PRO FOOTBALL : For Moon, Boos Turn to Cheers

When introduced Sunday, Houston Oiler quarterback Warren Moon was loudly booed by hometown fans frustrated by the recent NFL players’ strike and the regular team’s 1-1 record.

The Oilers’ player representative was booed again when he threw an interception on his third pass of the game.

But that was all forgotten and forgiven when he completed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Curtis Duncan with 27 seconds left to lead the Oilers to a 37-33 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

The victory lifted Houston to 4-2, while Atlanta dropped to 2-4.

“I knew it was important for us to come in here and win,” said Moon, who completed 15 of 34 passes for 242 yards and 3 touchdowns. He was intercepted twice.

“I was nervous when the game started. I figured I would get a negative reaction and with the help of my teammates was able to fight through it. Sometimes it helps to be a little nervous, but the fact that I knew I would probably be booed and hadn’t played in four weeks added to the nervousness.”

Moon’s performance and a 144-yard rushing day by Mike Rozier, who had 29 carries, offset four field goals by Atlanta’s Mick Luckhurst, including an 18-yarder with 2:24 left. Luckhurst had earlier tied the score, 30-30, with a 45-yard field goal with 6:45 left. He also converted from 39 and 37 yards.

Houston began the winning drive at its 20-yard line as Moon completed passes of 29 yards each to Drew Hill and Ernest Givens. Rozier carried twice for 8 yards to put the Oilers at the 14.

Moon then passed to Duncan alone in the corner of the end zone. Duncan had earlier scored on a 41-yard touchdown pass play.

Moon threw an 8-yard scoring pass to Givins, Rozier added a 14-yard touchdown run and Tony Zendejas kicked three field goals for Houston.

Atlanta’s Scott Campbell completed 14 of 26 passes for 187 yards and 1 interception. He threw touchdown passes of 29 yards to Stacey Bailey, 3 yards to Ken Whisenhunt and 10 yards to Floyd Dixon.

The Falcons were led by Gerald Riggs, who gained 113 yard in 21 carries.

Atlanta’s Sylvester Stamps had first-half kickoff returns of 20, 43 and 74 yards. Stamps was injured at the end of his 74-yard return, but neck X-rays were negative.

The game drew a crowd of 29,062, with 4,825 no-shows. That was a bit below a normal crowd at the Astrodome and 4,000 below the attendance for the home-opener against the Rams, the only game here before the strike.