Moon Over Tampa, 20-17 : Houston: Quarterback passes for two first-half touchdowns, then Oilers hang on.

Warren Moon passed, the Houston defense made the key plays and the combination was too much for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Moon’s first-half passing included two touchdowns, and the Oiler defense batted down two punts, intercepted a pass and recovered a fumble for a 20-17 victory.

“The momentum in that game changed four or five times,” said Oiler cornerback Steve Brown, who got the first two sacks of his seven-year career.

Moon completed 13 of 18 passes in the first half, including touchdowns of 12 yards to Drew Hill and 16 yards to Curtis Duncan.

Tony Zendejas kicked field goals of 30 and 27 yards for a 20-3 halftime lead. Donald Igwebuike kicked the first of his two field goals for Tampa Bay, a 21-yarder, in the first half.

Vinny Testaverde rallied the Buccaneers with touchdown pass plays of six yards to Willie Drewrey and 24 yards to Ron Hall before Houston’s defense took charge.

“We came ready to play with nothing really to play for,” Testaverde said. “They were able to put a lot of pressure on me.

“The two blocked punts and the fact they were able to capitalize on the interception were the keys.”

Oiler rookie safety Buba McDowell ended Tampa Bay’s final drive with 1:18 to play when he recovered a fumble by James Wilder at the Oiler 21. Wilder had just caught a 27-yard pass.

“That was a great win for us in a tough situation,” Oiler Coach Jerry Glanville said. “I’m proud when things didn’t go right we hung in there at the end.

“A lot of people showed a lot of character. That game will help us in the next two.”

The Oilers (9-5) held onto their lead in the AFC Central Division. Tampa Bay dropped to 5-9.

Johnny Meads blocked a punt by Tampa Bay’s Chris Mohr in the second quarter, setting up Zendejas’ second field goal, and a 31-yard interception return by Cris Dishman led to Duncan’s touchdown catch.

That gave the Oilers their 20-3 lead, but the Buccaneers rallied in the third quarter when they maintained possession for 12:58.

“We didn’t play well enough--anytime you get a punt blocked, you’re supposed to lose--and when you get two blocked you’re not even supposed to be in the stadium,” Tampa Bay Coach Ray Perkins said. “Still we were in a position to win it. We just didn’t get the job done.”

Testaverde, held down by the Oiler defense in the first half, hit Drewrey, a former Oiler, with a six-yard touchdown with 7:23 gone in the third quarter.

The Buccaneers drove to the Houston 42 on their next drive, but Eugene Seale deflected Mohr’s punt and the Oilers drove to the Tampa Bay two-yard line.

But Moon’s pitch was behind Allen Pinkett, who fumbled the ball, and Reuben Davis recovered for the Buccaneers at the Tampa Bay 28.

Testaverde completed five of eight passes, including a 24-yard touchdown play to Hall with 6:13 to play.

Moon completed one of five passes in the second half and finished 14 for 23 for 149 yards.

“We let down in the second half and made it easier for them to stage a comeback,” Moon said. “We have to maintain our momentum in the second half if we’re going to go anywhere.”

Testaverde completed 31 of 48 passes for 328 yards and gained the respect of the Oiler defense.

“He’s the strongest quarterback I’ve ever played against,” said end Sean Jones, who had two sacks.