Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

From 1975-1980, Houston had 5 winning seasons in 6 years under Bum Phillips

The outlier was a 5-9 hiccup in 76

What went wrong?

Was it as simple as the rest of that division finishing with winning records?

I am looking in the 1977 Pocket Book of Pro Football.

Apparently, injuries were a factor in their decline from 10-4 to 5-9. For starters, Billy Johnson was playing hurt, and he didn't do as well on kick and punt returns as he did in 1975.

Pastorini also struggled with some injuries. He started 14 games and made the Pro Bowl in 75, but only started 10 games in 1976.

Also, they played nine games against teams that finished above .500 in 1976 as opposed to seven in 1975.

CSKreager wrote: ↑Mon Dec 15, 2025 3:09 am From 1975-1980, Houston had 5 winning seasons in 6 years under Bum Phillips

The outlier was a 5-9 hiccup in 76

What went wrong?

Was it as simple as the rest of that division finishing with winning records?

Takaways were one thing, they picked a lot of passes in 1975, defensive FRs ... close ... but also went from +6 in defensive/ST Tds to +1
when you get huge plays it helps. Would have to look game by game to see more closely how it affected game by game, but
it was factor, Oilers may have been better than 5-9 team in 1976 and not quite as their 10-4 record in 1975, but with big plays, they
turned some games their way. Not saying they didn't earn the breaks, but you cannot always count on them, year to year.

Always a tough team during those years but not enough offensive playmakers other than Burrough and Johnson on special teams.
I will always wonder what Jimmie Giles or Steve Largent could have done for this team, but Bum liked to run the ball.

Brian wolf wrote: ↑Tue Dec 16, 2025 2:20 am Always a tough team during those years but not enough offensive playmakers other than Burrough and Johnson on special teams.
I will always wonder what Jimmie Giles or Steve Largent could have done for this team, but Bum liked to run the ball.

Jimmie Giles was traded along four draft picks to the Buccaneers for the 1978 first overall pick, which the Oilers used on Earl Campbell. For the record, the Buccaneers drafted with those picks QB Doug Williams, G Brett Moritz, DE Reggie Lewis and QB Chuck Fusina. Moritz and Lewis only played 28 games between them, all for Tampa. Williams was a good pick, but he and Fusina eventually went to the USFL, and then Doug returned to the NFL with the Redskins, who led them to Super Bowl XXII.

Yeah, it was a no-brainer to swap Giles for a chance for Campbell but I still wonder what happened in training camp to give up on Largent? Did Bum and coaches feel his body couldnt take the pounding? He was slower yes, but maybe he didnt have his patterns down yet. Even Jerry Rice would study his pass patterns and ability to get open later on. The team would also give up on Steve Tasker during the mid-eighties. Jim Kelly kept trying to get Levy to let him play more at receiver.

The team would also give up on Steve Tasker during the mid-eighties. Jim Kelly kept trying to get Levy to let him play more at receiver.

He should have been (playing more at WR). It took them until 1995 to see that.