1979 New Orleans Saints season
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 2 , 1979 Atlanta Falcons L 40-34 70,940
2 September 9 , 1979 at Green Bay Packers L 28-19 53,184
3 September 16 , 1979 Philadelphia Eagles L 26-14 54,212
4 September 23 , 1979 at San Francisco 49ers W 30-21 39,727
5 September 30 , 1979 New York Giants W 24-14 51,543
6 October 7 , 1979 Los Angeles Rams L 35-17 68,986
7 October 14 , 1979 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 42-14 67,640
8 October 21 , 1979 Detroit Lions W 17-7 57,428
9 October 28 , 1979 at Washington Redskins W 14-10 52,133
10 November 4 , 1979 at Denver Broncos L 10-3 74,482
11 November 11 , 1979 San Francisco 49ers W 31-20 65,551
12 November 18 , 1979 at Seattle Seahawks L 38-24 60,055
13 November 25 , 1979 at Atlanta Falcons W 37-6 42,815
14 December 3 , 1979 Oakland Raiders L 42-35 65,541
15 December 9 , 1979 San Diego Chargers L 35-0 61,059
16 December 16 , 1979 at Los Angeles Rams W 29-14 53,879
Regular season -- Schedule
The 1979 New Orleans Saints season was the team's thirteenth season in the National Football League. The Saints finished the season at 8-8, the franchise's first non-losing season. After starting 0-3, New Orleans won seven of its next 10 and 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 contest at home vs. the Oakland Raiders, when the Saints squandered a 35-14 lead and lost, 42-35. The Saints were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 15 when they were blown out 35-0 at home by the San Diego Chargers. Not counting the 1976 expansion Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans was one of three franchises which failed to make the playoffs in the 1970s, joined by the Giants and the Jets. Following the season, running back Chuck Muncie was named Most Valuable Player of the ensuing Pro Bowl.