Week 17, 1979

played in Indianapolis, MD

19 degrees, fair, calm

Houston Oilers3760-16
Indianapolis Colts310146-33

Scoring Summary
1Q: 07:14 IND - Mercury Tchaikovski 45 field goal
1Q: 01:03 HOU - John Smith 36 field goal
2Q: 10:55 IND - Mercury Tchaikovski 52 field goal
2Q: 06:39 HOU - Sherman Smith 1 run (John Smith extra point)
2Q: 01:39 IND - Harold Jaeger 10 pass from Joe Theismann (Mercury Tchaikovski extra point)
3Q: 08:59 HOU - John Smith 26 field goal
3Q: 06:53 HOU - John Smith 34 field goal
3Q: 03:54 IND - Steve Odom 5 pass from Joe Theismann (Mercury Tchaikovski extra point)
3Q: 01:18 IND - Tommy Thompson 4 run (Mercury Tchaikovski extra point)
4Q: 11:29 IND - Mercury Tchaikovski 21 field goal
4Q: 03:17 IND - Mercury Tchaikovski 46 field goal

Team StatisticsHOUIND
Record7-99-7
First Downs1321
- by Rushing56
- by Passing715
- by Penalty10
Total Net Yards234362
- Offensive Plays5760
- Yards per Play4.116.03
Net Rushing Yards110141
- Rushing Attempts3029
- Yards per Rush3.674.86
Net Passing Yards124221
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt25 - 12 - 131 - 26 - 2
- Gross Passing Yards132221
- Sacks/Yards Lost2/80/0
- Yards per Pass Play4.597.13
Fumbles/Lost2/12/1
3rd Down Conversions2/136/12
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down8.78.9
4th Down Conversions1/20/0
Penalties/Yards7/457/43
Punt Returns/Yards0/01/11
Kick Returns/Yards6/1165/123
Interception Ret./Yards2/541/5
2pt Conversions0/00/0
Red Zone Visits54
- Red Zone TDs/FGs1/33/1
Avg. Drive StartOWN 37OWN 34
Time of Possession26:1033:50

Drive Charts

Houston Oilers
QuarBeganPossFromPlaysYardsResult
115:002:15OWN 1937Punt
17:076:09OWN 201061Field Goal
210:472:25OWN 13411Punt
27:361:04OPP 11311Touchdown
21:331:08OWN 24516Punt
311:332:39OPP 23514Field Goal
38:461:59OPP 163-1Field Goal
33:431:08OWN 1831Interception
31:121:49OWN 1836Punt
411:233:35OWN 25718Fumble
43:092:21OWN 221163Downs
Indianapolis Colts
QuarBeganPossFromPlaysYardsResult
112:455:38OWN 271045Field Goal
10:585:11OWN 32833Field Goal
28:220:46OWN 4221Interception
26:324:59OWN 241076Touchdown
20:250:25OWN 315Half
315:003:27OWN 306-2Interception
36:473:04OWN 36564Touchdown
32:351:23OPP 17317Touchdown
414:233:00OWN 32564Field Goal
47:484:39OPP 43614Field Goal
40:480:48OWN 15410Game

Game MVP: Mercury Tchaikovski, Indianapolis Colts

Rushing Statistics

HoustonAttYardsAvgLG10+TD
Sherman Smith20562.801321
Wilbur Jackson9485.331220
Jon Keyworth166.00600
IndianapolisAttYardsAvgLG10+TD
Tommy Thompson141107.865121
Laverne Smith8121.50600
Joe Theismann7192.711010

Passing Statistics

HoustonAttCompYardsSk/YdTDLGIntRate
Dale Zorn21121322/8036156.0
Carlos Brown4000/000039.6
IndianapolisAttCompYardsSk/YdTDLGIntRate
Joe Theismann31262210/0223291.0

Receiving Statistics

HoustonCatchTargYardsAvgYACLGTD
WR Isaac Curtis243216.001240
RB Wilbur Jackson25136.500100
TE Terry Nelson2242.00050
WR Billy Campfield244924.5016360
FB Jon Keyworth11-1-1.000-10
WR Butch Stark151616.004160
RB Sherman Smith121010.000100
FB Wayne Wilson1199.00090
TE Tom Gallimore0100.00000
IndianapolisCatchTargYardsAvgYACLGTD
WR J.T. Smith898911.1314170
WR Steve Largent676611.000130
RB Tommy Thompson4482.00060
WR Steve Odom2352.50051
TE Earl Thomas233417.0020230
WR Harold Jaeger23178.502101
FB Marv Hubbard11-1-1.000-10
RB Laverne Smith1133.00230

Interception Statistics

HoustonIntsYardsAvgTD
ILB Randy McClanahan14141.000
OLB Scott Studwell11313.000
IndianapolisIntsYardsAvgTD
S Doug Wyatt155.000

Fumble Statistics

HoustonFumbRecovForceTD
Dale Zorn2000
Butch Stark0100
Ken Jones0100
Tommie Burns0010
David Gray0010
IndianapolisFumbRecovForceTD
Laverne Smith2000
John Dutton0100
Harold Jaeger0100
Rubin Carter0010
Archie Reese0010

Punting Statistics

HoustonPuntYardsAvgNetLGIn20
Mike Michel419348.345.5571
IndianapolisPuntYardsAvgNetLGIn20

Kicking Statistics

HoustonFGs40+Yd50+YdLGPAT
John Smith3/30/00/0361/1
IndianapolisFGs40+Yd50+YdLGPAT
Mercury Tchaikovski4/43/31/1523/3

Punt Return Statistics

HoustonRetYardsAvgTD
IndianapolisRetYardsAvgTD
J.T. Smith11111.00

Kick Return Statistics

HoustonRetYardsAvgTD
Isaac Curtis59719.40
Wilbur Jackson11919.00
IndianapolisRetYardsAvgTD
Laverne Smith410426.00
Bruce Taylor11919.00

Defensive Statistics

HoustonTackAsstSackRPlayPPlay
OLB Scott Studwell1110.02831
ILB Randy McClanahan620.02027
S Terry Jackson600.02223
DT Curley Culp430.02219
CB Jeris White410.02119
CB Tommie Burns410.01723
S Ron Brandon310.02418
OLB Robert Braziel220.01311
DT Jeff Lloyd200.02015
OLB Robin Cole200.064
S Steve Foley120.0613
DE Dick Leftridge110.01517
WR Mike Thomas10---------
S Vern Roberson100.0710
DE Mike Calhoun100.01113
CB David Gray100.0712
S Charlie Phillips020.02222
DT Perry Brooks010.0712
ILB Frank Manumaleuga010.094
IndianapolisTackAsstSackRPlayPPlay
DT John Dutton610.02620
S Doug Wyatt440.02225
DE Rubin Carter320.52020
OLB Monte Johnson320.02217
CB Allan Ellis310.02622
OLB Ken Geddes300.0410
S Bruce Laird220.01413
OLB John Tate210.0118
DT Edgar Fields210.0127
WR Harold Jaeger20---------
CB Pat Thomas200.02017
OLB Charles McShane200.01710
OLB Mike Douglass200.075
DE Archie Reese101.049
DE Steve Baumgartner120.52723
DT Sugar Bear Hamilton110.01210
S Daniel Reiner110.044
ILB Keith Butler110.088
CB Al Latimer110.02423
DE Billy Newsome100.011
CB Bruce Taylor100.01015
S Mike Hammond100.02824

Pass Rush Statistics

HoustonSackBlockHurryKnockPPlay
DE Dick Leftridge0.001017
DE Mike St. Clair0.000118
IndianapolisSackBlockHurryKnockPPlay
DE Archie Reese1.00009
DE Rubin Carter0.501020
DE Steve Baumgartner0.500023
DT John Dutton0.011120
DT Wayne Hammond0.01006
DT Sugar Bear Hamilton0.001010

Pass Defense Statistics

HoustonCaughtDefnsdIntrcpPPlay
OLB Scott Studwell50131
ILB Randy McClanahan40127
CB Jeris White40019
CB Tommie Burns30023
OLB Robert Braziel30011
OLB Robin Cole2004
S Vern Roberson20010
S Terry Jackson20023
CB David Gray10012
S Charlie Phillips01022
IndianapolisCaughtDefnsdIntrcpPPlay
CB Allan Ellis31022
OLB Ken Geddes21010
S Bruce Laird21013
OLB Mike Douglass2005
CB Bruce Taylor10015
ILB Keith Butler1008
CB Al Latimer10023
OLB Monte Johnson01017
S Doug Wyatt00125

Blocking Statistics

HoustonKeyBlBlOppPancRPlySckAPPly
Ken Jones19027125
Ted Petersen16027125
Ron Saul15028027
Thom Dornbrook12022018
Wayne Wilson1111106
Jon Keyworth11024019
Terry Nelson11019022
Jim Yarbrough020402
Robert Jackson02025026
Dave Lafary010707
IndianapolisKeyBlBlOppPancRPlySckAPPly
Tim Stokes25023024
Conrad Dobler24029029
John Fitzgerald13128026
Donnie Green12023023
Marv Hubbard12021010
Kerry Webster110608
Jay Saldi02011012
Ted Fritsch0108014
Earl Thomas01023014
J.T. Turner01022022

Special Teams Tackles

HoustonTacklesSTPlays
Dale Mitchell217
Tom Gallimore119
David Gray114
Steve Foley113
Vern Roberson111
IndianapolisTacklesSTPlays
John Tate222
Jay Saldi213
Marv Hubbard120
Daniel Reiner113

Participation

HoustonRPlyOffPPlyOffRPlyDefPPlyDefSTPlyTotal Plays
Scott Studwell------2831463
Ron Saul2827------661
Dale Zorn3023---------53
Tom Gallimore1915------1953
Robert Jackson2526------253
Ken Jones2725---------52
Ted Petersen2725---------52
Jon Keyworth2419------649
Randy McClanahan------2027249
Terry Jackson------2223348
Charlie Phillips------2222347
Wilbur Jackson1016------2046
Ron Brandon------2418446
Terry Nelson1922------445
Curley Culp------2219344
Jeris White------2119343
Tommie Burns------1723343
Thom Dornbrook2218------242
Sherman Smith2011------839
Butch Stark916------1338
Robert Braziel------13111438
Jeff Lloyd------2015338
Mike St. Clair------1818238
Mike Thomas1413------835
Isaac Curtis107------1633
Dick Leftridge------1517133
David Gray------7121433
Steve Foley------6131332
Wayne Wilson116------1532
Mike Bell------1414331
Vern Roberson------7101128
Mike Calhoun------1113226
Mike Stensrud------916126
Billy Campfield1410---------24
Dave Lafary77------721
Perry Brooks------712120
Dale Mitchell------101718
Melvin Jackson73------717
Frank Manumaleuga------94215
Jim Yarbrough42------612
Robin Cole------64---10
John Smith00------88
Elvis Keyworth32------16
Carlos Brown04---------4
Mike Michel00------44
Dan Pastorini00------33
IndianapolisRPlyOffPPlyOffRPlyDefPPlyDefSTPlyTotal Plays
Conrad Dobler2929------462
Joe Theismann2931---------60
Harold Jaeger1723------1757
John Fitzgerald2826------256
Mike Hammond------2824355
Earl Thomas2314------1754
Al Latimer------2423754
Steve Baumgartner------2723353
Allan Ellis------2622351
Marv Hubbard2110------2051
John Dutton------2620450
J.T. Smith2028------250
Bruce Taylor------10152449
Doug Wyatt------2225249
Tim Stokes2324---------47
Donnie Green2323---------46
J.T. Turner2222------246
Steve Largent1824------143
Laverne Smith139------2143
Monte Johnson------2217342
Rubin Carter------2020242
John Tate------1182241
Pat Thomas------2017138
Jay Saldi1112------1336
Tommy Thompson1616---------32
Keith Butler------881430
Bruce Laird------1413229
Charles McShane------1710229
Sugar Bear Hamilton------1210527
Ted Fritsch814------426
Dwight Clark07------1724
Edgar Fields------127322
Daniel Reiner------441321
Steve Odom612---------18
Kerry Webster68------418
Ken Geddes------410317
Wayne Hammond------116---17
Cleveland Green67------417
Mike Douglass------75214
Archie Reese------49114
Mercury Tchaikovski00------1212
Terry Luck00------44
Billy Newsome------1113
Cornell Forte02---------2
John James00---------0
Marlon Elliott00---------0

Directional Rushing Statistics

DistanceAttYardsAvg
Left273.5
Middle16402.5
Right12635.3
None000.0
DistanceAttYardsAvg
Left9778.6
Middle16684.3
Right100.0
None3-4-1.3

Detailed Passing Statistics

HoustonAttCmp20+BdThDropDfnsHurrKnckIntc
Dale Zorn21122013211
Carlos Brown400201100
IndianapolisAttCmp20+BdThDropDfnsHurrKnckIntc
Joe Theismann31261101112

Directional Passing Statistics

DistanceAttCompYardsAvg
Screen1133.0
Short (0-8 Yds)115242.2
Medium (9-18 Yds)104454.5
Long (19+ Yds)326020.0
DistanceAttCompYardsAvg
Screen66142.3
Short (0-8 Yds)1211947.8
Medium (9-18 Yds)118968.7
Long (19+ Yds)21178.5

Detailed Receiving Statistics

HoustonTargtCaugtDropdYards20+PPlay
RB Wilbur Jackson52113016
WR Butch Stark51016016
WR Isaac Curtis4203217
WR Billy Campfield42049110
TE Terry Nelson2204022
RB Sherman Smith21010011
FB Jon Keyworth110-1019
TE Tom Gallimore1000015
FB Wayne Wilson110906
IndianapolisTargtCaugtDropdYards20+PPlay
WR J.T. Smith98089028
WR Steve Largent76066024
RB Tommy Thompson4408016
WR Steve Odom3205012
TE Earl Thomas32034114
WR Harold Jaeger32017023
FB Marv Hubbard110-1010
RB Laverne Smith110309

Red-Zone Rushing Statistics

HoustonAttYardsAvgOverall Avg
Sherman Smith530.602.80
Wilbur Jackson133.005.33
IndianapolisAttYardsAvgOverall Avg
Tommy Thompson382.677.86
Laverne Smith210.501.50
Joe Theismann133.002.71

Red-Zone Passing Statistics

HoustonAttCompYardsAvg/AttOverall Avg
Carlos Brown4000.000.00
Dale Zorn32186.006.29
IndianapolisAttCompYardsAvg/AttOverall Avg
Joe Theismann55408.007.13

Red-Zone Receiving Statistics

HoustonTargetCatchYardsAvg/TargOverall Avg
WR Isaac Curtis3182.678.00
RB Wilbur Jackson1000.002.60
TE Tom Gallimore1000.000.00
RB Sherman Smith111010.005.00
WR Billy Campfield1000.0012.25
IndianapolisTargetCatchYardsAvg/TargOverall Avg
WR Steve Largent222613.009.43
WR Steve Odom1155.001.67
RB Tommy Thompson11-1-1.002.00
WR Harold Jaeger111010.005.67

Third Down Rushing Statistics

HoustonRushesConversions
Wilbur Jackson31
Jon Keyworth10
IndianapolisRushesConversions
Laverne Smith21
Joe Theismann10

Third Down Passing Statistics

HoustonAttCompConversions
Dale Zorn631
Carlos Brown100
IndianapolisAttCompConversions
Joe Theismann985

Third Down Receiving Statistics

HoustonTargCatchConversions
RB Wilbur Jackson320
WR Isaac Curtis211
WR Butch Stark200
IndianapolisTargCatchConversions
WR J.T. Smith332
WR Steve Odom211
RB Tommy Thompson110
WR Harold Jaeger111
WR Steve Largent111
RB Laverne Smith110

SectionAttendance
Stadium56,200 (70,000 capacity)
Upper Deck16,000 (21,400)
End Zone13,300 (15,400)
Mezzanine7,700 (8,900)
Sideline Seats10,600 (13,600)
Club Seats5,600 (7,400)
Luxury Boxes3,000 (3,300)