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1979 New Orleans Saints season

NFL team season

Field	Value
team	New Orleans Saints
year	1979
record	8–8
division_place	2nd NFC West
coach	Dick Nolan
stadium	Louisiana Superdome
playoffs	Did not qualify
pro bowlers	{{ Collapsible list
title	5
1	TE Henry Childs
2	QB Archie Manning
3	RB Chuck Muncie
4	WR Wes Chandler
5	FS Tom Myers
shortnavlink	Saints seasons

The 1979 New Orleans Saints season was the team's thirteenth season in the National Football League. The Saints finished the season at 8–8, the franchise's first non-losing season. After starting 0–3, New Orleans won seven of its next 10 and was tied for first place with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West with three weeks to play, but the season unraveled in a Monday Night Football contest at home vs. the Oakland Raiders, when the Saints squandered a 35–14 lead and lost, 42–35. The Raiders returned to the Superdome a little over a year later and won Super Bowl XV.

The Saints were eliminated from playoff contention in week 15 when they were blown out 35–0 at home by the San Diego Chargers, but defeated the NFC West champion Los Angeles Rams in the regular season finale in what was the Rams' last game in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum until 2016. While the Rams went on to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XIV, the Saints ended their season with a record of 8-8, the first time in the history of the franchise that the team finished with a non-losing record. Not counting the 1976 expansion Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans was one of three franchises which failed to make the playoffs in the 1970s, joined by the Giants and the Jets (the other 1976 expansion team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, won the NFC Central Division in 1979).

Following the season, running back Chuck Muncie was named Most Valuable Player of the ensuing Pro Bowl.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1979 NFL draft

Personnel

Staff

President – John W. Mecom Jr.
Executive Vice President – Eddie Jones
Vice President of Player Personnel – Harry Hulmes
Head Coach – Dick Nolan
Offensive Coordinator – Ed Hughes
Quarterbacks/Receivers – Lamar McHan
Offensive Line – Dick Stanfel
Defensive Coordinator – Paul Wiggin
Defensive Line – Tom Pratt
Linebackers – Ed Beard
Defensive Backs – Chet Franklin
Special Teams – Whitey Campbell
Conditioning – Bob Hill

Roster

Dave Lafary G/T

Regular season

Schedule

New Orleans Saints	year=1979	border=2}}"	Week	New Orleans Saints	year=1979
September 2	[Atlanta Falcons](1979-atlanta-falcons-season)	L 34–40	0–1	Louisiana Superdome	70,940
September 9	at [Green Bay Packers](1979-green-bay-packers-season)	L 19–28	0–2	Milwaukee County Stadium	53,184
September 16	[Philadelphia Eagles](1979-philadelphia-eagles-season)	L 14–26	0–3	Louisiana Superdome	54,212
September 23	at [San Francisco 49ers](1979-san-francisco-49ers-season)	W 30–21	1–3	Candlestick Park	39,727
September 30	[New York Giants](1979-new-york-giants-season)	W 24–14	2–3	Louisiana Superdome	51,543
October 7	[Los Angeles Rams](1979-los-angeles-rams-season)	L 17–35	2–4	Louisiana Superdome	68,986
October 14	at [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1979-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season)	W 42–14	3–4	Tampa Stadium	67,640
October 21	[Detroit Lions](1979-detroit-lions-season)	W 17–7	4-4	Louisiana Superdome	57,428
October 28	at [Washington Redskins](1979-washington-redskins-season)	W 14–10	5–4	RFK Stadium	52,133
November 4	at [Denver Broncos](1979-denver-broncos-season)	L 3–10	5–5	Mile High Stadium	74,482
November 11	[San Francisco 49ers](1979-san-francisco-49ers-season)	W 31–20	6–5	Louisiana Superdome	65,551
November 18	at [Seattle Seahawks](1979-seattle-seahawks-season)	L 24–38	6–6	Kingdome	60,055
November 25	at [Atlanta Falcons](1979-atlanta-falcons-season)	W 37–6	7–6	Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium	42,815
	[Oakland Raiders](1979-oakland-raiders-season)	L 35–42	7–7	Louisiana Superdome	65,541
December 9	[San Diego Chargers](1979-san-diego-chargers-season)	L 0–35	7–8	Louisiana Superdome	61,059
December 16	at [Los Angeles Rams](1979-los-angeles-rams-season)	W 29–14	8–8	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	53,879
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

Season summary

;First quarter

SF – Freddie Solomon 17-yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Ray Wersching kick). 49ers 7–0. ;Second quarter
NO – Tony Galbreath 1-yard run (kick failed). 49ers 7–6.
NO – Wes Chandler 5-yard pass from Archie Manning (Garo Yepremian kick). Saints 13–7.
SF – Freddie Solomon 25-yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Ray Wersching kick). 49ers 14–13. ;Third quarter
NO – Larry Hardy 3-yard pass from Archie Manning (Garo Yepremian kick). Saints 20–14.
NO – Tony Galbreath 1-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick). Saints 27–14. ;Fourth quarter
SF – Paul Hofer 2-yard run (Ray Wersching kick). Saints 27–21.
NO – Garo Yepremian 18-yard field goal. Saints 30–21. ;Top passers
NO – Archie Manning – 20/28, 355 yards, 2 TD
SF – Steve DeBerg – 18/33, 263 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT ;Top rushers
NO – Chuck Muncie – 18 rushes, 98 yards
SF – O. J. Simpson – 7 rushes, 25 yards Wilbur Jackson – 6 rushes, 25 yards ;Top receivers
NO – Wes Chandler – 4 receptions, 127 yards, TD
SF – Freddie Solomon – 8 receptions, 144 yards, 2 TD

Week 14

First quarter

OAK – Raymond Chester 3-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Jim Breech kick). – ''Raiders 7–0. '''Drive: 15 plays, 78 yards.''''' Second quarter
NO – Tony Galbreath 2-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick). – ''Tie 7–7. '''Drive: 13 plays, 89 yards.'''''
NO – Tony Galbreath 17-yard pass from Archie Manning (Garo Yepremian kick). – ''Saints 14–7. '''Drive: 3 plays, 19 yards.'''''
NO – Chuck Muncie 1-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick). – ''Saints 21–7. '''Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards.'''''
NO – Henry Childs 28-yard pass from Archie Manning (Garo Yepremian kick). – ''Saints 28–7. '''Drive: 1 play, 28 yards.'''''
OAK – Arthur Whittington 1-yard run (Jim Breech kick). – ''Saints 28–14. '''Drive: ''''' Third quarter
NO – Ken Bordelon 19-yard interception return (Garo Yepremian kick), 6:24. – Saints 35–14.
OAK – Mark van Eeghen 1-yard run (Jim Breech kick). – ''Saints 35–21. '''Drive:''''' Fourth quarter
OAK – Derrick Ramsey 17-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Jim Breech kick). – ''Saints 35–28. '''Drive:'''''
OAK – Cliff Branch 66-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Jim Breech kick). – ''Tie 35–35. '''Drive:'''''
OAK – Cliff Branch 8-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Jim Breech kick), 1:54. – ''Raiders 42–35. '''Drive: 3 plays, 13 yards.''''' ;Top passers
OAK – Ken Stabler – 26/44, 295 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
NO – Archie Manning – 12/23, 154 yards, 2 TD, INT ;Top rushers
OAK – Arthur Whittington – 14 rushes, 67 yards, TD
NO – Chuck Muncie – 21 rushes, 128 yards, TD ;Top receivers
OAK – Cliff Branch – 7 receptions, 126 yards, 2 TD
NO – Tony Galbreath – 7 receptions, 106 yards, TD

Awards and records

Chuck Muncie, Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player

References

"1979 New Orleans Saints draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
"All-Time Roster". NewOrleansSaints.com.
NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN. 0-7611-2480-2, p. 368

Info: Wikipedia Source

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