1979 New England Patriots season

1979 New England Patriots season
Owner	Billy Sullivan
Head coach	Ron Erhardt
General manager	Bucko Kilroy
Home field	Schaefer Stadium
Results
Record	9–7
Division place	2nd AFC East
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	G John Hannah CB Mike Haynes WR Stanley Morgan
AP All-Pros	G John Hannah (1st team) CB Mike Haynes (2nd team)
Uniform
← 1978 Patriots seasons 1980 →

The 1979 New England Patriots season was the franchise's 10th season in the National Football League and 20th overall. The Patriots ended the season with a record of nine wins and seven losses and finished second in the AFC East Division. Ron Erhardt was named the Patriots the new coach. In their season opener, the Patriots faced the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night as Darryl Stingley returned to Schaffer Stadium. Patriots fans gave the paralyzed star a long sustained standing ovation. However, the emotion did not carry over as the Pats lost 16-13 in overtime. The Pats would find themselves at 8-4, as the team featured a more wide-open offense under quarterback Steve Grogan. However, a three-game losing streak ended their playoff chances, as the team settled for a disappointing 9–7 season.

Offseason[]

NFL Draft[]

1979 New England Patriots draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	25	Rick Sanford	Cornerback	South Carolina
2	52	Bob Golic *	Defensive tackle	Notre Dame
Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Personnel[]

Staff[]

New England Patriots 1979 staff
Front office President – Billy Sullivan Executive vice president – General manager – Bucko Kilroy Assistant general manager – Patrick Sullivan Director of pro scouting – Bill McPeak Executive director of player personnel – Darryl Stingley Head coaches Head coach – Ron Erhardt Offensive coaches Quarterbacks/special assistant to the head coach – Offensive backfield – Tom Yewcic Receivers – Raymond Berry Offensive line – Jim Ringo			Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Hank Bullough Defensive line – Fritz Shurmur Defensive backfield – Billy Kinard Special teams coaches Special teams – Gino Cappelletti

Roster[]

1979 New England Patriots roster

	Quarterbacks 12 Matt Cavanaugh 14 Steve Grogan 17 Tom Owen Running backs 44 Don Calhoun 35 Allan Clark 39 Sam Cunningham 23 Horace Ivory 30 Mosi Tatupu Wide receivers 29 Harold Jackson 87 Ray Jarvis 86 Stanley Morgan 88 Carlos Pennywell 83 Don Westbrook Tight ends 81 Russ Francis 80 Don Hasselbeck		Offensive linemen 61 Sam Adams Sr. G 58 Pete Brock C 75 Bob Cryder T 68 Terry Falcon G 73 John Hannah G 74 Shelby Jordan T 67 Bill Lenkaitis C 77 Garry Puetz G 62 Dwight Wheeler T Defensive linemen 85 Julius Adams DE 64 Richard Bishop DE 63 Mark Buben DT 71 Ray Hamilton DT 72 Mel Lunsford DE 78 Tony McGee DE		Linebackers 55 Ray Costict 59 Mike Hawkins 50 Sam Hunt 52 Steve King 53 Bill Matthews 57 Steve Nelson 56 Rod Shoate 54 John Zamberlin Defensive backs 27 Doug Beaudoin SS 26 Raymond Clayborn CB 48 Tim Fox FS 40 Mike Haynes CB 34 Prentice McCray SS 25 Rick Sanford 21 Mark Washington CB Special teams 8 Eddie Hare P 1 John Smith K		Reserve lists 24 Judson Flint FS (IR) 32 Andy Johnson RB (IR) Practice squad Rookies in italics

Regular season[]

Schedule[]

Week	Opponent	Result	Stadium	Record	Attendance
1	Pittsburgh Steelers	L 13–16 (OT)	Schaefer Stadium	0–1	60,978
2	New York Jets	W 56–3	Schaefer Stadium	1–1	53,113
3	at Cincinnati Bengals	W 20–14	Riverfront Stadium	2–1	41,805
4	San Diego Chargers	W 27–21	Schaefer Stadium	3–1	60,916
5	at Green Bay Packers	L 14–27	Lambeau Field	3–2	52,842
6	Detroit Lions	W 24–17	Schaefer Stadium	4–2	60,629
7	at Chicago Bears	W 27–7	Soldier Field	5–2	54,128
8	Miami Dolphins	W 28–13	Schaefer Stadium	6–2	61,096
9	at Baltimore Colts	L 26–31	Memorial Stadium	6–3	41,029
10	at Buffalo Bills	W 26–6	Rich Stadium	7–3	67,935
11	at Denver Broncos	L 10–45	Mile High Stadium	7–4	74,379
12	Baltimore Colts	W 50–21	Schaefer Stadium	8–4	60,879
13	Buffalo Bills	L 13–16	Schaefer Stadium	8–5	60,991
14	at Miami Dolphins	L 24–39	Miami Orange Bowl	8–6	69,174
15	at New York Jets	L 26–27	Shea Stadium	8–7	45,131
16	Minnesota Vikings	W 27–23	Schaefer Stadium	9–7	54,719

Standings[]

AFC East
view talk	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Miami Dolphins(3)	10	6	0	.625	5–3	6–6	341	257	L1
New England Patriots	9	7	0	.563	4–4	6–6	411	326	W1
New York Jets	8	8	0	.500	4–4	5–7	337	383	W3
Buffalo Bills	7	9	0	.438	4–4	5–7	268	279	L3
Baltimore Colts	5	11	0	.313	3–5	4–10	271	351	W1

Season summary[]

Week 1 vs Steelers[]

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Week 2 vs Jets[]

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Week 3 at Bengals[]

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Week 4 vs Chargers[]

External video
San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots, NFL Films highlights

Week 5 at Packers[]

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Week 6 vs Lions[]

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Week 7 at Bears[]

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Week 8 vs Dolphins[]

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Week 9 at Colts[]

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Week 10 at Bills[]

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Week 11 at Broncos[]

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Week 12 vs Colts[]

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Week 13 vs Bills[]

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Week 14 at Dolphins[]

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Week 15 at Jets[]

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Week 16 vs Vikings[]

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See also[]

• New England Patriots seasons