1978 New England Patriots season
Encyclopedia
The New England Patriots
finished the National Football League
's 1978 season
with a record of eleven wins and five losses, and finished tied for first in the AFC East
division.
for life, the Patriots staggered to a 1–2 start before upsetting the Oakland Raiders
on the road. From there the Patriots stormed to win nine of their next 12 games, establishing an NFL record for rushing yards at 3,165. The Patriots clinched their first division title with a 26–24 win over the Buffalo Bills with one game remaining.
Tragedy blackened a 21–7 Patriots win over the Raiders when, late in the second quarter, Darryl Stingley
jumped after a Steve Grogan
throw and was crushed in the jaw by Jack Tatum
of the Raiders. The hit paralyzed Stingley for life.
Hosting the Colts on Monday Night Football
at a rain-soaked Schaefer Stadium the Patriots were done in 34–27 on a one-man scoring rampage by the Colts' Joe Washington
, who scored by throwing a 54-yard touchdown to Roger Carr
, catching a 23-yard score from Bill Troup
, and after a game-tying Sam Cunningham
touchdown run in the fourth returned the ensuing kick 90 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
Returning to Oakland nearly six weeks after Darryl Stingley
's near-fatal injury, the Patriots rallied from a 14–0 second-quarter gap by forcing three Ken Stabler
interceptions and scoring 21 unanswered points by Russ Francis
, Horace Ivory
, and Sam Cunningham
. The team visited Stingely in the Oakland-area hospital where he was still staying and his jovial banter with the team warmed their spirits enormously.
In a bizarre harbinger of Spygate, the Patriots exploded for eight touchdowns – Steve Grogan
threw to Harold Jackson
twice (David Posey missed the PAT on Jackson's second score), Stanley Morgan
, and Russ Francis
, and two rushing scores apiece by Horace Ivory
and James McAlister
– in a 55–21 slaughter of the Jets. Jets coach Walt Michaels
suspected the Patriots were decifering his coaching staff's codes and that a rival team had tipped off the Pats to these codes – "This will never happen to us again," Michaels stewed afterward. "I know what they did, but by the time we figured it out, it was too late."
The Patriots' seven-game winning streak crashed to a halt as the Pats stormed to a 23–0 lead in the second quarter but surrendered four unaswered Houston touchdowns (marred by two missed PATs by Toni Fritsch) and a 26–23 Houston win.
The Patriots crushed the Colts 35–14, sacking Bill Troup
eight times while snatching two Troup interceptions (Mike Haynes scored from Baltimore's 36 yard line with the first INT) for good measure. Harold Jackson
, Andy Johnson, and Sam Cunningham
rushed in touchdowns while Stanley Morgan
caught a 75-yard touchdown strike from Steve Grogan
.
Played in a snowstorm, the Patriots needed a win to clinch the AFC East. They trailed for most of this game as Ronald Hooks and Terry Miller
of the Bills scored on the ground and Frank Lewis caught a 21-yard touchdown from Joe Ferguson
. The Patriots also suffered when linebackers Steve Zabel
and Steve Nelson were injured. The Patriots rallied behind rushing scores by Sam Cunningham
, Steve Grogan
, and Horace Ivory
and a safety when Tim Fox
ran Bills punter Rusty Jackson out of the endzone; Bills coach Chuck Knox
allowed a safety because he feared punting out of his team's endzone. In the game's final eight seconds the Bills led 24–23 but David Posey kicked the winning field goal from 21 yards out, clinching a 26–24 win.
The celebration of the AFC East title was wiped out when coach Chuck Fairbanks
, who'd been negotiating a head coaching position with the University of Colorado
all season, was suspended just before New England's regular-season wrapup in Miami on Monday Night Football
. Coordinators Hank Bullough
and Ron Erhardt
took over as co-head coaches for the game. The suspension of Fairbanks and elevation of Bullough and Erhardt took the team, radioman Gil Santos
, and the ABC Network
's Howard Cosell
by surprise. The Patriots were crushed 23–3 by the Dolphins; Steve Grogan
injured his knee during the game. Despite the loss the Patriots won the division on tie-breakers over the 11–5 Dolphins and secured a playoff bye.
To the surprise of everyone, Chuck Fairbanks
was reinstated as head coach for the playoffs, but by then he had lost the respect of the locker room, and in their very first home playoff game the Patriots were massacred by the Oilers 31–14 behind three Dan Pastorini
touchdown throws and an Earl Campbell
rushing score. Steve Grogan
, unable to push off on his injured knee, threw two interceptions and was knocked out of the game; backup Tom Owen
managed one touchdown (a 24-yard strike to Russ Francis
) while Harold Jackson
caught a 24-yard score from Andy Johnson. Following the game Fairbanks left for good amid long-running acrimony with Billy and Chuck Sullivan; a lawsuit was settled on April 2, 1979 that gave the Patriots $200,000 and made Fairbanks liable if he took another NFL job before 1983, the period when his previous contract was supposed to end.
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
finished the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's 1978 season
1978 NFL season
The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference...
with a record of eleven wins and five losses, and finished tied for first in the AFC East
AFC East
The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets...
division.
Staff
| New England Patriots 1978 staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
|
|||||
Regular season
Following a preseason hit in Oakland that paralyzed popular receiver Darryl StingleyDarryl Stingley
Darryl Floyd Stingley was an American professional football wide receiver whose career was cut short by an injury. He played his entire career with the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He died from heart disease and pneumonia complicated by quadriplegia.-Early life:Stingley...
for life, the Patriots staggered to a 1–2 start before upsetting the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on the road. From there the Patriots stormed to win nine of their next 12 games, establishing an NFL record for rushing yards at 3,165. The Patriots clinched their first division title with a 26–24 win over the Buffalo Bills with one game remaining.
Schedule
| Week | Opponent | Result | Stadium | Record | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
L 14–16 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
0–1 | |
| 2 | at St. Louis Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 16–6 | Busch Memorial Stadium Busch Memorial Stadium Busch Memorial Stadium, also known as Busch Stadium, was a multi-purpose sports facility in St. Louis, Missouri that operated from 1966 to 2005.... |
1–1 | |
| 3 | Baltimore Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
L 27–34 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
1–2 | |
| 4 | at Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 21–14 | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum | 2–2 | |
| 5 | San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 28–23 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
3–2 | |
| 6 | Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 24–14 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
4–2 | |
| 7 | at Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
W 10–3 | Riverfront Stadium | 5–2 | |
| 8 | Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 33–24 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
6–2 | |
| 9 | New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 55–21 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
7–2 | |
| 10 | at Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 14–10 | Rich Stadium Ralph Wilson Stadium Ralph Wilson Stadium is a football stadium, located in the town of Orchard Park, a suburb of Buffalo, New York. It is the home for the Buffalo Bills, of the NFL... |
8–2 | |
| 11 | Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
L 23–26 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
8–3 | |
| 12 | at New York Jets New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 19–17 | Shea Stadium Shea Stadium William A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008... |
9–3 | |
| 13 | at Baltimore Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
W 35–14 | Memorial Stadium Memorial Stadium (Baltimore) Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road... |
10–3 | |
| 14 | at Dallas Cowboys Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas... |
L 10–17 | Texas Stadium Texas Stadium Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675... |
10–4 | |
| 15 | Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 26–24 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
11–4 | |
| 16 | at Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 3–23 | Miami Orange Bowl Miami Orange Bowl The Orange Bowl, formerly Burdine Stadium, was an outdoor athletic stadium in Miami, Florida, west of downtown in Little Havana. Considered a landmark, it was the home stadium for the Miami Hurricanes college football team... |
11–5 | |
| PLAYOFFS | |||||
| Divisional | Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
L 14–31 | Schaefer Stadium Foxboro Stadium Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts... |
0–1 | |
Standings
| AFC East AFC East The American Football Conference – Eastern Division or AFC East is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference. There are four members: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots , and New York Jets... |
||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New England Patriots | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 358 | 286 |
| Miami Dolphins 1978 Miami Dolphins season -NFL Draft:-Schedule:- Standings :-Roster:-AFC Wildcard Playoff : vs. Houston Oilers:-Notes and references:**... |
11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 372 | 254 |
| New York Jets 1978 New York Jets season The 1978 New York Jets season was the 19th season for the team and the 9th in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 3–11 record from 1977 under head coach Walt Michaels. The Jets finished the season with a record of 8–8.This was the first season for a new... |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 359 | 364 |
| Buffalo Bills 1978 Buffalo Bills season The 1978 Buffalo Bills season was the 19th season for the club and its ninth in the National Football League.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:- Standings :-Passing:Note: Comp = Completions; ATT = Attempts; TD = Touchdowns; INT = Interceptions... |
5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 302 | 354 |
| Baltimore Colts 1978 Baltimore Colts season The 1978 Baltimore Colts season was the 26th season for the team in the National Football League. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1978 season with a record of 5 wins and 11 losses, and finished tied for fourth in the AFC East division with the Buffalo Bills... |
5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 239 | 421 |
Notable games
- August 12 at Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(preseason):
Tragedy blackened a 21–7 Patriots win over the Raiders when, late in the second quarter, Darryl Stingley
Darryl Stingley
Darryl Floyd Stingley was an American professional football wide receiver whose career was cut short by an injury. He played his entire career with the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He died from heart disease and pneumonia complicated by quadriplegia.-Early life:Stingley...
jumped after a Steve Grogan
Steve Grogan
Steve James Grogan is a former American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Grogan played for the Patriots for his entire NFL career, from 1975 to 1990.-High school and college:...
throw and was crushed in the jaw by Jack Tatum
Jack Tatum
John David Tatum was an American football defensive back who played ten seasons from 1971 through 1980 for the Oakland Raiders and Houston Oilers in the National Football League...
of the Raiders. The hit paralyzed Stingley for life.
- September 18 vs. Baltimore ColtsHistory of the Indianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
:
Hosting the Colts on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
at a rain-soaked Schaefer Stadium the Patriots were done in 34–27 on a one-man scoring rampage by the Colts' Joe Washington
Joe Washington
Joe Dan Washington, Jr is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Colts, Washington Redskins, and Atlanta Falcons.-Early career:...
, who scored by throwing a 54-yard touchdown to Roger Carr
Roger Carr
Roger Dale Carr is a former National Football League wide receiver who played mainly for the Baltimore Colts...
, catching a 23-yard score from Bill Troup
Bill Troup
William Troup was a former professional American football player. An undrafted quarterback from the University of South Carolina, Troup played in 7 NFL seasons from 1974-1980 for 2 different teams....
, and after a game-tying Sam Cunningham
Sam Cunningham
Samuel Lewis "Sam" Cunningham, Jr is a retired American football fullback. The media referred to him as Sam "Bam" Cunningham.-College career:...
touchdown run in the fourth returned the ensuing kick 90 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
- September 24 at Oakland RaidersOakland RaidersThe Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
Returning to Oakland nearly six weeks after Darryl Stingley
Darryl Stingley
Darryl Floyd Stingley was an American professional football wide receiver whose career was cut short by an injury. He played his entire career with the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He died from heart disease and pneumonia complicated by quadriplegia.-Early life:Stingley...
's near-fatal injury, the Patriots rallied from a 14–0 second-quarter gap by forcing three Ken Stabler
Ken Stabler
Kenneth "Kenny" Michael Stabler , is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Oakland Raiders , the Houston Oilers , and the New Orleans Saints...
interceptions and scoring 21 unanswered points by Russ Francis
Russ Francis
Russell Ross Francis , is a former professional football player who was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1st round of the 1975 NFL Draft. He grew up in Hawaii. A 6'6", 242 lbs. tight end from the University of Oregon, Francis played in 13 NFL seasons. He retired temporarily in 1981, then...
, Horace Ivory
Horace Ivory
Horace Ivory is a former American football running back in the NFL from 1977 through 1982. He attended Nolan Catholic High School from 1968 to 1972 where he was a TCIL All-State Running Back...
, and Sam Cunningham
Sam Cunningham
Samuel Lewis "Sam" Cunningham, Jr is a retired American football fullback. The media referred to him as Sam "Bam" Cunningham.-College career:...
. The team visited Stingely in the Oakland-area hospital where he was still staying and his jovial banter with the team warmed their spirits enormously.
- October 29 vs. New York JetsNew York JetsThe New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
In a bizarre harbinger of Spygate, the Patriots exploded for eight touchdowns – Steve Grogan
Steve Grogan
Steve James Grogan is a former American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Grogan played for the Patriots for his entire NFL career, from 1975 to 1990.-High school and college:...
threw to Harold Jackson
Harold Jackson (American football)
Harold Leon Jackson is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League from 1968 through 1983. Jackson was drafted in the 12th round of the 1968 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams...
twice (David Posey missed the PAT on Jackson's second score), Stanley Morgan
Stanley Morgan
Stanley Douglas Morgan is a former NFL wide receiver who played for the New England Patriots. Morgan was selected out of the University of Tennessee in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft . He also played one season for the Indianapolis Colts in 1990...
, and Russ Francis
Russ Francis
Russell Ross Francis , is a former professional football player who was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1st round of the 1975 NFL Draft. He grew up in Hawaii. A 6'6", 242 lbs. tight end from the University of Oregon, Francis played in 13 NFL seasons. He retired temporarily in 1981, then...
, and two rushing scores apiece by Horace Ivory
Horace Ivory
Horace Ivory is a former American football running back in the NFL from 1977 through 1982. He attended Nolan Catholic High School from 1968 to 1972 where he was a TCIL All-State Running Back...
and James McAlister
James McAlister
James Edward McAlister is a former American football running back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the sixth round of the 1974 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.McAlister also played for the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots...
– in a 55–21 slaughter of the Jets. Jets coach Walt Michaels
Walt Michaels
Walt Michaels was a former professional football player and coach who is best remembered for his six-year tenure as head coach of the NFL's New York Jets from 1977-1982.-Collegiate and early NFL career:...
suspected the Patriots were decifering his coaching staff's codes and that a rival team had tipped off the Pats to these codes – "This will never happen to us again," Michaels stewed afterward. "I know what they did, but by the time we figured it out, it was too late."
- November 12 vs. Houston OilersTennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
:
The Patriots' seven-game winning streak crashed to a halt as the Pats stormed to a 23–0 lead in the second quarter but surrendered four unaswered Houston touchdowns (marred by two missed PATs by Toni Fritsch) and a 26–23 Houston win.
- November 26 at Baltimore ColtsHistory of the Indianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls....
:
The Patriots crushed the Colts 35–14, sacking Bill Troup
Bill Troup
William Troup was a former professional American football player. An undrafted quarterback from the University of South Carolina, Troup played in 7 NFL seasons from 1974-1980 for 2 different teams....
eight times while snatching two Troup interceptions (Mike Haynes scored from Baltimore's 36 yard line with the first INT) for good measure. Harold Jackson
Harold Jackson (American football)
Harold Leon Jackson is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League from 1968 through 1983. Jackson was drafted in the 12th round of the 1968 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams...
, Andy Johnson, and Sam Cunningham
Sam Cunningham
Samuel Lewis "Sam" Cunningham, Jr is a retired American football fullback. The media referred to him as Sam "Bam" Cunningham.-College career:...
rushed in touchdowns while Stanley Morgan
Stanley Morgan
Stanley Douglas Morgan is a former NFL wide receiver who played for the New England Patriots. Morgan was selected out of the University of Tennessee in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft . He also played one season for the Indianapolis Colts in 1990...
caught a 75-yard touchdown strike from Steve Grogan
Steve Grogan
Steve James Grogan is a former American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Grogan played for the Patriots for his entire NFL career, from 1975 to 1990.-High school and college:...
.
- December 10 vs. Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
Played in a snowstorm, the Patriots needed a win to clinch the AFC East. They trailed for most of this game as Ronald Hooks and Terry Miller
Terry Miller
Terry Miller was an American football running back in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks. He was an All-American at Oklahoma State University in 1976 and 1977 and finished second in the 1977 Heisman Trophy voting....
of the Bills scored on the ground and Frank Lewis caught a 21-yard touchdown from Joe Ferguson
Joe Ferguson
Joseph Carlton Ferguson, Jr. is a former American football quarterback in the NFL. Ferguson played college football at the University of Arkansas, where he still holds the school's single game record for most completions and in that same season was named the Southwest Conference's Offensive...
. The Patriots also suffered when linebackers Steve Zabel
Steve Zabel
Steven Gregory Zabel is a former American football linebacker and tight end in the National Football League. After playing college football at the University of Oklahoma, he was the first pick by the Eagles in the 1970 NFL Draft....
and Steve Nelson were injured. The Patriots rallied behind rushing scores by Sam Cunningham
Sam Cunningham
Samuel Lewis "Sam" Cunningham, Jr is a retired American football fullback. The media referred to him as Sam "Bam" Cunningham.-College career:...
, Steve Grogan
Steve Grogan
Steve James Grogan is a former American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Grogan played for the Patriots for his entire NFL career, from 1975 to 1990.-High school and college:...
, and Horace Ivory
Horace Ivory
Horace Ivory is a former American football running back in the NFL from 1977 through 1982. He attended Nolan Catholic High School from 1968 to 1972 where he was a TCIL All-State Running Back...
and a safety when Tim Fox
Tim Fox
Timothy Richard Fox is a former American Football safety who played for the New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers and the Los Angeles Rams from 1976 to 1986....
ran Bills punter Rusty Jackson out of the endzone; Bills coach Chuck Knox
Chuck Knox
Charles Robert "Chuck" Knox is a former American football coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He is best remembered as head coach of three National Football League teams, the Seattle Seahawks, the Buffalo Bills, and the Los Angeles Rams, serving two separate stints with...
allowed a safety because he feared punting out of his team's endzone. In the game's final eight seconds the Bills led 24–23 but David Posey kicked the winning field goal from 21 yards out, clinching a 26–24 win.
- December 18 at Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
:
The celebration of the AFC East title was wiped out when coach Chuck Fairbanks
Chuck Fairbanks
Chuck Fairbanks is a former American football coach, a head coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. The offensive and defensive systems he introduced and helped develop have proven influential in the NFL....
, who'd been negotiating a head coaching position with the University of Colorado
Colorado Buffaloes football
The Colorado Buffaloes football program represents the University of Colorado at Boulder in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level. The team is currently a member of the Pacific-12 Conference, having previously been a charter member of the Big 12 Conference. Before joining the Big 12,...
all season, was suspended just before New England's regular-season wrapup in Miami on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
. Coordinators Hank Bullough
Hank Bullough
Henry Charles "Hank" Bullough is a former American Football player and coach. He played college football at Michigan State and graduated in 1954. Bullough was a starting guard for the Spartans team that won the 1952 Rose Bowl...
and Ron Erhardt
Ron Erhardt
Ron Erhardt is a former football coach at both the collegiate and professional levels, and from 1979-1981 served as head coach of the National Football League's New England Patriots.-College assistant and high school head coach:...
took over as co-head coaches for the game. The suspension of Fairbanks and elevation of Bullough and Erhardt took the team, radioman Gil Santos
Gil Santos
Gil Santos is the longtime radio play-by-play announcer for the New England Patriots of the National Football League, and morning sports reporter for WBZ radio in Boston. He retired from WBZ on January 30, 2009. Santos was inducted into the WBZ Radio Hall of Fame on July 9, 2009...
, and the ABC Network
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's Howard Cosell
Howard Cosell
Howard William Cosell was an American sports journalist who was widely known for his blustery, cocksure personality. Cosell said of himself, "Arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff. I have been called all of these...
by surprise. The Patriots were crushed 23–3 by the Dolphins; Steve Grogan
Steve Grogan
Steve James Grogan is a former American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Grogan played for the Patriots for his entire NFL career, from 1975 to 1990.-High school and college:...
injured his knee during the game. Despite the loss the Patriots won the division on tie-breakers over the 11–5 Dolphins and secured a playoff bye.
- AFCAmerican Football ConferenceThe American Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the National Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL....
Divisional Playoff, December 31 vs. Houston OilersTennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
:
To the surprise of everyone, Chuck Fairbanks
Chuck Fairbanks
Chuck Fairbanks is a former American football coach, a head coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. The offensive and defensive systems he introduced and helped develop have proven influential in the NFL....
was reinstated as head coach for the playoffs, but by then he had lost the respect of the locker room, and in their very first home playoff game the Patriots were massacred by the Oilers 31–14 behind three Dan Pastorini
Dan Pastorini
Dante "Dan" Anthony Pastorini is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Houston Oilers, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, and the Philadelphia Eagles.-NFL career:...
touchdown throws and an Earl Campbell
Earl Campbell
Earl Christian Campbell , nicknamed The Tyler Rose, is a former professional American Football running back. He, Paul Hornung and O.J Simpson are the only people to have won the Heisman Trophy , were first overall National Football League draft picks and are in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
rushing score. Steve Grogan
Steve Grogan
Steve James Grogan is a former American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Grogan played for the Patriots for his entire NFL career, from 1975 to 1990.-High school and college:...
, unable to push off on his injured knee, threw two interceptions and was knocked out of the game; backup Tom Owen
Tom Owen (American football)
Willis Thomas Owen is a former American football quarterback who played in ten National Football League seasons from 1974-1982 for the San Francisco 49ers, the New England Patriots, the Washington Redskins, and the New York Giants...
managed one touchdown (a 24-yard strike to Russ Francis
Russ Francis
Russell Ross Francis , is a former professional football player who was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 1st round of the 1975 NFL Draft. He grew up in Hawaii. A 6'6", 242 lbs. tight end from the University of Oregon, Francis played in 13 NFL seasons. He retired temporarily in 1981, then...
) while Harold Jackson
Harold Jackson (American football)
Harold Leon Jackson is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League from 1968 through 1983. Jackson was drafted in the 12th round of the 1968 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams...
caught a 24-yard score from Andy Johnson. Following the game Fairbanks left for good amid long-running acrimony with Billy and Chuck Sullivan; a lawsuit was settled on April 2, 1979 that gave the Patriots $200,000 and made Fairbanks liable if he took another NFL job before 1983, the period when his previous contract was supposed to end.
Roster
All of the following players appeared in at least one game for the 1978 New England Patriots.| Name | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steve Grogan Steve Grogan Steve James Grogan is a former American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Grogan played for the Patriots for his entire NFL career, from 1975 to 1990.-High school and college:... |
QB | Threw for 2,824 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 23 INTs |
| Sam Cunningham Sam Cunningham Samuel Lewis "Sam" Cunningham, Jr is a retired American football fullback. The media referred to him as Sam "Bam" Cunningham.-College career:... |
RB | Rushed for 768 yards and eight touchdowns; also had 31 catches for 297 yards |
| Stanley Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley Douglas Morgan is a former NFL wide receiver who played for the New England Patriots. Morgan was selected out of the University of Tennessee in the first round of the 1977 NFL Draft . He also played one season for the Indianapolis Colts in 1990... |
WR | Led team in reception yardage with 820 yards and five touchdowns |
| Harold Jackson Harold Jackson (American football) Harold Leon Jackson is a former American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League from 1968 through 1983. Jackson was drafted in the 12th round of the 1968 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams... |
WR | Led team in touchdown catches with six; caught for 743 yards |
| David Posey | PK | Took over for John Smith after an early-season injury ended Smith's year |
| Leon Gray Leon Gray Leon Gray was an American football tackle in the National Football League for the New England Patriots, Houston Oilers, and the New Orleans Saints. Gray played college football at Jackson State University.-Early life:... |
LG | Selected First Team All Pro and for Pro Bowl Pro Bowl In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those... |
See also
- New England Patriots seasonsNew England Patriots seasonsThe New England Patriots are an American football team based in Foxborough, Massachusetts. They compete in the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference of the National Football League . Originally called the Boston Patriots, the team was founded as one of eight charter members of the...