Top 10 Tennessee Titans / Houston Oilers from 1965 on

Image Courtesy of Bing

I have to admit, I find the Tennessee Titans to be a generic bunch of guys.  On the other hand, the Houston Oilers had more than their fair share of colorful characters.  Being coached by Bum Phillips and Jerry Glanville helps.  If I was going to do a list of my favorite Titans/Oilers, it would include guys like George Blanda, Charlie Hennigan and Charlie Tolar.  Of course, that’s a different list.  Here’s the list at hand:

10. Ray Childress:  Ray manned the left side of the Oilers defensive line at both tackle and end for 11 seasons.  While Childress wasn’t particularly flashy, he was effective.  He picked up 75.5 sacks as an Oiler.  His best season was 1992 when he rolled up 13 sacks and was named to both the Pro Bowl and All Pro team.  In all, Ray was named to the Pro Bowl five times and was also named to the NFL’s All Rookie team in 1985.

9. Eddie George:  Eddie was a workhorse back in his eight seasons with the Oilers/Titans.  In eight seasons with the franchise, his lightest number of carries was 312.  He maxed out at 403 in 2000.  All total, he carried the ball 2733 times for 10,009 yards and 64 TDs.  In seven of his eight seasons with the Titans/Oilers, he gained over 1000 yards.  Eddie went to the Pro Bowl three times and was named All Pro once.  In 1996 Eddie was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year.  He also helped the Titans to their only Super Bowl appearance.

8. Warren Moon:  Warren spent 10 seasons with the Oilers and was the most dynamic passer in the history of the franchise.  Twice Warren led the NFL in passes attempted, completed and yards gained.  Moon was named to six Pro Bowls.  In 1990 he was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.  The Oilers weren’t terribly successful when Moon was their QB, but they were fun to watch.

7. Elvin Bethea:  A lot of Elvin’s 16 seasons with the Oilers were spent on bad teams.  Elvin was on a few good teams, but often was a good player on a bad team.  He did manage to be named to eight Pro Bowls.  Unofficially Elvin had 105 sacks, with his career best being 16 in 1973.  The Oilers were 1-13 that season.  Bethea did play in eight playoff games for the Oilers and managed an impressive seven sacks.

6. Robert Brazile:  Brazile’s career pretty much ran simultaneously with Elvin Bethea.  Brazile’s ten year career ran from 1975-84.  Robert went to the Pro Bowl every season from 1976-82.  He was also named All Pro twice during that time frame.  Brazile intercepted 13 passes and recovered 14 fumbles while in Houston.  Unofficially, Robert had 48 sacks during his career.  “Dr. Doom” was a complete package as a linebacker, being able to rush the passer and help in pass coverage.  He was sort of like a Lawrence Taylor lite.

5. Curly Culp:  Curly had a nice run with the Kansas City Chiefs before coming over to the Oilers in 1974.  Culp was then named to the Pro Bowl from 1975-78.  He was also named to the All Pro team in 1975.  Culp unofficially had 11.5 sacks during that 1975 season. That’s an exception total for any defender, but especially for a nose tackle.  Curly was named to the Pro Football Reference’s All 70s second team.

4. Ken Houston:  From 1967-72, Ken was a threat to score, from his safety position.  Houston returned nine interceptions in his six seasons in Houston for touchdowns.  He also returned a fumble for a TD.  In all, Ken picked up 25 passes with the Oilers and was selected to the Pro Bowl five times. Houston went on to have an outstanding career with the Washington, but he scored all 10 of his TDs with the Oilers.

3. Mike Munchak:  The Titans/Oilers have often had an exceptionally ground game with high profile running backs.  In addition to very good running backs, the franchise has had some exceptional linemen.  Mike Munchak falls into that category.  Mike’s time with Oilers ran from 1982-93.  He insured the Oilers had excellent play from the left guard position during that time, being named to the Pro Bowl nine times and the All Pro team twice.  Munchak even managed to score a TD for the Oilers.  In 1986 he returned a fumble two yards for a TD.  More about one of his line mates later.

2. Earl Campbell:  The “Tyler Rose” is my all-time favorite Oiler/Titan.  The Oiler teams with Campbell, coached by Bum Phillips were just a lot of fun.  Earl was one of the most bruising running backs I, and Brian Bosworth have ever seen.  Campbell played for 6+ seasons with the Oilers, but his first three were truly spectacular.  From 1978-80 Earl’s rushing totals were 1450-1697-1934.  All three of those led the NFL.  In 91 games with the Oilers Campbell gained 8574 yards.  Earl was named to the Pro Bowl five times and All Pro three times.  Earl rushed for 73 TDs, twice leading the NFL in that category.  His career best was 19 in 1979.  Campbell was the NFL’s MVP in 1978 and 1979.

1. Bruce Matthews:  While Earl Campbell was the most spectacular Oiler/Titan and high profile guy the franchise has had, Bruce Matthews gets the number one spot on this list.  Bruce started his career with the Houston Oilers and concluded it with the Tennessee Titans in 2001.  Throughout those seasons, Matthews was a Swiss Army Knife, excelling at various positions in the franchise’s offensive line.  A 19 year career in the NFL is extraordinary.  The fact Bruce was selected to 14 Pro Bowls and seven All Pro teams is evidence of his excellence.  While Campbell is the most memorable Titan/Oiler, Matthews gets finished first on this list.