Brister, Steelers Hurt Oiler Playoff Chances

Bubby Brister and the Pittsburgh Steelers walked into Houston’s “House of Pain” and turned it into “Heartbreak Hotel.”

Brister completed 3 touchdowns passes, including plays of 80 and 65 yards to Louis Lipps and a 16-yard game-winner to Merril Hoge with 20 seconds left Sunday night to give the Steelers a 37-34 victory over the Houston Oilers.

“It was a fullback curl,” Hoge said. “I saw there was no linebacker outside so I took it inside and Bubby got it to me. We had 1:30 to go (when they got the ball) and I knew we could take it.”

The Steelers (4-10), won on consecutive weekends for the first time this season and ended Houston’s string of 10 straight victories in the Astrodome, dubbed the “House of Pain” by the Oilers (9-5).

Houston’s defeat left the Oilers two games behind AFC Central leading Cincinnati (11-3). The Oilers face Cincinnati and Cleveland (9-5) in the last 2 weeks of the season with a playoff spot riding on the outcome.

“Our goals haven’t changed, just the way to get there has,” Oiler Coach Jerry Glanville said. “We gave up too many big plays. The bottom line is that the Pittsburgh Steelers played well. You have to give them credit.

“I think you saw a future NFL star in Bubby Brister.”

It appeared that Oilers had overcome quarterback Warren Moon’s three fourth-quarter interceptions when Moon scored on a 3-yard run with 1:34 left for a 34-31 lead.

Hoge scored on a 2-yard run with 7:36 left, giving the Steelers a 31-27 lead.

The Steelers had a 27-17 lead, but rookie Lorenzo White got the Oilers close with a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

Pittsburgh’s Dwight Stone started the big-play evening with a 92-yard kickoff return for a second-quarter touchdown.