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1979 Washington Redskins season

NFL team season


NFL team season

FieldValue
teamWashington Redskins
year1979
record10–6
division_place3rd NFC East
coachJack Pardee
general managerBobby Beathard
ownerJack Kent Cooke
presidentEdward Bennett Williams
off_coachJoe Walton
def_coachDoc Urich
stadiumRFK Stadium
playoffsDid not qualify
shortnavlinkRedskins seasons

The ** Washington Redskins season** was the franchise's 48th season in the National Football League. The team improved on their 8–8 record from 1978 and finishing 10–6. Although the Redskins were able to improve their record, they were eliminated from playoff contention on the final week of the season after facing the Dallas Cowboys with the NFC East title on the line. Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach led a last-minute comeback to defeat Washington 35–34 to win the division, which combined with the Chicago Bears defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 42–6, resulted in the Redskins losing a points tiebreaker for the final wild-card slot.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1979 NFL draft

Undrafted free agents

PlayerPositionCollege
Willie BanksLinebackerPenn State
Willie BlasherlinebackerOregon
Charley BloxsomGuardMiami (FL)
James Willie BrownTackleLouisville
Antonio CastleWide receiverEastern New Mexico
Ronnie CullinsCornerbackColorado
Darryl DrakeWide receiverWestern Kentucky
Phil DuBoisTight EndSan Diego State
Ricky DunawaySafetyTulane
Keith EllisWide receiverNew Mexico
Tony HernandezDefensive backBYU
Neal OlkewiczLinebackerMaryland
Louis Orlando IIICenterYale
Pedro PosadasKickerLouisville
Jonathan SuttonSafetyNew Mexico
Ray WaddyCornerbackTexas A&I
Jimmy Jaye WellsCenterWisconsin–Superior
Dale WhiteDefensive tackleArkansas
Anthony YoungSafetyJackson State

Personnel

Staff

  • President – Edward Bennett Williams

  • Vice president – Jack Kent Cooke

  • General manager – Bobby Beathard

  • Executive assistant to the President – Bobby Mitchell

  • Assistant general manager – Joel Margolis

  • Assistant general manager – Dick Meyers

  • Director of player personnel – Mike Allman

  • Director of pro scouting – Kirk Mee

  • Director of college scouting – Dick Daniels

  • Scouts – Charley Casserly, Charley Taylor

  • Head Coach – Jack Pardee

  • Special Assistant to Head Coach – Bob Bowser

  • Offensive Coordinator – Joe Walton

  • Running Backs – Fred O'Connor

  • Tight Ends – John Hilton

  • Offensive Line – Ray Callahan

  • Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line – Doc Urich

  • Linebackers – George Dickson

  • Defensive Secondary – Richie Petitbon

  • Special Teams – John Hilton

Roster

Preseason

Washington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"WeekWashington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"DateWashington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"OpponentWashington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"ResultWashington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"RecordWashington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"Game siteWashington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"Attendance1234
at Tampa Bay BuccaneersW 9–71–0Tampa Stadium64,493
at Denver BroncosL 6–131–1Mile High Stadium58,799
at Atlanta FalconsW 16–62–1Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium52,478
Cleveland BrownsL 9–212–2RFK Stadium40,039

Regular season

Schedule

Washington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"WeekWashington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"DateWashington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"OpponentWashington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"ResultWashington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"RecordWashington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"Game siteWashington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"AttendanceWashington Redskinsyear=1979border=2}}"Recap12345678910111213141516
September 2Houston OilersL 27–290–1RFK Stadium54,582Recap
September 9at Detroit LionsW 27–241–1Pontiac Silverdome54,991Recap
New York GiantsW 27–02–1RFK Stadium54,672Recap
September 23at St. Louis CardinalsW 17–73–1Busch Memorial Stadium50,680Recap
September 30at Atlanta FalconsW 16–74–1Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium56,819Recap
October 7at Philadelphia EaglesL 17–284–2Veterans Stadium69,142Recap
October 14at Cleveland BrownsW 13–95–2Cleveland Stadium63,323Recap
October 21Philadelphia EaglesW 17–76–2RFK Stadium54,442Recap
October 28New Orleans SaintsL 10–146–3RFK Stadium52,133Recap
November 4at Pittsburgh SteelersL 7–386–4Three Rivers Stadium49,462Recap
November 11St. Louis CardinalsW 30–287–4RFK Stadium50,868Recap
November 18Dallas CowboysW 34–208–4RFK Stadium55,031Recap
November 25at New York GiantsL 6–148–5Giants Stadium72,641Recap
December 2Green Bay PackersW 38–219–5RFK Stadium51,682Recap
December 9Cincinnati BengalsW 28–1410–5RFK Stadium52,882Recap
December 16at Dallas CowboysL 34–3510–6Texas Stadium62,867Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Houston Oilers

;Oilers

  • Dan Pastorini 12/30, 176 Yds, TD, 3 INT
  • Earl Campbell 32 Rush, 166 Yds, 2 TD
  • Billy Johnson 4 Rec, 76 Yds, TD ;Redskins
  • Joe Theismann 7/14, 123 Yds, 2 TD, INT
  • Benny Malone 17 Rush, 58 Yds, TD
  • Jean Fugett 3 Rec, 55 Yds, 2 TD

Week 2: at Detroit Lions

;Redskins

;Lions

Week 3: vs. New York Giants

;Giants

;Redskins

Week 4: at St. Louis Cardinals

;Redskins

;Cardinals

Week 5: at Atlanta Falcons

;Redskins

;Falcons

Week 6: at Philadelphia Eagles

;Redskins

;Eagles

Week 7: at Cleveland Browns

;Redskins

  • Joe Theismann 14/24, 233 Yds, TD, INT
  • John Riggins 13 Rush, 31 Yds
  • Clarence Harmon 4 Rec, 60 Yds, TD ;Browns
  • Brian Sipe 13/25, 160 Yds, INT
  • Mike Pruitt 22 Rush, 85 Yds
  • Dave Logan 5 Rec, 97 Yds

Week 8: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

;Eagles

;Redskins

Week 9: vs. New Orleans Saints

;Saints

;Redskins

Week 10: at Pittsburgh Steelers

;Redskins

  • Joe Theismann 14/31, 147 Yds, INT
  • John Riggins 13 Rush, 56 Yds, TD
  • Danny Buggs 3 Rec, 37 Yds ;Steelers
  • Terry Bradshaw 15/27, 311 Yds, 4 TD, INT
  • Franco Harris 15 Rush, 62 Yds
  • John Stallworth 6 Rec, 126 Yds, 2 TD

Week 11: vs. St. Louis Cardinals

;Cardinals

;Redskins

Week 12: vs. Dallas Cowboys

;Cowboys

;Redskins

Week 13: at New York Giants

;Redskins

;Giants

Week 14: vs. Green Bay Packers

;Packers

;Redskins

This would prove the last time the Green Bay Packers would ever play at RFK Stadium before its closure in 1997: in fact, the Packers would not play an away game against the Redskins again until 2004. This occurred because between and the admission of the Texans in , non-division conference matchups had no rotation but were entirely based upon previous season’s standings.

Week 15: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

;Bengals

;Redskins

Week 16: at Dallas Cowboys

The loss knocked the Redskins out of the playoffs.

Standings

References

References

  1. "1979 Washington Redskins draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. "Washington Redskins 1979 Press Guide".
  3. "1979 Washington Redskins starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  4. "1979 Washington Redskins Statistics & Players".
  5. Urena, Ivan. (2014). "Pro Football Schedules: A Comple Historical Guide from 1933 to the Present". McFarland & Co..
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