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1979 AFC Wild Card Oilers 13 vs Broncos 7
Houston survives the loss of Campbell, Pastorini and Burrough in a slugfest. Campbell (16 att, 50 yds) comes out of the game after smashing through Denver's defense for Houston's only TD, a 3-yd blast at the end of the half. Pastorini pulls a stomach muscle early in the 3rd and from there, the Oilers roll with backups and leave the outcome up to their defense.
Led by Curley Culp, the Houston defenders are up to the challenge, sacking Craig Morton 6 times (5 in the 2nd half) and limiting him to just 7 of 16 for 77 yds after halftime. Denver squanders their best opportunity after Nielsen throws an ill-advised INT early in the 4th. The Broncos get as close as the Houston 16, but Culp sacks Morton for a 9 yd loss, then gets him again for a 5-yd loss on the next play, turning a chip shot FG into a 50-yd attempt which hits the goal post and falls away.
The next time Denver gets the ball, Bingham picks off Morton setting up a Fritsch FG to give Houston a 13-7 lead. Denver gets one last chance, but Oiler DBs knock away Denver's desperation passes into the end-zone to preserve a costly victory.
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1979 AFC Wild Card Oilers vs Broncos (Dec 23, 1979)
