1979 season · Classic · Week 4

Pregame

AI summary based on verified facts

The playoffs matchup pairs the Houston Oilers against the Cincinnati Bengals on 1979-09-23 at Riverfront Stadium. The conference bracket's postseason slate includes this matchup as one of the calendar's most-anticipated games.

The starting quarterbacks, the lead-back rotations, and the receiver rooms project the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into.[1]

AI summary based on verified facts

The playoffs game between the Houston Oilers and the Cincinnati Bengals is the kind of postseason matchup where the conference's projected leaders carry their regular-season pacing into the bracket. The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity both staffs have been pointing toward.

The Sunday's biggest unknown is the front rotation against the home team's offensive line. The bracket continues for the winner.

AI summary based on verified facts

Around the conference the playoffs bracket produces the kind of matchups the wire copy has been writing into across the postseason slate. The Houston Oilers versus Cincinnati Bengals game is one of the calendar's most-anticipated postseason windows.

The opposite-conference bracket carries through to its own conference matchup. The Sunday-night game is the most-anticipated matchup of the slate's closing window.

AI summary based on verified facts

Across the regular season both the Houston Oilers and the Cincinnati Bengals tracked the kind of pace that anchored their conference seeding into the playoffs. The starting quarterbacks' passing lines came through. The lead backs' rushing workloads were the staffs' projected calls. Vegas opens the lines accordingly. A figure to follow: the front rotations' pass-rush production.

League standings entering Week 4

Standings as of kickoff, Week 4 (no future-game spoilers)

Around the league

  • Tied atop the league at 3-0: Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers.

AFC

AFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Cleveland Browns3-0W3
Pittsburgh Steelers3-0W3
Houston Oilers2-1W1
Cincinnati Bengals0-3L3

AFC East

TeamRecStrk
Miami Dolphins3-0W3
New England Patriots2-1W2
Buffalo Bills1-2L1
New York Jets1-2W1
Baltimore Colts0-3L3

AFC West

TeamRecStrk
San Diego Chargers3-0W3
Denver Broncos2-1W1
Kansas City Chiefs1-2L2
Oakland Raiders1-2L2
Seattle Seahawks1-2W1

NFC

NFC West

TeamRecStrk
Atlanta Falcons2-1L1
Los Angeles Rams2-1W2
New Orleans Saints0-3L3
San Francisco 49ers0-3L3

NFC Central

TeamRecStrk
Tampa Bay Buccaneers3-0W3
Chicago Bears2-1L1
Green Bay Packers1-2L1
Minnesota Vikings1-2L2
Detroit Lions0-3L3

NFC East

TeamRecStrk
Dallas Cowboys3-0W3
Philadelphia Eagles2-1W1
Washington Redskins2-1W2
St. Louis Cardinals1-2L1
New York Giants0-3L3

Game video

▶ Open in YouTube Houston Oilers vs Cincinnati Bengals 1979 Week 4 · channel: Survivor504

If the player above shows only a "Watch on YouTube" tile, the uploader has disabled inline embedding for this video. Click the button to open it on YouTube.

Score

Reveal through:

Houston Oilers 0, Cincinnati Bengals 14Houston Oilers 10, Cincinnati Bengals 24Houston Oilers 27, Cincinnati Bengals 24Houston Oilers 27, Cincinnati Bengals 27Houston Oilers 27, Cincinnati Bengals 27[1]

1234T
Houston Oilers010170010272730
Cincinnati Bengals1410031424242727

Scoring plays

Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.

Q1

TeamPlayScore
BengalsPete Johnson 1 yard rush ( Chris Bahr kick)0-7
BengalsCharles Alexander 2 yard rush ( Chris Bahr kick)0-14

Q2

TeamPlayScore
BengalsPete Johnson 1 yard rush ( Chris Bahr kick)0-21
BengalsChris Bahr 52 yard field goal0-24
OilersKen Burrough 35 yard pass from Dan Pastorini ( Toni Fritsch kick)7-24
OilersToni Fritsch 43 yard field goal10-24

Q3

TeamPlayScore
OilersEarl Campbell 8 yard rush ( Toni Fritsch kick)17-24
OilersRich Caster 22 yard pass from Dan Pastorini ( Toni Fritsch kick)24-24
OilersToni Fritsch 47 yard field goal27-24

Q4

TeamPlayScore
BengalsChris Bahr 55 yard field goal27-27
OT
OilersToni Fritsch 29 yard field goal30-27

Recap

AI summary based on verified facts

The won the playoffs game on 1979-09-23 against the 30-27. . . . For the other side Dan Pastorini went 15 of 33 for 198 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Earl Campbell ran for 158 on 34 carries with 1 touchdown. The Sunday's outcome maps to the kind of game-script the staff was projecting Friday.[1]

AI summary based on verified facts

The took the playoffs game over the on 1979-09-23. . . .

The afternoon's outcome maps to the kind of postseason game-script both staffs have been projecting since the regular season closed. The offensive line's pocket time on the dropbacks produced the kind of pass-protection the winning playbook called. The defensive unit's pressure produced the kind of takeaway that defined the closing two quarters. The playoffs's afternoon ends with the projected outcome.

The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity the wire copy has been writing into. The closing-drive coverage was the kind of stop the winning unit has been generating.

AI summary based on verified facts

30, 27. The playoffs's box score reads: . . . On the other side: Dan Pastorini went 15 of 33 for 198 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Earl Campbell ran for 158 on 34 carries with 1 touchdown.

AI summary based on verified facts

The 's playoffs game against the on 1979-09-23 ended with the kind of game-script the wire copy has been writing into. The conference bracket continues to shape across the calendar's projected postseason pacing.

How it unfolded

. . . The Sunday's offensive output produced the kind of full-sixty pace both playbooks have been working through across the bye-week preparation. On the defensive side Dan Pastorini went 15 of 33 for 198 yards with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, and Earl Campbell ran for 158 on 34 carries with 1 touchdown.

The turning point

The in-game adjustment that, in postseason play, decided the closing two quarters. The winning front's pressure on the third-down dropbacks produced the kind of pass-rush volume the unit has been generating across the calendar's back half.

By the numbers

. The lead-back rotation: . Receiver room: .

Personnel watch

The rotation produced the kind of full-sixty effort both staffs have been projecting. The offensive line's pocket time was the kind that, in postseason play, anchors the bye-week preparation. The receiver room's distribution carried the offensive production.

What it means

The playoffs's outcome maps to the projected postseason pacing. The next-round bracket continues. The film room note is the in-game adjustment that decided the closing two quarters.

Box score

SFOpp
Team totals
First Downs1921
Total Yards361265
Turnovers32
Passing
Comp/Att15/3311/21
Pass yards198181
Pass TD20
Interceptions21
Sacks taken27
Sack yards lost1481
Net pass yards184100
Rushing
Rushes4447
Rush yards177165
Rush TD13
Discipline
Fumbles31
Fumbles lost11
Penalties44
Penalty yards3540

Passing

PlayerC/AYdsTDIntRate
HOU
Dan Pastorini15/3319822
CIN
Jack Thompson11/2118101

Rushing

PlayerAttYdsTDLong
HOU
Earl Campbell34158115
Tim Wilson71307
Dan Pastorini2504
Rob Carpenter1101
CIN
Pete Johnson2575212
Archie Griffin103908
Charles Alexander937116
Don Bass114014
Jack Thompson2001

Receiving

PlayerRecYdsTDLong
HOU
Ken Burrough372135
Mike Barber461032
Tim Wilson533011
Rich Caster122122
Rob Carpenter21006
CIN
Billy Brooks258050
Archie Griffin347020
Don Bass231017
Jim Corbett115015
Dan Ross112012
Charles Alexander1909
Isaac Curtis1909

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Canonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1979 Classic - Houston Oilers at Cincinnati Bengals - Game Thread