1980 NFL season
Encyclopedia
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. A verdict in the trial would not be decided until before the 1982 NFL season
.
Meanwhile, the season ended with Super Bowl XV
when the Raiders defeated the Philadelphia Eagles
.
– clinched wild card
berth, – clinched division title
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...
.
After the league declined to approve the proposed move by the 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...
from Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, the team along with the Los Angeles Coliseum sued the NFL for violating antitrust laws. A verdict in the trial would not be decided until before the 1982 NFL season
1982 NFL season
The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd regular season of the National Football League. A 57-day long players' strike reduced the 1982 season from a 16-game schedule per team to an abbreviated nine game schedule...
.
Meanwhile, the season ended with Super Bowl XV
Super Bowl XV
Super Bowl XV was an American football game played on January 25, 1981 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1980 regular season...
when the Raiders defeated the 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...
.
Major rule changes
- When efforts are made by the offense to conserve time, 10 seconds will be run off the clock before the ball is permitted to be put back into play.
- Players are prohibited from striking, swinging, or clubbing to the head, face, or neck. The personal foul could be called whether or not the initial contact was made below the neck.
- A "Guidelines for Captains" section was added to the rules.
Division Races
Starting in 1978, ten teams qualified for the playoffs: the winners of each of the divisions, and two wild-card teams in each conference. These are the leaders for each playoff slot, week by week. Teams listed in Week 16 indicate playoff participants.National Football Conference
| Week | NFC East NFC East The NFC East is a division of the National Football League's National Football Conference. It currently has four members: the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and Washington Redskins.... |
NFC Central | 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... |
Wild Card Wild card (sports) The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:... |
Wild Card Wild card (sports) The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:... |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 teams | 1–0 | 4 teams | 1–0 | San Francisco 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... |
1–0 | ||||
| 2 | Philadelphia 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... |
2–0 | Detroit Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... , Tampa Bay 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... |
2–0 | San Francisco | 2–0 | ||||
| 3 | Philadelphia | 3–0 | Detroit | 3–0 | San Francisco | 3–0 | Dallas, Tampa Bay, Minnesota 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... |
2–1 | ||
| 4 | Philadelphia, Dallas 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... |
3–1 | Detroit | 4–0 | San Francisco | 3–1 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 3–1 | 4 teams | 2–2 |
| 5 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 4–1 | Detroit | 4–1 | San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta 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... |
3–2 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 4–1 | San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta | 3–2 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 5–1 | Detroit | 5–1 | Los Angeles | 4–2 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 5–1 | Minnesota, San Francisco, Atlanta | 3–3 |
| 7 | Philadelphia | 6–1 | Detroit | 5–2 | Los Angeles | 5–2 | Dallas | 5–2 | Atlanta | 4–3 |
| 8 | Philadelphia | 7–1 | Detroit | 5–3 | Los Angeles, Atlanta | 5–3 | Dallas | 6–2 | Los Angeles, Atlanta | 5–3 |
| 9 | Philadelphia | 8–1 | Detroit | 6–3 | Los Angeles, Atlanta | 6–3 | Dallas | 7–2 | Los Angeles, Atlanta | 6–3 |
| 10 | Philadelphia | 9–1 | Detroit | 6–4 | Atlanta | 7–3 | Dallas | 7–3 | Los Angeles | 6–4 |
| 11 | Philadelphia | 10–1 | Detroit, Minnesota | 6–5 | Atlanta | 8–3 | Dallas | 8–3 | Los Angeles | 7–4 |
| 12 | Philadelphia | 11–1 | Detroit | 7–5 | Atlanta | 9–3 | Dallas | 9–3 | Los Angeles | 8–4 |
| 13 | Philadelphia | 11–2 | Detroit, Minnesota | 7–6 | Atlanta | 10–3 | Dallas | 10–3 | Los Angeles | 9–4 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 11–3 | Minnesota | 8–6 | Atlanta | 11–3 | Philadelphia, Dallas | 11–3 | Los Angeles | 9–5 |
| 15 | Philadelphia | 12–3 | Minnesota | 9–6 | Atlanta | 12–3 | Dallas | 11–4 | Los Angeles | 10–5 |
| 16 | Philadelphia | 12–4 | Minnesota | 9–7 | Atlanta | 12–4 | Dallas | 12–4 | Los Angeles | 11–5 |
American Football Conference
| Week | 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... |
AFC Central | AFC West AFC West The AFC West is a division of the National Football League's American Football Conference, currently comprising the Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Oakland Raiders.-History:... |
Wild Card Wild card (sports) The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:... |
Wild Card Wild card (sports) The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:... |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 teams | 1–0 | Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
1–0 | San Diego 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... , Oakland 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... |
1–0 | ||||
| 2 | Buffalo 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... |
2–0 | Pittsburgh | 2–0 | San Diego | 2–0 | ||||
| 3 | Buffalo | 3–0 | Pittsburgh, Houston | 2–1 | San Diego | 3–0 | Pittsburgh, Houston, Miami 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... , New England 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... , Oakland |
2–1 | ||
| 4 | Buffalo | 4–0 | Pittsburgh, Houston | 3–1 | San Diego | 4–0 | Pittsburgh, Houston, Miami, New England | 3–1 | Baltimore History of the Indianapolis Colts The 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.... , Cleveland Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... , Oakland, Seattle 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... |
2–2 |
| 5 | Buffalo | 5–0 | Pittsburgh | 4–1 | San Diego | 4–1 | New England | 4–1 | Miami, Baltimore, Houston, Seattle | 3–2 |
| 6 | Buffalo, New England | 5–1 | Pittsburgh | 4–2 | San Diego | 4–2 | Buffalo, New England | 5–1 | Baltimore | 4–2 |
| 7 | New England | 6–1 | Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Houston | 4–3 | San Diego | 5–2 | Buffalo | 5–2 | 6 teams | 4–3 |
| 8 | Buffalo, New England | 6–2 | Cleveland, Houston | 5–3 | San Diego, Oakland | 5–3 | Buffalo, New England | 6–2 | Cleveland, Houston, San Diego, Oakland | 5–3 |
| 9 | New England | 7–2 | Cleveland, Houston | 6–3 | San Diego, Oakland | 6–3 | Buffalo, Cleveland, Houston, San Diego, Oakland | 6–3 | Baltimore, Pittsburgh | 5–4 |
| 10 | Buffalo, New England | 7–3 | Cleveland, Houston | 7–3 | Oakland | 7–3 | Buffalo, New England, Cleveland, Houston | 7–3 | Pittsburgh, San Diego | 6–4 |
| 11 | Buffalo | 8–3 | Houston | 8–3 | Oakland | 8–3 | New England, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, San Diego | 7–4 | Miami, Baltimore, Denver 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... |
6–5 |
| 12 | Buffalo | 9–3 | Cleveland, Houston | 8–4 | San Diego, Oakland | 8–4 | New England, Cleveland, Houston, San Diego, Oakland | 8–4 | Pittsburgh, Denver | 7–5 |
| 13 | Buffalo | 9–4 | Cleveland | 9–4 | San Diego, Oakland | 9–4 | San Diego, Oakland | 9–4 | New England, Pittsburgh, Houston | 8–5 |
| 14 | Buffalo | 10–4 | Cleveland | 10–4 | San Diego, Oakland | 9–5 | San Diego, Oakland, Houston | 9–5 | New England, Pittsburgh | 8–6 |
| 15 | Buffalo | 10–5 | Cleveland, Houston | 10–5 | San Diego, Oakland | 10–5 | Cleveland, Houston, San Diego, Oakland | 10–5 | New England, Pittsburgh | 9–6 |
| 16 | Buffalo | 11–5 | Cleveland | 11–5 | San Diego | 11–5 | Oakland | 11–5 | Houston | 11–5 |
Final standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT = Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against– clinched wild card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
berth, – clinched division title
Tiebreakers
- Cleveland finished ahead of Houston in the AFC Central based on better conference record (8–4 to Oilers' 7–5).
- San Diego finished ahead of Oakland in the AFC West based on better net points in division games (plus 60 net points to Raiders' plus 37).
- San Diego was the top AFC playoff seed based on better conference record than Cleveland and Buffalo (9–3 to Browns' 8–4 and Bills' 8–4).
- Cleveland was the second AFC playoff seed based on better record against common opponents (5–2 to Bills' 5–3).
- Oakland was the first AFC Wild Card based on better conference record than Houston (9–3 to Oilers' 7–5).
- Kansas City finished ahead of Denver in the AFC West based on head-to-head sweep (2–0).
- Philadelphia finished ahead of Dallas in the NFC East based on better net points in division games (plus 84 net points to Cowboys' plus 50).
- Atlanta was the top NFC playoff seed based on head-to-head victory over Philadelphia (1–0).
- Minnesota finished ahead of Detroit in the NFC Central based on better conference record (8–4 to Lions' 9–5).
- Tampa Bay finished ahead of Green Bay in the NFC Central based on better head-to-head record (1–0–1 to Packers' 0–1–1).
AFC
- Wild-Card playoff: OAKLAND 27, Houston 7
- Divisional playoffs: SAN DIEGO 20, Buffalo 14; Oakland 14, CLEVELAND 12
- AFC Championship: Oakland 34, SAN DIEGO 27 at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, January 11, 1981
NFC
- Wild-Card playoff: DALLAS 34, Los Angeles 13
- Divisional playoffs: PHILADELPHIA 31, Minnesota 16; Dallas 30, ATLANTA 27
- NFC Championship: PHILADELPHIA 20, Dallas 7 at Veterans StadiumVeterans StadiumPhiladelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, January 11, 1981
Super Bowl
- Super Bowl XVSuper Bowl XVSuper Bowl XV was an American football game played on January 25, 1981 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1980 regular season...
: Oakland (AFC) 27, Philadelphia (NFC) 10, at Louisiana SuperdomeLouisiana SuperdomeThe Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
, New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, January 25, 1981
Awards
| Most Valuable Player NFL Most Valuable Player Award The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award is given by various entities, most notably the Associated Press , to the player who is considered most valuable in the league. When the award is referred to without mentioning the organization, it generally means the AP award. The AP NFL MVP... |
Brian Sipe Brian Sipe Brian Winfield Sipe is a former professional American football quarterback who played in the National Football League from 1974 to 1983 and the United States Football League from 1984 to 1985.... , Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... , Cleveland |
| Coach of the Year NFL Coach of the Year Award The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job of working with the talent he has at his disposal. Currently, the most widely recognized award is presented by the... |
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... , Buffalo |
| Offensive Player of the Year NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award The NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award is given annually by the Associated Press to the offensive player of the National Football League believed to have had the most outstanding season... |
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... , Running Back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... , Houston Oilers |
| Defensive Player of the Year NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award The NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award is given by the Associated Press to the league's most outstanding defensive player at the end of every NFL season since 1971. Multiple-award winners include Lawrence Taylor, who won it three times, and Joe Greene, Mike Singletary, Bruce Smith, Reggie... |
Lester Hayes Lester Hayes Lester Hayes is a former professional American football player for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders of the National Football League.... , Cornerback Cornerback A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position... , Oakland |
| Offensive Rookie of the Year | Billy Sims Billy Sims Billy Sims is a former college football and NFL running back. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1978.-Early years:... , Running Back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... , Detroit |
| Defensive Rookie of the Year | Buddy Curry Buddy Curry George Jessel "Buddy" Curry is a former NFL football player. He is a graduate from the University of North Carolina who played pro football from 1980–1987 for the Atlanta Falcons.... & Al Richardson Al Richardson (American football) Al Richardson is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League who spent his entire 6 year career with the Atlanta Falcons. He won the AP Defensive Rookies of the Year in 1980 along with Buddy Curry. He played college football for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.... , Linebackers, Atlanta |