Rug Pulled From Under Oilers Fans

The Houston Oilers’ owner already had problems with the condition of the Astrodome. On Saturday night, so did the players and NFL officials.

After a 70-minute delay, the preseason game between Oilers and Chargers was canceled because the artificial turf at the Astrodome was ruled unsafe for play.

“After looking at the field, the league felt it was not safe,” said Nick Skorich, a former NFL coach and the league’s officiating observer for Saturday night’s game.

“I looked at several spots at midfield and the spots in the corner of the end zone. The corner had a very irregular surface. I felt it was not as good as it used to be and was dangerous.”

Fans started booing when the delay was first announced.

“Drinks on the house,” one fan shouted.

Some chanted “refund, refund.”

Fans came to the game already angry with the Oilers and owner Bud Adams, who is contemplating moving the team to Nashville because he’s unhappy with the Astrodome.

“We didn’t want to alienate the fans even more,” Oilers offensive lineman Bruce Matthews said. “We wanted to come out and show improvement and show the fans that the business side is different from the playing side.”

They didn’t get the chance.

Bucs 20, Steelers 7

In Tampa, Fla., Trent Dilfer continued to make strides leading the Bucs’ offense, throwing for 197 yards and two touchdowns against Pittsburgh.

The second-year quarterback wasn’t as sharp as he was in directing a 24-point victory over Cincinnati last week, but he did finish well enough against the Steelers’ reserves to complete 10 passes in 19 attempts. He was intercepted twice.

Horace Copeland scored on a 50-yard reception for Tampa Bay and Dilfer caught the Pittsburgh defense in the middle of a personnel change when he took a quick snap and flipped an 8-yard, third-quarter TD pass to an uncovered Lamar Thomas.

Pittsburgh’s sharpest drive of the night didn’t produce any points. Neil O’Donnell completed eight consecutive passes in the 2-minute offense, moving the Steelers from his own 25 to the Tampa Bay 24 before Dean Biasucci missed a field goal.

49ers 17, Panthers 10

In San Francisco, Steve Young completed all seven of his passes and ran for a touchdown and Merton Hanks stopped a threat with an interception as the 49ers held off Carolina.

Young played just more than a quarter, finishing with a 6-yard scramble for a score 45 seconds into the second period. He completed five passes for 67 yards during the 11-play, 83-yard drive and threw for 72 yards overall.

John Kasay converted his 12th straight field goal, a 23-yarder with 11:30 left in the second quarter, to pull Carolina within 7-3. He was short with a 61-yard try as time expired in the first half and missed a 37-yard try.

Falcons 19, Browns 10

In Atlanta, Bobby Hebert hit Mario Bailey with a 45-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter and Morten Andersen made four field goals, leading the Falcons over Cleveland.

The Falcons trailed the Browns only once - when Cleveland’s Georgia connection produced a 10-9 lead on Eric Zeier’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Andre Rison with 6:14 remaining in the first half.

Zeier completed 12 of 24 passes for 123 yards.

Dolphins 27, Redskins 13

In Miami, the Dolphins lost four players with injuries, including defensive stalwarts Bryan Cox and Troy Vincent, while beating Washington. The severity of the injuries wasn’t immediately known.

Cox, a Pro Bowl linebacker, strained a ligament in his right knee. Vincent bruised his right quadricep.

Starting fullback Robert Wilson and reserve cornerback Frankie Smith were also hurt.

Miami’s Dan Marino bounced back from his poorest showing since high school, throwing for 140 yards and a touchdown in 2-1/2 quarters.

Chiefs 36, Bills 10

In Kansas City, Mo., Steve Bono threw three touchdown passes against Buffalo.

Playing almost three full quarters, the successor to the retired Joe Montana completed 19 of 27 passes for 226 yards. He had touchdown tosses of 11 yards to tight end Keith Cash and 13 to fullback Tony Richardson as the Chiefs took a 17-3 first-half lead before 76,229 - the largest crowd for an Arrowhead Stadium exhibition game since 1972.

Giants 32, Jets 31

In East Rutherford, N.J., Omar Douglas turned a desperation pass tipped by defender Anthony Prior into an 80-yard touchdown and Keith Elias ran in the 2-point conversion, giving the Giants a stunning victory over the Jets.

Quarterback Kent Graham, scrambling around, flung the ball downfield and Prior settled under it for a game-clinching interception. Instead, he tipped the ball into the air, Douglas grabbed it at the Jets’ 35 and sped into the end zone with 22 seconds to go.

Colts 20, Packers 17 (OT)

In Green Bay, Wis., backup Jim Harbaugh showed the poise under pressure that starter Craig Erickson lacked, guiding Indianapolis past the Packers.