1979 Los Angeles Rams season
Encyclopedia
The 1979
Los Angeles Rams
season was the team's 42nd year with the National Football League
and the 34th season in Los Angeles
. It was the final season for the franchise in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
, as owner Carroll Rosenbloom
previously announced the Rams would move to Anaheim Stadium for the 1980 season
.
Rosenbloom drowned on April 2, 1979, while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean
just off of his home in Golden Beach, Florida
, leaving the team to his widow, Georgia
.
was penalized for holding Broncos linebacker Larry Evans
in the Rams' end zone. Late in the fourth quarter, however, Rams defensive tackle Mike Fanning
laid a hit on running back Larry Canada
deep in Broncos territory and Jack Reynolds
picked up the resulting fumble and bulled his way into the end zone for the winning touchdown.
intercepted a Doug Williams pass in the first quarter and returned it for a Rams touchdown, but then it was all Bucs as game conditions (heavy rain) and the vaunted Bucs defense took over. Williams only completed five passes, but two were for touchdowns in a 21-point second quarter.
This would be the final start of aging running back great Lawrence McCutcheon
's Rams career. The Rams, in an attempt to get more speed on offense, would start Wendell Tyler
in McCutcheon's place for the rest of the season.
threw for three touchdowns for the first and only time in his NFL career and Wendell Tyler
rushed for two more. Two of Haden's scores were to veteran Ron Jessie
, but Jessie would be injured late and lost for the remainder of the season. With veteran Willie Miller
also lost for the season, the Rams would have an inexperienced wide receiver corps for the rest of 1979.
broke the index finger on his throwing hand late in the third quarter and would be lost for the remainder of the season.
made his first start of the season in this Monday night game and immediately showed his "big-play" capability, something the Rams had lacked at the quarterback position. Ferragamo completed long touchdown passes to young speedsters Preston Dennard
and Billy Waddy
as the Rams would embark on a winning streak that would carry them to the NFC West
title and the playoffs.
took the snap and scooted around left end for a 5-yard touchdown to lift Los Angeles into first place in the NFC West. The Rams took sole possession of the division lead the next night when the Raiders rallied from a 35-14 deficit in New Orleans to defeat the Saints 42-35.
Vikings' defensive back Paul Krause
intercepted two passes in this game, giving him 81 for his career and breaking the previous all-time record set by Emlen Tunnell
. The record still stands to this day.
division title. Vince Ferragamo
was entrenched as the Rams' quarterback by this time, and would go on to an impressive postseason.
rushed for 141 yards and a first quarter touchdown, but New Orleans scored the next 27 points to win going away in the Rams' final game at the Coliseum. The victory allowed the Saints to finish 8-8, the franchise's first non-losing record after 12 consecutive losing seasons.
led the Rams to a victory by throwing for 3 touchdown passes, the last one with 2:06 left in the game. The Cowboys scored first when defensive tackle Randy White
sacked Ferragamo in the end zone for a safety. However, Ferragamo responded by throwing a 32-yard touchdown pass to running back Wendell Tyler
. Dallas kicker Rafael Septien
kicked a 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds left in the first half, but Ferragamo completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith before time expired to make it a 14-5 halftime lead. The Cowboys, led by quarterback Roger Staubach
in what proved to be his last NFL game of his hall of fame
career, then scored 2 unanswered touchdowns in the second half to take the lead, 19-14. With about 2 minutes left in the game and the Rams at midfield, Ferragamo found wide receiver Billy Waddy
on a short crossing route and Waddy sprinted the rest of the way for a game winning 50-yard touchdown. Staubach was unable to engineer a late fourth quarter comeback like the ones that made him famous throughout his career. The Rams defense forced a sack, and then pressured the Dallas quarterback to throw a pass illegally to an ineligible receiver, guard Herbert Scott
, on third down; the last pass of his career to be caught; on fourth down overthrew Tony Hill.
kicked 3 field goals to win the game. Los Angeles was able to record 369 yards of total offense, while running backs Cullen Bryant
and Wendell Tyler
rushed for 106 and 86 yards, respectively. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers only had 177 total offensive yards, including 92 rushing yards and 85 passing yards. Most of Tampa Bay's passing yards came from a 42-yard halfback option pass from Jerry Eckwood
to wide receiver Larry Mucker
in the fourth quarter. During the game, two touchdowns were nullified by penalties, one by each team: A four yard run by Bryant and a 27-yard reception by Buccaneers' tight end Jimmie Giles
.
1979 NFL season
The 1979 NFL season was the 60th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XIV when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Los Angeles Rams...
Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
season was the team's 42nd year with 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...
and the 34th season in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. It was the final season for the franchise in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
, as owner Carroll Rosenbloom
Carroll Rosenbloom
Carroll Rosenbloom was an American entrepreneur and former owner of two professional football teams, the Baltimore Colts and the Los Angeles Rams....
previously announced the Rams would move to Anaheim Stadium for the 1980 season
1980 NFL season
The 1980 NFL season was the 61st regular season of the National Football League.After the league declined to approve the proposed move by the Raiders from Oakland, California to Los Angeles, the team along with the Los Angeles Coliseum sued the NFL for violating antitrust laws...
.
Rosenbloom drowned on April 2, 1979, while swimming in the Atlantic Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
just off of his home in Golden Beach, Florida
Golden Beach, Florida
Golden Beach is a town located in the northeast corner of Miami-Dade County, Florida, between the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 919. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 921.-Geography:Golden Beach is...
, leaving the team to his widow, Georgia
Georgia Frontiere
Georgia Frontiere was the majority owner and chairman of the St. Louis Rams football team and the most prominent female owner in a league historically dominated by males....
.
NFL Draft
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School/Club Team |
|---|
Schedule
| Game | Date | Opponent | Result | Rams points | Opponents | Rams first downs | Record | Attendance |
| 1 | Sept. 2 | 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... |
Loss | 17 | 24 | 21 | 0-1 | |
| 2 | Sept. 6 | at Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
Win | 13 | 9 | 15 | 1-1 | |
| 3 | Sept. 16 | San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
Win | 27 | 24 | 25 | 2-1 | |
| 4 | Sept. 23 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West... |
Loss | 6 | 21 | 11 | 2-2 | |
| 5 | Sept. 30 | 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... |
Win | 21 | 0 | 24 | 3-2 | |
| 6 | Oct. 7 | at New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
Win | 35 | 17 | 22 | 4-2 | |
| 7 | Oct. 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... |
Loss | 6 | 30 | 11 | 4-3 | |
| 8 | Oct. 21 | 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... |
Loss | 16 | 40 | 24 | 4-4 | |
| 9 | Oct. 28 | New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
Loss | 14 | 20 | 20 | 4-5 | |
| 10 | Nov. 4 | at Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
Win | 24 | 0 | 29 | 5-5 | |
| 11 | Nov. 11 | at Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
Loss | 23 | 27 | 16 | 5-6 | |
| 12 | Nov. 19 | Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
Win | 20 | 14 | 18 | 6-6 | |
| 13 | Nov. 25 | at San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
Win | 26 | 20 | 18 | 7-6 | |
| 14 | Dec. 2 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
Win | 27 | 21 | 14 | 8-6 | |
| 15 | Dec. 9 | at Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
Win | 34 | 13 | 15 | 9-6 | |
| 16 | Dec. 16 | New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
Loss | 14 | 29 | 16 | 9-7 | |
Standings
| NFC West NFC West The NFC West is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: Arizona Cardinals, St... |
||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Rams | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 323 | 309 |
| New Orleans Saints 1979 New Orleans Saints season The 1979 New Orleans Saints season was the Saints 13th season. The Saints finished the season at 8-8, the franchise's first non-losing season. New Orleans was tied for first place with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West with three weeks to play, but the season unraveled in a Monday Night Football... |
8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 370 | 360 |
| Atlanta Falcons 1979 Atlanta Falcons season The 1979 Atlanta Falcons season was the Falcon's 14th season.-NFL Draft:-Schedule:-Standings: - References :* *... |
6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 300 | 388 |
| San Francisco 49ers 1979 San Francisco 49ers season The 1979 San Francisco 49ers season was the team's 30th year with the National Football League. The season is noted for being O.J. Simpson’s final year and Joe Montana’s first season in the NFL, as well as the first year head coaching the 49ers for Bill Walsh.... |
2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | 308 | 416 |
Roster
| 1979 Los Angeles Rams roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Offensive Linemen
Defensive Linemen
Linebackers
Defensive Backs
Special Teams
Reserve Lists Practice Squad Rookies in italics |
||||||||
Game 2: Rams 13, Denver Broncos 9
In an early Monday night affair, the Rams were on the verge of starting the season 0-2, trailing 9-6 in a game that featured a rare safety scored by the Broncos when Rams offensive tackle John WilliamsJohn Williams
John Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
was penalized for holding Broncos linebacker Larry Evans
Larry Evans
For the football player of the same name, see Larry Evans .Larry Melvyn Evans was an American chess grandmaster, author, and journalist. He won or shared the U.S. Chess Championship five times and the U.S. Open Chess Championship four times...
in the Rams' end zone. Late in the fourth quarter, however, Rams defensive tackle Mike Fanning
Mike Fanning
Michael LaVern Fanning is a retired American football player. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame. He was a defensive tackle for ten seasons in the National Football League...
laid a hit on running back Larry Canada
Larry Canada
Larry Canada is a former running back in the National Football League. He played three seasons with the Denver Broncos.-References:...
deep in Broncos territory and Jack Reynolds
Jack Reynolds
Jack Reynolds may refer to:* Jack Reynolds , English footballer who played for both Ireland and England* Jack Reynolds , English footballer who was later the manager of Ajax Amsterdam...
picked up the resulting fumble and bulled his way into the end zone for the winning touchdown.
Game 4: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 21, Rams 6
The Buccaneers asserted themselves as a legitimate NFC contender in this game. Jim YoungbloodJim Youngblood
Jimmy Lee Youngblood is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins...
intercepted a Doug Williams pass in the first quarter and returned it for a Rams touchdown, but then it was all Bucs as game conditions (heavy rain) and the vaunted Bucs defense took over. Williams only completed five passes, but two were for touchdowns in a 21-point second quarter.
This would be the final start of aging running back great Lawrence McCutcheon
Lawrence McCutcheon
Lawrence McCutcheon is a former American football running back for the Los Angeles Rams from 1972–1980, the Denver Broncos & Seattle Seahawks in 1980 and finished his playing career in 1981 with the Buffalo Bills, reuniting with his former Rams coach Chuck Knox.-Professional Career:McCutcheon was...
's Rams career. The Rams, in an attempt to get more speed on offense, would start Wendell Tyler
Wendell Tyler
Wendell Avery Tyler , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 3rd round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 5'10", 198 lbs...
in McCutcheon's place for the rest of the season.
Game 6: Rams 35, Saints, 17
The "new look" Rams played one of their better games of the season in this one. Pat HadenPat Haden
Patrick Capper "Pat" Haden is the athletic director at the University of Southern California. He played quarterback for the USC Trojans before playing professionally in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams from 1976 to 1981...
threw for three touchdowns for the first and only time in his NFL career and Wendell Tyler
Wendell Tyler
Wendell Avery Tyler , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 3rd round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 5'10", 198 lbs...
rushed for two more. Two of Haden's scores were to veteran Ron Jessie
Ron Jessie
Ron Ray Jessie was a professional American football wide receiver in the National Football League from 1971 through 1981. His best season came in 1976 with the Los Angeles Rams, when he was named to the Pro Bowl. Jessie died after suffering a heart attack in his Huntington Beach home.-External...
, but Jessie would be injured late and lost for the remainder of the season. With veteran Willie Miller
Willie Miller
William Ferguson Miller, MBE is a former professional football player who made a club record 558 league appearances for Aberdeen. He is currently the club's Director of Football...
also lost for the season, the Rams would have an inexperienced wide receiver corps for the rest of 1979.
Game 10: Rams 24, Seattle Seahawks 0
The Rams broke out of a mid-season slump by holding the Seahawks to minus-7 yards of total offense, only two pass completions, and only one first down for the entire game. However, starting quarterback Pat HadenPat Haden
Patrick Capper "Pat" Haden is the athletic director at the University of Southern California. He played quarterback for the USC Trojans before playing professionally in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams from 1976 to 1981...
broke the index finger on his throwing hand late in the third quarter and would be lost for the remainder of the season.
Game 12: Rams 20, Falcons 14
Vince FerragamoVince Ferragamo
Vince Anthony Ferragamo is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League.-College career:...
made his first start of the season in this Monday night game and immediately showed his "big-play" capability, something the Rams had lacked at the quarterback position. Ferragamo completed long touchdown passes to young speedsters Preston Dennard
Preston Dennard
Preston Jackson Dennard is a former professional American football wide receiver in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams, the Buffalo Bills and the Green Bay Packers. He played college football at the University of New Mexico....
and Billy Waddy
Billy Waddy
Billy Waddy is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for seven seasons for the Los Angeles Rams and the Minnesota Vikings....
as the Rams would embark on a winning streak that would carry them to the NFC West
NFC West
The NFC West is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: Arizona Cardinals, St...
title and the playoffs.
Game 14: Rams 27, Vikings 21 (OT)
The Rams lined up for a potential game-winning field goal in overtime, but holder Nolan CromwellNolan Cromwell
Nolan Neil Cromwell is the wide receiver coach for the St. Louis Rams. He was an All-Pro safety for the Los Angeles Rams of the NFL and was the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M University. Cromwell played for the Rams from 1977 through 1987 and was named to the Pro Bowl in four consecutive...
took the snap and scooted around left end for a 5-yard touchdown to lift Los Angeles into first place in the NFC West. The Rams took sole possession of the division lead the next night when the Raiders rallied from a 35-14 deficit in New Orleans to defeat the Saints 42-35.
Vikings' defensive back Paul Krause
Paul Krause
Paul James Krause is a former American football defensive back who played in the National Football League...
intercepted two passes in this game, giving him 81 for his career and breaking the previous all-time record set by Emlen Tunnell
Emlen Tunnell
Emlen Lewis Tunnell was an American football player. He was the first African American to play for the New York Giants, and was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1967. He played in the National Football League for the Giants and Green Bay Packers...
. The record still stands to this day.
Game 15: Rams 34, Falcons 13
In this impressive romp, the Rams clinched their seventh straight NFC WestNFC West
The NFC West is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: Arizona Cardinals, St...
division title. Vince Ferragamo
Vince Ferragamo
Vince Anthony Ferragamo is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League.-College career:...
was entrenched as the Rams' quarterback by this time, and would go on to an impressive postseason.
Game 16: Saints 29, Rams 14
Wendell TylerWendell Tyler
Wendell Avery Tyler , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 3rd round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 5'10", 198 lbs...
rushed for 141 yards and a first quarter touchdown, but New Orleans scored the next 27 points to win going away in the Rams' final game at the Coliseum. The victory allowed the Saints to finish 8-8, the franchise's first non-losing record after 12 consecutive losing seasons.
NFC Divisional
Quarterback Vince FerragamoVince Ferragamo
Vince Anthony Ferragamo is a former professional football player, a quarterback in the National Football League and Canadian Football League.-College career:...
led the Rams to a victory by throwing for 3 touchdown passes, the last one with 2:06 left in the game. The Cowboys scored first when defensive tackle Randy White
Randy White (American football)
Randall Lee "Randy" White is a former American football defensive lineman and linebacker. He attended the University of Maryland from 1971 to 1974, and played professionally for the Dallas Cowboys from 1975 to 1988. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame...
sacked Ferragamo in the end zone for a safety. However, Ferragamo responded by throwing a 32-yard touchdown pass to running back Wendell Tyler
Wendell Tyler
Wendell Avery Tyler , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 3rd round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 5'10", 198 lbs...
. Dallas kicker Rafael Septien
Rafael Septien
Jose Rafael Septien was a Mexican placekicker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys from 1978 through 1986. He was the leading scorer for the Cowboys those nine years...
kicked a 33-yard field goal with 52 seconds left in the first half, but Ferragamo completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith before time expired to make it a 14-5 halftime lead. The Cowboys, led by quarterback Roger Staubach
Roger Staubach
Roger Thomas Staubach is a businessman, Heisman Trophy winner and legendary Hall of Fame former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 until 1979. Staubach was instrumental in developing the Cowboys into becoming one of the best teams of the 1970s and led the team to nine of the Cowboys'...
in what proved to be his last NFL game of his hall of fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
career, then scored 2 unanswered touchdowns in the second half to take the lead, 19-14. With about 2 minutes left in the game and the Rams at midfield, Ferragamo found wide receiver Billy Waddy
Billy Waddy
Billy Waddy is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for seven seasons for the Los Angeles Rams and the Minnesota Vikings....
on a short crossing route and Waddy sprinted the rest of the way for a game winning 50-yard touchdown. Staubach was unable to engineer a late fourth quarter comeback like the ones that made him famous throughout his career. The Rams defense forced a sack, and then pressured the Dallas quarterback to throw a pass illegally to an ineligible receiver, guard Herbert Scott
Herbert Scott
Herbert Carnell Scott is a former American football offensive lineman in the National Football League...
, on third down; the last pass of his career to be caught; on fourth down overthrew Tony Hill.
NFC Championship Game
In a defensive battle in which the Rams squandered numerous scoring opportunities, Rams kicker Frank CorralFrank Corral
Frank Corral is a former National Football League placekicker from 1978-1981. He attended Norte Vista High School in Riverside, California. He was a part of the Rams' Super Bowl XIV team...
kicked 3 field goals to win the game. Los Angeles was able to record 369 yards of total offense, while running backs Cullen Bryant
Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant was a professional American football player who spent thirteen seasons in the National Football League as a running back and return specialist for the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks...
and Wendell Tyler
Wendell Tyler
Wendell Avery Tyler , is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 3rd round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 5'10", 198 lbs...
rushed for 106 and 86 yards, respectively. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers only had 177 total offensive yards, including 92 rushing yards and 85 passing yards. Most of Tampa Bay's passing yards came from a 42-yard halfback option pass from Jerry Eckwood
Jerry Eckwood
Jerry Eckwood is a former NFL running back. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1979–1981, and was a key member of the Buccaneers team that made the first playoff appearance in franchise history in 1979...
to wide receiver Larry Mucker
Larry Mucker
Larry Donnell Mucker is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the ninth round of the 1977 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona State.-References:...
in the fourth quarter. During the game, two touchdowns were nullified by penalties, one by each team: A four yard run by Bryant and a 27-yard reception by Buccaneers' tight end Jimmie Giles
Jimmie Giles
Jimmie Giles, Jr. ; , was a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the third round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 6'3", 238 lbs. tight end from Alcorn State University, Giles played in 13 NFL seasons from 1977-1989...
.