| 1978 Houston Oilers season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Bud Adams |
| General manager | Bum Phillips |
| Head coach | Bum Phillips |
| Home field | Astrodome |
| Results | |
| Record | 10–6 |
| Division place | 2nd AFC Central |
| Playoff finish | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Dolphins) 17–9 Won Divisional Playoffs (at Patriots) 31–14 Lost AFC Championship (at Steelers) 5–34 |
| Pro Bowlers | FB Earl Campbell DT Elvin Bethea LB Robert Brazile FS Mike Reinfeldt K Toni Fritsch |
| AP All-Pros | FB Earl Campbell (1st team) LB Robert Brazile (1st team) DT Elvin Bethea (2nd team) DE Curley Culp (2nd team) |
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The 1978 Houston Oilers season was the franchise's 19th overall and the ninth in the National Football League (NFL). Led by Rookie RB Earl Campbell, who won both the Offensive Rookie of the Year, and Offensive Player of the Year, who rushed for 1,450 yards, the Oilers made the playoffs with a 10–6 record, making the playoffs for the first time since 1969, qualifying in the newly created fifth Wild Card spot. The franchise scored 283 points while the defense gave up 298 points. Their record of 10 wins and 6 losses resulted in a second-place finish in the AFC Central Division. In the playoffs, the Oilers would stun the Miami Dolphins, 17–9, in the two teams first playoff meeting, then defeated the New England Patriots 31–14 in New England to advance to their first ever AFC Championship game, but in that game, they would score a mere 5 points in a 34–5 blowout loss to the eventual champion Steelers.