# 1979 Philadelphia Eagles season

The 1979 Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's 47th season in the National Football League (NFL).
They appeared in the postseason for the second consecutive year, an attainment that the team had not achieved for three decades. They would make the playoffs again in the following two seasons before a six-year drought. The Eagles managed to host and win their first playoff game since 1960. They would ultimately fall in the divisional round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a score of 24–17.

## Offseason

After going 9–7 in the 1978 season and making the playoffs, the Eagles found themselves having to follow rule 3 of the draft – "Teams that made the playoffs are then ordered by which round of the playoffs they are eliminated" – meaning four teams with a record the same or better than the Eagles would pick in front of them.

### NFL Draft

The 1979 NFL draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held May 3–4, 1979 in New York City. As was started with the 1977 NFL Draft, this was 12 rounds.
The Philadelphia Eagles got the 19th to the 21st picks in the 12 rounds. They had overcome the traded-away draft picks of the Mike McCormack era. The Eagles had waited but they finally had a first-round pick and other low-round draft picks. They would use these and build a team as 7 of the 10 draft picks made the team for the coming years.
The draft began with first overall pick of Tom Cousineau, linebacker from Ohio State, by the Buffalo Bills. With the number 7 pick the New York Giants selected Phil Simms, a quarterback from Morehead State. The crowd, made up of mostly New York fans, voiced their displeasure of his selection.

### Player selections

The table shows the Eagles selections and what picks they had that were traded away and the team that ended up with that pick. It is possible the Eagles' pick ended up with this team via another trade the Eagles made. Not shown are acquired picks that the Eagles traded away.
| = Pro Bowler | = Hall of Famer |
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School |
| 1 | 21 | Jerry Robinson | LB | UCLA |
| 2 | 48 | Petey Perot | G | Northwestern State University |
| 3 | 74 | Tony Franklin | Kicker | Texas A & M |
| 4 | 94 | Ben Cowins | RB | Arkansas |
| 5 | 126 | Scott Fitzkee | TE | Penn State |
| 6 | 158 | Pick Traded to New York Giants | | |
| 7 | 178 | Don Swafford | OT | Florida |
| 7 | 185 | Curtis Bunche | DT | Albany State |
| 8 | 196 | Chuck Correal | C | Penn State |
| 8 | 211 | Max Runager | Punter | South Carolina |
| 9 | | Pick Traded to | | |
| 10 | | Pick Traded to | | |
| 11 | 296 | Al Chesley | LB | Pittsburgh |
| 12 | | Pick Traded to | | |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Attendance |
| 1 | September 2, 1979 | New York Giants | W 23–17 | 1–0 | 67,366 |
| 2 | September 10, 1979 | Atlanta Falcons | L 14–10 | 1–1 | 66,935 |
| 3 | September 16, 1979 | at New Orleans Saints | W 26–14 | 2–1 | 54,212 |
| 4 | September 23, 1979 | at New York Giants | W 17–13 | 3–1 | 74,265 |
| 5 | September 30, 1979 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 17–14 | 4–1 | 70,352 |
| 6 | October 7, 1979 | Washington Redskins | W 28–17 | 5–1 | 69,142 |
| 7 | October 14, 1979 | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 24–20 | 6–1 | 48,367 |
| 8 | October 21, 1979 | at Washington Redskins | L 17–7 | 6–2 | 54,442 |
| 9 | October 28, 1979 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 37–13 | 6–3 | 42,036 |
| 10 | November 4, 1979 | Cleveland Browns | L 24–19 | 6–4 | 69,019 |
| 11 | November 12, 1979 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 31–21 | 7–4 | 62,417 |
| 12 | November 18, 1979 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 16–13 | 8–4 | 70,235 |
| 13 | November 25, 1979 | at Green Bay Packers | W 21–10 | 9–4 | 50,023 |
| 14 | December 2, 1979 | Detroit Lions | W 44–7 | 10–4 | 66,128 |
| 15 | December 8, 1979 | Dallas Cowboys | L 24–17 | 10–5 | 71,434 |
| 16 | December 16, 1979 | at Houston Oilers | W 26–20 | 11–5 | 49,407 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

## Game summaries
### Week 5

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Eagles | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
at Veterans Stadium • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Date: September 30, 1979
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game attendance: 70,352
* Referee: Cal Lepore
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Len Dawson
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
Steelers
Terry Bradshaw 12/26, 176 Yds, TD, 2 INT
Sidney Thornton 16 Rush, 88 Yds, TD
John Stallworth 5 Rec, 102 Yds, TD
Eagles
Ron Jaworski 11/20, 158 Yds, 2 INT
Wilbert Montgomery 28 Rush, 98 Yds, TD
Keith Krepfle 4 Rec, 95 Yds :
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | PIT | PHI |
| 2 | | | | | Steelers | Thornton 7-yard touchdown run, Bahr kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 2 | | | | | Eagles | Harris 1-yard touchdown run, Franklin kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 3 | | | | | Eagles | 48-yard field goal by Franklin | 7 | 10 |
| 3 | | | | | Eagles | Montgomery 1-yard touchdown run, Franklin kick good | 7 | 17 |
| 4 | | | | | Steelers | Stallworth 37-yard touchdown reception from Bradshaw, Bahr kick good | 14 | 17 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 14 | 17 |

### Week 6

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
| Eagles | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
at Veterans Stadium • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Date: October 7, 1979
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game attendance: 69,142
* TV announcers (CBS): Gary Bender and Sonny Jurgensen
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
Redskins
Joe Theismann 19/32, 165 Yds, TD, INT
John Riggins 23 Rush, 115 Yds, TD
Johnnie McDaniel 4 Rec, 35 Tds
Eagles
Ron Jaworski 8/12, 143 Yds, TD
Wilbert Montgomery 22 Rush, 127 Yds, 3 TD
Keith Krepfle 3 Rec, 79 Yds :
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | WSH | PHI |
| 1 | | | | | Eagles | Montgomery 8-yard touchdown run, Franklin kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Eagles | Montgomery 11-yard touchdown reception from Jaworski, Franklin kick good | 0 | 14 |
| 3 | | | | | Eagles | Montgomery 5-yard touchdown run, Franklin kick good | 7 | 21 |
| 3 | | | | | Eagles | Montgomery 4-yard touchdown run, Franklin kick good | 7 | 28 |
| 4 | | | | | Redskins | 37-yard field goal by Moseley | 10 | 28 |
| 4 | | | | | Redskins | Riggins 1-yard touchdown run, Moseley kick good | 17 | 28 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 17 | 28 |

### Week 8

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Redskins | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
at RFK Stadium • Washington, D.C.
* Date: October 21, 1979
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game attendance: 54,442
* TV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
Eagles
Ron Jaworski 12/27, 192 Yds, TD, 2 INT
Wilbert Montgomery 11 Rush, 33 Yds
Keith Krepfle 4 Rec, 81 Yds
Redskins
Joe Theismann 15/24, 136 Yds, 2 INT
John Riggins 19 Rush, 120 Yds
Clarence Harmon 3 Rec, 33 Yds :
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | PHI | WSH |
| 2 | | | | | Redskins | Malone 10-yard touchdown run, Moseley kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 3 | | | | | Redskins | Theismann 1-yard touchdown run, Moseley kick good | 0 | 14 |
| 4 | | | | | Redskins | 23-yard field goal by Moseley | 0 | 17 |
| 4 | | | | | Eagles | Krepfle 40-yard touchdown reception from Jaworski, Franklin kick good | 7 | 17 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 7 | 17 |

### Week 11

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Cowboys | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
at Texas Stadium • Irving, Texas
* Date: November 12, 1979
* Game time: 9:00 p.m.
* Game attendance: 62,417
* Referee: Gene Barth
* TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Howard Cosell and Don Meredith
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
Eagles
Ron Jaworski 12/29, 145 Yds, 2 TD
Wilbert Montgomery 25 Rush, 127 Yds, TD
Harold Carmichael 4 Rec, 69 Yds
Cowboys
Roger Staubach 17/28, 308 Yds, 3 TD
Tony Dorsett 13 Rush, 53 Yds
Tony Hill 7 Rec, 213 Yds, 2 TD :
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | PHI | DAL |
| 1 | | | | | Cowboys | Hill 48-yard touchdown reception from Staubach, Septien kick good | 0 | 7 |
| 1 | | | | | Eagles | Carmichael 32-yard touchdown reception from Jaworski, Franklin kick good | 7 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Eagles | Smith 29-yard touchdown reception from Walton, Franklin kick good | 14 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Eagles | 59-yard field goal by Franklin | 17 | 7 |
| 3 | | | | | Eagles | Carmichael 13-yard touchdown reception from Jaworski, Franklin kick good | 24 | 7 |
| 4 | | | | | Cowboys | Hill 75-yard touchdown reception from Staubach, Septien kick good | 24 | 14 |
| 4 | | | | | Cowboys | DuPree 5-yard touchdown reception from Staubach, Septien kick good | 24 | 21 |
| 4 | | | | | Eagles | Montgomery 37-yard touchdown run, Franklin kick good | 31 | 21 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 31 | 21 |

### Week 15

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
| Eagles | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Veterans Stadium • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Date: December 8, 1979
* Game time: 12:30 p.m.
* Game attendance: 71,434
* Referee: Jim Tunney
* TV announcers (CBS): Pat Summerall, Tom Brookshier, Frank Glieber and Irv Cross
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
Cowboys
Roger Staubach 11/21, 105 Yds, TD
Robert Newhouse 12 Rush, 68 Yds, TD
Tony Hill 3 Rec, 33 Yds
Eagles
Ron Jaworski 13/36, 216 Yds, TD, INT
Wilbert Montgomery 23 Rush, 65 Yds, TD
Wilbert Montgomery 4 Rec, 93 Yds, TD :
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | DAL | PHI |
| 1 | | | | | Cowboys | Laidlaw 1-yard touchdown run, Septien kick good | 7 | 0 |
| 1 | | | | | Eagles | 27-yard field goal by Franklin | 7 | 3 |
| 1 | | | | | Cowboys | 40-yard field goal by Septien | 10 | 3 |
| 2 | | | | | Eagles | Montgomery 14-yard touchdown reception from Jaworski, Franklin kick good | 10 | 10 |
| 3 | | | | | Cowboys | Newhouse 17-yard touchdown run, Septien kick good | 17 | 10 |
| 4 | | | | | Cowboys | Johnson 17-yard touchdown reception from Staubach, Septien kick good | 24 | 10 |
| 4 | | | | | Eagles | Montgomery 1-yard touchdown run, Franklin kick good | 24 | 17 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 24 | 17 |

### Week 16

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Eagles | 9 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 26 |
| Oilers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
at Astrodome • Houston, Texas
* Date: December 16, 1979
* Game time: 4:00 p.m.
* Game attendance: 49,407
* TV announcers (CBS): Gary Bender and Sonny Jurgensen
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
Eagles
Ron Jaworski 12/21, 163 Yds
Billy Campfield 7 Rush, 68 Yds
Wilbert Montgomery 5 Rec, 51 Yds
Oilers
Dan Pastorini 7/14, 85 Yds, TD, 2 INT
Earl Campbell 16 Rush, 134 Yds, TD
Mike Renfro 3 Rec, 67 Yds, TD :
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | PHI | HOU |
| 1 | | | | | Eagles | Jaworski 4-yard touchdown run, Franklin kick no good | 6 | 0 |
| 1 | | | | | Eagles | 22-yard field goal by Franklin | 9 | 0 |
| 2 | | | | | Oilers | Campbell 6-yard touchdown run, Fritsch kick good | 9 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Eagles | 41-yard field goal by Franklin | 12 | 7 |
| 2 | | | | | Oilers | 44-yard field goal by Fritsch | 12 | 10 |
| 3 | | | | | Eagles | Harris 1-yard touchdown run, Franklin kick good | 19 | 10 |
| 4 | | | | | Oilers | Renfro 7-yard touchdown reception from Pastorini, Fritsch kick good | 19 | 17 |
| 4 | | | | | Eagles | Fitzkee 4-yard touchdown reception from Walton, Franklin kick good | 26 | 17 |
| 4 | | | | | Oilers | 37-yard field goal by Fritsch | 26 | 20 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 26 | 20 |

## Standings

NFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Dallas Cowboys$^{(1)}$ | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 6–2 | 10–2 | 371 | 313 | W3 |
| Philadelphia Eagles$^{(4)}$ | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 6–2 | 9–3 | 339 | 282 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–3 | 8–4 | 348 | 295 | L1 |
| New York Giants | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 1–7 | 5–9 | 237 | 323 | L3 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 2–6 | 4–8 | 307 | 358 | L1 |

## Playoffs

| Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
| Wildcard | December 23, 1979 | Chicago Bears | W 27–17 | 69,397 |
| Divisional | December 29, 1979 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 24–17 | 71,402 |