1979 Houston Oilers season

Infobox NFL_season
team = Houston Oilers
year = 1979
record = 11-5
division_place = 2nd AFC Central
coach = O.A. Bum Phillips
stadium = Astrodome
playoffs = Lost AFC Championship Game (Steelers)The 1979 season was the Houston Oilers 20th season and their 10th in the NFL. The franchise scored 362 points while the defense gave up 331 points. Their record of 11 wins and 5 losses resulted in a second place finish in the AFC Central Division. The Oilers appeared once on Monday Night Football and returned to the AFC Championship Game for the second consecutive year. Earl Campbell would lead the NFL in rushing for the second consecutive year and set a franchise record for most touchdowns in a season with 19.

Offseason

NFL Draft

Postseason

AFC Wild Card

* Houston Oilers 13, Denver Broncos 7Linescore Amfootball
Road=Broncos
R1=7
R2=0
R3=0
R4=0
RT=7
Home=Oilers
H1=3
H2=7
H3=0
H4=3
HT=13

"at Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas"

*TV: NBC

The Oilers managed to shut down the Broncos offense for most of the game en route to a 13-7 win.

AFC Divisional Playoff

* Houston Oilers 17, San Diego Chargers 14Linescore Amfootball
Road=Oilers
R1=0
R2=10
R3=7
R4=0
RT=17
Home=Chargers
H1=7
H2=0
H3=7
H4=0
HT=14

"at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego"

*TV: NBC

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.

AFC Championship Game

* Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Houston Oilers 13Linescore Amfootball
Road=Oilers
R1=7
R2=3
R3=0
R4=3
RT=13
Home=Steelers
H1=3
H2=14
H3=0
H4=10
HT=27

"at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania"

*Game time: 1:00 PM EST
*Game weather:
*Game attendance: 50,475
*Referee: Jim Tunney
*TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg (play-by-play), Merlin Olsen (color commentator)

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.

Awards and records

* Earl Campbell, NFL Rushing Leader, (1,697)
* Earl Campbell, 1979 NFL MVP
* Earl Campbell, PFWA NFL MVP (1979)
* Earl Campbell, Pro Bowl selection 1979
* Earl Campbell, All-Pro selection 1979
* Earl Campbell, NEA NFL MVP (1979)
* Earl Campbell, NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1979)
* Earl Campbell, 1979 Bert Bell Award
* Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers record, Most Touchdowns in a Season (19)
*Mike Reinfeldt, NFL Interception Leader, 12

Milestones

* Earl Campbell, 2nd 1,000 yard rushing season
* Earl Campbell, 2nd NFL Rushing Title

References

* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/oti/1979.htm Oilers on Pro Football Reference]
* [http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1979-hou Oilers on jt-sw.com]