Because of a fractured left shoulder, Warren Moon might not be back until the playoffs. Because Moon was willing to put his body at risk, the Houston Oilers still might be playing then.
Moon got hurt at the end of a fearless 5-yard foray that set up the winning touchdown with 48 seconds left in Sunday's 17-13 victory over the Minnesota Vikings."He knew the game was on the line," said offensive tackle Don Maggs, whose Oilers improved to 6-4. "He knew we needed the first down and he did what he had to for the good of the team. That's the mark of a true leader."
Houston's defense also made its mark, holding the Vikings to 174 yards and foiling them 13 of 15 times in third-down situations. Rich Gannon passed for only 111 yards as Minnesota (7-3) missed a chance to go up four games on the rest of the NFC Central.
"I don't think we're in a slump," Gannon said. "We lost one game."
"Sure it's frustrating," Vikings cornerback Carl Lee said. "They were ready to play, they had to win and we knew they were good. But it still hurts to lose. Moon showed why he's one of the top quarterbacks in the league. He got hit several times and yet he kept coming back for more."
Moon, who completed 28 of 38 passes for 243 yards, couldn't come back after his biggest play.
It was third down, 4 yards to go and the Oilers, trailing 13-10, were on Minnesota's 26-yard line.
Moon, who had been sacked five times and pummeled repeatedly, dropped back to pass. Almost instantly, the pocket collapsed and Moon again was surrounded by big, hungry, angry people.
Seemingly engulfed by Chris Doleman and John Randle, Moon ducked away and somehow emerged on his feet and with the football.
Jack Del Rio, the Vikings' top tackler, stood between Moon and the 22-yard line, which Houston had to reach for the first down. Moon juked right and darted left, and Del Rio missed him. Then Moon dove. As he landed on the 21, Vencie Glenn's helmet hit him in the back.
It wasn't known immediately whether Glenn's hit or impact with the Metrodome's artificial turf caused the injury, which the Oilers said will keep one of the NFL's all-time passers out for three to six weeks.
What was known immediately was that the Oilers had the first down.
Cody Carlson replaced Moon and, four plays later, Lorenzo White went around right end for the TD. Carlson, Moon's caddy for most of his six-year career, now becomes the triggerman for Houston's run-and-shoot offense.
The victory let the Oilers avoid their first three-game losing streak since 1986 and kept them very much in the playoff picture. They're in second place in the AFC Central, one game behind Pittsburgh.
Moon only wishes he could be there for the playoff push.
"I'm disappointed because I think the team is going to turn the corner and I won't be a part of it," he said. "Obviously, I'm going to try to work as hard as I can to get back as quickly as I can. The team showed a lot of guts coming back."
Guts? With a leader like Moon, how could the Oilers not have guts?
"When you see him, under pressure, make the kind of play he makes, you want to play that much harder," Maggs said.
Added offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride: "My feeling is total dejection, but the way the injury occurred, he was a great spark to the team. He gave us a chance to put it in the end zone and win the game."
It was the third straight game Moon had been sent to the sidelines. The previous week, fans at the Astrodome seemed pleased about Moon's plight.
"I hope the fans realize what a great leader we lost," said receiver Haywood Jeffires, who delivered an inspirational speech Saturday night.
"We're not used to seeing him stand up and get emotional, but we need guys to step forward," said Ernest Givins, who caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Moon just before halftime. "We talked about togetherness, motivation and looking inside yourself."
Said Jeffires: "Nobody in their right minds thought we'd win today. The Vikings are one of the best teams in the NFL. But I ... guaranteed a win."
Houston won even though Minnesota's defense scored for the third consecutive week. Carlos Jenkins sacked Moon, causing a fumble that was scooped up by Anthony Parker and returned 58 yards.
"They're very good at what they do, so we had to be very good at what we do," said Jenkins, who had scored in each of the previous two games. "Today, we were good, just not quite good enough."