# 1979 Seattle Seahawks season

The 1979 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's fourth season in the National Football League (NFL). The Seahawks had a winning record for the second consecutive year, matching their 9–7 record from 1978.
Starting off the season with a 1–4 record, the Seahawks rallied to finish 9–7. Season highlights included a sweep of the Oakland Raiders for the second straight year, and winning both of their Monday Night Football contests on the road against the Atlanta Falcons and at home against the New York Jets, where Jim Zorn completed 13 passes in a row in a 30–7 victory. The team also enjoyed their first victory over the Denver Broncos 28–23 on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Zorn to Largent in the final minutes.
Season lowlights included a 37–34 loss in Denver, after leading 34–10 midway through the 3rd quarter. The Los Angeles Rams shut out the Seattle Seahawks 24–0, holding the Seahawks to −7 yards total offense, and only one first down. The team lost twice to the Kansas City Chiefs, including a 37–21 defeat in week 14 that eliminated Seattle from playoff contention. The team also lost running back David Sims, who led the AFC in touchdowns in 1978, to a career-ending injury.
The 1979 season was the franchise's last winning season until 1983 when new coach Chuck Knox led the Seahawks to their first playoff berth and Championship game appearance.

## Offseason
### Draft

1979 Seattle Seahawks draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 18 | Manu Tuiasosopo | Defensive tackle | UCLA |
| 2 | 45 | Joe Norman | Linebacker | Indiana |
| 3 | 57 | Michael Jackson | Linebacker | Washington |
| 4 | 102 | Mark Bell | Defensive end | Colorado State |
| 7 | 169 | Larry Polowski | Linebacker | Boise State |
| 9 | 240 | Ezra Tate | Running back | Mississippi College |
| 10 | 267 | Robert Hardy | Defensive tackle | Jackson State |
| 11 | 293 | Jim Hinesly | Guard | Michigan State |
| 12 | 319 | Jeff Moore | Running Back | Jackson State |
| Made roster ||||||

### Undrafted free agents

1979 undrafted free agents of note :
| Player | Position | College |
| Chuck Benbow | Fullback | Long Beach State |
| Tim Beyer | Tight end | Oregon |
| Bob Cale | Safety | North Carolina |
| David Charles | Wide receiver | Wisconsin |
| Robert Chatman | Wide receiver | Mississippi State |
| Mark Conrad | Punter | Puget Sound |
| Gary Davis | Running back | Texas A&M |
| Howard Dodge | Linebacker | Nevada |
| Max Ediger | Fullback | Kansas |
| Tim Ellis | Quarterback | Ole Miss |
| Jim Frith | Linebacker | Rice |
| Bob Grefseng | Linebacker | Ole Miss |
| Dwayne Hall | Wide receiver | Oregon State |
| Chuck Harbin | Guard | Central Michigan |
| Gus Hobus | Tight end | Washington State |
| Dave Hopewell | Tackle | Kentucky |
| Tom Jesko | Tackle | Kent State |
| Mike Johnson | Safety | UC Davis |
| Greg Laetsch | Wide receiver/Tight end | Furman |
| James Lamar | Linebacker | San Diego State |
| Jim Mickelson | Safety | Montana State |
| Jeff Morgan | Wide receiver | Alabama State |
| Mark Murphy | Tackle/Guard | Long Beach State |
| John Patterson | Cornerback | Syracuse |
| Bucky Shamburger | Wide receiver | Georgia Tech |
| Mark Stevenson | Center | Western Illinois |
| Clarence Steward | Linebacker | Arkansas–Pine Bluff |
| Ken Thomas | Defensive End | Cameron |
| Brant Tunget | Tight end | Fresno State |
| Ross Varner | Defensive end | BYU |
| Phil Vierneisel | Punter | Illinois |
| Ike Williams | Running back | Florida A&M |
| Theodis Williams | Wide receiver | Arkansas Tech |
| Jay Wyatt | Punter | Houston |

## Personnel
### Final roster

* Starters in bold.
* (*) Denotes players that were selected for the 1980 Pro Bowl.

## Schedule
### Preseason

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | Recap |
| 1 | August 2 | Minnesota Vikings | W 12–9 | 1–0 | Kingdome | Recap |
| 2 | August 12 | Dallas Cowboys | W 27–17 | 2–0 | Kingdome | Recap |
| 3 | August 18 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 17–21 | 2–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | Recap |
| 4 | August 24 | San Francisco 49ers | W 55–20 | 3–1 | Kingdome | Recap |
    Source: Seahawks Media Guides

### Regular season

Divisional matchups have the AFC West playing the NFC West.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Game site | Recap |
| 1 | September 2 | San Diego Chargers | L 16–33 | 0–1 | Kingdome | Recap |
| 2 | September 9 | at Miami Dolphins | L 10–19 | 0–2 | Miami Orange Bowl | Recap |
| 3 | September 16 | Oakland Raiders | W 27–10 | 1–2 | Kingdome | Recap |
| 4 | September 23 | at Denver Broncos | L 34–37 | 1–3 | Mile High Stadium | Recap |
| 5 | September 30 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 6–24 | 1–4 | Kingdome | Recap |
| 6 | October 7 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 35–24 | 2–4 | Candlestick Park | Recap |
| 7 | October 14 | at San Diego Chargers | L 10–20 | 2–5 | San Diego Stadium | Recap |
| 8 | October 21 | Houston Oilers | W 34–14 | 3–5 | Kingdome | Recap |
| 9 | October 29 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 31–28 | 4–5 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | Recap |
| 10 | November 4 | Los Angeles Rams | L 0–24 | 4–6 | Kingdome | Recap |
| 11 | November 11 | at Cleveland Browns | W 29–24 | 5–6 | Cleveland Stadium | Recap |
| 12 | November 18 | New Orleans Saints | W 38–24 | 6–6 | Kingdome | Recap |
| 13 | November 26 | New York Jets | W 30–7 | 7–6 | Kingdome | Recap |
| 14 | December 2 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 21–37 | 7–7 | Arrowhead Stadium | Recap |
| 15 | December 8 | Denver Broncos | W 28–23 | 8–7 | Kingdome | Recap |
| 16 | December 16 | at Oakland Raiders | W 29–24 | 9–7 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | Recap |
    Bold indicates division opponents.
    Source: 1979 NFL season results

## Standings

AFC West :
| viewtalkedit | 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 |

## Game summaries

For the second straight year, the Seahawks missed the playoffs by one game. Season highlights included sweeping the Oakland Raiders for the 2nd straight year, and defeating the Denver Broncos for the 1st time in team history in a comeback thriller 28–23 at the Kingdome, and winning the team's first appearance on MNF over the Atlanta Falcons, 31–28. The team started out 3–5, and had a 6–2 finish. A 37–21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in week 14 knocked them out of playoff contention, but rebounded to end their season repeating 1978 at 9–7.

### Preseason
#### Week P1: vs. Minnesota Vikings

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Vikings | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| Seahawks | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 12 |
at Kingdome, Seattle
* Date: August 2
* Game time: 7:30 pm local
* Game weather: indoors
* Game attendance: 60,881
* Referee: Ben Dreith
* TV: KIRO tape delay
* Gamebook

#### Week P2: vs. Dallas Cowboys

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 7 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
| Seahawks | 7 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 27 |
at Kingdome, Seattle
* Date: August 12
* Game time: 6:09 pm local
* Game weather: indoors
* Game attendance: 59,960
* Referee: Fred Silva
* TV: ABC tape delay
* Gamebook

#### Week P3: at Los Angeles Rams

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Rams | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco
* Date: August 18
* Game time: 7:05 pm local
* Game weather: overcast, 72 °F (22 °C), wind W light
* Game attendance: 46,083
* Referee: Dick Jorgensen
* TV: KIRO
* Gamebook

#### Week P4: vs. San Francisco 49ers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 20 |
| Seahawks | 17 | 17 | 21 | 0 | 55 |
at Kingdome, Seattle
* Date: August 24
* Game time: 7:34 pm local
* Game weather: indoors
* Game attendance: 59,941
* Referee: Cal Lepore
* TV: KIRO tape delay
* Gamebook

### Regular season
#### Week 1: vs. San Diego Chargers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chargers | 0 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 33 |
| Seahawks | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
at Kingdome, Seattle
* Date: September 2
* Game time: 1:02 pm local
* Game weather: indoors
* Game attendance: 62,887
* Referee: Ben Dreith
* TV announcers (NBC): Sam Nover and Mike Haffner
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 34-yard field goal, 8:26 (SEA 3–0)
Second quarter
SD – Clarence Williams 1-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 14:56 (SD 7–3)
SD – Rolf Benirschke 31-yard field goal, 11:16 (SD 10–3)
SEA – Sherman Smith 4-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 4:51 (Tied 10–10)
SD – Rolf Benirschke 42-yard field goal, 0:28 (SD 13–10)
Third quarter
SD – Rolf Benirschke 22-yard field goal, 3:41 (SD 16–10)
SD – Clarence Williams 13-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 0:00 (SD 23–10)
Fourth quarter
SD – Mike Thomas 1-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 5:09 (SD 30–10)
SD – Rolf Benirschke 23-yard field goal, 1:56 (SD 33–10)
SEA – Sherman Smith 6-yard run (PAT failed), 0:24 (SD 33–16)
Top passers
SD – Dan Fouts: 21/30, 224 yds, 1 INT
SEA – Jim Zorn: 16/28, 153 yds, 3 INT
Top rushers
SD – Clarence Williams: 14 car, 73 yds, 2 TD
SEA – Sherman Smith: 18 car, 95 yds, 2 TD
Top receivers
SD – Artie Owens: 4 rec, 42 yds
SEA – Steve Largent: 2 rec, 45 yds
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SD – 217 – 139 – 356 – 1
SEA – 153 – 181 – 334 – 6 :

#### Week 2: at Miami Dolphins

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Dolphins | 0 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 19 |
at Orange Bowl, Miami
* Date: September 9
* Game time: 4:01 pm local
* Game weather: cloudy, 82 °F (28 °C), 81% humidity, wind SE 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
* Game attendance: 56,233
* Referee: Jim Tunney
* TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
No scoring plays
Second quarter
MIA – Nat Moore 3-yard pass from Bob Griese (PAT failed), 11:56 (MIA 6–0)
SEA – Efrén Herrera 32-yard field goal, 3:23 (MIA 6–3)
MIA – Uwe von Schamann 36-yard field goal, 0:20 (MIA 9–3)
Third quarter
SEA – Steve Raible 23-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 9:26 (SEA 10–9)
MIA – Uwe von Schamann 31-yard field goal, 1:00 (MIA 12–9)
Fourth quarter
MIA – Norm Bulaich 7-yard pass from Bob Griese (Uwe von Schamann kick), 9:08 (MIA 19–10)
Top passers
SEA – Jim Zorn: 21/45, 247 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
MIA – Bob Griese: 15/27, 208 yds, 2 TD
Top rushers
SEA – Sherman Smith: 11 car, 59 yds
MIA – Larry Csonka: 13 car, 48 yds
Top receivers
SEA – Sherman Smith: 7 rec, 80 yds
MIA – Duriel Harris: 5 rec, 117 yds
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 226 – 119 – 345 – 4
MIA – 198 – 117 – 315 – 2 :

#### Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Raiders | 0 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| Seahawks | 7 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 27 |
at Kingdome, Seattle
* Date: September 16
* Game time: 1:02 pm local
* Game weather: indoors
* Game attendance: 61,602
* Referee: Gordon McCarter
* TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Mike Haffner
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
SEA – Steve Largent 40-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 11:08 (SEA 7–0)
Second quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 46-yard field goal, 6:50 (SEA 10–0)
Third quarter
OAK – Rich Martini 12-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Jim Breech kick), 10:41 (SEA 10–7)
SEA – Efrén Herrera 20-yard field goal, 6:37 (SEA 13–7)
SEA – Steve Largent 21-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 6:15 (SEA 20–7)
Fourth quarter
OAK – Jim Breech 37-yard field goal, 13:05 (SEA 20–10)
SEA – Sherman Smith 7-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 0:00 (SEA 27–10)
Top passers
OAK – Ken Stabler: 25/37, 343 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
SEA – Jim Zorn: 13/22, 277 yds, 3 TD
Top rushers
OAK – Mark van Eeghen: 10 car, 54 yds
SEA – Dan Doornink: 15 car, 52 yds
Top receivers
OAK – Cliff Branch: 7 rec, 156 yds
SEA – Steve Largent: 5 rec, 139 yds, 2 TD
Team – pass – rush – total – to
OAK – 329 – 102 – 431 – 4
SEA – 316 – 103 – 419 – 0 :

#### Week 4: at Denver Broncos

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks | 10 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 34 |
| Broncos | 0 | 10 | 21 | 6 | 37 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
* Date: September 23
* Game time: 2:00 pm local
* Game weather: clear, 81 °F (27 °C), 16% humidity, wind SW 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
* Game attendance: 74,879
* Referee: Gene Barth
* TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Mike Haffner
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 28-yard field goal, 12:45 (SEA 3–0)
SEA – Dan Doornink 5-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 0:33 (SEA 10–0)
Second quarter
DEN – Jim Turner 27-yard field goal, 12:43 (SEA 10–3)
SEA – Dan Doornink 5-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 8:09 (SEA 17–3)
DEN – Otis Armstrong 2-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 7:34 (SEA 17–10)
SEA – Efrén Herrera 22-yard field goal, 0:38 (SEA 20–10)
Third quarter
SEA – Sam McCullum 13-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:08 (SEA 27–10)
SEA – Sherman Smith 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 9:28 (SEA 34–10)
DEN – Dave Studdard 9-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 4:59 (SEA 34–17)
DEN – Haven Moses 11-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 3:48 (SEA 34–24)
DEN – Rick Upchurch 35-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 2:25 (SEA 34–31)
Fourth quarter
DEN – Rob Lytle 2-yard run (PAT failed), 11:20 (DEN 37–34)
Top passers
SEA – Jim Zorn: 16/32, 190 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
DEN – Craig Morton: 11/16, 178 yds, 3 TD
Top rushers
SEA – Sherman Smith: 16 car, 81 yds, 1 TD
DEN – Jim Jensen: 11 car, 39 yds
Top receivers
SEA – Steve Largent: 6 rec, 110 yds
DEN – Riley Odoms: 5 rec, 125 yds
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 197 – 153 – 350 – 4
DEN – 254 – 90 – 344 – 3 :

#### Week 5: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
| Seahawks | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
at Kingdome, Seattle
* Date: September 30
* Game time: 1:02 pm local
* Game weather: indoors
* Game attendance: 61,169
* Referee: Fred Wyant
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Paul Maguire
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 38-yard field goal, 12:29 (SEA 3–0)
Second quarter
KC – Ted McKnight 23-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 13:49 (KC 7–3)
KC – Jan Stenerud 36-yard field goal, 7:16 (KC 10–3)
Third quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 20-yard field goal, 4:56 (KC 10–6)
Fourth quarter
KC – Mike Williams 3-yard pass from Steve Fuller (Jan Stenerud kick), 9:03 (KC 17–6)
KC – Ted McKnight 84-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:27 (KC 24–6)
Top passers
KC – Steve Fuller: 8/12, 42 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
SEA – Jim Zorn: 23/38, 187 yds, 1 INT
Top rushers
KC – Ted McKnight: 12 car, 147 yds, 2 TD
SEA – Sherman Smith: 13 car, 53 yds
Top receivers
KC – Ed Beckman: 1 rec, 12 yds
SEA – Dan Doornink: 10 rec, 70 yds
Team – pass – rush – total – to
KC – 15 – 215 – 230 – 1
SEA – 178 – 134 – 312 – 2 :

#### Week 6: at San Francisco 49ers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks | 14 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| 49ers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco
* Date: October 7
* Game time: 1:02 pm local
* Game weather: cloudy, 61 °F (16 °C), 77% humidity, wind variable
* Game attendance: 44,592
* Referee: Pat Haggerty
* TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Mike Haffner
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
SEA – Dan Doornink 13-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 11:08 (SEA 7–0)
SF – O. J. Simpson 1-yard run (Ray Wersching kick), 7:37 (Tied 7–7)
SEA – Dan Doornink 3-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 2:33 (SEA 14–7)
Second quarter
SEA – Sherman Smith 7-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 2:46 (SEA 21–7)
SF – Ray Wersching 25-yard field goal, 0:00 (SEA 21–10)
Third quarter
SEA – Sammy Green 7-yard interception return (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:13 (SEA 28–10)
Fourth quarter
SF – Lenvil Elliott 8-yard run (Ray Wersching kick), 8:54 (SEA 28–17)
SEA – Jim Zorn 2-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:05 (SEA 35–17)
SF – Ken MacAfee 1-yard pass from Steve DeBerg (Ray Wersching kick), 0:00 (SEA 35–24)
Top passers
SEA – Jim Zorn: 13/20, 162 yds
SF – Steve DeBerg: 31/40, 306 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Top rushers
SEA – Dan Doornink: 19 car, 58 yds, 2 TD
SF – O. J. Simpson: 15 car, 71 yds, 1 TD
Top receivers
SEA – Steve Largent: 4 rec, 83 yds
SF – Freddie Solomon: 6 rec, 81 yds
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 162 – 148 – 310 – 0
SF – 292 – 172 – 464 – 2 :

#### Week 7: at San Diego Chargers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Chargers | 7 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 20 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
* Date: October 14
* Game time: 1:01 pm local
* Game weather: clear, 72 °F (22 °C), 78% humidity, wind W 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)
* Game attendance: 50,077
* Referee: Chuck Heberling
* TV announcers (NBC): Merle Harmon and George Kunz
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
SD – Lydell Mitchell 20-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Roy Gerela kick), 6:56 (SD 7–0)
Second quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 19-yard field goal, 0:26 (SD 7–3)
Third quarter
SD – John Jefferson 9-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Roy Gerela kick), 3:11 (SD 14–3)
Fourth quarter
SEA – Sherman Smith 8-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 14:13 (SD 14–10)
SD – John Jefferson 49-yard pass from Dan Fouts (PAT failed), 4:34 (SD 20–10)
Top passers
SEA – Jim Zorn: 19/43, 192 yds, 1 INT
SD – Dan Fouts: 28/35, 318 yds, 3 TD
Top rushers
SEA – Sherman Smith: 13 car, 78 yds, 1 TD
SD – Clarence Williams: 17 car, 45 yds
Top receivers
SEA – Dan Doornink: 8 rec, 81 yds
SD – John Jefferson: 9 rec, 137 yds, 2 TD
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 147 – 133 – 280 – 1
SD – 295 – 96 – 391 – 0 :

#### Week 8: vs. Houston Oilers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oilers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Seahawks | 7 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 34 |
at Kingdome, Seattle
* Date: October 21
* Game time: 1:01 pm local
* Game weather: indoors
* Game attendance: 60,705
* Referee: Jerry Seeman
* TV announcers (NBC): Merle Harmon and George Kunz
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
SEA – Sherman Smith 12-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 8:12 (SEA 7–0)
Second quarter
HOU – Mike Barber 9-yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick), 10:26 (Tied 7–7)
SEA – Steve Largent 45-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 8:27 (SEA 14–7)
Third quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 48-yard field goal, 9:24 (SEA 17–7)
SEA – Efrén Herrera 30-yard field goal, 4:23 (SEA 20–7)
Fourth quarter
SEA – Steve Largent 55-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 14:50 (SEA 27–7)
SEA – Cornell Webster 54-yard fumble return (Efrén Herrera kick), 12:58 (SEA 34–7)
HOU – Ronnie Coleman 9-yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Toni Fritsch kick), 2:48 (SEA 34–14)
Top passers
HOU – Dan Pastorini: 20/38, 195 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
SEA – Jim Zorn: 18/23, 252 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Top rushers
HOU – Tim Wilson: 5 car, 31 yds
SEA – Sherman Smith: 10 car, 49 yds
Top receivers
HOU – Mike Barber: 7 rec, 81 yds, 1 TD
SEA – Steve Largent: 6 rec, 135 yds, 2 TD
Team – pass – rush – total – to
HOU – 160 – 83 – 243 – 3
SEA – 240 – 151 – 391 – 2 :

#### Week 9: at Atlanta Falcons

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks | 0 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 31 |
| Falcons | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta
* Date: October 29
* Game time: 9:03 pm local
* Game weather: showers, 58 °F (14 °C), 84% humidity, wind E 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
* Game attendance: 52,566
* Referee: Bob Frederic
* TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Fran Tarkenton, and Howard Cosell
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
ATL – Lynn Cain 35-yard run (Tim Mazzetti kick), 9:51 (ATL 7–0)
Second quarter
ATL – Rick Byas 30-yard fumble return (Tim Mazzetti kick), 14:17 (ATL 14–0)
SEA – Jim Zorn 34-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 9:25 (ATL 14–7)
SEA – Sherman Smith 4-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 5:01 (Tied 14–14)
SEA – Dan Doornink 8-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:54 (SEA 21–14)
Third quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 24-yard field goal, 8:14 (SEA 24–14)
Fourth quarter
ATL – Billy Ryckman 17-yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Tim Mazzetti kick), 10:03 (SEA 24–21)
SEA – Dan Doornink 26-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:54 (SEA 31–21)
ATL – Billy Ryckman 20-yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Tim Mazzetti kick), 0:51 (SEA 31–28)
Top passers
SEA – Jim Zorn: 13/25, 197 yds, 1 TD
ATL – Steve Bartkowski: 16/26, 186 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
SEA – Dan Doornink: 21 car, 122 yds, 2 TD
ATL – Lynn Cain: 13 car, 99 yds, 1 TD
Top receivers
SEA – Steve Largent: 6 rec, 127 yds
ATL – Wallace Francis: 2 rec, 59 yds
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 206 – 205 – 411 – 4
ATL – 162 – 153 – 315 – 2 :

#### Week 10: vs. Los Angeles Rams

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 14 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
| Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Kingdome, Seattle
* Date: November 4
* Game time: 1:03 pm local
* Game weather: indoors
* Game attendance: 62,048
* Referee: Pat Haggerty
* TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
LA – Wendell Tyler 3-yard run (Frank Corral kick), 7:27 (LA 7–0)
LA – Charle Young 1-yard pass from Pat Haden (Frank Corral kick), 3:14 (LA 14–0)
Second quarter
LA – Drew Hill 17-yard pass from Pat Haden (Frank Corral kick), 8:02 (LA 21–0)
Third quarter
LA – Frank Corral 23-yard field goal, 1:12 (LA 24–0)
Fourth quarter
No scoring plays
Top passers
LA – Pat Haden: 17/21, 172 yds, 2 TD
SEA – Jim Zorn: 2/17, 25 yds
Top rushers
LA – Wendell Tyler: 18 car, 82 yds
SEA – Sherman Smith: 7 car, 16 yds
Top receivers
LA – Preston Dennard: 5 rec, 93 yds
SEA – Steve Largent: 2 rec, 25 yds
Team – pass – rush – total – to
LA – 172 – 303 – 475 – 1
SEA – -30 – 23 – -7 – 1 :
With -7 total yards and just one first down, this is the fewest yards the Seahawks have ever gained in one match. It is the most recent – and only since 1970 – occasion when an NFL team has gained just one first down for an entire match, although the Denver Broncos did not gain a single first down in a 1966 game with the Houston Oilers.

#### Week 11: at Cleveland Browns

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks | 7 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 29 |
| Browns | 0 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 24 |
at Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
* Date: November 11
* Game time: 1:00 pm local
* Game weather: overcast, 35 °F (2 °C), 64% humidity, wind NW 12 miles per hour (19 km/h)
* Game attendance: 72,440
* Referee: Fred Silva
* TV announcers (NBC): Merle Harmon and George Kunz
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
SEA – Sherman Smith 5-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 7:39 (SEA 7–0)
Second quarter
SEA – Sherman Smith 2-yard run (PAT failed), 13:57 (SEA 13–0)
SEA – Efrén Herrera 34-yard field goal, 9:07 (SEA 16–0)
CLE – Don Cockroft 28-yard field goal, 4:14 (SEA 16–3)
Third quarter
CLE – Mike Pruitt 65-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 14:38 (SEA 16–10)
CLE – Mike Pruitt 1-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 4:28 (CLE 17–10)
Fourth quarter
SEA – Al Hunter 5-yard run (PAT failed), 14:32 (SEA 22–17)
SEA – Sherman Smith 2-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 9:29 (SEA 29–17)
CLE – Brian Sipe 3-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 7:41 (SEA 29–24)
Top passers
SEA – Jim Zorn: 15/27, 249 yds
CLE – Brian Sipe: 13/29, 177 yds, 2 INT
Top rushers
SEA – Al Hunter: 13 car, 95 yds, 1 TD
CLE – Mike Pruitt: 15 car, 141 yds, 2 TD
Top receivers
SEA – Steve Largent: 3 rec, 93 yds
CLE – Ozzie Newsome: 3 rec, 61 yds
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 238 – 189 – 427 – 1
CLE – 158 – 215 – 373 – 3 :

#### Week 12: vs. New Orleans Saints

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Saints | 7 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
| Seahawks | 7 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 38 |
at Kingdome, Seattle
* Date: November 18
* Game time: 1:01 pm local
* Game weather: indoors
* Game attendance: 60,055
* Referee: Dick Jorgensen
* TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
NO – Archie Manning 4-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick), 10:13 (NO 7–0)
SEA – Sam McCullum 51-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 13:57 (Tied 7–7)
Second quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 27-yard field goal, 14:57 (SEA 10–7)
SEA – Steve Largent 39-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 14:18 (SEA 17–7)
NO – Wes Chandler 4-yard pass from Archie Manning (Garo Yepremian kick), 9:58 (SEA 17–14)
SEA – Dan Doornink 2-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 5:24 (SEA 24–14)
Third quarter
NO – Garo Yepremian 40-yard field goal, 9:57 (SEA 24–17)
Fourth quarter
NO – Chuck Muncie 1-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick), 8:25 (Tied 24–24)
SEA – Steve Largent 35-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 6:16 (SEA 31–24)
SEA – Brian Peets 5-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:06 (SEA 38–24)
Top passers
NO – Archie Manning: 20/27, 268 yds, 1 TD
SEA – Jim Zorn: 24/33, 268 yds, 1 TD
Top rushers
NO – Chuck Muncie: 14 car, 72 yds, 1 TD
SEA – Jeff Moore: 15 car, 65 yds
Top receivers
NO – Henry Childs: 6 rec, 121 yds
SEA – Steve Largent: 9 rec, 146 yds, 2 TD
Team – pass – rush – total – to
NO – 286 – 134 – 420 – 1
SEA – 391 – 130 – 521 – 1 :

#### Week 13: vs. New York Jets

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jets | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Seahawks | 3 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 30 |
at Kingdome, Seattle
* Date: November 26
* Game time: 6:05 pm local
* Game weather: indoors
* Game attendance: 59,977
* Referee: Jim Tunney
* TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell and Fran Tarkenton
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 49-yard field goal, 2:51 (SEA 3–0)
Second quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 42-yard field goal, 8:25 (SEA 6–0)
SEA – Steve Largent 14-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 6:03 (SEA 13–0)
SEA – Efrén Herrera 45-yard field goal, 0:00 (SEA 16–0)
Third quarter
SEA – Sherman Smith 16-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:20 (SEA 23–0)
NYJ – Kevin Long 5-yard run (Dave Jacobs kick), 6:49 (SEA 23–7)
SEA – Sam McCullum 11-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:58 (SEA 30–7)
Fourth quarter
No scoring plays
Top passers
NYJ – Richard Todd: 19/36, 226 yds
SEA – Jim Zorn: 25/32, 285 yds, 3 TD
Top rushers
NYJ – Clark Gaines: 17 car, 71 yds
SEA – Sherman Smith: 14 car, 33 yds
Top receivers
NYJ – Jerome Barkum: 6 rec, 103 yds
SEA – Sherman Smith: 8 rec, 86 yds, 1 TD
Team – pass – rush – total – to
NYJ – 226 – 139 – 365 – 2
SEA – 313 – 86 – 399 – 1 :

#### Week 14: at Kansas City Chiefs

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| Chiefs | 14 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 37 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: December 2
* Game time: 1:05 pm local
* Game weather: clear, 32 °F (0 °C), 40% humidity, wind S 10 miles per hour (16 km/h)
* Game attendance: 42,160
* Referee: Red Cashion
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Paul Maguire
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
KC – J.T. Smith 28-yard pass from Steve Fuller (Jan Stenerud kick), 7:05 (KC 7–0)
KC – Ted McKnight 5-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 5:43 (KC 14–0)
Second quarter
KC – Earl Gant 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 14:57 (KC 21–0)
KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal, 0:18 (KC 24–0)
Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 31-yard field goal, 11:29 (KC 27–0)
SEA – Jeff Moore 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:11 (KC 27–7)
KC – Jan Stenerud 22-yard field goal, 2:41 (KC 30–7)
Fourth quarter
KC – Ted McKnight 3-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 13:18 (KC 37–7)
SEA – Dan Doornink 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:12 (KC 37–14)
SEA – Jeff Moore 12-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 2:10 (KC 37–21)
Top passers
SEA – Jim Zorn: 22/45, 239 yds, 3 INT
KC – Steve Fuller: 10/23, 137 yds, 1 TD
Top rushers
SEA – Jim Zorn: 2 car, 21 yds
KC – Earl Gant: 21 car, 67 yds, 1 TD
Top receivers
SEA – Steve Largent: 9 rec, 120 yds
KC – J.T. Smith: 4 rec, 60 yds, 1 TD
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 231 – 44 – 275 – 5
KAN – 137 – 194 – 331 – 2 :

#### Week 15: vs. Denver Broncos

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 0 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| Seahawks | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
at Kingdome, Seattle
* Date: December 8
* Game time: 1:02 pm local
* Game weather: indoors
* Game attendance: 60,038
* Referee: Cal Lepore
* TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
SEA – Sherman Smith 17-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 4:32 (SEA 7–0)
Second quarter
SEA – Sherman Smith 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 13:05 (SEA 14–0)
DEN – Craig Morton 2-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 11:46 (SEA 14–7)
DEN – Haven Moses 7-yard pass from Craig Morton (PAT failed), 5:06 (SEA 14–13)
DEN – Jim Jensen 2-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 0:40 (DEN 20–14)
Third quarter
SEA – Steve Largent 35-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:22 (SEA 21–20)
DEN – Jim Turner 29-yard field goal, 7:01 (DEN 23–21)
Fourth quarter
SEA – Steve Largent 43-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 1:40 (SEA 28–23)
Top passers
DEN – Craig Morton: 22/40, 245 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
SEA – Jim Zorn: 22/39, 308 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
DEN – Jim Jensen: 13 car, 37 yds, 1 TD
SEA – Sherman Smith: 14 car, 57 yds, 2 TD
Top receivers
DEN – Rick Upchurch: 7 rec, 91 yds
SEA – Sam McCullum: 5 rec, 102 yds
Team – pass – rush – total – to
DEN – 222 – 141 – 363 – 3
SEA – 308 – 74 – 382 – 2 :

#### Week 16: at Oakland Raiders

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks | 10 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 29 |
| Raiders | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
* Date: December 16
* Game time: 1:01 pm local
* Game weather: clear, 56 °F (13 °C), 61% humidity, wind SW 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)
* Game attendance: 53,177
* Referee: Jerry Markbreit
* TV announcers (NBC): Merle Harmon and George Kunz
* Gamebook
Game information :
First quarter
OAK – Lester Hayes 30-yard interception return (Jim Breech kick), 14:08 (OAK 7–0)
SEA – Sherman Smith 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:18 (Tied 7–7)
SEA – Efrén Herrera 24-yard field goal, 5:15 (SEA 10–7)
Second quarter
OAK – Jim Breech 20-yard field goal, 14:03 (Tied 10–10)
SEA – Sam McCullum 65-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 13:45 (SEA 17–10)
OAK – Arthur Whittington 2-yard run (Jim Breech kick), 6:07 (Tied 17–17)
Third quarter
SEA – Dan Doornink 17-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efrén Herrera kick), 8:55 (SEA 24–17)
SEA – Safety, ball snapped out of end zone, 7:25 (SEA 26–17)
Fourth quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 43-yard field goal, 5:27 (SEA 29–17)
OAK – Mark van Eeghen 2-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Jim Breech kick), 1:18 (SEA 29–24)
Top passers
SEA – Jim Zorn: 23/35, 314 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
OAK – Ken Stabler: 31/47, 342 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
SEA – Sherman Smith: 15 car, 44 yds, 1 TD
OAK – Mark van Eeghen: 11 car, 38 yds
Top receivers
SEA – Sam McCullum: 8 rec, 173 yds, 1 TD
OAK – Cliff Branch: 10 rec, 109 yds
Team – pass – rush – total – to
SEA – 314 – 94 – 408 – 2
OAK – 336 – 82 – 418 – 3 :

## Awards and records

* Steve Largent, NFL Leader in Receiving Yards, (1,237)