Seen on:
as known from New York Timesas known from USA Todayas known from yahoo!
VA

1979 Houston Oilers: Long on Guts!

Long on Guts, short on Championships!
Publish Date: 04/15/2022
Fact checked by: Mark Lewis

The Houston Oilers of the late 1970’s were a team of legend in the state of Texas. Known as the “Luv Ya Blue” Oilers they were led by legendary Head Coach O.A. Bum Phillips. Thrown in one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, Earl Campbell and one of the finest linebackers to ever play in the NFL Robert “Dr.Doom” Brazile and you had a team that seemed destined to win a Super Bowl.

Check out the top sportsbook bonuses!

DraftKings
1.
4.6/5
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5+ Get $100 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
USA
USA Players Welcome
Min. Deposit: 5
Open DraftKings
Get bonus now
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/PR/WY). Void in NH/OR/ONT/PR. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $100 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: Promos | DraftKings Sportsbook . Ends 5/31/26 at 11:59 PM ET.
FanDuel
2.
4.6/5
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets Guaranteed – When You Bet $5 for 7 Days!
USA
USA Players Welcome
Wagering (WR): 1x Deposit, Min. Deposit: 5
Open FanDuel
Get bonus now
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelplineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ DC, KY, WV). Void where prohibited. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.gamblersanonymous.org . Must be 21+ in NJ, PA, MI, or WV. $10 first deposit req. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable bonus spins which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. Contact 1-877-770-7867 (LA).
BetMGM
3.
4.5/5
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
USA
USA Players Welcome
Min. Deposit: $5
Open BetMGM
Get bonus now
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Fanatics
4.
4.3/5
10 x $100 bet match in FanCash
USA
USA Players Welcome
Open Fanatics
Get bonus now
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER OR CALL 1-800-MY-RESET, www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), (800)-327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), Call (877)8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), (888) 789-7777 or ccpg.org (CT), morethanagame.nc.gov (NC), 1800gambler.net (WV)
Caesars
5.
Bet $1 and get double the winnings up to $25 for your next 10 bets
USA
USA Players Welcome
Wagering (WR): 1x Deposit
Best Alternative
DraftKings Open DraftKings
21+ New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)

The Houston Oilers had qualified for the NFL playoffs for the first time in 1978; they went on to beat Miami and New England on the road, which led them to the AFC Championship game against the hated Pittsburgh Steelers. The Oilers were dominated 34-5 in Pittsburgh on a cold miserable day, but the future looked bright.
1979 The Oilers finished 11-5, they had beaten the Steelers on the second to last week of the season in the Astrodome 20-17. They let the opportunity of gaining home field advantage slip away in a final week loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Check out the best bookmakers!

They opened up the wild card round of the playoffs hosting the Denver Broncos who were known for their very physical “Orange Crush” defense. In what many say was one of the most physical football games ever played in NFL history the Oilers overcame the Broncos 13-7. At the same time, their season looked over also as they had sustained injuries to their starting Quarterback Dan Pastorini, Running Back Earl Campbell and top wide receiver Ken Burrough. None of these players would be able to play the divisional playoff game the next week in San Diego.
The Oilers were going to have to play without three players that had accounted for 80% of their offense during the season, to draw a modern-day comparison that would be like the Dallas Cowboys playing in the playoffs last year without Tony Romo, Demarco Murray and Dez Bryant. On top of all of that, they were going to have to play the high-flying San Diego Chargers, the Chargers were 12-4, on offense they had Dan Fouts who had thrown for over 4,000 yards on the season. Throw in a defense that was ranked 5th in the NFL, this 5th ranked defense had allowed 7 or fewer points in four of their final five games. In my opinion, the 1979 Chargers were much better than the teams the Chargers had in 80, 81 and 82.

The game began as many anticipated; with the Chargers driving right down the field to take a 7-0 lead. On the Chargers next possession, they looked like they were driving for yet another score until Vernon Perry intercepted a Dan Fouts pass at the Oilers 20 yard line. There next possession they drove all the way inside the Oilers 10-yard line, the Oilers held and forced a short field goal attempt which was blocked by the Oilers Vernon Perry, Perry returned the ball all the way to the Chargers  30 yard line, which led to an Oilers field goal reducing the Chargers led to 7-3.
The rest of the half was a stalemate until the final minutes of the half when once again Perry intercepted another Fouts pass and returned it to the Chargers 40 yard line. From there the Oilers capitalized when backup quarterback Gifford Nielson led the Oilers to a late touchdown, lifting the Oilers to a 10-7 halftime lead.
By the third quarter, it became evident that the Oilers weren’t going away and we’re in this game until the end. The Chargers scored first in the third quarter to take a 14-10 lead, Gifford Nielson countered that score with one of his own when he hit Mike Renfro on a 47-yard touchdown pass putting the Oilers up 17-14 after three quarters and quieting the crowd at Jack Murphy Stadium.
For the entire fourth quarter it seemed that an upset was now inevitable, with a little over three minutes left in the game the Chargers mounted one last drive. Just when it seemed that Fouts was leading his team to victory up jumped Robert Brazile who tipped a Fouts pass up in the air and of course, once again it was intercepted by Vernon Perry. The Chargers got the ball back with enough time for a hail mary pass, which of course was intercepted by Vernon Perry once again! Fouts threw 5 interceptions during the game and Vernon Perry had 4 of them, Perry played maybe the greatest game any defensive back had ever played in the history of the NFL playoffs. Check out the best new sportsbooks!

Check out the top sportsbooks!

DraftKings
4.6/5
DraftKings Review
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5+ Get $100 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
Bet now
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/PR/WY). Void in NH/OR/ONT/PR. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $100 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: Promos | DraftKings Sportsbook . Ends 5/31/26 at 11:59 PM ET.
FanDuel
4.6/5
FanDuel Review
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets Guaranteed – When You Bet $5 for 7 Days!
Bet now
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelplineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ DC, KY, WV). Void where prohibited. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.gamblersanonymous.org . Must be 21+ in NJ, PA, MI, or WV. $10 first deposit req. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable bonus spins which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. Contact 1-877-770-7867 (LA).
BetMGM
4.5/5
BetMGM Review
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Bet now
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.

To me, the circumstances of this game made it a bigger upset than even Super Bowl 3, after the game Coach Bum Phillips addressed the team with “We were short on manpower, but we were long on guts”.

The next week the Oilers were beaten once again by the Steelers in the championship game, but that will never diminish the effect that Oilers of the late 1970s had on the entire city of Houston. The Oilers may be gone for good, but they never will be forgotten.

Read Also
Esteban de Jesus, Roberto Duran y AIDS (1972-89)
Many of us dream of celebrity sports fame, but only cruel individuals ...
Top 10 Linebackers in NFL History: Who was the Greatest: LT, Ray Lewis, or Dick Butkus?
Linebacker has always been one of the most glamorous positions on a ...
The Complexities of Bob Knight: The Greatest Coach of All-Time?
  Bob Knight, born in 1940 and raised in Orrville, Ohio, was ...
Top 10 Forgotten Heroes of the Super Bowl
Super Bowl history is often told through quarterbacks and MVP trophies—names like ...
Top 10 Super Bowl Quarterbacks of all time
Championship legacies are not built in September or October — they are ...
Top 10 Greatest College Football Coaches of All-Time: Who was the Greatest?
Today, we will look at the top 10 College Football Coaches of ...
Why Bum Phillips Deserves to be in the Hall of Fame
There are very few men who have walked the sideline as an ...
The 10 Biggest Upsets in NFL Playoff History: Which Upset was the Greatest?
I did not include Super Bowls in this ranking. These games were ...
The Greatest College Basketball Team of All Time
Rating the greatest college basketball teams ever has been done many times ...
Top 18 Greatest College Football Coaches of All-time
Current active coaches are not included in this list. That means don't ...
Latest Sport News
FIFA World Cup: South Korea vs. Czechia
Thursday, June 11, 2026 Time: 10:00 PM ET ...
FIFA World Cup: Mexico vs. South Africa (Opening Match)
Thursday, June 11, 2026 Time: 3:00 PM ET ...
Samuel Ogazi Arrives at Hayward Field With a Title to Defend and History to Make
Tonight at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, the ...
The Rest of the NBA Finals Should Be Played in San Antonio
For decades, New York Knicks fans have portrayed ...
NBA Finals Game 4: San Antonio Spurs @ New York Knicks
San Antonio Spurs @ New York Knicks Game ...
MLB: New York Yankees @ Cleveland Guardians Game Details
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026 Time: 1:10 PM ...
Baseballs, Breadlines, and a Nation’s Rebirth: Randall Sullivan’s The First A...
In the panoramic history of American culture, certain ...
UFL Power Rankings: Chaos Reigns as the Giants Fall Before the United Bowl
UFL Power Rankings: Chaos Reigns as the Giants ...
James Brooks: The Bengals’ Dual-Threat Dynamo and Unsung NFL Star
James Brooks emerged as one of the NFL’s ...
Top Betting Sites
Top Betting Bonuses
DraftKings
4.6/5
FanDuel
4.6/5
BetMGM
4.5/5
Fanatics
4.3/5
4.5/5
DraftKings
DraftKings Promo
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5+ Get $100 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT), or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/PR/WY). Void in NH/OR/ONT/PR. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino (KS). Pass-thru of per wager tax may apply in IL. 1 per new DraftKings customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $100 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: Promos | DraftKings Sportsbook . Ends 5/31/26 at 11:59 PM ET.
FanDuel
FanDuel Promo
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets Guaranteed - When You Bet $5 for 7 Days!
T&Cs apply
4.6/5
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET. Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT). Hope is here. GamblingHelplineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ DC, KY, WV). Void where prohibited. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.gamblersanonymous.org . Must be 21+ in NJ, PA, MI, or WV. $10 first deposit req. Bonus issued as non-withdrawable bonus spins which expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. Contact 1-877-770-7867 (LA).
BetMGM
BetMGM Promo
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or 1-800-MY-RESET (Available in the US) 877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY) 1-800-327-5050 (MA), 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA), 1-800-981-0023 (PR). 21+ only. Please Gamble Responsibly. See BetMGM.com for Terms. First Bet Offer for new customers only (if applicable). Subject to eligibility requirements. Bonus bets are non-withdrawable. In partnership with Kansas Crossing Casino and Hotel. Promotional offers not available in Mississippi, New York, Ontario, or Puerto Rico.
Fanatics
Fanatics Promo
10 x $100 bet match in FanCash
T&Cs apply
4.3/5
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER OR CALL 1-800-MY-RESET, www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), (800)-327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org (MA), Call (877)8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), (888) 789-7777 or ccpg.org (CT), morethanagame.nc.gov (NC), 1800gambler.net (WV)
Caesars Promo
Bet $1 and get double the winnings up to $25 for your next 10 bets
T&Cs apply
4.5/5
21+ New users only. Must register using eligible promo code. First bet after registration must qualify. Max. Bonus Bet: $1,000. Bonus Bet expires 14 days after receipt. Void where prohibited. See Caesars.com/promos for full terms. Gambling Problem? 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537)
Our Team
Mike GoodpasterMark LewisJames ErnestAuthor IconJohn Raspanti
+8
Mike Goodpaster
Mike Goodpaster
Chief Editor
Mark Lewis
Mark Lewis
Editor
James Ernest
James Ernest
Author
Author Icon
Christopher Carlson
Author
John Raspanti
John Raspanti
Author
Samuel Teets
Samuel Teets
US Sports Veteran
Daniel Kornhauser
Daniel Kornhauser
Author
Ellis Williams
Ellis Williams
Author
Chris Benedict
Chris Benedict
Editor
Shelley Harcar
Shelley Harcar
Sports Writer
Dr. Jay Gee
Dr. Jay Gee
Author
Marvin Uzor
Marvin Uzor
Author
LaMarr Fields
LaMarr Fields
Author

21+ and present in VA. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.
Virginia Town HallCloudflareSSL
Close
Our Sports Pros recommend these awesome sports betting sites this week:
DraftKings
DraftKings Promo
New DraftKings Customers: Bet $5+ Get $100 in Bonus Bets Instantly!
Our Favorite
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Code:
Open DraftKings
Get Bonus
FanDuel
FanDuel Promo
New Users – Get $350 in Bonus Bets Guaranteed - When You Bet $5 for 7 Days!
Best Slots
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Code:
Open FanDuel
Get Bonus
BetMGM
BetMGM Promo
Up To $1500 in Bonus Bets Paid Back if your First Bet Does Not Win
Newcomer
T&Cs and 21+ apply
Code:
Open BetMGM
Get Bonus
×
Your Promo Code:
The bonus offer of was already opened in an additional window. If not, you can open it also by clicking the following link:
Play now