Moon Passes Oilers By Defenseless Bengals, 38-24 : AFC: He exploits the NFL’s worst pass defense for five touchdowns.

Warren Moon made it look easy Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Moon matched his career high with five touchdown passes--three to Haywood Jeffires and two to Ernest Givins--as the Houston Oilers took advantage of the NFL’s worst pass defense in a 38-24 victory.

Moon was at his best as he led the Oilers (4-1) to sole possession of first place in the AFC Central Division.

Moon avoided the rush, made all the right decisions and put the ball exactly where it had to be all afternoon.

“They did some things we took advantage of,” said Moon, who completed 21 of 32 passes for 216 yards. “They tried to mix it up a lot. They kept me guessing a few times, no question about it.

“But I guessed right most of the time, and that helped.”

Moon’s five touchdowns moved him ahead of George Blanda for the team career record of 169. Moon passed for five touchdowns one other time, during a 48-17 victory over the Bengals in 1990.

After giving up four touchdown passes to Rich Gannon in their last game, a 42-7 loss to Minnesota, the Bengals (2-3) decided to take away the long pass. Moon compensated by finding the open receivers underneath.

“This football team has to regroup and see what we can do,” Bengal Coach Dave Shula said. “We’ve all seen what we can’t do, which is compete against a good football team at this point. We’re going to look hard at everything we’re doing, and that includes who’s out there.”

Lorenzo White ran for a career-high 149 yards for the Oilers, and Jeffires had his first three-touchdown game.

Bengal quarterback Boomer Esiason left the game in the fourth quarter because of a bruised passing arm. He hit his left forearm on Al Smith’s helmet after releasing the ball and had to leave the game. X-rays found no fracture. His status is questionable for next week.

Al Del Greco kicked a 39-yard field goal and Moon threw touchdown passes of eight and 14 yards to Jeffires and two yards to Givins to put the Oilers ahead, 24-0.