The 1979 San Diego Chargers season was the team's twentieth season, and tenth in the National Football League. The 1979 Chargers finished in first place in the AFC West after having finished 9–7 in 1978. The Chargers made the playoffs for the first time in fourteen years. At 12–4 the Chargers shared the best record in the AFC with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and were awarded the top AFC seed because they beat the Steelers in the regular season. This would remain their best record during the Coryell era.
Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts threw for 4,082 yards to break Joe Namath's professional record of 4,007 in 1967 (albeit with the benefit of two extra regular season games). Wide receivers Charlie Joiner and John Jefferson both gained more than 1,000 yards receiving, the first NFL teammates to accomplish the feat since the Namath-led New York Jets' duo of George Sauer and Don Maynard. The Chargers became the first AFC West champion to run more passing plays (541) than rushing (481). Clarence Williams was the leading rusher with 752 yards and a club-record 12 touchdowns.
In contrast to much of the "Air Coryell" period, the Charger defense was as strong as the offense, ranking 2nd in the league in yards allowed. Eight players combined to snag 28 interceptions, with linebackers Woodrow Lowe and Ray Preston finishing with five each. Wilbur Young led the team with 12 sacks. Kicker Rolf Benirschke began the year well, making all four of his kicks, but collapsed on the plane home from the Week 4 game at New England. He was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and missed the rest of the season. Three-time Super Bowl winner Roy Gerela was brought in as replacement, but made only one kick from seven before making way for Mike Wood, who finished 11 of 14, with all three misses coming from 50+ yards.
The season ended with a playoff loss to the Houston Oilers. It was the Chargers' first playoff game since the 1965 AFL Championship game loss to the Buffalo Bills.
As part of a marketing campaign, the Chargers created their fight song, "San Diego Super Chargers".
The 2006 edition of Pro Football Prospectus,"Pro Football Prospectus 2006" (), p.73-75 listed the 1979 Chargers as one of their "Heartbreak Seasons", in which teams "dominated the entire regular season only to falter in the playoffs, unable to close the deal." Said Pro Football Prospectus of the team, "the creative [head coach] Don Coryell always designed potent offenses, but the San Diego defense didn't catch up until 1979. ... In their first playoff game, the Chargers hosted a Houston Oilers team missing running back Earl Campbell and quarterback Dan Pastorini and fell on their faces. Fouts threw five interceptions and no touchdowns, and the Chargers blew a third quarter lead and lost 17–14. The Chargers would not have the best record in the NFL again until the 2006 season. They would not have another top ten defense in points allowed until 1989. They would not win 12 games in a season until 2004. Their best shot at glory went horribly awry, thanks to the worst game in the illustrious career of Dan Fouts."
Offseason NFL draft
Roster
Preseason
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 at San Francisco 49ers L 10–13 0–1 Candlestick Park 32,275 2 Minnesota Vikings W 19–0 1–1 San Diego Stadium 49,037 3 at New York Giants W 7–3 2–1 Giants Stadium 22,341 4 at Los Angeles Rams L 7–23 2–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 50,089
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 2 at Seattle Seahawks W 33–16 1–0 Kingdome 62,887 Recap 2 September 9 Oakland Raiders W 30–10 2–0 San Diego Stadium 50,255 Recap 3 September 16 Buffalo Bills W 27–19 3–0 San Diego Stadium 50,709 Recap 4 September 23 at New England Patriots L 21–27 3–1 Schaefer Stadium 60,916 Recap 5 September 30 San Francisco 49ers W 31–9 4–1 San Diego Stadium 50,893 Recap 6 October 7 at Denver Broncos L 0–7 4–2 Mile High Stadium 74,997 Recap 7 October 14 Seattle Seahawks W 20–10 5–2 San Diego Stadium 50,077 Recap 8 October 21 at Los Angeles Rams W 40–16 6–2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 64,245 Recap 9 at Oakland Raiders L 22–45 6–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,709 Recap 10 November 4 at Kansas City Chiefs W 20–14 7–3 Arrowhead Stadium 59,353 Recap 11 November 11 at Cincinnati Bengals W 26–24 8–3 Riverfront Stadium 40,782 Recap 12 November 18 Pittsburgh Steelers W 35–7 9–3 San Diego Stadium 51,910 Recap 13 November 25 Kansas City Chiefs W 28–7 10–3 San Diego Stadium 50,078 Recap 14 December 2 Atlanta Falcons L 26–28 10–4 San Diego Stadium 50,198 Recap 15 December 9 at New Orleans Saints W 35–0 11–4 Louisiana Superdome 61,059 Recap 16 Denver Broncos W 17–7 12–4 San Diego Stadium 51,906 RecapNote: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks
Seattle led through an early field goal when John Jefferson caught a 25-yard pass to the Seahawks 1-yard line on the final play of the opening quarter. He fumbled the ball into the end zone but was ruled down by contact before losing possession. San Diego kept the ball, and Williams opened the second quarter with his first touchdown run. Three plays later, Fred Dean recovered a fumble by Seattle quarterback Jim Zorn at the Seahawks 12-yard line. San Diego's offense were unable to advance the ball, but Rolf Benirschke's first field goal extended their lead. Seattle tied the score with a 72-yard touchdown drive, then Winslow's 20-yard reception was the longest play as San Diego moved in range for Benirschke's 42-yard kick shortly before halftime, putting them 13–10 up.
Starting from midway through the 3rd quarter, the Seahawks had a string of five consecutive possessions that ended in turnovers. Firstly, Dean's second fumble recovery set up San Diego at the Seattle 32. Fouts threw a 24-yard pass to Joiner on the next play, and Benirschke soon added a third field goal. Zorn was intercepted by Ray Preston on the following play from scrimmage and Williams had carries of 17 and 13 yards, the latter for another touchdown. Seattle drove from their own 26-yard line to a 4th and 3 at the Chargers 9, but a Pete Shaw interception ended the threat. A fumble recovery by Wilbur Young at the Seattle 34-yard line was followed by runs of 4, 22 and 8 yards by Williams, Bo Matthews and Mike Thomas respectively, the latter for a touchdown. Preston's second interception led to Benirschke's final field goal.
San Diego barely outgained Seattle (356 yards to 334) and gave up more penalty yardage (110 to 40), but forced six of the game's seven turnovers.
Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders
The first time they had the ball, San Diego drove 65 yards to Jefferson's touchdown catch without facing a third down. Later in the 1st quarter, Mike Fuller's 17-yard punt return started San Diego off at their own 39-yard line. Two plays later they faced a 3rd and 3; Fouts found Bob Klein open at the Oakland 30 and he completed a 54-yard touchdown. Oakland responded with a field goal, then the Chargers missed a scoring opportunity Fouts fumbled the snap on a 1st and 10 from the Oakland 19-yard line. Woodrow Lowe intercepted a Ken Stabler pass three plays later and ran it back 32 yards for another touchdown. Glen Edwards stopped a Raiders drive with another interception. In the final minutes of the half, Oakland moved from their own 17-yard line to a 4th and 1 from the San Diego 3. They kept their offense on the field, but Preston and Ray Buchanan stuffed Stabler for no gain as time expired, leaving the Chargers 21–3 ahead.
Oakland scored a touchdown on their first possession of the second half, then Fouts lost another snap near midfield. Later, Jeff West pinned the Raiders at their own 2-yard line with a 33-yard punt, and the San Diego defense forced Oakland to go three-and-out. That led to a Chargers safety when Greg McCrary blocked a Ray Guy punt out of the end zone. On Oaklands next drive, Charles DeJurnett sacked Stabler at his own 1-yard line; the Raiders punted from there and San Diego only had to drive 36 yards to Winslow's touchdown on 3rd and 5 from the 6-yard line. Oakland were inside San Diego territory, on their final three drives, but turned the ball over on downs each time.
There were again numerous turnovers, with three by each team. The game featured the first career touchdowns of both Lowe and Winslow.
Week 3: vs. Buffalo Bills
Buffalo scored the game's opening touchdown five plays after Mike Fuller fumbled a punt return in his own territory. San Diego ran on seven out of eight plays on the ensuing possession; Thomas began the drive with a 21-yard gain, while Williams had carries of 17 and 5 yards, the latter for the touchdown. After forcing a three-and-out, they ran the ball nine times in a row, with Williams having two 14-yard runs to set up his 1-yard touchdown. The Bills converted four 3rd downs on a drive that took 9:14 off the clock and culminated in a touchdown 4 seconds before halftime. With Benirschke having had one of his extra point attempts blocked and the Bills having missed both of theirs, San Diego were 13–12 ahead at the interval.
Buffalo briefly took the lead in the 3rd quarter when running back Curtis Brown took a short pass 84 yards for a touchdown. Williams responded two plays later, breaking up the left sideline for a 55-yard touchdown. The Bills drove to the San Diego 35-yard line, but were pushed back by a penalty and a Johnson sack, eventually punting. San Diego took over on their own 20, and Fouts combined Thomas for gains of 26 and 27 yards on the drive to Williams' 2-yard touchdown. Buffalo failed to cross the Chargers 40-yard line in the final quarter.
Williams was the first Charger to rush for four touchdowns in a game; , it remains tied for the most in franchise history. As a team, the Chargers had 245 rushing yards and only 94 passing yards; it was the only time all season that they rushed for more yardage than they passed.
Week 4: at New England Patriots
San Diego went three-and-out on all three of their 1st quarter possessions. Punting into a strong wind, West had kicks of 21, 28 and 30 yards, setting up New England in Chargers territory on three consecutive drives; they converted these opportunities into seventeen points. New England added a further field goal in the 2nd quarter and led 20–0 before the Chargers began their comeback. Fouts finished the following drive by hitting Jefferson for gains of 33 and 19 yards on successive plays, the latter for a touchdown. New England faced the wind in the 2nd quarter, and they shanked a punt for only 18 yards to set San Diego up at the Patriots 38-yard line. Fouts and Joiner combined for 8 yards on a 3rd and 5, and Williams scored six seconds before halftime to cut the deficit to 20–14.
San Diego had the wind at their backs again in the 3rd quarter, but ran only seven plays from scrimmage during a scoreless period. Early in the 4th quarter, Steve Grogan's touchdown pass made it 27–14. With seven minutes to play, Glen Edwards intercepted Grogan in Patriots territory. Williams ran for 13 yards on a 3rd and 2 and again scored from a yard out to draw the Chargers back within six points. Facing a 3rd and 12 on the first play after the two-minute warning, Grogan threw the ball directly to Bob Horn, who returned it 30 yards to the New England 10-yard line. Two plays netted only a single yard, and Fouts was intercepted at the goal line on 3rd down with 1:28 to play; he had Jefferson open, but misread the defense. New England gained a first down and were able to run the clock out.
Despite Williams' two scores, the Chargers' rushing attack could muster only 39 yards total, their worst tally of the season. Thomas gained no yards on his two carries but caught two passes for 46 yards and also threw an 18-yard completion.
Week 5: vs. San Francisco 49ers