By the Numbers
Tennessee Oilers
1997 record: 8-8 (3rd in
AFC Central)
1997 NFL rank (rush/pass/total):
offense
3/29/18; defense
4/27/22
1998
schedule
strength:
NFL rank:
5
(tie), Opponents' 1997 winning percentage:
.539, Games against playoff teams:
8
Coming Up
Dry
Tennessee's Anthony Cook was the only defensive lineman in
the NFL to start all 16 regular-season games last year and
fail to record a sack. (In addition, the Oilers' Barron
Wortham was one of only two linebackers who started every
game without
recording either a sack, a fumble recovery or an interception; the
49ers' Gary Plummer, who retired after the season, was the
other.) Of the six other linemen in the 1990s who, like
Cook, were shut out, only two markedly improved their sack
output the following
season.
| | Year | GS | Sacks | Next year | GS | Sacks |
| Anthony Cook, Oilers | 1997 | 16 | 0 | 1998 | ? | ? |
| Luther Elliss, Lions | 1995 | 16 | 0 | 1996 | 14 | 6 1/2 |
| Jimmie Jones, Rams | 1995 | 16 | 0 | 1996 | 14 | 5 1/2 |
| Gerald Williams, Panthers | 1995 | 16 | 0 | 1996 | 14 | 1 |
| Moe Gardner, Falcons | 1994 | 16 | 0 | 1995 | 16 | 1/2 |
| William Perry, Eagles* | 1994 | 16 | 0 | — | — | — |
| Ken Clarke, Vikings* | 1991 | 16 | 0 | — | — | — |
Statistical boxes compiled by Elias Sports Bureau
*Perry and Clarke played their last NFL games in 1994 and 1991, respectively.
Scouting Report | Inside Slant | Lineup
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