NFL game summary for 10/14/1979:
Earl Campbell rushed for three touchdowns to lead Houston over Baltimore and into a share of the AFC Central lead. Defensive end Jesse Baker gave Houston a 7-0 lead on the game's fourth play with a 20-yard fumble return. Campbell (22 carries for 149 yards) accounted for Houston's final three scores with touchdown runs of 2, 7 and 20 yards. Campbell also recaptured the NFL rushing lead and became the AFC's leading scorer with 66 points. The Oilers' Mike Reinfeldt intercepted two passes to bring his NFL leading total to seven.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 150.2 (10) | 131.0 (24) | 281.2 (21) | 16 |
| DEFENSE | 145.7 (19) | 154.8 (13) | 300.5 (12) | 20 | |
 | OFFENSE | 83.0 (28) | 201.5 (8) | 284.5 (19) | 12 |
| DEFENSE | 132.5 (13) | 192.5 (23) | 325.0 (19) | 17 |
Line: Oilers by 5½
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Oilers (5-2-0) | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| Baltimore Colts (1-6-0) | 6 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
( 7- 0) HOU Jesse Baker 20 yard fumble return (Toni Fritsch kick)
( 7- 6) BAL Don Hardeman 1 yard rush (kick failed)
(14- 6) HOU Earl Campbell 7 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
(21- 6) HOU Earl Campbell 20 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
(21- 9) BAL Steve Mike-Mayer 34 yard field goal
(28- 9) HOU Earl Campbell 2 yard rush (Toni Fritsch kick)
(28-16) BAL Don McCauley 3 yard pass from Gerg Landry (Steve Mike-Mayer kick)
HOU BAL
First Downs: 16 16
Rushes-yards: 49-220 31-107
Yards/rush: 4.5 3.5
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 6-16-47-2 13-27-132-3
Sacked-yards: 3-20 5-50
Net pass yards: 27 82
Net yards/pass: 1.4 2.6
Total net yards: 247 189
Total plays: 68 (72% run) 63 (49% run)
Yards/play: 3.6 3.0
Fumbles-lost: 2-0 1-1
Turnovers: 2 4
Penalties-yards: 5-48 6-71
Attendance: 45,021
Passing:
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 5 of 14 for 49 yards (2 int); Gifford Nielsen, 1 of 2 for -2 yards BAL: Greg Landry, 13 of 27 for 132 yards and 1 TD (3 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Earl Campbell, 22 for 149 yards and 3 TDs; Rob Carpenter, 16 for 44 yards; Boobie Clark, 5 for 9 yards; Tim Wilson, 4 for 11 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 4 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 3 yards BAL: Joe Washington, 18 for 86 yards; Don Hardeman, 11 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 2 for -1 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Ken Burrough, 4 for 31 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 12 yards; Tim Wilson, 1 for 4 yards BAL: Joe Washington, 5 for 53 yards; Reese McCall, 3 for 27 yards; Roger Carr, 2 for 43 yards; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 6 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Don Hardeman, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 43 yards; Carter Hartwig, 1 for 23 yards; Greg Stemrick, 1 for 0 yards BAL: Nesby Glasgow, 5 for 140 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Rich Ellender, 1 for 3 yards BAL: Nesby Glasgow, 2 for 36 yards; Lyle Blackwood, 2 for 2 yards; Norm Thompson, 1 for 40 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Mike Reinfeldt, 2 for 76 yards; Willie Alexander, 1 for 19 yards BAL: Bruce Laird, 1 for 68 yards; Dwight Harrison, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 7 for 271 yards BAL: Bucky Dilts, 5 for 172 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Steve Mike-Mayer, 1/2
HOU: Dan Pastorini, 5 of 14 for 49 yards (2 int); Gifford Nielsen, 1 of 2 for -2 yards BAL: Greg Landry, 13 of 27 for 132 yards and 1 TD (3 int)
Rushing:
HOU: Earl Campbell, 22 for 149 yards and 3 TDs; Rob Carpenter, 16 for 44 yards; Boobie Clark, 5 for 9 yards; Tim Wilson, 4 for 11 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 4 yards; Dan Pastorini, 1 for 3 yards BAL: Joe Washington, 18 for 86 yards; Don Hardeman, 11 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Don McCauley, 2 for -1 yards
Receiving:
HOU: Ken Burrough, 4 for 31 yards; Rich Caster, 1 for 12 yards; Tim Wilson, 1 for 4 yards BAL: Joe Washington, 5 for 53 yards; Reese McCall, 3 for 27 yards; Roger Carr, 2 for 43 yards; Glenn Doughty, 1 for 6 yards; Don McCauley, 1 for 3 yards and 1 TD; Don Hardeman, 1 for 0 yards
Kick returns:
HOU: Ronnie Coleman, 2 for 43 yards; Carter Hartwig, 1 for 23 yards; Greg Stemrick, 1 for 0 yards BAL: Nesby Glasgow, 5 for 140 yards
Punt returns:
HOU: Rich Ellender, 1 for 3 yards BAL: Nesby Glasgow, 2 for 36 yards; Lyle Blackwood, 2 for 2 yards; Norm Thompson, 1 for 40 yards
Interceptions:
HOU: Mike Reinfeldt, 2 for 76 yards; Willie Alexander, 1 for 19 yards BAL: Bruce Laird, 1 for 68 yards; Dwight Harrison, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
HOU: Cliff Parsley, 7 for 271 yards BAL: Bucky Dilts, 5 for 172 yards
Field Goals:
BAL: Steve Mike-Mayer, 1/2