Houston's defensive line blocking a San Diego rushing attempt during the 1979 AFC Divisional Playoff Game. The 1979 Houston Oilers seasonNational Football League . 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 on December 10, 1979 where the sports promotion Luv ya Blue was launched 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. The Oilers would make the playoffs again as a wild card. In the wild card game, they beat the Denver Broncos 13–7, and then defeated the San Diego Chargers 17–14 in San Diego to reach their second straight AFC Championship game. The Oilers then played the Pittsburgh Steelers , who a year earlier had eliminated them 34–5 in the previous AFC Championship game. The Oilers lost the game 27–13. The game included a controversial moment in which wide receiver Mike Renfro had a touchdown called back after the referees of the game took a long time to decide the ruling on the field. The call went down as one of the most controversial calls in NFL history.
As of 2025, this is the most recent season a Houston-based team has reached the AFC Championship Game. The Oilers franchise would not do so again for twenty seasons , by which time they had re-located and become the Tennessee Titans, while Houston's current NFL team has yet to advance past the divisional round.
NFL Films produced a documentary about the team's season entitled Luv Ya Blue, Bum Builds a Winner ; it was narrated by John Facenda .
Offseason
NFL draft [ 1]
Personnel
Staff 1979 Houston Oilers staff Front office
Head coaches
Head Coach – Bum Phillips Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches Special teams coaches
Roster [ 2]
Pre season
Schedule Team Category Player Statistics HOU Passing Rushing Receiving DAL Passing Rushing Receiving
Oilers Game Statistics Cowboys First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Team Category Player Statistics HOU Passing Rushing Receiving NO Passing Rushing Receiving
Oilers Game Statistics Saints First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 at Washington Redskins W 29–27 1–0 RFK Stadium 54,582 Recap 2 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 7–38 1–1 Three Rivers Stadium 49,792 Recap 3 September 16 Kansas City Chiefs W 20–6 2–1 Astrodome 45,684 Recap 4 September 23 at Cincinnati Bengals W 30–27 3–1 Riverfront Stadium 45,615 Recap 5 September 30 Cleveland Browns W 31–10 4–1 Astrodome 48,915 Recap 6 October 7 St. Louis Cardinals L 17–24 4–2 Astrodome 53,043 Recap 7 October 14 at Baltimore Colts W 28–16 5–2 Memorial Stadium 45,021 Recap 8 October 21 at Seattle Seahawks L 14–34 5–3 Kingdome 60,705 Recap 9 October 28 New York Jets W 27–24 6–3 Astrodome 45,825 Recap 10 at Miami Dolphins W 9–6 7–3 Miami Orange Bowl 70,273 Recap 11 November 11 Oakland Raiders W 31–17 8–3 Astrodome 48,614 Recap 12 November 18 Cincinnati Bengals W 42–21 9–3 Astrodome 49,829 Recap 13 at Dallas Cowboys W 30–24 10–3 Texas Stadium 63,897 Recap 14 December 2 at Cleveland Browns L 7–14 10–4 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 69,112 Recap 15 Pittsburgh Steelers W 20–17 11–4 Astrodome 55,293 Recap 16 December 16 Philadelphia Eagles L 20–26 11–5 Astrodome 49,407 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Regular Season Game summaries [ 3]
Team Category Player Statistics HOU Passing Dan Pastorini 12/30, 176 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INTs Rushing Earl Campbell 32 CAR, 166 YDS, 2 TDs Receiving Billy Johnson 4 REC, 76 YDS, 1 TD WSH Passing Joe Theismann 7/14, 123 YDS, 2 TDs, 1 INT Rushing Benny Malone 17 CAR, 58 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Jean Fugett 3 REC, 55 YDS, 2 TDs
Point spread :Over/Under: 33.0 (over) Time of Game: Oilers Game Statistics Redskins 21 First downs 14 45–199 Rushes–yards 34–142 176 Passing yards 123 12–30–3 Passes 7–14–1 1–10 Sacked–yards 2–19 166 Net passing yards 104 365 Total yards 246 99 Return yards 215 3–45.7 Punts 4–36.5 1–0 Fumbles–lost 2–2 5–44 Penalties–yards 6–55 Time of Possession
Individual stats
Oilers Passing C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Sk Yds LG3 Rate Pastorini 12/30 176 1 3 1 10 35 31.4
Oilers Kick Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Johnson 4 37 9.3 0 0 King 1 17 17.0 0 0 Merkens 1 9 9.0 0 0
Oilers Punt Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Johnson 1 16 16.0 0 0 Merkens 1 0 0.0 0 0
Oilers Punting Pnt Yds Y/P Lng Blck Parsley 3 137 45.7
Oilers Kicking FGM–FGA XPM–XPA Fritsch 3–3 2–3
Oilers Interceptions Int Yds TD LG PD Reinfeldt 1 20 0 20 0
Starting Lineups
[ 6]
Team Category Player Statistics HOU Passing Gifford Nielsen 4/11, 41 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Earl Campbell 16 CAR, 38 YDS Receiving Billy Johnson 2 REC, 32 YDS PIT Passing Terry Bradshaw 12/29, 198 YDS, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Franco Harris 14 CAR, 42 YDS Receiving Lynn Swann 5 REC, 95 YDS
Point spread :Over/Under: 37.0 (over) Time of Game: Oilers Game Statistics Steelers 12 First downs 17 39–102 Rushes–yards 29–82 57 Passing yards 198 8–27–5 Passes 12–29–2 5–35 Sacked–yards 3–24 22 Net passing yards 174 124 Total yards 256 155 Return yards 160 9–46.1 Punts 7–40.1 4–1 Fumbles–lost 5–0 10–64 Penalties–yards 8–74 Time of possession
Individual stats
Oilers Passing C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Sk Yds LG3 Rate Nielsen 4/11 41 1 2 0 0 13 38.6 Pastorini 4/16 16 0 3 5 35 25 0.0
Oilers Kick Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Coleman 4 88 22.0 0 0 Wilson 2 30 15.0 0 0 Merkens 1 13 13.0 0 0
Oilers Punt Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Johnson 3 1 0.3 0 0
Oilers Punting Pnt Yds Y/P Lng Blck Parsley 9 415 46.1
Oilers Kicking FGM–FGA XPM–XPA Fritsch 1–1
Starting Lineups
[ 8]
Team Category Player Statistics STL Passing Jim Hart 23/38, 253 YDS, 3 INTs Rushing Ottis Anderson 16 CAR, 109 YDS Receiving Pat Tilley 6 REC, 69 YDS HOU Passing Dan Pastorini 15/29, 176 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Earl Campbell 13 CAR, 53 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Ken Burrough 5 REC, 62 YDS, 1 TD
Cardinals Game Statistics Oilers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of Possession
[ 10]
Point spread :Over/Under: 39.0 (under) Time of Game: 2 hours, 46 minutes Oilers Game Statistics Dolphins 10 First downs 13 46–179 Rushes–yards 26–102 25 Passing yards 158 6–10–0 Passes 14–26–2 2–14 Sacked–yards 2–20 11 Net passing yards 138 190 Total yards 240 108 Return yards 72 7–36.9 Punts 5–38.8 0–0 Fumbles–lost 3–2 8–70 Penalties–yards 4–35 31:26 Time of Possession 28:34
Individual stats
Oilers Passing C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Sk Yds LG3 Rate Pastorini 6/10 25 0 0 2 14 24 64.6
Oilers Kick Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Ellender 1 27 27.0 0 27 Hartwig 1 16 16.0 0 16
Oilers Punt Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Ellender 2 11 5.5 0 0
Oilers Punting Pnt Yds Y/P Lng Blck Parsley 7 255 36.4 0
Oilers Kicking FGM–FGA XPM–XPA Fritsch 3–4
Oilers Interceptions Int Yds TD LG PD Bingham 1 54 0 54 Perry 1 0 0 0
Missed field goals – Fritsch 48 (wide left)Starting Lineups
[ 12]
Team Category Player Statistics HOU Passing Dan Pastorini 9/17, 163 YDS, 2 TDs Rushing Earl Campbell 33 CAR, 195 YDS, 2 TDs Receiving Ken Burrough 3 REC, 55 YDS, 1 TD DAL Passing Roger Staubach 21/30, 287 YDS, 2 TDs, 2 INTs Rushing Tony Dorsett 12 CAR, 54 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Tony Dorsett 5 REC, 36 YDS
Point spread :Over/Under: 41.0 (over) Time of Game: Oilers Game Statistics Cowboys 17 First downs 20 41–224 Rushes–yards 30–92 163 Passing yards 287 9–17–0 Passes 21–30–2 1–9 Sacked–yards 1–8 154 Net passing yards 279 378 Total yards 371 113 Return yards 124 4–44.5 Punts 3–36.7 1–0 Fumbles–lost 2–1 4–45 Penalties–yards 7–42 Time of Possession
Individual stats
Oilers Passing C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Sk Yds LG3 Rate Pastorini 9/17 163 2 0 1 9 47 125.4
Oilers Punt Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Ellender 1 7 7.0 0 7
Oilers Punting Pnt Yds Y/P Lng Blck Parsley 4 178 44.5 0
Oilers Kicking FGM–FGA XPM–XPA Fritsch 1–1 3–4
Oilers Interceptions Int Yds TD LG PD Perry 1 9 0 9 0 Wilson 1 0 0 0 0
Starting Lineups
[ 14]
Team Category Player Statistics PIT Passing Terry Bradshaw 14/29, 237 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Franco Harris 12 CAR, 59 YDS Receiving Lynn Swann 4 REC, 50 YDS HOU Passing Dan Pastorini 10/16, 170 YDS, 1 TD Rushing Earl Campbell 33 CAR, 109 YDS Receiving Ken Burrough 3 REC, 48 YDS, 1 TD
Point spread :Over/Under: 42.5 (under) Time of Game: Steelers Game Statistics Oilers 15 First downs 20 22–120 Rushes–yards 54–190 237 Passing yards 170 14–29–2 Passes 10–17–0 3–19 Sacked–yards 1–10 218 Net passing yards 160 338 Total yards 350 114 Return yards 113 4–46.0 Punts 5–34.8 1–0 Fumbles–lost 1–0 10–79 Penalties–yards 4–28 Time of possession
Individual stats
Oilers Passing C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Sk Yds LG3 Rate Pastorini 10/16 170 1 0 1 10 25 119.3 Nielsen 0/1 0 0 0 0 0 0 39.6
Oilers Kick Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Coleman 2 37 18.5 0 0 Hartwig 1 23 23.0 0 0
Oilers Punt Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Ellender 2 6 3.0 0 0
Oilers Punting Pnt Yds Y/P Lng Blck Parsley 5 174 34.8
Oilers Kicking FGM–FGA XPM–XPA MFG Fritsch 2–3 2–2 44
Oilers Interceptions Int Yds TD LG PD Brazile 1 26 0 26 0 Stringer 1 21 0 21 0
Starting Lineups
[ 16]
Team Category Player Statistics PHI Passing Ron Jaworski 12/21, 163 YDS Rushing Billy Campfield 7 CAR, 68 YDS Receiving Wilbert Montgomery 5 REC, 51 YDS HOU Passing Dan Pastorini 7/14, 85 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INTs Rushing Earl Campbell 16 CAR, 134 YDS, 1 TD Receiving Mike Renfro 3 REC, 67 YDS, 1 TD
Point spread :Over/Under: 39.0 (over) Time of Game: 3 hours, 15 minutes Eagles Game Statistics Oilers 20 First downs 19 31–168 Rushes–yards 40–235 202 Passing yards 137 16–29–0 Passes 12–27–3 0–0 Sacked–yards 4–33 202 Net passing yards 104 370 Total yards 339 156 Return yards 143 5–42.6 Punts 5–42.0 1–1 Fumbles–lost 0–0 5–40 Penalties–yards 8–49 26:59 Time of Possession 33:01
Individual stats
Oilers Passing C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Sk Yds LG3 Rate Pastorini 7/14 85 1 2 1 7 49 53.3 Nielsen 5/13 52 0 1 3 26 20 18.7
Oilers Kick Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Ellender 6 130 21.7 0 0
Oilers Punt Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Ellender 3 13 4.3 0 0
Oilers Punting Pnt Yds Y/P Lng Blck Parsley 5 210 42.0 0
Oilers Kicking FGM–FGA XPM–XPA Fritsch 2–2 2–2
Starting Lineups
Postseason
Playoffs Denver Broncos [ 18]
Team Category Player Statistics DEN Passing Rushing Receiving HOU Passing Rushing Receiving
Broncos Game Statistics Oilers First downs Rushes–yards Passing yards Passes Sacked–yards Net passing yards Total yards Return yards Punts Fumbles–lost Penalties–yards Time of possession
The Oilers managed to shut down the Broncos offense for most of the game en route to a 13–7 win.
[ 20]
Oilers Game Statistics Chargers 15 First downs 25 40–148 Rushes–yards 19–63 111 Passing yards 333 11–19–0 Passes 25–47–5 0–0 Sacked–yards 2–16 111 Net passing yards 317 259 Total yards 380 89 Return yards 113 6–40.7 Punts 2–32.0 0–0 Fumbles–lost 0–0 5–45 Penalties–yards 6–30 30:06 Time of possession 29:54
Individual stats
Oilers Passing C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Sk Yds LG3 Rate Nielsen 11/19 111 1 1 0 0 47 65.9
Oilers Kick Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Hartwig 2 37 18.5 0 24 Ellender 1 16 16.0 0 16
Oilers Punt Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Ellender 1 25 25.0 0 25
Oilers Punting Pnt Yds Y/P Lng Blck Parsley 6 244 40.7 50
Oilers Kicking FGM–FGA XPM–XPA Fritsch 1–1 2–2
Starting Lineups
The Oilers offense, playing without starting quarterback Dan Pastorini , receiver Ken Burrough , and running back Earl Campbell , could only generate 259 yards compared to San Diego's 380. 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.
[ 22]
Oilers Game Statistics Steelers 11 First downs 22 22–24 Rushes–yards 36–161 212 Passing yards 219 20–29–1 Passes 18–30–1 1–9 Sacked–yards 3–22 203 Net passing yards 197 227 Total yards 358 147 Return yards 90 4–30.0 Punts 3–51.0 4–2 Fumbles–lost 1–1 2–10 Penalties–yards 5–34 27:06 Time of possession 32:54
Individual stats
Oilers Passing C/ATT1 Yds TD INT Sk Yds LG3 Rate Pastorini 19/28 203 0 1 1 9 41 74.0 Nielsen 1/1 9 0 0 0 0 9 104.2
Oilers Punt Returns Ret Yds Y/Rt TD Lng Ellender 3 8 2.7 0 5
Oilers Punting Pnt Yds Y/P Lng Blck Parsley 4 120 30.0
Oilers Kicking FGM–FGA XPM–XPA Fritsch 2–2 1–1
Oilers Interceptions Int Yds TD LG PD Perry 1 75 1 75 0
Starting Lineups
The Steelers held the Oilers to only 24 rushing yards, but were also aided by a controversial non-touchdown call on Mike Renfro to come away with a 27–13 win. This was the last time an NFL team based in Houston reached the AFC Championship Game , and the closest any franchise in Houston got to going to the Super Bowl .
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 [ 24] 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 ^ "1979 Houston Oilers draftees" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved October 22, 2014 .^ "1979 Houston Oilers starters and roster" . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Retrieved November 10, 2014 .^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Jan-13.^ Pro Football Reference Houston Oilers at Washington Redskins – September 2, 1979 ^ a b c d Tennessee Titans 2023 Media Guide . Tennessee Titans. p. 375.^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Oct-31.^ Pro Football Reference Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers – September 9, 1979 ^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Jan-15.^ Pro Football Reference St Louis Cardinals at Houston Oilers – October 7, 1979 ^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2025-Apr-19.^ Pro Football Reference Houston Oilers at Miami Dolphins – November 5, 1979 ^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Jan-14.^ Pro Football Reference Houston Oilers at Dallas Cowboys – November 22, 1979 ^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Oct-31.^ Pro Football Reference Pittsburgh Steelers at Houston Oilers – December 10, 1979 ^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Jan-15.^ Pro Football Reference Philadelphia Eagles at Houston Oilers – December 16, 1979 ^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2025-May-2.^ Pro Football Reference 1979 AFC Wild Card Playoffs – Denver Broncos at Houston Oilers – December 23, 1979 ^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2025-Apr-20.^ Pro Football Reference 1979 AFC Divisional Playoffs – Houston Oilers at San Diego Chargers – December 29, 1979 ^ The Football Database . Retrieved 2023-Oct-31.^ Pro Football Reference 1979 AFC Championship Game – Houston Oilers at Pittsburgh Steelers – January 6, 1980 ^ "Maxwell Football Club - Bert Bell Award Past Recipients" . Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved 2010-06-28 .
External links
Founded in 1960 Formerly the Houston Oilers (1960–1996) and Tennessee Oilers (1997–1998) Based and headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Division championships (11) Conference championships (1) League championships (2) Retired numbers Media Current league affiliations Former league affiliation Key personnel
