A Grand Ol’ Time for the Oilers

The Tennessee Oilers finally are winners in their new hometown.

The Oilers, who had lost their first two games in Nashville, scored on their first six possessions in routing the Cincinnati Bengals, 44-14, on Sunday. The team that moved from Houston in 1997 played in Memphis last season.

“We talked about this before the game, that we had to establish a home field,” said safety Blaine Bishop. “That’s what we set out to do today. We executed real well in all phases and were able to do that.

“Hopefully, it’s going to continue into next week’s game.”

The Oilers made themselves comfortable at their temporary home in Vanderbilt Stadium with the eighth-best offensive performance in franchise history, totaling 515 yards.

Steve McNair, with two starting receivers sidelined because of injuries and bandaged from wrist to elbow, had one of the best games of his career. He completed 16 of 22 passes for 277 yards with no interceptions, ran for one touchdown and threw for another.

The Oilers’ first touchdown came on a trick play, with backup running back Mike Archie throwing an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jackie Harris.

Cincinnati Coach Bruce Coslet said the Oilers simply whipped his Bengals.

“It’s hard to win a game when they score every time they touch the ball in the first half,” he said.

Maybe it was a letdown from last week’s last-second victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the Bengals (2-4) couldn’t get anything going behind Neil O’Donnell and Carl Pickens.

O’Donnell, the AFC’s highest-rated quarterback, repeatedly overthrew receivers. He lost Cincinnati’s first fumble this season in the third quarter when sacked by Darryll Lewis. Joe Bowden picked off the ball in the air and scored from 12 yards, giving the Oilers a 30-0 lead.

It hadn’t looked so promising for the Oilers (3-3) before the game.

Coach Jeff Fisher wasn’t sure if McNair’s elbow would let him play, and receivers Willie Davis (chest) and Pro Bowler Yancey Thigpen (hip) were both deactivated. Rookie Kevin Dyson and second-year player Isaac Byrd made the first NFL starts.

McNair huddled with his receivers before kickoff and told them to just have fun. They did just fine, with plenty of help from McNair and Eddie George.

McNair scored on a one-yard run and hooked up with Dyson on a 45-yard touchdown pass play. George had his third 100-yard game this season with 25 carries for 107 yards.

Byrd and Dyson combined for nine catches and 135 yards, while eight players caught passes.

The Oilers wound up controlling the clock for 36:55. They also scored their most points since December 1991, when they beat the Raiders, 47-17.