Here’s a look back at the QBs of the Houston Texans/Oilers since 1980
I’m sorry. I know that the “history” of the Oilers left to Tennessee, but, I still consider the guys that played for the Oilers as property of the fans that watched them play in Houston. With that in mind, I have decided to rank every QB that started at least one game for the Oilers or Texans since 1980. Here is a look at my rankings:
1. Warren Moon – Warren Moon came down south from the Canadian Football League and he started throwing bullets all over the AstroDome. The Oilers were only 70-69 (50.4%) in games started by Moon, but that wasn’t all his fault. Moon played in 141 games (139 starts) in his career with the Oilers and he completed 2,632 of 4,546 passes (57.9%) for 33,685 yards with 196 TD passes and 166 INTs (80.4 QB Rating). Moon also carried the ball 439 times for 1,541 yards (3.5 ypc) with 21 TD runs with the Oilers. Moon made it to six Pro Bowls with the Oilers and he was elected into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame in 2006.
2. Matt Schaub – Matt Schaub is the best QB in Texans’ history, without a doubt. The Texans are only 25-29 (46.3%) when he starts but that’s because the defense has been lousy. Schaub has played in 54 games (all starts) for the Texans and he has completed 1,204 of 1,826 passes (65.9%) for 14,424 yards with 77 TD passes and 46 INTs (93.5 QB Rating). Schaub also carried the ball 118 times for 205 yards (1.7 ypc) with 2 TD runs. He has already played in 1 Pro Bowl with the Texans and he could have a few more in his near future.
3. Chris Chandler – Chris Chandler was a journeyman type QB and he was 11-14 (44%) as the starting QB of the Oilers. Chandler played in 25 games (all starts) for the Oilers and he completed 409 of 676 passes (60.5%) for 4,559 yards with 33 TD passes and 21 INTs (83.9 QB Rating). He also carried the ball 56 times for 171 yards (3.1 ypc) with 2 TD runs for the Oilers.
4. David Carr – Poor David Carr was thrown to the wolves a little early in his career. That was a problem along with a terrible O-Line which had him in duress quite a bit. The Texans were only 22-53 (29.3%) when Carr started under center. Carr played in 76 games (75 starts) for the Texans and he completed 1,243 of 2,070 passes (60%) for 13,391 yards with 59 TD passes and 65 INTs (75.5 QB Rating). Carr also carried the ball 268 times for 1,235 yards (4.6 ypc) with 8 TD runs with the Texans.
5. Sage Rosenfels – Sage Rosenfels was a riverboat gambler type of QB for the Texans. He threw a lot of TD passes and a lot of pickoffs. The Texans were 6-4 (60%) when Rosenfels started at QB. Rosenfels played in 19 games (10 starts) for the Texans and he completed 297 of 453 passes (65.6%) for 3,380 yards with 24 TD passes and 23 INTs (84.3 QB Rating). Rosenfels also carried the ball 36 times for 93 yards (2.6 ypc) with 1 TD run for the Texans.
6. Tony Banks – Tony Banks was a very solid backup QB for the Texans. The Texans were 2-1 (66.7%) in games started at QB by Banks. Banks played in 15 games (3 starts) for the Texans and he completed 76 of 129 passes (58.9%) for 882 yards with 6 TD passes and 5 INTs (79.0 QB Rating). Banks also carried the ball 8 times for 25 yards (3.1 ypc) for the Texans.
7. Steve McNair – Steve McNair wasn’t an Oiler long before the team packed up for Nashville. McNair was 4-2 (66.7%) as the Oilers’ starting QB. He played in 13 games (6 starts) for the Oilers and he completed 129 of 223 passes (57.8%) for 1,766 yards with 9 TD passes and 5 INTs. He also carried the ball 42 times for 207 yards (4.9 ypc) with 2 TD runs for the Oilers.
8. Ken Stabler – Lefty throwing Ken Stabler came to the Oilers when they weren’t too good and he led them to a 16-12 (57.1%) record as a starting QB. Stabler played in 29 games (28 starts) for the Oilers and he completed 458 of 742 passes (61.7%) for 5,190 yards with 27 TD passes and 46 INTs (69.0 QB Rating). Stabler also carried the ball 25 times for -25 yards (-1.0 ypc) for the Oilers.
9. Cody Carlson – Cody Carlson was a very solid backup QB for the Oilers. He was 11-8 (57.9%) as the starting QB of the Oilers. Carlson played in 45 games (19 starts) for the Oilers and he completed 370 of 659 passes (56.1%) for 4,469 yards with 21 TD passes and 28 INTs (70.0 QB Rating). Carlson also carried the ball 81 times for 217 yards (2.7 ypc) with 4 TD runs for the Oilers.
10. Oliver Luck – Oliver Luck just plain, wasn’t very good for the Oilers. The Oilers were 3-6 (33.3%) when Luck started at QB. Luck played in 20 games (9 starts) for the Oilers and he completed 223 of 413 passes (56.4%) for 2,544 yards with 13 TD passes and 21 INTs (64.1 QB Rating). Luck also carried the ball 44 times for 237 yards (5.4 ypc) with 1 TD run for the Oilers.
11. Gifford Nielsen – Gifford Nielsen was only 2-11 (18.2%) as a starting QB for the Oilers in the 1980′s and that’s why he’s so low on this list. Nielsen played in 37 games (13 starts) for the Oilers in the 1980′s and he completed 239 of 433 passes (55.2%) for 2,851 yards with 17 TD passes and 19 INTs. He also carried the ball 24 times for 82 yards (3.4 ypc) in the 1980′s for the Oilers.
12. Bucky Richardson – Bucky Richardson was a scrambling QB but his numbers were better than most thought he would put up in the pros. The Oilers were 1-3 (25%) in games started by Richardson. Richardson played in 16 games (4 starts) for the Oilers and he completed 97 of 185 passes (52.4%) for 1,257 yards with 6 TD passes and 6 INTs (71.4 QB Rating). Richardson also carried the ball 33 times for 225 yards (6.8 ypc) with 1 TD run for the Oilers.
13. Billy Joe Tolliver – Billy Joe Tolliver had no luck with the Oilers as they were 0-7 in games that he started. Tolliver played in 10 games (7 starts) for the Oilers and he completed 121 of 240 passes (50.4%) for 1,287 yards with 6 TD passes and 7 INTs (62.6 QB Rating). Tolliver also carried the ball 12 times for 37 yards (3.1 ypc) with 2 TD runs for the Oilers.
14. Archie Manning – Here lies one of the most overrated QBs in the history of the NFL. The Oilers were 0-8 in games started by Archie Manning. Manning played in 9 games (8 starts) for the Oilers and he completed 110 of 213 passes (51.6%) for 1,632 yards with 8 TD passes and 14 INTs (62.2 QB Rating). Manning also carried the ball 15 times for 98 yards (6.5 ypc) with the Oilers.
15. John Reaves – John Reaves made most of his money in the USFL. He was 1-1 (50%) as a starting QB for the Oilers. Reaves played in 5 games (2 starts) for the Oilers and he completed 31 of 61 passes (50.8%) for 379 yards with 2 TD passes and 2 INTs (67.6 QB Rating). Reaves also carried the ball 6 times for 13 yards (2.2 ypc) with the Oilers.
16. Brent Pease – Brent Pease was 2-1 (66.7%) as a started at QB for the Oilers. Pease played in 20 games (3 starts) for the Oilers and he completed 62 of 135 passes (45.9%) for 792 yards with 3 TD passes and 9 INTs (44.4 QB Rating). Pease also carried the ball 23 times for 31 yards (1.3 ypc) with 2 TD runs for the Oilers.
17. Dave Ragone – Dave Ragone was pretty brutal for the Texans. They were 0-2 in his starts. Ragone played in 2 games (2 starts) for the Texans and he completed 20 of 40 passes (50%) for 135 yards with 0 TD passes and 1 INT (47.4 QB Rating). Ragone also carried the ball 6 times for 51 yards (8.5 ypc) with the Texans.
18. Will Furrer – Will Furrer wins the prize as the worst QB in Houston in the last 30 years. The Oilers lost Furrer’s only start for them. Furrer played in 7 games (1 start) for the Oilers and he completed 48 of 99 passes (48.5%) for 483 yards with 2 TD passes and 7 INTs (40.1 QB Rating). He also carried the ball 8 times for 20 yards (2.5 ypc) for the Oilers.