Editing Tennessee Titans (section)

===Houston Oilers===
After failed attempts to start an NFL expansion team in Houston, Adams founded the Houston Oilers in 1959, as one of the eight charter members of the upstart American Football League (AFL) and a member of its Eastern Division.<ref name="y727">{{cite web | last=Wyatt | first=Jim | title=Titans owner, AFL founder Bud Adams dies at age 90 | website=USA TODAY | date=2013-10-21 | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2013/10/21/bud-adams-obituary-nashville-afl-houston-oilers/3143945/ | access-date=2024-08-05}}</ref> Beginning play at [[Jeppesen Stadium]] at the [[University of Houston]], the team moved to [[Rice Stadium (Rice University)|Rice Stadium]] at [[Rice University]] in 1965.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jeppesen Stadium History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/stadiums/HOU97.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="e044">{{cite web | last=Shrake | first=Edwin | title=HOUSTON OILERS | website=Sports Illustrated Vault | date=1965-09-13 | url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1965/09/13/houston-oilers | access-date=2024-08-05}}</ref> Led by quarterback [[George Blanda]], who played with the team from 1960 to 1966, the Houston Oilers made it to each of the first three AFL championship games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=George Blanda Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BlanGe00.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Oilers won the first two AFL championships, both against the [[San Diego Chargers]], but lost the [[1962 American Football League Championship Game]] 20–17 to the [[1962 Dallas Texans season|Dallas Texans]], now [[Kansas City Chiefs]], after double overtime.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Championship - Los Angeles Chargers at Houston Oilers - January 1st, 1961 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196101010oti.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Championship - Houston Oilers at San Diego Chargers - December 24th, 1961 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196112240sdg.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Championship - Dallas Texans at Houston Oilers - December 23rd, 1962 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196212230oti.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Houston Oilers failed to post a winning season in the next six seasons, but in [[1967 AFL season|1967]], a 9–4–1 record returned the team to the [[American Football League playoffs|AFL championship game]] where it lost 40–7 to the [[Oakland Raiders]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Championship - Houston Oilers at Oakland Raiders - December 31st, 1967 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196712310rai.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Houston Oilers moved into the [[Astrodome]] after the season, becoming the first professional football team to move into a domed stadium. After failing to qualify for the AFL playoffs in 1968, the Oilers qualified the following season in 1969, but were eliminated in the divisional round by the Oakland Raiders in a 56–7 blowout.<ref name="h081">{{cite web | title=Raiders Top Oilers in 1969 AFL Playoff | website=Raiders.com| date=2013-12-21 | url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-top-oilers-in-1969-afl-playoff-988018 | access-date=2024-07-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Tennessee Titans Team Records, Leaders, and League Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/index.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

Following the season, the AFL merged with the NFL in 1970, with the Houston Oilers being assigned to the new American Football Conference (AFC)'s [[AFC North|Central division]].<ref name="a042">{{cite web | title=NFL and AFL announce merger | website=HISTORY | date=2009-11-16 | url=https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/nfl-and-afl-announce-merger | access-date=2024-08-05}}</ref> The Houston Oilers failed to qualify for the NFL playoffs from 1970 to 1977, and posted one winning season in [[1975 Houston Oilers season|1975]]. In 1978, the Houston Oilers selected running back [[Earl Campbell]] with the first overall pick in the [[1978 NFL draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1978 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1978/draft.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Campbell led the team to three consecutive playoff appearances as a wildcard berth from 1978 to 1980. Campbell led the NFL in rushing yards and won the [[National Football League Offensive Player of the Year Award|Offensive Player of the Year Award]] in each of those three seasons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Earl Campbell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CampEa00.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The Oilers made it to the AFC championships in 1978 and 1979, but were defeated both times by the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 7th, 1979 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197901070pit.htm |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers - January 6th, 1980 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/198001060pit.htm |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

The Houston Oilers failed to post a winning record between 1981 and 1987, a drought that ended when the Houston Oilers acquired quarterback Warren Moon in 1987.<ref name="z257">{{cite web | title=Houston Oilers football Standings| website= Stats Crew | url=https://www.statscrew.com/football/standings/t-HOO | access-date=2024-08-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Warren Moon Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MoonWa00.htm |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> With Moon and Hall of Fame offensive linemen [[Mike Munchak]] and [[Bruce Matthews (American football)|Bruce Matthews]], the Houston Oilers made six consecutive playoff appearances from 1987 to 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tennessee Titans Playoff History |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/playoffs.htm |access-date=2024-08-29 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> During the [[1992–93 NFL playoffs]], the Houston Oilers earned the dubious distinction of being on the losing end of what was then the biggest [[The Comeback (American football)|comeback]] in NFL history when in the divisional round, the Houston Oilers' third-quarter 32-point lead against the [[1992 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] turned into a 41–38 loss in overtime. This remains the largest blown lead in playoff history.<ref name="w795">{{cite web | last=Seminara | first=Dave | title=Was Bills-Oilers Game in 1993 Greatest Rally, or Biggest Fade? | website=The New York Times | date=2013-01-02 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/02/sports/football/bills-oilers-game-in-1993-is-greatest-comeback-that-ever-was-and-was-not.html | access-date=2024-08-05}}</ref> After the 1993 season, Moon was traded to the [[Minnesota Vikings]] and Munchak retired to begin a coaching career.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1994 Minnesota Vikings Trades |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/1994_trades.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> The following season, the Oilers finished with a league-worst 2–14 season, and [[Jack Pardee]] was fired as head coach after a 1–9 start and was succeeded by [[Jeff Fisher]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=1994 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1994/index.htm |access-date=2024-08-05 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref name="t020">{{cite web | title=Oilers fire head coach Pardee | website=UPI | date=1994-11-15 | url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1994/11/15/Oilers-fire-head-coach-Pardee/3832784875600/ | access-date=2024-08-05}}</ref> The following two seasons, the Oilers drafted quarterback [[Steve McNair]] and running back [[Eddie George]] respectively, who became franchise players over the next several years. The Oilers respectively went 7–9 and 8–8 in their final two seasons in Houston.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1995 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1995.htm |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1996 Houston Oilers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1996.htm |access-date=2024-07-30 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>