro Lake, and some 275-pou- little-know- Bowlers like linebacker Greg Lloyd. Unfortunately, none of the talent plays quarterback, where Bubby Brister is being challenged for the job he's had by default for four years by Neil O'Donnell, who is predictable only in his inconsistency. The best part of the offense might be the running game, where Merril Hoge and Barry Foster are solid and give Cowher the kind of offense he had in Kansas City, hurt a lot. Belichick doubled Cleveland's win total last year, going from to He's also in the process of taking total control of the organization his move into personnel was one reason that general manager Ernie Accorsi quit last spring. The centerpiece of the offense remains Bernie Kosar at quarterback and running backs Kevin Mack, Leroy Hoard, Plan B pickup James Brooks and rookie Tommy Vardell. But despite the arrival last year of a future Pro Bowler, guard Ed King, the offensive line remains shaky and so is the receiving corps, particularly with the underrated Webster Slaughter a holdout. 3-- 0. The defense revolves around tackle Michael Dean Perry, who went out with a knee injury early in camp. The Browns hope he'll be ready for the regular season and while second-year-ma- n he'd better be James Jones is a comer, Perry is the hub. Moreover, while Belichick is rebuilding his defense around Perry, Jones and second-yea- r safety Eric Turner, there are still a lot of veterlinebackers ans who contribute Clay Matthews and Mike Johnson and cornerback Frank Minnifield. Shula goes into Cincinnati trying to rebuild from the ashes ot season under Sam Wyche, a 3-- who departed for Tampa under less than friendly circumsntances. Shula immediately lost his best receiver, Eddie Brown, to a neck injury and linebacker Albert Wil- liams, last year's No. 1 Harold Green and Eric Ball (if (See CENTRAL, Page 35) Universal Campus Credit Union will be giving away a B YU Sports Calendar with the first 5,000 football programs sold at the San Diego State game on Thursday, September 10th. ACCOUNTS INSURED TO 1100.000 Chicago Green Bay Chicago NewEngland Houston Cleveland Minn Indanapolia Buffalo Cleveland 13 San Diego 20 27 Detroit Pittsburgh (( ota API Mwttw P. Hwnanctoz ftilillflO ihlNhi PROVO SOUTH OREM SOUTH PROVO 1900 N. Canyon Rd. 340 East 1200 South 1235 S. University Ave. PHONE: (Local) 377-818- 8 draft choice, was troubled by an irregular heart beat. But hopes for the defense remain. Ron Lynn, the new coordinator, has installed an attacking system that sometimes brings as many as nine men to the line of scrimmage. While that can't make up for deficiencies in personnel, it both will provide excitement fine new uncovered a has and ways blitzer in strong safety David Fulcher, already one of the team's best defensive players. Still, the team revolves around the offense, minus Brooks, who left as a Plan B free agent. Boomer Esiason, whose arm seems healthy again, remains one of the smartest quarterback in the league, Tim McGee is the best receiver and ARE NOW BEING PRINTED. CD SS sec- ondary. Unfortunately, there's a generation missing in the middle, where high draft picks like Mike Junkin, Lawyer Tillman and Eric Metcall never met high expectations. where he was defensive coordinator. But only Louis Lipps is a threat at wide receiver and he's .. Green Bay 11 targets. Pittsburgh Stealer Oilera 20 oc 2 g ld L A. Raiders U 4 2 ers' first new coach in 23 years and Dave Shula, son of Don, with the Bengals. Shula, 33, and Cowher, 35 are the NFL's youngest coaches and join Bill Bel in his second year of rebuilding the Browns, in the h division. league's That makes Jack Pardee of the Oilers the senior NORTH PROVO (Early 93) 5200 North 240 West |