1979 NFL season

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 the 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.

1979 National Football League season
Regular season
DurationSeptember 1 – December 17, 1979
Playoffs
Start dateDecember 23, 1979
AFC ChampionsPittsburgh Steelers
NFC ChampionsLos Angeles Rams
Super Bowl XIV
DateJanuary 20, 1980
SiteRose Bowl, Pasadena, California
ChampionsPittsburgh Steelers
Pro Bowl
DateJanuary 27, 1980
SiteAloha Stadium
The Steelers playing the Rams in Super Bowl XIV.

Draft

The 1979 NFL Draft was held from May 3 to 4, 1979 at New York City's Waldorf Astoria New York. With the first pick, the Buffalo Bills selected linebacker Tom Cousineau from the Ohio State University.

New Officials

Jerry Seeman was promoted to referee succeeding Don Wedge who returned to being a deep wing official, primarily as a back judge, where he continued to officiate through 1995. Seeman served as a crew chief for 12 seasons, working Super Bowl XXIII and Super Bowl XXV before leaving the field to succeed Art McNally as NFL Vice President of Officiating from 1991-2001.

Major rule changes

  • Whenever the quarterback is sacked, the clock will be stopped for at least five seconds and then restarted again. (The stoppage was eliminated effective the 2014 NFL season.)
  • If a fair catch is made, or signaled and awarded to a team because of interference, on the last play of a half or overtime, 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 or overtime, 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] In officiating circles, it's known as the "Markbreit rule" after Jerry Markbreit, who was the referee for that game.
  • Referees were outfitted with black identifying hats, while all other officials continued to wear white hats. This was the same as the Canadian Football League, but the opposite of American high school and college football.
  • 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 New Orleans 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 7–8 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

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).

Playoffs

The Buccaneers playing against the Eagles in 1979 NFC Divisional Playoff Game.
Dec. 30 – Texas Stadium
3 Los Angeles 21
Dec. 23 – Veterans Stadium Jan. 6 – Tampa Stadium
1* Dallas 19
NFC
5 Chicago 17 3 Los Angeles 9
Dec. 29 – Tampa Stadium
4 Philadelphia 27 2 Tampa Bay 0
NFC Championship
4 Philadelphia 17
Jan. 20 – Rose Bowl
2* Tampa Bay 24
Divisional playoffs
Wild Card playoffs N3 Los Angeles 19
Dec. 29 – San Diego Stadium
A2 Pittsburgh 31
Super Bowl XIV
4 Houston 17
Dec. 23 – Astrodome Jan. 6 – Three Rivers Stadium
1 San Diego 14
AFC
5 Denver 7 4 Houston 13
Dec. 30 – Three Rivers Stadium
4 Houston 13 2 Pittsburgh 27
AFC Championship
3 Miami 14
2 Pittsburgh 34


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.

Statistical leaders

Team

Points scoredPittsburgh Steelers (416)
Total yards gainedPittsburgh Steelers (6,258)
Yards rushingNew York Jets (2,646)
Yards passingSan Diego Chargers (3,915)
Fewest points allowedTampa Bay Buccaneers (237)
Fewest total yards allowedTampa Bay Buccaneers (3,949)
Fewest rushing yards allowedDenver Broncos (1,693)
Fewest passing yards allowedTampa Bay Buccaneers (2,076)

Awards

Most Valuable PlayerEarl Campbell, Running Back, Houston Oilers
Coach of the YearJack Pardee, Washington
Offensive Player of the YearEarl Campbell, Running Back, Houston Oilers
Defensive Player of the YearLee Roy Selmon, Defensive End, Tampa Bay
Offensive Rookie of the YearOttis Anderson, Running Back, St. Louis Cardinals
Defensive Rookie of the YearJim Haslett, Linebacker, Buffalo
Man of the Year AwardJoe Greene, Defensive Tackle, Pittsburgh
Comeback Player of the YearLarry Csonka, Running Back, Miami
Super Bowl Most Valuable PlayerTerry Bradshaw, Quarterback, Pittsburgh

Coaching changes

Offseason

In-season

Uniform changes

  • The New York Giants began wearing their white pants with their white jerseys, discontinuing their blue pants
  • The Washington Redskins replaced their gold pants with burgundy pants with their white jerseys and white pants with their burgundy jerseys
  • The San Diego Chargers replaced the blue and white stripe on the yellow pants with a white lighting bolt outlined in blue.

Notes

  1. "Colts open Super Bowl defense". September 6, 2007. the Steelers, the only team to ever repeat twice as Super Bowl champions
  2. "Steelers History: A Tradition of Excellence". Steelers.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2010. 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
  3. Rules of the Name, or How The Emmitt Rule Became The Emmitt Rule Archived September 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine (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)
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