The New England Patriots were a franchise reborn as they hosted the Oakland Raiders in their home opener on September 19, 1971. Stadium issues had been a chronic problem for the club since entering the American Football League as the Boston Patriots in 1960, but now they had a new 60,000-seat stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts, and a new name as a result. They also had a new quarterback in Jim Plunkett (pictured above), the overall top draft choice who had won the Heisman Trophy at Stanford. The team was in need of refurbishment on the field, having gone 2-12 in 1970, the fourth straight losing record. John Mazur had taken over as head coach halfway through the previous season and was starting his first full year at the helm.
The Raiders were a far more successful team, having
reached the postseason for the fourth straight year in ’70 with an 8-4-2
record. Youthful John Madden was commencing his third season as head coach and
still had plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, even if there were some
concerns. Star QB Daryle Lamonica had a lesser passing year and was lifted in
favor of 43-year-old QB George Blanda several times the previous season, and
now the promising Ken Stabler was being added to the mix. Off-field problems
had removed the top deep threat, WR Warren Wells. On defense, there was a need
for some retooling and they would be starting a rookie, Jack Tatum, at free
safety in place of the departed Dave Grayson.
There were 55,405 fans in attendance at Schaefer Stadium
on a cool, sunny day. The Raiders drove into New England territory on their
first possession, but a holding penalty moved them out of scoring range and
they had to punt. A short series by the Patriots also ended in a punt and the
home team got a break when a scrambling Daryle Lamonica fumbled and LB Ed
Philpott recovered at the Oakland 41.
The Patriots also had a promising drive that was stymied
by a holding penalty, and they were forced to punt in turn. Neither team was
able to move effectively in the next few possessions until, with 4:50 left in
the half, the Raiders put together a 60-yard drive in 10 plays. HB Don
Highsmith ran the ball four consecutive times for 26 yards and Lamonica
completed two passes. HB Pete Banaszak finished the possession off with a sweep
around left end for a four-yard touchdown. However, a bad snap on the extra
point attempt forced Oakland to abort and the score remained 6-0.
The Raiders had a chance to pad their lead when HB Bob
Gladieux fumbled the kickoff return and Jack Tatum recovered. With 49 seconds
on the clock and the ball at the New England 44, Lamonica completed a pass to
WR Fred Biletnikoff for 20 yards, but two passes into the end zone were
overthrown and, while a penalty and six-yard run by FB Marv Hubbard advanced
the ball to the 13, George Blanda missed wide to the right on a 21-yard field
goal attempt. The score remained unchanged at halftime.
The Patriots had the first possession in the third
quarter and again had to punt. Oakland reached the New England 43 before having
to punt as well, but again there was a miscue on special teams. A bad snap
forced Mike Eischeid to try to run and he was downed at the 50. The Patriots
struck quickly as Plunkett, who completed just one pass in the first half,
threw to WR Ron Sellers for eight yards, Gladieux ran for another nine, and
then Plunkett connected with Sellers again for a 33-yard TD. Charlie Gogolak
added the extra point and the home team was in front by 7-6.
A three-and-out series by the Raiders resulted in another
punt and the resurgent Patriots put together a 70-yard drive in five plays. On
second down, Plunkett tossed a pass to WR Randy Vataha that gained 39 yards to
the Oakland 27. Two plays later, and following an illegal procedure call on the
Patriots, Plunkett rolled out and threw to Sellers for 12 yards and then found
TE Roland Moss all alone for a 20-yard touchdown. Gogolak converted and New
England was now up by 14-6.
It got worse for the Raiders as Banaszak fumbled on the next
series and the Patriots regained possession at the Oakland 42 in the waning
seconds of the period. The result was a 46-yard Gogolak field goal early in the
fourth quarter and an extended lead of 17-6.
The Raiders again had to punt but got the ball back two
plays later when Plunkett’s pass was intercepted by CB Nemiah Wilson at his own
40. Ken Stabler was now in at quarterback but the result was another short
series and a punt. Almost exclusively keeping the ball on the ground, the
Patriots put together another scoring drive. Gladieux and HB Carl Garrett
handled the running load effectively and, when Plunkett did try a pass, Oakland
was called for roughing the passer. The result was another field goal by
Gogolak, this time from 22 yards.
Now it was the aged veteran George Blanda behind center
for the Raiders, and a carry by HB Clarence Davis gained 39 yards to the New
England 25. But Blanda, attempting to pass, fumbled and while the Raiders
recovered, it was all the way back at the 42. Two plays later a Blanda throw
was intercepted by CB Larry Carwell to effectively seal the 20-6 win for the
Patriots with 1:55 to play. As the clock ran down, the enthusiastic home crowd
gave the Patriots a long standing ovation.
The Raiders led in total yards (304 to 261) and first
downs (20 to 12). They also turned the ball over four times, to three suffered
by New England, and were called for seven penalties at a cost of 80 yards, as
opposed to four penalties for 37 yards on the Patriots.
Jim Plunkett completed just six of 15 passes for 127
yards and two touchdowns with one interception, but was five of eight for 113
yards during the third quarter rally. Carl Garrett rushed for 78 yards on 16
carries and Bob Gladieux contributed 48 yards on 11 attempts. Ron Sellers (pictured at right) led
the receivers with three catches for 54 yards and a TD.
For the Raiders, Daryle Lamonica was successful on 9 of
23 throws for 105 yards with no TDs or interceptions. Ken Stabler and George
Blanda combined to go two of eight for 17 yards with one pass picked off. Pete
Banaszak ran for 71 yards on 15 attempts that included a touchdown and also
topped the team in pass receiving with three catches for 38 yards. Fred
Biletnikoff was right behind with three receptions for 34 yards. Marv Hubbard
gained 50 yards on 10 carries.
The stunning early win did not signal an immediate
turnaround for the Patriots, who won only one of their next six games, but they
did come out on top of four contests during the second half of the season and
finished up at 6-8, good enough to place third in the AFC East and the team’s
best record since 1966. Jim Plunkett passed for 2158 yards and 19 touchdowns
and received NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors from the Pro Football
Writers and consensus AFC Rookie of the Year recognition.
Oakland didn’t lose again until Week 11, going 7-0-2
during that stretch, but then lost three straight games to end up second in the
AFC West with another 8-4-2 record and out of the playoffs.
