1979 Oakland Raiders season
OwnerAl Davis
General managerAl Davis
Head coachTom Flores
Home fieldOakland–Alameda County Coliseum
Results
Record9–7
Division place4th AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
The Raiders hosting the Miami Dolphins at the Coliseum in 1979

The 1979 Oakland Raiders season was their 10th in the league, and 20th overall. They matched their previous season's output of 9–7.[1] Oakland started off 1–3, rallied to 6–4, then fell to 6–6 after an upset loss to the Kansas City chiefs. Oakland then went on a three-game winning streak that featured a 14–10 defensive struggle in Denver, a comeback win in New Orleans after trailing 35–14 in the 3rd quarter, and a 19–14 win over the Cleveland Browns. In the season finale the Raiders stood at 9–6 in need of a win at home against the Seattle Seahawks to have a shot at a wildcard playoff spot. However, it was not to be, and Seattle quarterback Jim Zorn's 314 yards and 2 TD passes eliminated the Raiders, 29–24.

This was the first season since 1964 that the Raiders finished lower than second place in the AFL/AFC West.

Offseason

Draft

Main article: 1979 NFL Draft
1979 Oakland Raiders draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
2 42 Willie Jones  DE Florida State
6 142 Ira Matthews  RB Wisconsin
6 156 Henry Williams  DB San Diego State
7 175 Jack Matia  DT Drake
8 209 Robert Hawkins  RB Kentucky
9 238 Jim Rourke  OT Boston College
10 259 Ricky Smith  DB Tulane
11 294 Bruce Davis  OT UCLA
12 316 Dirk Abernathy  DB Bowling Green
12 320 Reggie Kinlaw  DT Oklahoma
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[2]

Roster

1979 Oakland Raiders roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 2 at Los Angeles Rams W 24–17 1–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Recap
2 September 9 at San Diego Chargers L 10–30 1–1 San Diego Stadium Recap
3 September 16 at Seattle Seahawks L 10–27 1–2 Kingdome Recap
4 September 23 at Kansas City Chiefs L 7–35 1–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
5 September 30 Denver Broncos W 27–3 2–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap
6 October 8 Miami Dolphins W 13–3 3–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap
7 October 14 Atlanta Falcons W 50–19 4–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap
8 October 21 at New York Jets L 19–28 4–4 Shea Stadium Recap
9 October 25 San Diego Chargers W 45–22 5–4 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap
10 November 4 San Francisco 49ers W 23–10 6–4 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap
11 November 11 at Houston Oilers L 17–31 6–5 Astrodome Recap
12 November 18 Kansas City Chiefs L 21–24 6–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap
13 November 25 at Denver Broncos W 14–10 7–6 Mile High Stadium Recap
14 December 3 at New Orleans Saints W 42–35 8–6 Louisiana Superdome Recap
15 December 9 Cleveland Browns W 19–14 9–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap
16 December 16 Seattle Seahawks L 24–29 9–7 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Season summary

Week 1

1 234Total
• Raiders 0 10140 24
Rams 7 1000 17
Scoring summary
Q1LATyler 1 yard run (Corral kick)LA 7–0
Q2LAMiller 17-yard pass from Haden (Corral kick)LA 14–0
Q2OAKBreech 38-yard field goalLA 14–3
Q2OAKRamsey 1 yard pass from Stabler (Breech kick)LA 14–10
Q2LACorral 46-yard field goalLA 17–10
Q3OAKChester 27-yard pass from Stabler (Breech kick)Tie 17–17
Q3OAKChester 4-yard pass from Stabler (Breech kick)OAK 24–17

[3]

Week 2

1 234Total
Raiders 0 370 10
• Chargers 14 727 30

Week 3

1 234Total
Raiders 0 073 10
• Seahawks 7 3107 27
  • Date: September 16
  • Location: Kingdome
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Mike Haffner

Week 4

1 234Total
Raiders 0 007 7
• Chiefs 14 0714 35

Week 5

1 234Total
Broncos 0 300 3
• Raiders 7 7013 27
Scoring summary
Q1OAKCasper 28-yard pass from Stabler (Breech kick)OAK 7–0
Q2DENTurner 19-yard field goalOAK 7–3
Q2OAKvan Eeghen 1 yard run (Breech kick)OAK 14–3
Q4OAKBreech 27-yard field goalOAK 17–3
Q4OAKBreech 21-yard field goalOAK 20–3
Q4OAKJohnson recovered fumble in end zone (Breech kick)OAK 27–3

[4]

Week 6

1 234Total
Dolphins 0 030 3
• Raiders 0 0130 13
Scoring summary
Q3OAKChester 14-yard pass from Stabler (kick failed)OAK 6–0
Q3OAKHendricks 23-yard interception return (Breech kick)OAK 13–0
Q3MIAvon Schamann 23-yard field goalOAK 13–3

[5]

Week 7

1 234Total
Falcons 0 0127 19
• Raiders 10 91021 50
Scoring summary
Q1OAKBreech 40-yard field goalOAK 3–0
Q1OAKvan Eeghen 1 yard run (Breech kick)OAK 10–0
Q2OAKBreech 30-yard field goalOAK 13–0
Q2OAKHawkins 20-yard pass from Stabler (kick failed)OAK 19–0
Q3OAKvan Eeghen 6-yard run (Breech kick)OAK 26–0
Q3ATLCain 26-yard pass from Bartkowski (kick failed)OAK 26–6
Q3OAKBreech 47-yard field goalOAK 29–6
Q3ATLCain 18-yard pass from Bartkowski (kick failed)OAK 29–12
Q4OAKBrunson 8-yard pass from Stabler (Breech kick)OAK 36–12
Q4OAKHayes 51-yard interception return (Breech kick)OAK 43–12
Q4OAKvan Eeghen 1 yard run (Breech kick)OAK 50–12
Q4ATLCain 3-yard run (Mazzetti kick)OAK 50–19

[6]

Week 8

1 234Total
Raiders 0 1036 19
• Jets 7 0714 28

Week 9

1 234Total
Chargers 0 6160 22
• Raiders 14 10714 45
Scoring summary
1RaidersRaymond Chester 34-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Jim Breech kick)Raiders 7–0
1RaidersBooker Russell 1-yard run (Jim Breech kick)Raiders 14–0
2RaidersMark van Eeghen 4-yard run (Jim Breech kick)Raiders 21–0
2ChargersJohn Jefferson 57-yard pass from Dan Fouts (kick failed)Raiders 21–6
2RaidersJim Breech 38-yard field goalRaiders 24–6
3ChargersMike Wood 28-yard field goalRaiders 24–9
3ChargersDan Fouts 1-yard run (kick failed)Raiders 24–15
3RaidersIra Matthews 104-yard kickoff return (Jim Breech kick)Raiders 31–15
3ChargersBob Klein 7-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Mike Wood kick)Raiders 31–22
4RaidersBooker Russell 1-yard run (Jim Breech kick)Raiders 38–22
4RaidersBooker Russell 1-yard run (Jim Breech kick)Raiders 45–22

Week 10

1 234Total
49ers 0 1000 10
• Raiders 9 770 23
Scoring summary
Q1OAKBreech 18-yard field goalOAK 3–0
Q1OAKBranch 9-yard pass from Stabler (kick failed)OAK 9–0
Q2SFWersching 39-yard field goalOAK 9–3
Q2SFFrancis 5-yard run (Wersching kick)SF 10–9
Q2OAKvan Eeghen 1 yard run (Breech kick)OAK 16–10
Q3OAKBranch 8-yard pass from Stabler (Breech kick)OAK 23–10

[7]

Week 11

1 234Total
Raiders 7 703 17
• Oilers 7 7143 31

Week 12

1 234Total
• Chiefs 7 3140 24
Raiders 0 777 21
  • Date: November 18
  • Location: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Week 13

1 234Total
• Raiders 0 770 14
Broncos 0 0010 10
Scoring summary
Q2OAKCasper 3-yard pass from Stabler (Breech kick)OAK 7–0
Q3OAKRussell 1 yard run (Breech kick)OAK 14–0
Q4DENTurner 30-yard field goalOAK 14–3
Q4DENLytle 1 yard run (Turner kick)OAK 14–10

[8]

Week 14

See also: 1979 New Orleans Saints season
Week Fourteen: Oakland Raiders (7–6) at New Orleans Saints (7–6)
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 7 7 72142
Saints 0 28 7035

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

Week 15

1 234Total
Browns 0 077 14
• Raiders 7 606 19
Scoring summary
Q1OAKBranch 39-yard pass from Stabler (Breech kick)OAK 7–0
Q2OAKBreech 25-yard field goalOAK 10–0
Q2OAKBreech 38-yard field goalOAK 13–0
Q3CLEPruitt 77-yard run (Cockroft kick)OAK 13–7
Q4OAKBreech 23-yard field goalOAK 16–7
Q4CLEPruitt 2-yard run (Cockroft kick)OAK 16–14
Q4OAKBreech 45-yard field goalOAK 19–14

[9]

Week 16

1 234Total
• Seahawks 10 793 29
Raiders 7 1007 24
  • Date: December 16
  • Location: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum

Standings

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
San Diego Chargers(1) 12 4 0 .750 6–2 9–3 411 246 W2
Denver Broncos(5) 10 6 0 .625 4–4 7–5 289 262 L2
Seattle Seahawks 9 7 0 .563 3–5 6–6 378 372 W2
Oakland Raiders 9 7 0 .563 3–5 5–7 365 337 L1
Kansas City Chiefs 7 9 0 .438 4–4 7–7 238 262 L1

References

  1. ^ "1979 Oakland Raiders Statistics & Players - Pro-Football-Reference.com".
  2. ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2015-Dec-16.
  3. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-12.
  4. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-22.
  5. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-23.
  6. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-24.
  7. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-25.
  8. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-26.
  9. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Sep-26.
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