1978 National Football League season
Regular season
Duration	September 2, 1978 - December 18, 1978
Playoffs
Start date	December 24, 1978
AFC Champions	Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC Champions	Dallas Cowboys
Super Bowl XIII
Date	January 21, 1979
Site	Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
Champions	Pittsburgh Steelers
Pro Bowl
Date	January 29, 1979
National Football League seasons  < 1977 1979 >

The 1978 NFL season was the 59th regular season of the National Football League. Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Events 218 BC - Second Punic War: Battle of the Trebia - Hannibal 's Carthaginian forces defeat those of the Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) The NFL playoffs following the 1978 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XIII. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) The American Football Conference Championship Game, otherwise known as AFC Championship Game, is one of the two Semi-final matches of the National Football League The NFC Championship Game is one of the two Semi-final matches of the National Football League the largest professional American football league in the United The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC in the National Super Bowl XIII was an American football game played on January 21, 1979 at the Orange Bowl in Miami Florida to decide the National Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) The Miami Orange Bowl was a Stadium in the City of Miami, west of Downtown in Little Havana. The 1979 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on January 29, 1979 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles California. Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar) This is a list of seasons of the National Football League. 1920s 1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924 The 1977 NFL season was the 58th Regular season of the National Football League. The 1979 NFL season was the 60th Regular season of the National Football League. In an organised Sports league, a season is the portion of one Year in which regulated Games of the sport are in session The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. The league expanded the regular season from a 14-game schedule to 16. Furthermore, the playoff format was expanded from 8 teams to 10 teams by adding another wild card from each conference. The wild card teams would play each other with the winner advancing to the playoff round of eight teams.

The season ended with Super Bowl XIII when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Dallas Cowboys. Super Bowl XIII was an American football game played on January 21, 1979 at the Orange Bowl in Miami Florida to decide the National The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC in the National

Contents 1 Major rule changes 2 Final standings 2.1 Tiebreakers 3 Playoffs 4 References

Major rule changes

• To open up the passing game, defenders are permitted to make contact with receivers only to a point of five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Previously, contact was allowed anywhere on the field. This is usually referred to as the "Mel Blount Rule"
• The offensive team may only make one forward pass during a play from scrimmage, but only if the ball does not cross the line and return behind the line prior to the pass. Melvin Cornell Blount (born April 10, 1948 in Vidalia Georgia) was a five-time All Pro-Bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers and is considered one
• Double touching of a forward pass is legal, but batting a pass towards the opponent's end zone is illegal. Previously, a second offensive player could not legally catch a deflected pass unless a defensive player had touched it. This is usually referred to as the "Mel Renfro Rule". Melvin Lacy "Mel" Renfro (born December 30, 1941 in Houston Texas) is a former American football Cornerback and safety During a play in Super Bowl V, Baltimore Colts receiver Eddie Hinton tipped a pass intended for him. Super Bowl V was an American football game played on January 17, 1971 at the Orange Bowl in Miami Florida to decide the National The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis Indiana. Renfro, the Cowboys defensive back, made a stab at the ball and it was ruled that he tipped it ever so slightly (which he denied) into the arms of Colts tight end John Mackey, who ran for a touchdown. Later, this rule was also the one in question during the Immaculate Reception in 1972. The Immaculate Reception is the nickname given to one of the most famous plays in the history of American football. But despite these two incidents, the rule change did not occur until this season.
• The pass blocking rules were extended to permit extended arms and open hands.
• The penalty for intentional grounding is reduced from a loss of down and 15 yards to a loss of down and 10 yards from the previous spot (or at the spot of the foul if the spot is 10 yards or more behind the line of scrimmage). If the passer commits the foul in his own end zone, the defense scores a safety.
• Hurdling is no longer a foul.
• A seventh official, the Side Judge, is added to the officiating crew to help rule on legalities downfield.

Final standings

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

Qualified for playoffs

Tiebreakers

• New England finished ahead of Miami in the AFC East based on better division record (6-2 to Dolphins' 5-3).
• Buffalo finished ahead of Baltimore in the AFC East based on head-to-head sweep (2-0).
• Oakland, Seattle, and San Diego finished 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, respectively, in the AFC West based on better record against common opponents (6-2 to Seahawks' 5-3 and Chargers' 4-4).
• Minnesota finished ahead of in the NFC Central Green Bay based on better head-to-head record (1-0-1).
• Los Angeles was top NFC seed over Dallas based on better head-to-head record (1-0).
• Detroit finished ahead of Chicago in the NFC Central based on better division record (4-4 to Bears' 3-5).
• Atlanta was the first NFC Wild Card based on better conference record than Philadelphia (8-4 to Eagles' 6-6).
• St. Louis finished ahead of N. Y. Giants in the NFC East based on better division record (3-5 to Giants' 2-6).

Playoffs

Main article: NFL playoffs, 1978-79

*Note: Two teams from the same division were not allowed to play against each other in the Divisional playoff round. The NFL playoffs following the 1978 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XIII.
						Divisional Playoffs
						December 31 - Foxboro Stadium
	AFC Wild Card Game										AFC Championship
						5	Houston	31
	December 24 - Miami Orange Bowl										January 7 - Three Rivers Stadium
						2*	New England	14
	5	Houston	17								5	Houston	5
						December 30 - Three Rivers Stadium
	4	Miami	9								1	Pittsburgh	34			Super Bowl XIII
						3	Denver	10
																January 21 - Miami Orange Bowl
						1*	Pittsburgh	33
																A1	Pittsburgh	35
						December 30 - Texas Stadium
	NFC Wild Card Game										NFC Championship					N2	Dallas	31
						4	Atlanta	20
	December 24 - Atlanta Fulton County Stadium										January 7 - L.A. Memorial Coliseum
						2*	Dallas	27
	5	Philadelphia	13								2	Dallas	28
						December 31 - L.A. Memorial Coliseum
	4	Atlanta	14								1	L.A. Rams	0
						3	Minnesota	10
						1*	L.A. Rams	34

References

• NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)
• NFL History 1971-1980 (Last accessed December 4, 2005)
• 1978 season in details
• Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)

Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. Foxboro Stadium (or Foxborough Stadium) was an outdoor sports venue located in Foxborough Massachusetts. The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville Tennessee. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes The Miami Orange Bowl was a Stadium in the City of Miami, west of Downtown in Little Havana. Events 1325 - Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal. 1558 - France takes Calais, the last continental Three Rivers Stadium was a Multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000 The New England Patriots, commonly called the " Pats " by sports writers and fans are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville Tennessee. The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville Tennessee. Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Three Rivers Stadium was a Multi-purpose stadium located in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania from 1970 to 2000 The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami Florida Metropolitan Area. The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. The Miami Orange Bowl was a Stadium in the City of Miami, west of Downtown in Little Havana. Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Texas Stadium is a football Stadium in Irving Texas, a Suburb of Dallas. The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC in the National The Atlanta Falcons are an American football team based in Atlanta Georgia. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, sometimes shortened to "Fulton County Stadium" was a multi-use ( Baseball, football, Soccer, Rock concert Events 1325 - Alfonso IV becomes King of Portugal. 1558 - France takes Calais, the last continental The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports Stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles California at Exposition The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC in the National The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC in the National Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports Stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles California at Exposition The Atlanta Falcons are an American football team based in Atlanta Georgia. The St Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based out of Minneapolis Minnesota. The St Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St

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