1979 San Diego Chargers season
The 1979 San Diego Chargers season was the team's 20th season, and tenth in the National Football League. Despite them and the Steelers having identical 12-4 records (their best record during the Coryell era), the Chargers were awarded the top AFC seed because they beat the Steelers in the regular season. The 1979 Chargers finished in first place in the AFC West after having finished 9–7 in 1978. The Chargers made the playoffs for the first time in 14 years. Chargers quarterback Dan Fouts threw for 4,082-yard to break Joe Namath's NFL record of 4,007 in 1967 (albeit with the benefit of two extra regular season games). Wide receivers Charlie Joiner and John Jefferson both gained more than 1,000 yards receiving, the first NFL teammates to accomplish the feat since the Namath-led New York Jets' duo of George Sauer and Don Maynard. The Chargers became the first AFC West champion to run more passing plays (541) then rushing (481). Clarence Williams was the leading rusher with 752 yards and a club-record 12 touchdowns. In contrast to much of the "Air Coryell" period, the Charger defense was as strong as the offense, ranking 2nd in the league in yards allowed. Eight