1979 New Orleans Saints season

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1979 New Orleans Saints season
Head coach Dick Nolan
Home field Louisiana Superdome
Results
Record 8–8
Division place 2nd NFC West
Playoff finish did not qualify

The 1979 New Orleans Saints season was the team's 13th season in the National Football League. The Saints finished the season at 8–8, the franchise's first non-losing season. New Orleans 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 Saints were eliminated from playoff contention in week 15 when they were blown out 35–0 at home by the San Diego Chargers. Not counting the 1976 expansion club Seattle, New Orleans was one of three franchises which failed to make the playoffs in the 1970s, joined by the New York Giants and New York Jets.

Offseason

NFL draft

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Main article: 1979 NFL draft
1979 New Orleans Saints draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 11 Russell Erxleben  Punter Texas
      Made roster  

[1]

Personnel

Staff

1979 New Orleans Saints staff
Front office
  • President – John W. Mecom, Jr.
  • Executive Vice President – Eddie Jones
  • Vice President of Player Personnel – Harry Hulmes

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive Coordinator – Paul Wiggin
  • Defensive Line – Tom Pratt
  • Linebackers – Ed Beard
  • Defensive Backs – Chet Franklin

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams – Whitey Campbell

Strength and conditioning

  • Conditioning – Bob Hill

[2]

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 2, 1979 Atlanta Falcons L 40–34
70,940
2 September 9, 1979 at Green Bay Packers L 28–19
53,184
3 September 16, 1979 Philadelphia Eagles L 26–14
54,212
4 September 23, 1979 at San Francisco 49ers W 30–21
39,727
5 September 30, 1979 New York Giants W 24–14
51,543
6 October 7, 1979 Los Angeles Rams L 35–17
68,986
7 October 14, 1979 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 42–14
67,640
8 October 21, 1979 Detroit Lions W 17–7
57,428
9 October 28, 1979 at Washington Redskins W 14–10
52,133
10 November 4, 1979 at Denver Broncos L 10–3
74,482
11 November 11, 1979 San Francisco 49ers W 31–20
65,551
12 November 18, 1979 at Seattle Seahawks L 38–24
60,055
13 November 25, 1979 at Atlanta Falcons W 37–6
42,815
14 December 3, 1979 Oakland Raiders L 42–35
65,541
15 December 9, 1979 San Diego Chargers L 35–0
61,059
16 December 16, 1979 at Los Angeles Rams W 29–14
53,879

Standings

NFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Los Angeles Rams(3) 9 7 0 .563 5–1 7–5 323 309 L1
New Orleans Saints 8 8 0 .500 4–2 8–4 370 360 W1
Atlanta Falcons 6 10 0 .375 2–4 5–7 300 388 W1
San Francisco 49ers 2 14 0 .125 1–5 2–10 308 416 L1

Awards and records

  • Chuck Muncie, Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player [3]

References

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  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 368
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