1979 NFL season

1979 National Football League season
Regular season
Duration	September 1 – December 17, 1979
Playoffs
Start date	December 23, 1979
AFC Champions	Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC Champions	Los Angeles Rams
Super Bowl XIV
Date	January 20, 1980
Site	Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
Champions	Pittsburgh Steelers
Pro Bowl
Date	January 27, 1980
Site	Aloha Stadium

The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers repeated as champions by defeating Los Angeles Rams 31-19 at the Rose Bowl. The Steelers became the first team to win back-to-back Super Bowls twice.^[1]^[2] It was also the 20th anniversary of the American Football League.

Major rule changes

Whenever the quarterback is sacked, the clock will be stopped for at least five seconds and then restarted again.
If a fair catch is made, or signaled and awarded to a team because of interference, on the last play of a half, the period can be extended and the team can run one play from scrimmage or attempt a fair catch kick.
Defensive linemen can wear numbers 90 to 99.
Centers are included as the interior offensive linemen in the uniform numbering system.
Players are prohibited from wearing torn or altered equipment. Tear-away jerseys are banned.
During kickoffs, punts, and field goal attempts, players on the receiving team cannot block below the waist.
The zone in which crackback blocks are prohibited is extended from 3 yards on either side of the line of scrimmage to 5.
Players cannot use their helmets to butt, spear, or ram an opponent. Any player who uses the crown or the top of his helmet unnecessarily will be called for unnecessary roughness.
In order to prevent incidents such as the Holy Roller game, the following change is made: If an offensive player fumbles during a fourth down play, or during any down played after the two-minute warning in a half, only the fumbling player can recover and/or advance the ball. This change is known as the "Ken Stabler rule" after the Oakland Raiders quarterback who made the infamous play in the Holy Roller game.^[3]
Referees were outfitted with black identifying hats, while all other officials continued to wear white hats.
For the first time, each official's position was identified on his shirt. The position was abbreviated on the front pocket of the shirt and then spelled out on the back above the number.
The numbering system for officials was altered, with officials numbered separately by position rather than as an entire group, making duplicate numbers among officials common.
Uprights were extended to 30 feet above the crossbar.

Division Races

Starting in 1978, ten teams qualified for the playoffs: the winners of each of the divisions, and two wild-card teams in each conference.

National Football Conference

Week	NFC East		NFC Central		NFC West		Wild Card		Wild Card
1	Dallas, Philadelphia	1–0	3 teams	1–0	Atlanta	1–0
2	Dallas	2–0	Tampa Bay, Chicago	2–0	Atlanta	2–0
3	Dallas	3–0	Tampa Bay	3–0	Atlanta, L.A.	2–1
4	Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington	3–1	Tampa Bay	4–0	Atlanta, L.A.	2–2	Chicago	2–2	Minnesota	2–2
5	Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington	4–1	Tampa Bay	5–0	L.A.	3–2	Minnesota	3–2	4 teams	2–3
6	Dallas, Philadelphia	5–1	Tampa Bay	5–1	L.A.	4–2	Washington	4–2	3 teams	3–3
7	Dallas, Philadelphia	6–1	Tampa Bay	5–2	L.A.	4–3	Washington	5–2	5 teams	3–4
8	Dallas	7–1	Tampa Bay	6–2	L.A., New Orleans	4–4	Philadelphia, Washington	6–2	Minnesota	4–4
9	Dallas	7–2	Tampa Bay	7–2	L.A.	5–4	Philadelphia, Washington	6–3	4 teams	4–5
10	Dallas	8–2	Tampa Bay	7–3	L.A., New Orleans	5–5	Philadelphia, Washington	6–4	Chicago	5–5
11	Dallas	8–3	Tampa Bay	8–3	New Orleans	6–5	Philadelphia, Washington	7–4	Chicago	6–5
12	Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington	8–4	Tampa Bay	9–3	L.A., New Orleans	6–6	Chicago	7–5	Giants, Minnesota	5–7
13	Philadelphia	9–4	Tampa Bay	9–4	L.A., New Orleans	7–6	Dallas, Washington	8–5	Chicago	7–6
14	Philadelphia	10–4	Tampa Bay	9–5	L.A.	8–6	Dallas, Washington	9–5	Chicago	8–6
15	Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington	10–5	Tampa Bay, Chicago	9–6	L.A.	9–6	Minnesota, New Orleans	8–7	Giants	6–9
16	Dallas	11–5	Tampa Bay	10–6	Los Angeles	9–7	Philadelphia	11–5	Chicago	10–6

American Football Conference

Week	AFC East		AFC Central		AFC West		Wild Card		Wild Card
1	Miami	1–0	3 teams	1–0	4 teams	1–0
2	Miami	2–0	Pittsburgh, Cleveland	2–0	San Diego	2–0
3	Miami	3–0	Pittsburgh, Cleveland	3–0	San Diego	3–0	New England, Houston, Denver	2–1
4	Miami	4–0	Pittsburgh, Cleveland	4–0	San Diego, Denver	3–1	New England, Houston	3–1	Buffalo, Kansas City	2–2
5	Miami	4–1	Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Houston	4–1	San Diego	4–1	New England, Denver, Buffalo, Kansas City	3–2	Jets, Oakland	2–3
6	Miami, New England	4–2	Pittsburgh	5–1	San Diego, Denver, Kansas City	4–2	Cleveland, Houston	4–2	Buffalo, Oakland	3–3
7	Miami, New England	5–2	Pittsburgh, Houston	5–2	San Diego, Denver	5–2	Cleveland, Kansas City, Oakland	4–3	Buffalo, Jets	3–4
8	New England	6–2	Pittsburgh	6–2	San Diego	6–2	Miami, Cleveland, Houston, Denver	5–3	Jets, Kansas City, Oakland	4–4
9	Miami, New England	6–3	Pittsburgh	7–2	San Diego, Denver	6–3	Cleveland, Houston	6–3	Oakland	5–4
10	New England	7–3	Pittsburgh	8–2	San Diego, Denver	7–3	Cleveland, Houston	7–3	Miami, Oakland	6–4
11	Miami, New England	7–4	Pittsburgh	9–2	San Diego, Denver	8–3	Houston	8–3	Cleveland	7–4
12	New England	8–4	Pittsburgh, Houston	9–3	San Diego, Denver	9–3	Cleveland	8–4	Miami	7–5
13	Miami, New England	8–5	Pittsburgh, Houston	10–3	San Diego	10–3	Denver	9–4	Cleveland	8–5
14	Miami	9–5	Pittsburgh	11–3	San Diego, Denver	10–4	Houston	10–4	Cleveland	9–5
15	Miami	10–5	Pittsburgh, Houston	11–4	San Diego	11–4	Denver	10–5	Cleveland, Oakland	9–6
16	Miami	10–6	Pittsburgh	12–4	San Diego	12–4	Houston	11–5	Denver	10–6

Final standings

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT = Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
AFC East
⁽³⁾ Miami Dolphins	10	6	0	.625	341	257
New England Patriots	9	7	0	.563	411	326
New York Jets	8	8	0	.500	337	383
Buffalo Bills	7	9	0	.438	268	279
Baltimore Colts	5	11	0	.313	271	351
AFC Central
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
⁽²⁾ Pittsburgh Steelers	12	4	0	.750	416	262
⁽⁴⁾ Houston Oilers	11	5	0	.688	362	331
Cleveland Browns	9	7	0	.563	359	352
Cincinnati Bengals	4	12	0	.250	337	421
AFC West
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
⁽¹⁾ San Diego Chargers	12	4	0	.750	411	246
⁽⁵⁾ Denver Broncos	10	6	0	.625	289	262
Seattle Seahawks	9	7	0	.563	378	372
Oakland Raiders	9	7	0	.563	365	337
Kansas City Chiefs	7	9	0	.438	238	262

Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
NFC East
⁽¹⁾ Dallas Cowboys	11	5	0	.688	371	313
⁽⁴⁾ Philadelphia Eagles	11	5	0	.688	339	282
Washington Redskins	10	6	0	.625	348	295
New York Giants	6	10	0	.375	237	323
St. Louis Cardinals	5	11	0	.313	307	358
NFC Central
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
⁽²⁾ Tampa Bay Buccaneers	10	6	0	.625	273	237
⁽⁵⁾ Chicago Bears	10	6	0	.625	306	249
Minnesota Vikings	7	9	0	.438	259	337
Green Bay Packers	5	11	0	.313	246	316
Detroit Lions	2	14	0	.125	219	365
NFC West
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
⁽³⁾ Los Angeles Rams	9	7	0	.563	323	309
New Orleans Saints	8	8	0	.500	370	360
Atlanta Falcons	6	10	0	.375	300	388
San Francisco 49ers	2	14	0	.125	308	416

Tiebreakers

San Diego was the top AFC playoff seed based on head-to-head victory over Pittsburgh (1–0).
Seattle finished ahead of Oakland in the AFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).
Dallas finished ahead of Philadelphia in the NFC East based on better conference record (10–2 to Eagles' 9–3).
Tampa Bay finished ahead of Chicago in the NFC Central based on a better division record (6–2 to Bears' 5–3).
Chicago was the second NFC Wild Card ahead of Washington based on better net points in all games (57 to Redskins' 53).

Coaching Changes

Tom Flores replaced a retired John Madden as head coach of the Oakland Raiders
Ray Perkins replaced John McVay as head coach of the New York Giants
Bill Walsh replaced Fred O'Connor as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers
Ron Erhardt replaced Chuck Fairbanks as head coach of the New England Patriots

Playoffs

Main article: 1979–80 NFL playoffs

NOTE: The Dallas Cowboys (the NFC 1 seed) did not play the Philadelphia Eagles (the 4 seed) in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division.


			Divisional Playoffs
			Dec. 30 – Texas Stadium
NFC Wild Card Game						NFC Championship
			3	Los Angeles	21
Dec. 23 – Veterans Stadium						Jan. 6 – Tampa Stadium
			1*	Dallas	19
5	Chicago	17				3	Los Angeles	9
			Dec. 29 – Tampa Stadium
4	Philadelphia	27				2	Tampa Bay	0	Super Bowl XIV
			4	Philadelphia	17
									Jan. 20 – Rose Bowl
			2*	Tampa Bay	24
									N3	Los Angeles	19
			Dec. 29 – San Diego Stadium
AFC Wild Card Game						AFC Championship			A2	Pittsburgh	31
			4	Houston	17
Dec. 23 – Astrodome						Jan. 6 – Three Rivers Stadium
			1	San Diego	14
5	Denver	7				4	Houston	13
			Dec. 30 – Three Rivers Stadium
4	Houston	13				2	Pittsburgh	27
			3	Miami	14

			2	Pittsburgh	34

Statistical leaders

Team

Points scored	Pittsburgh Steelers (416)
Total yards gained	Pittsburgh Steelers (6,258)
Yards rushing	New York Jets (2,646)
Yards passing	San Diego Chargers (3,915)
Fewest points allowed	Tampa Bay Buccaneers (237)
Fewest total yards allowed	Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3,949)
Fewest rushing yards allowed	Denver Broncos (1,693)
Fewest passing yards allowed	Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2,076)

Awards

Most Valuable Player	Earl Campbell, Running Back, Houston Oilers
Coach of the Year	Jack Pardee, Washington
Offensive Player of the Year	Earl Campbell, Running Back, Houston Oilers
Defensive Player of the Year	Lee Roy Selmon, Defensive End, Tampa Bay
Offensive Rookie of the Year	Ottis Anderson, Running Back, St. Louis Cardinals
Defensive Rookie of the Year	Jim Haslett, Linebacker, Buffalo

Notes

↑ "Colts open Super Bowl defense". September 6, 2007. the Steelers, the only team to ever repeat twice as Super Bowl champions
↑ "Steelers History: A Tradition of Excellence". Steelers.com. Retrieved September 21, 2014. Yet another standard was set the following year when the 1979 Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams, 31-19, in Super Bowl XIV to make them ... the only team to win back-to-back Super Bowls twice
↑ Rules of the Name, or How The Emmitt Rule Became The Emmitt Rule (URL last accessed March 1, 2006)

References

NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)
NFL History 1971–1980 (Last accessed December 4, 2005)
Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)

1979 NFL season

East	Central	West	East	Central	West
Baltimore	Cincinnati	Denver	Dallas	Chicago	Atlanta
Buffalo	Cleveland	Kansas City	NY Giants	Detroit	Los Angeles
Miami	Houston	Oakland	Philadelphia	Green Bay	New Orleans
New England	Pittsburgh	San Diego	St. Louis	Minnesota	San Francisco
NY Jets		Seattle	Washington	Tampa Bay

National Football League seasons

Early era
(1920–1969)

Modern era
(1970–present)

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