Houston Makes One Last Run at Bengals : Rozier Rushes for 3 Touchdowns as Oilers Stay Alive in AFC Central Division Race, 41-6

The Houston Oilers didn’t let Ickey Woods do his shuffle, while Mike Rozier was dancing all over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Rozier scored on runs of 13, 15 and 3 yards Sunday as the Oilers stayed in the running for their first AFC Central title with a 41-6 victory over the Bengals.

Houston (10-5) would win the division with a victory over Cleveland if Cincinnati (11-4) loses to Washington. The Oilers get at least a wild-card spot as long as they don’t finish with the same record as both New England and Cleveland.

The Bengals, who already have clinched a playoff berth, could have wrapped up the division title with a victory.

The Oilers held Cincinnati, the NFL’s No. 1-ranked offense, to 226 total yards. Woods gained 71 yards in 10 carries, but didn’t get a chance to do his touchdown dance.

“I told you we weren’t going to let him do that in our house,” Houston linebacker Robert Lyles said. “He’ll have to take that back to Cincinnati.

“I think the key to our victory, besides Mike running the ball, was being in our highest gear. We had to knock them around and not let them get in front of us.”

Rozier had 126 yards in 22 carries and has 983 yards, in search of his first 1,000-yard season. He rushed for more than 100 yards for the eighth time in his NFL career and the third time this season.

“Today meant a lot to us as far as the playoffs,” Rozier said. “I had to pick up the team and that’s what I did. The line blocked real good.”

Cincinnati didn’t get a first down until 44 seconds remained in the first quarter. The Bengals had 44 total yards at the half and Boomer Esiason was sacked 3 times and threw an interception.

Cincinnati scored a club-record 28 first-quarter points in beating Houston, 44-21, on Oct. 23. The Oilers got the quick start this time, taking a 24-3 halftime lead.

Rozier scored on runs of 13 yards in the first quarter and 15 yards in the second quarter, Warren Moon hit Curtis Duncan with a 13-yard touchdown pass and Tony Zendejas kicked a 43-yard field goal.

Zendejas added a 48-yard kick in the third quarter, Rozier scored on a 3-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter and Moon’s second touchdown pass went for 33 yards to Drew Hill with 10:06 left.

The Bengals got field goals of 45 and 27 yards from Jim Breech.

Moon was 14 of 25 for 254 yards, while Esiason completed 10 of 22 for 131 yards.