The 1979 New Orleans Saints season was the Saints 13th season. The Saints finished the season at 8-8, the franchise's first non-losing season. New Orleans was tied for first place with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West with three weeks to play, but the season unraveled in a Monday Night Football contest at home vs. the Oakland Raiders, when the Saints squandered a 35-14 lead and lost, 42-35.