The NFL playoffs following the 1979 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XIV.

Note: The Dallas Cowboys (the NFC 1 seed) did not play the Philadelphia Eagles (the 4 seed) in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division.

Wild Card playoffs

December 23 1979

AFC: Houston Oilers 13, Denver Broncos 7

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. After Toni Fritsch kicked a 31-yard field goal on Houston's first drive, Denver marched 80 yards in 13 plays to score on quarterback Craig Morton's 7-yard touchdown pass to running back Dave Preston. From that point on, the Oilers controlled the rest of the game. With less than 3 minutes left in the second half, Houston advanced 74 yards to score on running back Earl Campbell's 3-yard touchdown run. Although Campbell and starting quarterback Dan Pastorini were both knocked out the game during the second half with injuries, the Oilers defense continued to dominate. In the fourth quarter, an interception by linebacker Gregg Bingham set up Fritsch's 20-yard field goal to close out the scoring.

• Scoring
  • HOU - FG Fritsch 31
  • DEN - Preston 7 pass from Morton (Turner kick)
  • HOU - Campbell 3 run (Fritsch kick)
  • HOU - FG Fritsch 20

NFC: Philadelphia Eagles 27, Chicago Bears 17

at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia

• TV: CBS

Eagles Quarterback Ron Jaworski threw three 3 touchdown pass as Philadelphia overcame a 17-10 Bears halftime lead. The Eagles scored first when Jaworski threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Harold Carmichael. Chicago responded with an 82-yard drive to score on running back Walter Payton's 2-yard rushing touchdown. Then after Philadelphia added a field goal, Peyton scored again on a 1-yard touchdown to give the Bears a 17-10 lead. In the third quarter, Carmichael's 29-yard touchdown reception tied the game. Then on their next drive, Chicago advanced deep into Philadelphia territory only to see Bobby Howard intercept a pass in the end zone. A few plays later, Jaworski threw a 63-yard touchdown to running back Billy Campfield to take the lead for good.

• Scoring
  • PHI - Carmichael 17 pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick)
  • CHI - Payton 2 run (Thomas kick)
  • PHI - FG Franklin 29
  • CHI - Payton 1 run (Thomas kick)
  • CHI - FG Thomas 30
  • PHI - Carmichael 29 pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick)
  • PHI - Campfield 63 pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick)
  • PHI - FG Franklin 34

Divisional playoffs

December 29 1979

AFC: Houston Oilers 17, San Diego Chargers 14

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego

• TV: NBC

Despite the absence of starting quarterback Dan Pastorini and running back Earl Campbell, rookie safety Vernon Perry set a playoff record with 4 interceptions as the Oilers defeated the Chargers, 17-14. San Diego scored first on running back Clarence Williams' 1-yard rushing touchdown, but on the Chargers' next drive, Perry intercepted a pass at the Houston 18-yard line. In the second quarter, Perry blocked a field goal attempt and returned the ball 57 yards to the San Diego 28-yard line, setting up Toni Fritsch's 26-yard field goal. Perry recorded another interception on the Chargers' ensuing possession, and Boobie Clark ran for a 1-yard touchdown to give the Oilers a 10-7 lead. In the third period, San Diego regained the lead with running back Lydell Mitchell's 8-yard touchdown run. However, Houston defensive back J.C. Wilson's interception later set up Mel Renfro's 47-yard touchdown reception to take the lead for good. Perry recorded two more interceptions as the Oilers defense shut down the Chargers offense for the rest of the game.

• Scoring
  • SD - Williams 1 run (Wood kick)
  • HOU - FG Fritsch 26
  • HOU - Clark 1 run (Fritsch kick)
  • SD - Mitchell 8 run (Wood kick)
  • HOU - Renfro 47 pass from Nielsen (Fritsch kick)

NFC: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, Philadelphia Eagles 17

at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida

• TV: CBS

The Buccaneers won their first playoff game in team history by holding the Eagles to 48 rushing yards, while running back Rick Bell recorded 142 rushing yards. Tampa Bay marched on an 18-play, 80-yard opening drive that took 9:34 off the clock to score on Bell's 4-yard touchdown run. Then after the Buccaneers added a field goal, defensive lineman Randy Crowder recovered a fumble which led to Bell's 1-yard touchdown to give Tampa Bay a 17-0 advantage. The Eagles scored just before halftime with quarterback Ron Jaworski's 11-yard touchdown pass to Charles Smith, then they added a field goal in the third quarter to make the score 17-10. However, quarterback Doug Williams threw a 9-yard touchdown to Jimmie Giles to increase Tampa Bay's lead, 24-10. Although Philadelphia scored a late touchdown, they could not overcome the deficit before time expired.

• Scoring
  • TB - Bell 4 run (O'Donoghue kick)
  • TB - FG O'Donoghue 40
  • TB - Bell 1 run (O'Donoghue kick)
  • PHI - Smith 11 pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick)
  • PHI - FG Franklin 42
  • TB - Giles 9 pass from Williams (O'Donoghue kick)
  • PHI - Carmichael 37 pass from Jaworski (Franklin kick)

December 30 1979

AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 34, Miami Dolphins 14

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• TV: NBC

The Steelers scored 20 points in the first quarter and held the Dolphins to 25 rushing yards. On the opening drive of the game, Pittsburgh marched 62 yards to score on running back Sidney Thornton's 1-yard touchdown run. On their second possession, the Steelers advanced 62 yards again to score on wide receiver John Stallworth's 17-yard touchdown reception (although the extra point was blocked). And on their third drive, wide receiver Lynn Swann made a 20-yard touchdown reception. Miami finally scored in the third quarter after a muffed punt led to quarterback Bob Griese's 7-yard touchdown pass to Duriel Harris. However, the Steelers responded by advancing 69 yards to score on running back Rocky Bleier's 1-yard touchdown. Running back Franco Harris' 5-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter put the game out of reach.

• Scoring
  • PIT - Thornton 1 run (Bahr kick)
  • PIT - Stallworth 17 pass from Bradshaw (kick blocked)
  • PIT - Swann 20 pass from Bradshaw (Bahr kick)
  • MIA - D. Harris 7 pass from Griese (von Schamann kick)
  • PIT - Bleier 1 run (Bahr kick)
  • PIT - F. Harris 5 run (Bahr kick)
  • MIA - Csonka 1 run (von Schamann kick)

NFC: Los Angeles Rams 21, Dallas Cowboys 19

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

• TV: CBS

Quarterback Vince Ferragamo led the Rams to a victory by throwing for 3 touchdown passes, the last one with 2:06 left in the game. The Cowboys scored first when defensive tackle Randy White sacked Ferragamo in the end zone for a safety. However, Ferragamo responded by throwing a 32-yard touchdown pass to receiver Wendell Tyler. Dallas kicker Rafael Septien kicked a 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds left in the first half, but Ferragamo completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith before time expired to make it a 14-5 halftime lead. The Cowboys then scored 2 unanswered touchdowns in the second half to take the lead, 19-14. With about 2 minutes left in the game, the Rams had the ball near midfield. Ferragamo's pass was tipped into the air by Dallas linebacker Mike Hegman, but Rams wide receiver Billy Waddy caught the ball before it hit the ground and ran into the end zone for the winning touchdown.

• Scoring
  • DAL - Safety, R. White tackled Ferragamo in end zone
  • LA - Tyler 32 pass from Ferragamo (Corral kick)
  • DAL - FG Septien 33
  • LA - R. Smith 43 pass from Ferragamo (Corral kick)
  • DAL - Springs 1 run (Septien kick)
  • DAL - Saldi 2 pass from Staubach (Septien kick)
  • LA - Waddy 50 pass from Ferragamo (Corral kick)

Conference Championships

January 6 1980

AFC: Pittsburgh Steelers 27, Houston Oilers 13

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
• Referee: Jim Tunney

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. Houston jumped to a 7-0 lead with just 2:30 into the game when Vernon Perry returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown. Then after the teams exchanged field goals, Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw completed two touchdown passes, a 16-yarder to tight end Billy Cunningham and a 20-yard one to wide receiver John Stallworth.

With the Steelers leading 17-10, the controversial play occurred during the last seconds of the third quarter after the Oilers advanced to the Pittsburgh 6-yard line. Quarterback Dan Pastorini threw a pass to Mel Renfro at the back of the end zone, and Renfro appeared to have caught it for a touchdown with both feet in bounds before he fell out of the end zone. However, the officials ruled the pass incomplete, saying that he did not have complete control of the ball before going out of bounds. Although the Oilers protested, and replays would later show that it was inconclusive, they had to settle for a 23-yard field goal.

The Steelers would then score 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to clinch the victory. A 78-yard drive ended with a field goal and running back Rocky Bleier scored on a 4-yard rushing touchdown.

• Scoring
  • HOU - Perry 75 intercpetion return
  • PIT - FG Bahr 21
  • HOU - FG Fritsch 27
  • PIT - Cunningham 16 pass from Bradshaw (Bahr kick)
  • PIT - Stallworth 20 pass from Bradshaw (Bahr kick)
  • HOU - FG Fritsch 23
  • PIT - FG Bahr 39
  • PIT - Bleier 4 run (Bahr kick)

NFC: Los Angeles Rams 9, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0

at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida

• TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier
• Referee: Pat Haggerty

In a defensive battle where no touchdowns were scored, Rams kicker Frank Corral scored 3 field goals to win the game. Los Angeles was able to record 369 yards of total offense, while running backs Cullen Bryant and Wendell Tyler rushed for 106 and 86 yards, respectively. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers only had 177 total offensive yards, including 92 rushing yards and 85 passing yards. Most of Tampa Bay's passing yards came from a 42-yard halfback option pass from Jerry Eckwood to wide receiver Larry Mucker in the fourth quarter. During the game, two touchdowns were nullified by penalties, one by each team: A four yard run by Bryant and a 27-yard reception by Buccaneers' tight end Jimmie Giles.

• Scoring
  • LA - FG Corral 19
  • LA - FG Corral 21
  • LA - FG Corral 23

Super Bowl

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Pittsburgh Steelers (AFC) 31, Los Angeles Rams (NFC) 19, at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California

Bracket

*The Cowboys (the NFC 1 seed) did not play the Eagles (the 4 seed) in the Divisional playoff round because both teams were in the same division.

References

• Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0062701746)
• The Sporting News Complete Super Bowl Book 1995 (ISBN 089204523X)