1979 Seattle Seahawks season

1979 Seattle Seahawks season
1979 Seattle Seahawks season
Owner	The Nordstrom family
Head coach	Jack Patera
General manager	John Thompson
Home field	Kingdome
Results
Record	9–7
Division place	3rd AFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	WR Steve Largent
AP All-Pros	WR Steve Largent (2nd team)
	← 1978; Seahawks seasons; 1980 →;

The 1979 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's fourth season in the National Football League. 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 in Atlanta 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 TD pass from Zorn to Largent in the final minutes. One of the most iconic moments from the season includes running back Aaron Yurkanin performing a brutal stiff-arm on Broncos linebacker Aidan Smith in a pivotal divisional matchup victory.

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 TDs 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.

1979 NFL draft[]

1979 Seahawks Draft Selections
Round/Pick	Player	Position	College
1/18	Manu Tuiasosopo	Defensive end	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	Offensive Guard	Michigan State
12/319	Jeff Moore	Running Back	Jackson State

Personnel[]

Staff[]

**1979 Seattle Seahawks staff**

	Front office Managing General Partner – Herman Sarkowsky general manager – John Thompson Assistant general manager – Mark Duncan Director of Player Personnel – Dick Mansperger Director of Pro Scouting – Chuck Allen Head coaches Head Coach – Jack Patera Offensive coaches Offensive/Quarterbacks/Receivers – Jerry Rhome Offensive Backs – Andy MacDonald Offensive Line – Howard Mudd			Defensive coaches Defensive/Linebackers – Larry Peccatiello Defensive Line – Jim E. Mora Defensive Backs – Jack Christiansen Special teams coaches Special Teams – Rusty Tillman Strength and conditioning Head Trainer – Bruce Scott Assistant Trainer – Jim Whitesel

Final roster[]

**1979 Seattle Seahawks final roster**

	Quarterbacks 12 Sam Adkins 16 Steve Myer 10 Jim Zorn Running backs 31 Tony Benjamin 33 Dan Doornink FB 24 Al Hunter 35 David Sims 47 Sherman Smith Wide receivers 89 Duke Fergerson 86 Jessie Green 80 Steve Largent * 84 Sam McCullum 83 Steve Raible Tight ends 88 Brian Peets		Offensive linemen 76 Steve August T 63 Nick Bebout T 60 Ron Coder G 69 T 54 Art Kuehn C 61 Tom Lynch G 70 Jeff Sevy G 51 John Yarno C Defensive linemen 82 Mark Bell DE 68 Dennis Boyd DT 67 Bill Cooke DT/DE 71 Carl Eller DE 77 Bill Gregory DE 75 Robert Hardy DT 62 Ernie Price DE 74 Manu Tuiasosopo DT		Linebackers 58 Terry Beeson 53 Keith Butler 57 Pete Cronan 56 Sammy Green 55 Michael Jackson 59 Charles McShane 52 Joe Norman 50 Larry Polowski Defensive backs 27 Autry Beamon S 22 Dave Brown CB 44 John Harris S 26 Kerry Justin 20 42 Keith Simpson S 38 Cornell Webster CB Special teams 34 Tony Green PR 1 Efren Herrera K 32 Jeff Moore KR 18 Herman Weaver P		Reserve lists 85 WR (IR) 72 Louis Bullard T (IR) 25 Don Dufek S (IR) 78 Bob Newton G (IR) 66 Bill Sandifer DT (IR) 81 John Sawyer TE (IR) Practice squad Rookies in italics 51 active, 0 inactive, 0 practice squad

^[1]

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^[2]^[3]

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^[4]

Standings[]

AFC West
view talk	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[]

Preseason Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

	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[]

Preseason Week Two: Seattle Seahawks vs. Dallas Cowboys – Game summary

	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: KIRO tape delay
Gamebook

Week P3: at Los Angeles Rams[]

Preseason Week Three: Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Seahawks	0	0	0	0	0
Rams	0	0	0	0	0

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[]

Preseason Week Four: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

	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[]

Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Diego Chargers – Game summary

	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 – Efren 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 (Efren 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[]

Week Two: Seattle Seahawks at Miami Dolphins – Game summary

	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 – Efren 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 (Efren 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[]

Week Three: Seattle Seahawks vs. Oakland Raiders – Game summary

	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 (Efren Herrera kick), 11:08 (SEA 7–0)

Second quarter

SEA – Efren 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 – Efren Herrera 20-yard field goal, 6:37 (SEA 13–7)
SEA – Steve Largent 21-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efren 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 (Efren 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[]

Week Four: Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – Game summary

	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 – Efren Herrera 28-yard field goal, 12:45 (SEA 3–0)
SEA – Dan Doornink 5-yard run (Efren 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 (Efren Herrera kick), 8:09 (SEA 17–3)
DEN – Otis Armstrong 2-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 7:34 (SEA 17–10)
SEA – Efren Herrera 22-yard field goal, 0:38 (SEA 20–10)

Third quarter

SEA – Sam McCullum 13-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efren Herrera kick), 10:08 (SEA 27–10)
SEA – Sherman Smith 1-yard run (Efren 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[]

Week Five: Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary

	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 – Efren Herrera 38-yard field goal, 12:29 (SEA 3–0)

Second quarter

KC – Ted McKnight 62-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 – Efren 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[]

Week Six: Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

	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 (Efren 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 (Efren Herrera kick), 2:33 (SEA 14–7)

Second quarter

SEA – Sherman Smith 7-yard run (Efren 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 (Efren 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 (Efren 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[]

Week Seven: Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers – Game summary

	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 – Efren 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 (Efren 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[]

Week Eight: Seattle Seahawks vs. Houston Oilers – Game summary

	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 (Efren 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 (Efren Herrera kick), 8:27 (SEA 14–7)

Third quarter

SEA – Efren Herrera 48-yard field goal, 9:24 (SEA 17–7)
SEA – Efren Herrera 30-yard field goal, 4:23 (SEA 20–7)

Fourth quarter

SEA – Steve Largent 55-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efren Herrera kick), 14:50 (SEA 27–7)
SEA – Cornell Webster 54-yard fumble return (Efren 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[]

Week Nine: Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

	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 (Efren Herrera kick), 9:25 (ATL 14–7)
SEA – Sherman Smith 4-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efren Herrera kick), 5:01 (Tied 14–14)
SEA – Dan Doornink 8-yard run (Efren Herrera kick), 1:54 (SEA 21–14)

Third quarter

SEA – Efren 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 (Efren 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[]

Week Ten: Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams – Game summary

	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,^[5] although the Denver Broncos did not gain a single first down in a 1966 game with the Houston Oilers.

Week 11: at Cleveland Browns[]

Week Eleven: Seattle Seahawks at Cleveland Browns – Game summary

	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 (Efren Herrera kick), 7:39 (SEA 7–0)

Second quarter

SEA – Sherman Smith 2-yard run (PAT failed), 13:57 (SEA 13–0)
SEA – Efren 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 (Efren 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[]

Week Twelve: Seattle Seahawks vs. New Orleans Saints – Game summary

	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 (Efren Herrera kick), 13:57 (Tied 7–7)

Second quarter

SEA – Efren Herrera 27-yard field goal, 14:57 (SEA 10–7)
SEA – Steve Largent 39-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efren 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 (Efren 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 (Efren Herrera kick), 6:16 (SEA 31–24)
SEA – Brian Peets 5-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efren 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[]

Week Thirteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. New York Jets – Game summary

	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 – Efren Herrera 49-yard field goal, 2:51 (SEA 3–0)

Second quarter

SEA – Efren Herrera 42-yard field goal, 8:25 (SEA 6–0)
SEA – Steve Largent 14-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efren Herrera kick), 6:03 (SEA 13–0)
SEA – Efren Herrera 45-yard field goal, 0:00 (SEA 16–0)

Third quarter

SEA – Sherman Smith 16-yard pass from Jim Zorn (Efren 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 (Efren 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[]

Week Fourteen: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary

	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 (Efren 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 (Efren Herrera kick), 10:12 (KC 37–14)
SEA – Jeff Moore 12-yard run (Efren 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[]

Week Fifteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos – Game summary

	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 (Efren Herrera kick), 4:32 (SEA 7–0)

Second quarter

SEA – Sherman Smith 1-yard run (Efren 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 (Efren 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 (Efren 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[]

Week Sixteen: Seattle Seahawks at Oakland Raiders – Game summary

	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 (Efren Herrera kick), 10:18 (Tied 7–7)
SEA – Efren 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 (Efren 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 (Efren Herrera kick), 8:55 (SEA 24–17)
SEA – Safety, ball snapped out of end zone, 7:25 (SEA 26–17)

Fourth quarter

SEA – Efren 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)

References[]

^ https://www.pro-football-reference.com
^ 1979 Seahawks Media Guide, accessed February 14, 2015.
^ 1980 Seahawks Media Guide, accessed February 14, 2015.
^ 1979 NFL season results, NFL.com, accessed February 14, 2015.
^ Pro Football Reference; In a single game, from 1970 to 2018, requiring 1st Downs = 1, sorted by ascending Date

External links[]

[1] ttps://www.pro-football-reference.com

[2] 1979 Seahawks Media Guide, accessed February 14, 2015.

[3] 1980 Seahawks Media Guide, accessed February 14, 2015.

[4] 1979 NFL season results, NFL.com, accessed February 14, 2015.

[5] Pro Football Reference; In a single game, from 1970 to 2018, requiring 1st Downs = 1, sorted by ascending Date

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

v t Seattle Seahawks
Founded in 1976 Based in Seattle, Washington Headquartered in Renton, Washington
Franchise	Franchise History Seasons Players Coaches Quarterbacks Expansion draft First-round draft picks Records Draft history Broadcasters Virginia Mason Athletic Center
Stadiums	Kingdome Husky Stadium Lumen Field
Culture	12th Man "Bitter Sweet Symphony" Blitz Blue Thunder Jones Soda Legion of Boom Paul Allen Ring of Honor Seahawks Dancers Steve Largent Award Tuba Man
Lore	Beast Quake Fail Mary The Tip Super Bowl XLIX goal-line interception
Rivalries	Green Bay Packers San Francisco 49ers
Division championships (11)	1988 1999 2004 2005 2006 2007 2010 2013 2014 2016 2020
Conference championships (3)	2005 2013 2014
League championships (1)	2013 (XLVIII)
Retired numbers	12 45 71 80 96
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: National Football Conference Division: West Division

v t Seattle Seahawks seasons
1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Bold indicates Super Bowl victory Italics indicates Super Bowl appearance