1979–80 NFL playoffs

The NFL playoffs following the 1979 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XIV.

Playoff seeds
Seed	AFC	NFC
1	San Diego Chargers (West winner)	Dallas Cowboys (East winner)
2	Pittsburgh Steelers (Central winner)	Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Central winner)
3	Miami Dolphins (East winner)	Los Angeles Rams (West winner)
4	Houston Oilers	Philadelphia Eagles
5	Denver Broncos	Chicago Bears

Note: As per the rules of the NFL playoffs prior to the 1990 season (notwithstanding the strike-shortened 1982 season), 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.

Bracket

*Note: Two teams from the same division were not allowed to play against each other in the Divisional playoff round.
						Divisional Playoffs
						December 30 - Texas Stadium
	NFC Wild Card Game										NFC Championship
						3	L.A. Rams	21
	December 23 - Veterans Stadium										January 6 - Tampa Stadium
						1*	Dallas	19
	5	Chicago	17								3	L.A. Rams	9
						December 29 - Tampa Stadium
	4	Philadelphia	27								2	Tampa Bay	0			Super Bowl XIV
						4	Philadelphia	17
																January 20 - Rose Bowl
						2*	Tampa Bay	24
																N3	L.A. Rams	19
						December 29 - Jack Murphy Stadium
	AFC Wild Card Game										AFC Championship					A2	Pittsburgh	31
						4	Houston	17
	December 23 - Astrodome										January 6 - Three Rivers Stadium
						1	San Diego	14
	5	Denver	7								4	Houston	13
						December 30 - Three Rivers Stadium
	4	Houston	13								2	Pittsburgh	27
						3	Miami	14
						2	Pittsburgh	34

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Wild Card playoffs

December 23, 1979

AFC: Houston Oilers 13, Denver Broncos 7

Game summary 1 2 3 4 Total Broncos 7 0 0 0 7 Oilers 3 7 0 3 13 at Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 48,776 Referee: Gene Barth TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Len Dawson Game information Scoring HOU - field goal Fritsch 31 HOU 3-0 DEN - Preston 7 pass from Morton (Turner kick) DEN 7-3 HOU - Campbell 3 run (Fritsch kick) HOU 10-7 HOU - field goal Fritsch 20 HOU 13-7

The Oilers managed to shut down the Broncos offense for most of the game en route to a 13-7 win. After Toni Fritsch kicked a 31-yard field goal on Houston's first drive, Denver marched 80 yards in 13 plays to score on quarterback Craig Morton's 7-yard touchdown pass to running back Dave Preston. From that point on, the Oilers controlled the rest of the game. With less than 3 minutes left in the first half, Houston advanced 74 yards to score on running back Earl Campbell's 3-yard touchdown run. Although Campbell and starting quarterback Dan Pastorini were both knocked out the game during the second half with injuries, the Oilers defense continued to dominate. In the fourth quarter, an interception by linebacker Gregg Bingham set up Fritsch's 20-yard field goal to close out the scoring.

NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 27, Chicago Bears 17

Game summary 1 2 3 4 Total Bears 7 10 0 0 17 Eagles 7 3 7 10 27 at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 69,397 Referee: Red Cashion TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen Game information Scoring PHI - Carmichael 17 pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick) PHI 7-0 CHI - Payton 2 run (Thomas kick) 7-7 PHI - field goal Franklin 29 PHI 10-7 CHI - Payton 1 run (Thomas kick) CHI 14-10 CHI - field goal Thomas 30 CHI 17-10 PHI - Carmichael 29 pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick) 17-17 PHI - Campfield 63 pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick) PHI 24-17 PHI - field goal Franklin 34 PHI 27-17

Eagles Quarterback Ron Jaworski threw for 204 yards and 3 touchdown passes as Philadelphia overcame a 17-10 Bears halftime lead. The Eagles scored first when Jaworski threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Harold Carmichael. Chicago responded with an 82-yard drive to score on running back Walter Payton's 2-yard rushing touchdown. Then after Philadelphia added a field goal, Payton scored again on a 1-yard touchdown to give the Bears a 17-10 lead. In the third quarter, Carmichael's 29-yard touchdown reception tied the game. Then on their next drive, Chicago advanced deep into Philadelphia territory only to see Bobby Howard intercept a pass in the end zone. A few plays later, Jaworski threw a 63-yard touchdown to running back Billy Campfield to take the lead for good. Carmichael finished the game with 6 receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

Divisional playoffs

December 29, 1979

AFC: Houston Oilers 17, San Diego Chargers 14

Game summary 1 2 3 4 Total Oilers 0 10 7 0 17 Chargers 7 0 7 0 14 at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 51,192 Referee: Ben Dreith TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen Game information Scoring SD - Williams 1 run (Wood kick) SD 7-0 HOU - field goal Fritsch 26 SD 7-3 HOU - Clark 1 run (Fritsch kick) HOU 10-7 SD - Mitchell 8 run (Wood kick) SD 14-10 HOU - Renfro 47 pass from Nielsen (Fritsch kick) HOU 17-14

The Oilers offense, playing without starting quarterback Dan Pastorini, receiver Ken Burrough, and running back Earl Campbell, could only generate 259 yard compared to San Diego's 385. But they still won the game, largely due to the effort of rookie safety Vernon Perry, who set a playoff record with 4 interceptions as the Oilers defeated the Chargers, 17-14. In his first career playoff game, Chargers future hall of fame quarterback Dan Fouts threw for 333 yards, but was intercepted 5 times. The Chargers high powered offense scored on their first possession of the game and of the second half but turnovers prevented further scoring.

San Diego scored first on running back Clarence Williams' 1-yard rushing touchdown, but on the Chargers' next drive, Perry intercepted a pass at the Houston 18-yard line. In the second quarter, Perry blocked a field goal attempt and returned the ball 57 yards to the San Diego 28-yard line, setting up Toni Fritsch's 26-yard field goal. Perry recorded another interception on the Chargers 38-yard line on the ensuing possession, and Boobie Clark ran for a 1-yard touchdown to give the Oilers a 10-7 lead. In the third period, San Diego regained the lead with running back Lydell Mitchell's 8-yard touchdown run. However, Houston defensive back J.C. Wilson's interception later set up Mike Renfro's 47-yard touchdown reception to take the lead for good. Perry recorded two more interceptions as the Oilers defense shut down the Chargers offense for the rest of the game.

After the game, it was revealed that the Oilers coaching staff was able to figure out the Chargers' coaches' signs as they signaled the play call from the sideline; this was one reason their defensive backs seemed to always be in the right place at the right time. "We pretty much knew ahead of time when they were going to pass, and where they were going to pass it." said Oilers defensive coordinator Ed Biles. [1]

NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, Philadelphia Eagles 17

Game summary 1 2 3 4 Total Eagles 0 7 3 7 17 Buccaneers 7 10 0 7 24 at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C), scattered clouds Game attendance: 71,402 Referee: Fred Silva TV announcers (CBS): Curt Gowdy and Hank Stram Game information Scoring TB - Bell 4 run (O'Donoghue kick) TB 7-0 TB - field goal O'Donoghue 40 TB 10-0 TB - Bell 1 run (O'Donoghue kick) TB 17-0 PHI - Smith 11 pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick) TB 17-7 PHI - field goal Franklin 42 17-10 TB - Giles 9 pass from Williams (O'Donoghue kick) TB 24-10 PHI - Carmichael 37 pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick) TB 24-17

The Buccaneers won their first playoff game in team history by holding the Eagles to 48 rushing yards, while running back Ricky Bell recorded 142 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Tampa Bay marched on an 18-play, 80-yard opening drive that took 9:34 off the clock to score on Bell's 4-yard touchdown run. Then after the Buccaneers added a field goal, defensive lineman Randy Crowder recovered a fumble which led to Bell's 1-yard touchdown to give Tampa Bay a 17-0 advantage. The Eagles scored just before halftime with quarterback Ron Jaworski's 11-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Smith, then they added a field goal in the third quarter to make the score 17-10. However, quarterback Doug Williams threw a 9-yard touchdown to Jimmie Giles to increase Tampa Bay's lead, 24-10. Although Philadelphia scored a late touchdown, they could not overcome the deficit before time expired.

December 30, 1979

AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Miami Dolphins 14

Game summary 1 2 3 4 Total Dolphins 0 0 7 7 14 Steelers 20 0 7 7 34 at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST Game attendance: 50,214 Referee: Cal Lepore TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and John Brodie Game information Scoring PIT - Thornton 1 run (Bahr kick) PIT 7-0 PIT - Stallworth 17 pass from Bradshaw (kick blocked) PIT 13-0 PIT - Swann 20 pass from Bradshaw (Bahr kick) PIT 20-0 MIA - D. Harris 7 pass from Griese (von Schamann kick) PIT 20-7 PIT - Bleier 1 run (Bahr kick) PIT 27-7 PIT - F. Harris 5 run (Bahr kick) PIT 34-7 MIA - Csonka 1 run (von Schamann kick) PIT 34-14

The Steelers scored 20 points in the first quarter and held the Dolphins to 25 rushing yards. Miami future hall of fame running back Larry Csonka was held to just 20 rushing yards on 10 carries in the final game of his career, while Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw threw for 230 yards and 2 touchdowns. On the opening drive of the game, Pittsburgh marched 62 yards to score on running back Sidney Thornton's 1-yard touchdown run. On their second possession, the Steelers advanced 62 yards again to score on wide receiver John Stallworth's 17-yard touchdown reception (although the extra point was blocked). And on their third drive, wide receiver Lynn Swann made a 20-yard touchdown reception. Miami finally scored in the third quarter after a muffed punt led to quarterback Bob Griese's 7-yard touchdown pass to Duriel Harris. However, the Steelers responded by advancing 69 yards to score on running back Rocky Bleier's 1-yard touchdown. Running back Franco Harris' 5-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach.

NFC: Los Angeles Rams 21, Dallas Cowboys 19

Game summary 1 2 3 4 Total Rams 0 14 0 7 21 Cowboys 2 3 7 7 19 at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST Game attendance: 64,792 Referee: Jerry Markbreit TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen Game information Scoring DAL - Safety, R. White tackled Ferragamo in end zone DAL 2-0 LA - Tyler 32 pass from Ferragamo (Corral kick) LA 7-2 DAL - field goal Septien 33 LA 7-5 LA - R. Smith 43 pass from Ferragamo (Corral kick) LA 14-5 DAL - Springs 1 run (Septien kick) LA 14-12 DAL - Saldi 2 pass from Staubach (Septien kick) DAL 19-14 LA - Waddy 50 pass from Ferragamo (Corral kick) LA 21-19

Nobody gave the aging Rams much of a chance in this game, especially considering that the Cowboys had soundly defeated a injured L.A.Rams team during the regular season, 30-6, and had shut them out in last season's NFC title game, 28-0.

Quarterback Vince Ferragamo led the Rams to a victory by throwing for 3 touchdown passes, the last one with 2:06 left in the game. The Cowboys scored first when defensive tackle Randy White sacked Ferragamo in the end zone for a safety. However, Ferragamo responded by throwing a 32-yard touchdown pass to running back Wendell Tyler. Dallas kicker Rafael Septien kicked a 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds left in the first half, but Ferragamo completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith before time expired to make it a 14-5 halftime lead. The Cowboys, led by quarterback Roger Staubach in what proved to be his last NFL game of his hall of fame career, then scored 2 unanswered touchdowns in the second half to take the lead, 19-14. With about 2 minutes left in the game and the Rams at midfield, Ferragamo found wide receiver Billy Waddy on a short crossing route and Waddy sprinted the rest of the way for a game winning 50-yard touchdown. Staubach was unable to engineer a late fourth quarter comeback like the ones that made him famous throughout his career. The Rams defense forced a sack, and then pressured the Dallas quarterback to throw a pass illegally to an ineligible receiver, guard Herbert Scott, on fourth down; the last pass of his career.

Conference championships

January 6, 1980

AFC Championship: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Houston Oilers 13

Game summary 1 2 3 4 Total Oilers 7 3 0 3 13 Steelers 3 14 0 10 27 at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 26 °F (−3 °C), cloudy Game attendance: 50,475 Referee: Jim Tunney TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen Game information Scoring HOU - Perry 75 interception return (Fritsch kick) HOU 7-0 PIT - field goal Bahr 21 HOU 7-3 HOU - field goal Fritsch 27 HOU 10-3 PIT - Cunningham 16 pass from Bradshaw (Bahr kick) 10-10 PIT - Stallworth 20 pass from Bradshaw (Bahr kick) PIT 17-10 HOU - field goal Fritsch 23 PIT 17-13 PIT - field goal Bahr 39 PIT 20-13 PIT - Bleier 4 run (Bahr kick) PIT 27-13

The Steelers held the Oilers to only 24 rushing yards, but was also aided by a controversial non-touchdown call to come away with a 27-13 win. Houston jumped to a 7-0 lead with just 2:30 into the game when Vernon Perry returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown. Then after the teams exchanged field goals, Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw completed two touchdown passes, a 16-yarder to tight end Bennie Cunningham and a 20-yard one to wide receiver John Stallworth.

With the Steelers leading 17-10, the controversial play occurred during the last seconds of the third quarter after the Oilers advanced to the Pittsburgh 6-yard line. Quarterback Dan Pastorini threw a pass to Mike Renfro at the back of the end zone, and Renfro appeared to have caught it for a touchdown with both feet in bounds before he fell out of the end zone. However, the officials ruled the pass incomplete, saying that he did not have complete control of the ball before going out of bounds. The Houston Oilers then had to settle for a 23-yard field goal.

The Steelers would then score 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to clinch the victory. A 78-yard drive ended with a field goal and running back Rocky Bleier scored on a 4-yard rushing touchdown. Steelers running back Franco Harris rushed for 85 yards and caught 6 passes for 50 yards. Houston running back Earl Campbell, the NFL's leading rusher during the season, finished the game with just 15 yards on 17 carries.

NFC Championship: Los Angeles Rams 9, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0

Game summary 1 2 3 4 Total Rams 0 6 0 3 9 Buccaneers 0 0 0 0 0 at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida Game time: 5:00 p.m. EST Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C), clear Game attendance: 72,033 Referee: Pat Haggerty TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier Game information Scoring LA - field goal Corral 19 LA 3-0 LA - field goal Corral 21 LA 6-0 LA - field goal Corral 23 LA 9-0

In a defensive battle in which the Rams squandered numerous scoring opportunities, Rams kicker Frank Corral kicked 3 field goals to win the game. Los Angeles was able to record 369 yards of total offense, while running backs Cullen Bryant and Wendell Tyler rushed for 106 and 86 yards, respectively. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers only had 177 total offensive yards, including 92 rushing yards and 85 passing yards. Most of Tampa Bay's passing yards came from a 42-yard halfback option pass from Jerry Eckwood to wide receiver Larry Mucker in the fourth quarter. During the game, two touchdowns were nullified by penalties, one by each team: A four yard run by Bryant and a 27-yard reception by Buccaneers' tight end Jimmie Giles.

Super Bowl

Further information: Super Bowl XIV

Game summary 1 2 3 4 Total Rams (NFC) 7 6 6 0 19 Steelers (AFC) 3 7 7 14 31 at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California Date: January 20, 1980 Game attendance: 103,985 Referee: Fred Silva TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier

References

• Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)
• The Sporting News Complete Super Bowl Book 1995 (ISBN 0-89204-523-X)