The Houston Oilers did the same things they did two weeks ago in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Sunday, they just did it better.Houston rallied behind a rejuvenated running game and two touchdowns by Allen Pinkett for a satisfying 31-6 victory over the Steelers that gave the Oilers their first AFC Central Division championship.
"It's been a long time coming," Oilers center Bruce Matthews said. "I think about the guys who have come and gone and helped make this team what it is. I feel for those guys. It's hard to imagine we got to this point."
The Oilers (10-4) had failed two straight weeks to wrap up the title in losses to the Steelers (26-14) and Philadelphia (13-6).
They weren't going to be denied a third time Sunday.
Pinkett rushed 98 yards on 16 carries and had touchdown runs of 7 and 11 yards. The improved running opened the Oilers' passing lanes and allowed Warren Moon to complete 23 of 36 passes for 254 yards and a 16-yard TD pass to Haywood Jeffires.
"All the maybes and what-ifs are behind us now. It's here," Matthews said."And it's very gratifying."
The Oilers' defense contributed to the victory with seven sacks and a 70-yard fumble return by linebacker Al Smith, a former Utah State player, for a touchdown.
"I played half-mad today," said Ray Childress, who had two sacks. "I've been here for 10 years and this is my happiest moment. I felt we had to play half mad, violent. We've been too gentle."
Moon threw a career-high five interceptions in the 26-14 loss to the Steelers, but he had only one on Sunday.
"We didn't do a whole lot different, and they didn't do a lot different," Moon said, comparing the two games. "We just didn't turn the ball over, and we ran better because we ran more today."
The Oilers manhandled the Steelers from the start, taking a 10-3 halftime lead on Pinkett's 7-yard run and a 24-yard field goal.