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RetroSeasons
RetroSeasons recaps past sports seasons through stories, photos, videos, and stats from every team, league, and stadium in history. Coverage includes the NBA, NFL, MLB and NHL, as well as vintage media from defunct teams and leagues.
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National Football League (NFL)
1978 NFL Teams

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Leagues Football NFL 1978 Teams

Recap

Dallas defeated Denver 27-10 in Super Bowl XII, held indoors for the first time, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, January 15. The CBS telecast was viewed by more than 102 million people, meaning the game was watched by more viewers than any other show of any kind in the history of television. Dallas's victory was the first for the NFC in six years.

According to a Louis Harris Sports Survey, 70 percent of the nation's sports fans said they followed football, compared to 54 percent who followed baseball. Football increased its lead as the country's favorite, 26 percent to 16 percent for baseball, January 19.

A seventh official, the side judge, was added to the officiating crew, March 14.

The NFL continued a trend toward opening up the game. Rules changes permitted a defender to maintain contact with a receiver within five yards of the line of scrimmage, but restricted contact beyond that point. The pass-blocking rule was interpreted to permit the extending of arms and open hands, March 17.

A study on the use of instant replay as an officiating aid was made during seven nationally televised preseason games.

The NFL played for the first time in Mexico City, with the Saints defeating the Eagles 14-7 in a preseason game, August 5.

Bolstered by the expansion of the regular-season schedule from 14 to 16 weeks, NFL paid attendance exceeded 12 million (12,771,800) for the first time. The per-game average of 57,017 was the third-highest in league history and the most since 1973.

Close
1978 Pittsburgh Steelers Season
1978 Pittsburgh Steelers
14-2 (.875)
Won Super Bowl
1978 Dallas Cowboys Season
1978 Dallas Cowboys
12-4 (.750)
Lost Super Bowl
1978 Los Angeles Rams Season
1978 Los Angeles Rams
12-4 (.750)
Lost AFC/NFC Championship
1978 Houston Oilers Season
1978 Houston Oilers
10-6 (.625)
Lost AFC/NFC Championship
1978 New England Patriots Season
1978 New England Patriots
11-5 (.688)
Lost Division Championship
1978 Denver Broncos Season
1978 Denver Broncos
10-6 (.625)
Lost Division Championship
1978 Atlanta Falcons Season
1978 Atlanta Falcons
9-7 (.563)
Lost Division Championship
1978 Minnesota Vikings Season
1978 Minnesota Vikings
8-7 (.531)
Lost Division Championship
1978 Miami Dolphins Season
1978 Miami Dolphins
11-5 (.688)
Lost Wild Card Game
1978 Philadelphia Eagles Season
1978 Philadelphia Eagles
9-7 (.563)
Lost Wild Card Game
1978 Oakland Raiders Season
1978 Oakland Raiders
9-7 (.563)
Missed Playoffs
1978 San Diego Chargers Season
1978 San Diego Chargers
9-7 (.563)
Missed Playoffs
1978 Seattle Seahawks Season
1978 Seattle Seahawks
9-7 (.563)
Missed Playoffs
1978 Green Bay Packers Season
1978 Green Bay Packers
8-7 (.531)
Missed Playoffs
1978 Cleveland Browns Season
1978 Cleveland Browns
8-8 (.500)
Missed Playoffs
1978 New York Jets Season
1978 New York Jets
8-8 (.500)
Missed Playoffs
1978 Washington Redskins Season
1978 Washington Redskins
8-8 (.500)
Missed Playoffs
1978 Chicago Bears Season
1978 Chicago Bears
7-9 (.438)
Missed Playoffs
1978 Detroit Lions Season
1978 Detroit Lions
7-9 (.438)
Missed Playoffs
1978 New Orleans Saints Season
1978 New Orleans Saints
7-9 (.438)
Missed Playoffs
1978 St. Louis Cardinals Season
1978 St. Louis Cardinals
6-10 (.375)
Missed Playoffs
1978 New York Giants Season
1978 New York Giants
6-10 (.375)
Missed Playoffs
1978 Buffalo Bills Season
1978 Buffalo Bills
5-11 (.313)
Missed Playoffs
1978 Baltimore Colts Season
1978 Baltimore Colts
5-11 (.313)
Missed Playoffs
1978 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Season
1978 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5-11 (.313)
Missed Playoffs
1978 Cincinnati Bengals Season
1978 Cincinnati Bengals
4-12 (.250)
Missed Playoffs
1978 Kansas City Chiefs Season
1978 Kansas City Chiefs
4-12 (.250)
Missed Playoffs
1978 San Francisco 49ers Season
1978 San Francisco 49ers
2-14 (.125)
Missed Playoffs

1978 NFL

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