NFL Exhibition Recap (New Orleans-Tennessee)
Posted: Sat August 2, 1997 at 11:30 p.m. EDT
NEW ORLEANS 21, TENNESSEE 12
Heath Shuler passed for one touchdown and ran for another to
lead the New Orleans Saints to a 21-12 victory over the
Tennessee Oilers in Mike Ditka's first game as coach of the
Saints.
Shuler, acquired in the offseason from the Washington Redskins
to be the Saints' starter, was 9-for-12 for 104 yards. He got
the Saints on the board with a one-yard run with 6:47 left in
the first quarter. He connected on a three-yard pass with
Earnest Hunter just before halftime, giving the Saints a 14-3
lead.
Danny Wuerffel, the 1996 Heisman Trophy winner from Florida who
was a fourth-round pick of the Saints, tossed an eight-yard
touchdown pass to Mercury Hayes with 2:10 remaining after the
Oilers had closed within 14-12. Wuerffel was 4-of-7 for 65
yards.
The Oilers, playing their first game after moving from Houston,
got a pair of field goals from Al Del Greco and a two-yard
touchdown pass from Dave Krieg to Mike Archie. Krieg, who
played most of the second half in relief of Steve McNair, was
11-for-19 for 133 yards.
McNair, who played the entire first half, was 5-of-10 for 72
yards.
The game drew just 22,811 fans to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
in Memphis.
© 2003 SportsTicker Enterprises, LP
|
