On This Date in Sports September 2, 1979: Over Their Head
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
The Atlanta Falcons begin the season with a thrilling 40-34 win over the New Orleans in overtime at the Louisiana Superdome. The Saints offense was led by Chuck Muncie who rushed for 161 yards with two touchdowns and tossed a 40-yard touchdown pass. The game would be decided by a rookie mistake, as punter Russell Erxleben threw an ill-advised pass that was returned for a touchdown after the snap sailed over his head.
Rivals in the NFC West, the Atlanta Falcons, and New Orleans Saints joined the NFL one-year apart in 1966 and 1967. Through their early years, the Saints and Falcons struggled with their two meetings of the year turning into a battle for Southern Bragging rights. In 1978, the Falcons had a breakthrough season, finishing 9-7 as they made the playoffs for the first time and made it to the Divisional Round under coach Leeman Bennett. The Saints were also on the rise, posting a 7-9 record in 1978 under Dick Nolan, which was their best season to date.
The Falcons entered the season looking to build off their playoff win, while New Orleans was looking for their first winning season and getting the same taste of the postseason. One surprise move that the Saints made in the offseason was the drafting of Russell Erxleben with the 11th overall pick in the NFL Draft out of Texas. It is the highest a kicker was ever chosen in the current draft. Erxleben, who set a record with a 67-yard field goal in college was expected to fill the dual role of placekicker and punter for the Saints.
The Saints got off to a strong start as Archie Manning opened the scoring with a five-yard touchdown pass to Ike Harris in the first quarter. New Orleans would make it 14-0 when halfback Chuck Muncie tossed a 40-yard pass to Wes Chandler in the second quarter. It would be the start of a 41-point second quarter. The Falcons answered with a 27-yard field goal by Tim Mazzetti and a 20-yard touchdown pass from Steve Bartkowski to Alfred Jenkins. Muncie meanwhile found the end zone himself, with a 69-yard touchdown run to give New Orleans a 21-10 lead. Bartkowski and Mazzetti each scored again for Atlanta, while Muncie had a second touchdown run to give the Saints a 28-20 lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, Russell Erxleben hit his first career field goal from 37 yards to extend the lead the Saints lead to 31-20. The Falcons would begin to turn the game in their favor when Wallace Francis caught a second touchdown pass from Steve Bartkowski to make it 31-27. In the fourth quarter, Atlanta took the lead for the first time on a four-yard run by William Andrews. Leading 34-31 and trying to run out the clock and extend the lead, Bartkowski fumbled on a blindside hit by Joe Campbell at the New Orleans 18. The Saints would drive down to tie the game on a 38-yard field goal by Erxleben. Tim Mazzetti would attempt a 52-yard field goal at the end of regulation but missed as the game went to overtime.
Each team would get the ball in overtime but were unable to move the ball. With eight minutes left the Saints lined up for another punt from their own 32 when the ball sailed over Russell Erxleben’s head. With the ball rolling toward the end zone, the rookie punter tried to toss the ball away. However, it was intercepted and returned six yards for a touchdown by James Mayberry to give Atlanta a 40-34 win.
Things went bad to worse for the rookie kicker the following week, as Erxleben suffered a season-ending injury. He would never live up to the expectations of a first-round draft pick and spent most of his career exclusively as a punter.
Despite the win, the Falcons had a disappointing season, going 6-10. The Saints would drop their first three games but battled the Los Angeles Rams all season for the NFC Western Division title. Holding a 7-6 record, the Saints squandered a 35-14 lead against the Oakland Raiders in a Monday Night Game at the Superdome, losing 42-35. They would be eliminated from playoff contention a week later but won their final game to finish at 8-8. It was the first time the Saints finished .500 or better in their franchise.