page_title: 1978–79 NFL playoffs
section_title: AFC: Houston Oilers 17, Miami Dolphins 9
hierarchical_section_title: 1978–79 NFL playoffs / Wild Card playoffs / December 24, 1978 / AFC: Houston Oilers 17, Miami Dolphins 9
caption_attribution_description: English: A football card from the 1986 Jeno's Pizza NFL football card stickers set of Houston Oilers quarterback Dan Pastorini calling signals during the 1978 AFC Wild Card game. The card is numbered #43 in the set. The back of the card reads: HOUSTON RETURNS TO THE PLAYOFFS Quarterback Dan Pastorini calls signals in Houston's 17-9 victory over Miami in the 1978 AFC Wild Card Game. It was the Oiler's first appearance in the playoffs since 1967 and first playoff win since 1961. Pastorini, taking the ball from center Carl Mauck, completed 20 for 29 attempts against the Dolphins for 306 yards.
context_page_description: The National Football League playoffs for the 1978 season began on December 24, 1978. The postseason tournament concluded with the Pittsburgh Steelers defeating the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XIII, 35–31, on January 21, 1979, at the Orange Bowl in Miami.
  This was the first year that the playoffs expanded to a ten-team format, adding a second wild card team from each conference. The two wild card teams from each conference played each other in the first round, called the "Wild Card Playoffs." The division winners automatically advanced to the Divisional Playoffs, which became the second round of the playoffs.
  However, the league continued to prohibit meetings between two teams from the same division in the divisional playoffs. Thus, there could be times when the pairings in that round would be the no. 1 seed vs. the no. 3 seed and no. 2 vs. no. 4.
context_section_description: Quarterback Dan Pastorini led the Oilers to an upset victory by passing for 306 yards.  Houston outgained the Dolphins in total yards, 455-209, and forced 5 turnovers while only losing one on their end.
  Miami managed to keep Houston running back Earl Campbell well contained in the first half, limiting him to just 16 yards on 13 carries, but they were unable to handle the passing attack of Pastorini, who completed 16 of 21 passes for 261 yards during that time.  Meanwhile, Dolphins quarterback Bob Griese completed just 6 of 16 passes in the first two quarters.
  The Dolphins scored first after Earnie Rhone recovered a fumbled punt from Robert Woods at the Houston 21-yard line, setting up quarterback Bob Griese's 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Andre Tillman. However, the Oilers responded with an 11-play, 71-yard drive in which Pastorini completed 6 of 7 passes for 66 yards, the last one a 13-yard touchdown pass to running back Tim Wilson. Neither team scored again until the fourth quarter, despite several chances.  In the second quarter, Pastorini completed a 55-yard pass to tight end Mike Barber on the Dolphins 9-yard line, but the drive ended with no points when Toni Fritsch's 28-yard field goal attempt was blocked by linebacker Kim Bokamper.  The Oilers later drove to the Dolphins red zone with 14 seconds left in the half.  On the next play, Pastorini completed a pass to Ken Burrough, but he was tackled short of the end zone and the clock ran out before the team could spike the ball to stop it.
  In the third quarter, Miami blew a chance to take then lead when Garo Yepremian drove a 38-yard field goal attempt wide left.  In the final period, Toni Fritsch made a 35-yard field goal to give the Oilers a 10-7 lead. Then linebacker Gregg Bingham intercepted a pass from Griese and returned it 4 yards to midfield.  Campbell finally managed to get into gear with a 20-yard run on the ensuing drive, and eventually finished it off with a 1-yard rushing touchdown. The Dolphins closed out the scoring, but only when Pastorini ran out of the end zone for an intentional safety to run out the clock.
  Despite his poor first half, Campbell finished the game with 84 rushing yards and a 13-yard reception.  Wilson rushed for 76 yards and caught 5 passes for 40.  Barber had 112 yards on 4 receptions, while Burroughs caught 6 passes for 103.  Griese finished the game just 11/28 for 114 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions.
caption: Pastorini calling a play during the 1978 AFC Wild Card game
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