Age: 26
3rd
season in pro football & with Raiders
College: Colorado
Height: 5’11” Weight: 170
Prelude:
A track as
well as football star in college, Branch caught 36 passes for 665 yards (18.5
avg.), rushed for 354 yards, and scored eight touchdowns on kickoff returns,
which was a NCAA Division 1-A record. He was chosen by the Raiders in the
fourth round of the 1972 NFL draft and, while Branch impressed with his speed, he
was also still a raw talent and caught just 22 passes in his first two seasons
as backup to WR Mike Siani. He beat out Siani for the starting job in 1974 and
became the deep threat across from dependable possession WR Fred Biletnikoff.
1974 Season Summary
Appeared in all
14 games
[Bracketed
numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]
Pass
Receiving
Receptions – 60
[4]
Most
receptions, game – 7 (for 124 yds.) at San Diego 10/13, (for 96 yds.) vs.
Cincinnati 10/20, (for 125 yds.) vs. San Diego 11/17
Yards – 1092
[1]
Most yards,
game – 138 (on 6 catches) vs. New England 12/1
Average gain
– 18.2 [10]
TDs – 13 [1]
100-yard
receiving games – 5
Scoring
TDs – 13 [2,
1st in AFC]
Points – 78 [8]
Postseason: 2 G
Pass
receptions – 12
Most pass
receptions, game – 9 vs. Pittsburgh, AFC Championship
Pass
receiving yards – 270
Most pass
receiving yards, game – 186 vs. Pittsburgh, AFC Championship
Average yards
per reception – 22.5
Pass
Receiving TDs – 2
Awards & Honors:
1st
team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly
1st
team All-AFC: AP, UPI, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News
Pro Bowl
Raiders went 12-2
to finish first in the AFC West while leading the NFL in touchdowns (46) and
scoring (355 points) and the AFC in total yards (4983). Won AFC Divisional
playoff over Miami Dolphins (28-26). Lost AFC Championship to Pittsburgh
Steelers (24-13).
Aftermath:
Branch’s
breakout 1974 season was the first of three straight in which he was a
consensus first-team All-NFL choice and four that resulted in selection to the
Pro Bowl. He had career highs with 1111 yards and averaging 24.2 yards per
catch on 46 receptions in 1976, when he again topped the league with 12
touchdowns. While the honors ceased coming after 1977, he had a long and
productive career with the Raiders, playing until 1985 and catching 501 passes
for 8685 yards (17.3 avg.) and 67 touchdowns. Branch added another 73
receptions for 1289 yards (17.7 avg.) and five TDs in 22 playoff games and was
a member of three NFL Championship squads. Following his departure from the
Raiders in 1985, he played for the Los Angeles Cobras of the Arena Football
League in ‘88 and caught 25 passes for 250 yards and three TDs.
--
Highlighted Years features players who were consensus
first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the
following statistical categories:
Rushing:
Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Passing:
Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating
Receiving:
Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)
Scoring: TDs,
Points, Field Goals (min. 5)
All-Purpose:
Total Yards
Defense:
Interceptions, Sacks
Kickoff
Returns: Average
Punt Returns:
Average
Punting:
Average
*Leagues include
NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69),
WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)
**NFC/AFC
since 1970
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