Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.sports From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Slaughter comes to rescue as Oilers blow past Bengals Date: Mon, 26 Oct 92 14:37:03 EST Message-ID: \SE C;SPORTS;PRO FOOTBALL;AFC ROUNDUP \SS (WS) \HD Slaughter comes to rescue as Oilers blow past Bengals \BY FROM COMBINED DISPATCHES \DT HOUSTON HOUSTON - The Houston Oilers unveiled a couple of new weapons when they needed them the most - Webster Slaughter and defense. Slaughter caught a 36-yard touchdown pass, his first as an Oiler, and the defense turned stingy in the second half, leading Houston to a 26-10 victory yesterday over struggling Cincinnati. The Oilers (5-2), who lost in the final minute to Denver a week ago, got off to a sluggish start but their defense got the wakeup call and shut out the Bengals in the second half. Cincinnati (2-5) lost its fifth straight game and extended its Astrodome losing streak to eight in a row. Slaughter, who signed with the Oilers on Sept. 29, caught four passes for 68 yards and also returned punts for the Oilers. "I was this far from blowing up," Slaughter said of his first half bench time. "I was begging myself to be patient. Up to that point, I was thinking nothing would happen. I was so frustrated I was saying 'when will I get a chance to get in there.' "Today I started feeling more like a part of the team." Cincinnati's secondary preferred to have Slaughter on the bench. "He (Slaughter) adds depth to their offense," cornerback Eric Thomas said. "The last time we played them we knew he wouldn't play. This time, there's no doubt he's a big threat. He was a big threat at Cleveland and he's a big threat here." The defense held Cincinnati to 10 total yards in the second half, limiting Boomer Esiason to 139 passing yards and Harold Green was the Bengals' leading rusher with 38 yards. "At the half, we felt it was a pride factor," safety Marcus Robertson said. "We gave up so many yards and we were tied. The first defensive series (in the second half) we broke the huddle with more pride. When we play like that we're almost unbeatable." This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM