September 7, 2017

Highlighted Year: Cody Carlson, 1992

Quarterback, Houston Oilers

Age: 29 (Nov. 5)
6th season in pro football (5th active) & with Oilers
College: Baylor
Height: 6’3”    Weight: 202

Prelude:
Following a fine career at Baylor, Carlson was chosen by the Oilers in the third round of the 1987 NFL draft. He saw no action as a rookie backup to Warren Moon during the strike-interrupted ’87 season. Valued for his size and arm strength, he proved to be a capable backup to Moon, starting five games when Moon suffered a shoulder injury in 1988, when he passed for 775 yards and four touchdowns. Carlson appeared in six games in ’89 and one in 1990 to close out the regular season, which garnered him AFC Offensive Player of the Week recognition. Stepping in for Moon in the postseason, the result was a loss to Cincinnati. A broken arm sidelined Moon during the 1992 season, again necessitating Carlson’s stepping into the starting role.

1992 Season Summary
Appeared in 11 of 16 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing
Attempts – 227
Most attempts, game – 36 vs. Green Bay 12/13
Completions – 149
Most completions, game – 25 vs. Green Bay 12/13
Yards – 1710
Most yards, game – 338 at Detroit 11/26
Completion percentage – 65.6 [3, 1st in AFC]
Yards per attempt – 7.5 [6]
TD passes – 9
Most TD passes, game – 2 vs. Cleveland 11/8, at Cleveland 12/20
Interceptions – 11 [19, tied with Randall Cunningham, Jay Schroeder & Stan Gelbaugh]
Most interceptions, game – 2 at Miami 11/22, at Detroit 11/26, vs. Green Bay 12/13, at Cleveland 12/20
Passer rating – 81.2 [12]
300-yard passing games – 2
200-yard passing games – 4

Rushing
Attempts – 27
Most attempts, game – 6 (for 26 yds.) at Cleveland 12/20
Yards – 77
Most yards, game – 26 yards (on 6 carries) at Cleveland 12/20
Average gain – 2.9
TDs – 1

Scoring
TDs – 1
Points – 6

Did not appear in postseason game

Oilers went 10-6 to finish second in the AFC Central, while leading the NFL in passing yards (4029) and qualifying for the postseason as a wild card entry. Lost AFC Wild Card playoff to Buffalo Bills (41-38).

Aftermath:
Moon was briefly benched for poor play in 1993 and Carlson was also sidelined with a groin injury. With Moon’s departure in 1994, Carlson was handed the starting job with unsuccessful results. With questions arising as to his fragility, Carlson retired in 1995 after failing his team physical. Over the course of seven active seasons, mostly in a backup role, he passed for 4469 yards and 21 TDs with 28 interceptions. The Oilers went 11-8 in games that he started.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose: Total Yards
Defense: Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff Returns: Average
Punt Returns: Average
Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970