1978: Raiders Cap Comeback Against Chargers with “Holy Roller”

The Oakland Raiders were at 0-1 as they faced their downstate rivals, the San Diego Chargers, on September 10, 1978. In their tenth season under Head Coach John Madden, the Raiders had reached the playoffs six straight times and were the NFL Champions in 1976. QB Ken “The Snake” Stabler had a lesser year in ’77 but remained tough in the clutch. There was a good stable of running backs led by FB Mark van Eeghen as well as a receiving corps that included All-Pro TE Dave Casper. The line remained solid and the defense seasoned and looking forward to the return of LB Phil Villapiano from a knee injury. They had lost to Denver, the team that had moved past them in the AFC West the previous year, in the opening week and needed to even their record.

San Diego, coached by Tommy Prothro, had won at Seattle to start the season, and was coming off of a 7-7 record that was the club’s best since 1969, its last year in the AFL. The offense, led by the up-and-coming QB Dan Fouts, was developing and the defense was especially adept at rushing enemy passers. The Chargers had beaten Oakland for the first time in 18 games (including two ties) in their last meeting the previous year and they were looking to do it again.

There were 51,653 fans in attendance at San Diego Stadium. Neither team was able to score in the early going, but both had opportunities. The normally-reliable Rolf Benirschke missed a 28-yard field goal attempt for the Chargers while kicking from the dirt in the baseball infield portion of the field. Oakland drove once into scoring territory but Mark van Eeghen fumbled the ball away at the ten.

Early in the second quarter, Dan Fouts tossed a pass that was deflected by SS Mike Davis and caught by TE Pat Curran for a 14-yard TD. Benirschke added the extra point for the 7-0 lead. Oakland finally got on the board as well. Dave Casper caught a Stabler pass on his fingertips for a 44-yard gain, and that set up another Stabler to Casper throw for a six-yard TD. Errol Mann converted to tie the score.

The Chargers moved back in front later in the period on a one-yard carry by short-yardage specialist HB Hank Bauer, but Benirschke hooked the extra point attempt. The significance of that failure was not yet apparent and the home team took a 13-7 lead into halftime.

San Diego dominated time of possession in the third quarter, but didn’t score again until early in the fourth quarter when FB Bo Matthews broke away for a 28-yard gain to set up Bauer’s two-yard touchdown carry. This time Benirschke added the point after, and the Chargers appeared to be in command with a 20-7 lead. Facing an upset, the Raiders came through with a big play as Stabler went long to WR Morris Bradshaw and the result was a 44-yard touchdown. Mann converted and San Diego’s margin was reduced to six with 8:26 left to play.

It seemed as though the margin would hold up when the Chargers managed to hold on to the ball for five minutes and the Raiders finally regained possession at their 20 with 1:07 left on the clock. Oakland, with all three timeouts available, advanced down the field as Stabler completed passes to Bradshaw for 13 yards and HB Pete Banaszak for 14. A long completion to TE Raymond Chester  gained 27 yards and a fourth completion, to WR Fred Biletnikoff, picked up another 13 yards.

With the clock down to ten seconds and the ball at the San Diego 14, Stabler was hit from behind by LB Woodrow Lowe as he was setting up to pass. The ball bounced forward toward the end zone and players from both teams scrambled after it, with Banaszak batting it along. TE Dave Casper also rolled the ball forward (pictured at top) before he fell on it in the end zone for a touchdown and, with Errol Mann’s all-important extra point, the Raiders, having advanced 81 yards in eight plays, came away winners by a final score of 21-20.

A furious Coach Tommy Prothro insisted that the play should have been ruled an incomplete pass since the ball had traveled forward after leaving Stabler’s hand. There was also a question pertaining to Oakland players helping to propel it forward. The existing rule was clear on the matter: “A player may not bat or push a loose ball in the field of play toward the opposition’s goal line”. But it was a judgment call by the officials, led by referee Jerry Markbreit, and there was no replay option available to challenge the ruling. The touchdown on the play that came to be known as the “Holy Roller” stood.

“Somebody grabbed me and I was trying to throw the ball about the time I got hit,” said Stabler of the climactic play. “I fumbled it on purpose, yes, I was trying to fumble.”

“Sure I batted it,” added Pete Banaszak of his role in propelling the ball along. “I could see a San Diego guy right alongside of me. If I picked it up, he would have tackled me and the game would have been over.”

The Chargers had the edge in total yards (372 to 364), with 197 on the ground, and first downs (24 to 18). Oakland turned the ball over four times, to none by San Diego, and the Chargers recorded four sacks, with none recorded by the Raiders. But the home team failed to score more points when it had opportunities, including the missed field goal and extra point.

Ken Stabler completed just 15 of 35 passes, but they were good for 307 yards and two touchdowns while giving up three interceptions. Dave Casper had five catches for 100 yards and a TD and Morris Bradshaw (pictured at left) gained 107 yards on his four pass receptions that also included a score. Mark van Eeghen rushed for 72 yards on 12 carries.

For the Chargers, Dan Fouts was successful on 17 of 29 throws for 175 yards and a TD with none intercepted. Bo Matthews ran for 78 yards on 20 attempts and FB Don Woods contributed 66 yards on 17 carries while each caught four passes, for 25 and 51 yards, respectively. On defense, FS Glen Edwards accounted for two of the team’s three interceptions.

The Raiders won five of their next six games and were at 8-4 before losing three straight and finishing with a 9-7 record. It was respectable and placed second in the AFC West, but Oakland missed the postseason. Coach Madden resigned, citing health concerns. Tommy Prothro was gone from the Chargers sooner as San Diego lost its next four games. He was replaced by Don Coryell, formerly of San Diego State and the St. Louis Cardinals, and the team went 7-1 in the second half of the season to also come in at 9-7.

As for the “Holy Roller”, the NFL addressed the issue in the offseason. The new language on advancing forward fumbles was “a fourth down fumble anywhere may be advanced only by the player who fumbled the ball. Any fumble on any down after the two-minute warning of a half can be advanced only by the player who fumbled the ball.”

1970: Big Plays Lift Raiders Over Dolphins in AFC Divisional Playoff Game

The AFC Divisional playoff game on December 27, 1970 featured the Oakland Raiders, winners of the AFC West with an 8-4-2 record, hosting the Miami Dolphins, who had gone 10-4 to place second in the AFC East and qualified as a Wild Card entry. In this first year of the enlarged and reorganized NFL, Wild Card teams were being introduced to the postseason (at this point one per conference).

Oakland, coached for the second year by John Madden, had been one of the American Football League’s strongest teams during the past three years, and remained successful in its first NFL season. QB Daryle Lamonica (pictured above) was an accomplished long passer, although he occasionally ran into difficulties that had 43-year-old backup QB George Blanda relieving him with surprising success. The receiving corps was capable with wide receivers Fred Biletnikoff and Warren Wells plus rookie TE Raymond Chester, and the ground game was effective with HB Charlie Smith and FB Hewritt Dixon. The defense was beginning to show its age in spots, but was still formidable. Blanda provided reliable placekicking.

The Dolphins were in their first year under Head Coach Don Shula and in the postseason for the first time. There were several newcomers on the roster, most notably WR Paul Warfield, obtained in a trade with Cleveland. QB Bob Griese was developing into a star and the AFC-leading ground game, led by FB Larry Csonka, was highly productive. The defense contained four rookie starters plus FS Jake Scott, who had a year’s experience in the CFL, and was anchored by veteran MLB Nick Buoniconti. Miami defeated the Raiders during the regular season and the team’s immediate success under Coach Shula was a major surprise.     

There were 54,401 fans in attendance on a damp day at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum and the field was muddy. The Dolphins had the first possession and punted. Oakland moved well with Hewritt Dixon and Charlie Smith running the ball and Daryle Lamonica completed a pass to Fred Biletnikoff for 12 yards on a third-and-two play. But the drive stalled at the Miami 16 and the Raiders came up empty when George Blanda’s 23-yard field goal attempt hit the goal post and bounced away.

Miami put together a promising drive in response. Larry Csonka had a pair of five-yard runs and halfbacks Mercury Morris and Jim Kiick handled most of the running load while Bob Griese completed three passes, including to WR Howard Twilley for 14 yards and Kiick for 15 to convert third downs. But they too failed to get on the board when Garo Yepremian was wide on a 24-yard try for a field goal.

The teams traded punts as the game headed into the second quarter. Miami got a break when DE Bill Stanfill recovered a Smith fumble at the Oakland 19. Two plays later, Griese passed to Paul Warfield for a 16-yard touchdown, Yepremian added the extra point, and the Dolphins led by 7-0.

The teams exchanged punts until, taking over with 4:35 remaining in the first half, the Raiders drove 62 yards to a score. Lamonica completed a third-and-six pass to Raymond Chester for 21 yards to the Miami 37 and converted another third down with a throw to Biletnikoff for 11 yards. Another completion to Biletnikoff in the end zone was good for a 22-yard TD and Blanda converted to tie the score.

The Raiders took the kickoff to start the third quarter and advanced deep into Miami territory. FB Marv Hubbard ran six times for 22 yards and Lamonica completed third down passes to Smith for nine yards and Chester for 26. But facing second-and-goal at the two, Smith fumbled again and Jake Scott recovered for the Dolphins at their 10 yard line.

Griese immediately passed to Warfield for 24 yards and, after two short running plays, he connected with Kiick for nine yards on a third-and-six play. But Griese was then sacked for a 12-yard loss by DT Tom Keating and DE Tony Cline and, two plays later, Griese’s third-and-19 pass was intercepted by CB Willie Brown and returned 50 yards for a touchdown. Blanda added the point after to give Oakland a 14-7 lead.

The Dolphins had the ball as the contest moved into the fourth quarter. A 12-yard run by Morris got the ball to the Oakland 40 and Griese passed to Warfield for 16 yards. The series stalled at the Oakland 17 and Yepremian missed to the left on a 24-yard field goal attempt.

Oakland struck quickly. Hubbard ran for four yards and HB Pete Banaszak fumbled on the next play, which was recovered by OT Harry Schuh but had the Raiders facing third-and-12. Lamonica, anticipating a blitz, threw long for WR Rod Sherman who pulled the ball in at the Miami 45 and went the distance for an 82-yard touchdown (pictured below). Blanda’s extra point put the home team up by 21-7.

The Dolphins came back with a long drive of 69 yards in eight plays. A personal foul on the Raiders erased a sack and Griese completed a throw to WR Willie Richardson for 23 yards. Kiick ran for 13 yards on the next play and Griese again connected with Richardson, this time in the right corner of the end zone for a seven-yard TD. Yepremian’s conversion again made it a seven-point game.

However, time was running out on the Dolphins. They were unable to recover an onside kick that went out of bounds and, following a short Oakland possession, they got the ball back at their 13 with 2:28 left on the clock. Morris ran for four yards, two passes fell incomplete, one of which was intended for Warfield and knocked away by LB Gus Otto, and on fourth down a toss to Kiick came up a yard short. The Raiders were able to run out the clock and won by a final score of 21-14.  

Oakland had the edge in total yards (307 to 242) although the Dolphins had more first downs (16 to 12) and ran more plays (63 to 52). The Raiders also turned the ball over twice, to one suffered by Miami, and committed the only four penalties. Both placekickers had difficulty on the muddy field as Miami’s Yepremian missed both of his field goal attempts and Blanda missed one.

Daryle Lamonica completed 8 of 16 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Fred Biletnikoff had three catches for 46 yards and a TD and Rod Sherman, with his one long scoring reception, led the Raiders with 82 receiving yards. Marv Hubbard topped the rushers with 58 yards on 18 carries.

For the Dolphins, Bob Griese was successful on 13 of 27 throws for 155 yards and two TDs with one interception that was returned for a score. Jim Kiick gained 64 yards on 14 rushing attempts and also caught four passes for 34 yards. Paul Warfield (pictured at left) gained 62 yards on his four receptions that included a touchdown. Larry Csonka was held to 23 yards on 10 carries and Mercury Morris contributed 29 yards on 8 attempts.

Oakland advanced to the AFC Championship game and lost to the Baltimore Colts. The Raiders missed the playoffs in 1971 but bounced back to top the AFC West in each of the next five years. The Dolphins built upon their 1970 success to win the next three AFC Championships, including consecutive Super Bowl victories in 1972, a year in which they went undefeated, and ’73.

1971: Plunkett Leads Patriots to Upset of Raiders in Debut

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.

1970: Chiefs Defeat Raiders in Final AFL Championship Game

With merger into the NFL on the horizon, the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders met in the last American Football League Championship game on January 4, 1970. Both participants came from the Western Division due to the adopting of a playoff system by the AFL for the ’69 season in which the first place finishers faced the second-place teams in the opposite divisions in the first round. Thus, the Raiders, who placed first in the Western Division with a 12-1-1 record soundly defeated the Houston Oilers, the second place team in the Eastern Division, by a 56-7 score while the Chiefs, the second place team in the West at 11-3, beat the New York Jets, the defending league champs and first place team in the East, by 13-6.

Oakland had a first-year head coach in 33-year-old John Madden, but remained the same formidable team it had been in going 25-3 over the last two regular seasons, with one AFL title to show for it. QB Daryle Lamonica threw for 3302 yards and 32 TDs, receiving AFL Player of the Year honors from UPI, and wide receivers Fred Biletnikoff and Warren Wells combined for 26 touchdowns, although Wells was playing with a shoulder separation suffered in the season finale. The running game was less formidable, but HB Charlie Smith and FB Hewritt Dixon were both capable receivers out of the backfield. The defense was at its best in the backfield that included CB Willie Brown and safeties George Atkinson and Dave Grayson. Moreover, the Raiders had beaten Kansas City in both of their encounters during the regular season.

The Chiefs, coached by Hank Stram, managed to perform well even when the two key players on offense, QB Len Dawson (pictured above) and WR Otis Taylor, missed time due to injuries. The running game was sound, utilizing a committee approach that included halfbacks Mike Garrett and Warren McVea and fullbacks Robert Holmes and Wendell Hayes running by a line that contained All-AFL performers in OT Jim Tyrer and G Ed Budde. The defense was stable and solid, featuring DT Buck Buchanon, linebackers Bobby Bell and Willie Lanier, and FS Johnny Robinson. PK Jan Stenerud was the AFL’s most reliable placekicker.

It was a clear day at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum with 53,564 fans in attendance. The Chiefs had the game’s first possession and punted. Oakland moved the ball effectively, with Charlie Smith (pictured below) and Hewritt Dixon running well and Daryle Lamonica completing consecutive passes to Smith for seven and six yards. However, after reaching the Kansas City 44, Dixon dropped a third down pass and George Blanda’s 52-yard field goal attempt fell short.

The teams exchanged punts, with neither able to move on offense, until the Raiders put together a drive of 66 yards in ten plays. Lamonica completed five passes, two for short gains to Smith and one to Warren Wells that covered 24 yards to the KC three. From there, Smith ran for a touchdown and, with Blanda’s extra point, Oakland took a 7-0 lead into the second quarter.

Once again the teams punted back and forth, with the Chiefs still stymied on offense and the Raiders unable to generate anything further either. Taking possession at their 25 with 3:24 left in the first half, the visitors finally began to move. Len Dawson threw to Otis Taylor for 14 yards and Robert Holmes had an eight-yard run to the 50. Dawson connected with WR Frank Pitts for a gain of 41 yards to the Oakland one and on the next play Warren McVea carried for a TD. Jan Stenerud’s conversion tied the score at 7-7, and that was the tally at halftime.

SS George Atkinson returned the second half kickoff 52 yards to the Kansas City 45 and the Raiders reached the 26 before being backed up by a penalty. Lamonica threw two incomplete passes at that point, injuring his throwing hand on one, and Blanda was wide on a 39-yard field goal attempt. Oakland got the ball right back when Mike Garrett fumbled and DT Tom Keating recovered at the KC 33. But once again the home team couldn’t capitalize, gaining nothing on three plays followed by another unsuccessful Blanda field goal attempt.

The Chiefs were forced to punt following a short series and Jerrel Wilson’s 29-yard punt gave the Raiders good field position at the KC 48. 41-year-old George Blanda had taken over at quarterback at the end of the previous series and he completed a screen pass to HB Pete Banaszak for a yard and then a throw to Smith that picked up 23 yards to the 24 yard line. But two plays later, a long throw into the end zone intended for Wells was intercepted by CB Emmitt Thomas, who ran it out to his six yard line. Once again the home team had come up empty in Kansas City territory.

The Chiefs were pinned deep near their goal line and facing third-and-14 as Dawson faded back into his end zone and threw a high pass that Taylor caught in spectacular fashion for 35 yards. Dawson then connected with Holmes for 23 yards to advance into Oakland territory. A pass interference penalty on CB Nemiah Wilson moved the ball to the seven and Holmes ran for a five-yard touchdown, capping the 94-yard drive. Stenerud again kicked the point after and Kansas City was ahead by 14-7.

Lamonica, despite the hand injury that affected his ability to grip the ball, was back behind center when the Raiders regained possession, but the result was a punt. The next Oakland series started at the six yard line and advanced to the KC 39 before SS Jim Kearney picked off a Lamonica pass. However, the Raiders got the ball back when a mixup in the Kansas City backfield resulted in a fumble that DT Carleton Oates recovered. But Lamonica again tossed an interception on the next play, this time by rookie CB Jim Marsalis.

Once more the Chiefs turned the ball over in their own territory, this time on a fumble by Holmes that MLB Dan Conners recovered at the KC 31. And once more the Chiefs intercepted a Lamonica pass, with Thomas (pictured at right) picking off his second of the game at his own 20 and returning it 62 yards to the Oakland 18. The result was an insurance field goal with Stenerud connecting from 22 yards with 4:48 remaining on the clock. Kansas City held on to win by a final score of 17-7.

The Raiders had the edge in total yards (233 to 207) and first downs (18 to 13). The Kansas City defense mounted a tremendous pass rush and recorded four sacks, in addition to four interceptions. Both teams turned the ball over four times, with all of those by the Chiefs coming on fumbles.

Len Dawson completed just 7 of 17 passes for 129 yards, but the completions tended to come in clutch situations and, while he had no touchdown passes, he also gave up no interceptions. Otis Taylor had three catches for 62 yards. Wendell Hayes led Kansas City’s ground game with 35 yards on 8 attempts that included a TD. On defense, DE Aaron Brown was unofficially credited with 2.5 sacks and Emmitt Thomas had the two big interceptions that he returned for a total of 69 yards.

For the Raiders, Daryle Lamonica, hindered in the second half by his sore hand, was successful on only 15 of 39 throws for 167 yards and no TDs while giving up three interceptions. In his brief stint, George Blanda went two-for-six and 24 yards and was picked off once. Charlie Smith caught 8 passes for 86 yards while also rushing for 31 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts. Hewritt Dixon ran for a team-leading 36 yards on 12 carries. WR Rod Sherman contributed three catches for 45 yards while the injured Warren Wells was limited to the one 24-yard reception.

Kansas City went on to upset the Minnesota Vikings, champions of the NFL, in the Super Bowl. It was the second straight year in which the younger league came out on top and provided a good sendoff to the AFL before it was absorbed into the NFL. The Chiefs and Raiders became part of the American Football Conference’s Western Division, and Oakland once again finished first in 1970 while the Chiefs placed second at 7-5-2 and out of the postseason.

1975: Raiders Defeat Late-Rallying Bengals in AFC Divisional Playoff Game

The AFC Divisional playoff game on December 28, 1975 featured the Oakland Raiders, champions of the AFC Western Division, against the Cincinnati Bengals, second place finishers in the AFC Central who secured a Wild Card spot. Both teams completed the regular season with 11-3 records.

The Raiders, coached by John Madden, were a highly talented team that had won the division for the third consecutive year. QB Ken “The Snake” Stabler (pictured above) had played with a knee injury all season and was not as successful as he had been in 1974, but still passed for 2296 yards and 16 touchdown, although with 24 interceptions. 32-year-old WR Fred Biletnikoff was showing signs of wear, but deep threat WR Cliff Branch was outstanding, while the running game featured a group of solid, if unspectacular, backs playing behind perhaps the best offensive line in the NFL. On defense, LB Ted Hendricks played out his option and joined the Raiders from Green Bay at the cost of a first draft choice and had been utilized as a reserve for much of the year, but was in the starting lineup against the Bengals, who had beaten Oakland during the regular season.

Cincinnati was coached by the legendary Paul Brown and had an outstanding passing offense directed by QB Ken Anderson, the NFL’s top-rated passer for the second straight year. The receiving corps, led by Pro Bowl WR Isaac Curtis, was a good one while the running game was far less impressive. The defense missed the presence of DT Mike Reid, who retired to pursue a music career, and MLB Bill Bergey, who was traded to Philadelphia, but the secondary had capable performers in CB Ken Riley and SS Tommy Casanova.

It was a clear day at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum with 53,039 fans in attendance. The Raiders took the opening kickoff and drove into Cincinnati territory. Ken Stabler completed passes to WR Mike Siani for 15 yards and TE Bob Moore (pictured at left) for 11, but when the series stalled at the Cincinnati 24, George Blanda’s 41-yard field goal attempt was short.

The Bengals reached the Oakland 44 on their first possession and had to punt, and the Raiders, taking over at their 20, advanced quickly down the field as Stabler completed a pass to Cliff Branch for 36 yards and HB Clarence Davis ran around end for 18 yards to the Cincinnati 26. After getting inside the 20, Oakland’s drive stalled and Blanda kicked a 27-yard field goal.

The Bengals went three-and-out and punted, and in a series that extended into the second quarter, the Raiders, taking over at midfield, drove 50 yards in eight plays. In a third-and-five situation at the Cincinnati 34, Stabler connected with Davis for 10 yards and a personal foul on the Bengals moved the ball to the 12. A three-yard carry by FB Jess Phillips was followed by Siani catching a Stabler pass for a nine-yard touchdown. Blanda added the extra point and Oakland’s lead was extended to 10-0.

Once again the Bengals had to punt following a short possession, and Dave Green’s kick was partially blocked by Ted Hendricks and traveled only 21 yards. The Raiders had excellent starting field position at the Cincinnati 39, and after a loss on a running play, Stabler threw to Siani for 11 yards and Branch for 21 yards to reach the eight yard line. However, an end run by Davis resulted in a loss of six yards and Stabler’s next two passes were incomplete, setting up a 31-yard field goal attempt by Blanda that was blocked by DE Sherman White.

Having avoided another Oakland score, the Bengals came alive on offense and drove 65 yards in eight plays. It did not look promising when HB Essex Johnson lost six yards on first down, but Ken Anderson threw to WR Charlie Joiner for 28 yards and, after three running plays and a third down penalty on the Raiders gained 16 yards, Anderson passed to FB Boobie Clark for 26 yards to the Oakland one. Two plays later, HB Stan Fritts gained the last yard and a TD and, with Green’s conversion, the visitors had narrowed the score to 10-7.

Davis returned the ensuing kickoff 37 yards to the Oakland 46 and the Raiders came back with a nine-play, 54-yard drive. Stabler completed two passes to Moore for seven and eight yards, and HB Pete Banaszak had an 18-yard run to the Cincinnati 11. The series concluded with Stabler throwing to Moore once again, this time for an eight-yard touchdown. Blanda’s PAT gave the home team a ten-point lead once more, and the score remained 17-7 at the half.

The Bengals went three-and-out with the first possession of the third quarter, and the resulting punt was returned 20 yards to the Cincinnati 35 by CB Neal Colzie. It took the Raiders just four plays to score as FB Marv Hubbard gained 13 yards on two running plays, with a 16-yard carry by Davis in between. Banaszak finished off the series with a six-yard scoring run, Blanda kicked the point after, and Oakland’s lead was up to 24-7.

Cincinnati responded with an 11-play, 91-yard series that was helped along by three penalties on the Raiders, including a pass interference call on FS Jack Tatum that resulted in a 24-yard pickup. HB Lenvil Elliott and Boobie Clark ran effectively and Anderson completed two nine-yard passes. Facing fourth-and-one at the Oakland six, Elliott ran up the middle for a touchdown. Green’s conversion again made it a ten-point game at 24-14.

As the period wound down, the Raiders were advancing. Facing a third-and-12 situation at their own 43, Stabler once again threw to Moore, this time for a gain of 17 yards to keep the series going. A pass to Branch picked up 14 yards and, with Davis running for seven yards, the Raiders were at the Cincinnati 24 heading into the fourth quarter. Runs by Banaszak and Davis moved the ball to the two, and from there Stabler tossed a pass to backup TE Dave Casper for a TD. Blanda’s extra point widened Oakland’s lead to 31-14.

The Bengals again had to punt after a short possession and the Raiders appeared poised to finish the visitors off as they took over at their 49. But a Stabler pass was intercepted by Ken Riley, who returned it 34 yards to the Oakland 34, and two plays later Anderson (pictured at right) connected with Joiner for a 25-yard touchdown. Green converted to once more make it a ten-point contest with ten minutes left to play.

Now it was the Raiders going three-and-out as Stabler was sacked by DT Bob Brown for a 14-yard loss on third down, forcing Oakland’s first punt of the game. Starting at the Raiders’ 49, the Bengals moved themselves back with penalties, but on a second-and-20 play, Anderson threw to WR Chip Myers for 37 yards. Five plays later, Anderson completed a pass to Isaac Curtis for a 14-yard TD. Green kicked the PAT and the visitors were now behind by only three points with 5:44 remaining on the clock.

Stabler threw to Branch for 12 yards on Oakland’s first play following the kickoff, but two plays after that Banaszak fumbled and DT Ron Carpenter recovered at the Raiders’ 37. However, in a crucial defensive stand, Hendricks promptly sacked Anderson for a six-yard loss and, while a throw to TE Bruce Coslet regained five yards, the next two passes fell incomplete to return the ball to the Raiders.

Trying to run out the clock, Stabler converted a third-and-six play with a pass to Moore for the necessary yardage and the Raiders were able to maintain possession until there was under a minute remaining before lining up to punt. LB Chris Devlin of the Bengals was penalized for running into the kicker and that clinched the 31-28 win for Oakland.   

The Raiders topped Cincinnati in total yards (358 to 258) and first downs (27 to 17), with 173 yards of their total coming on the ground. Oakland also recorded five sacks, to one by the Bengals, but it was the two turnovers, to none by Cincinnati, that nearly proved fatal.

Ken Stabler completed 17 of 23 passes for three touchdowns while giving up one interception. Bob Moore, who had only 19 catches all season, had 6 for 57 yards and a TD and Cliff Branch gained 89 yards on five receptions. Clarence Davis led the Raiders with 63 rushing yards on 16 carries and Pete Banaszak was right behind with 62 yards on 17 attempts that included a score. On defense, Ted Hendricks (pictured at left) unofficially accounted for four sacks.

For the Bengals, Ken Anderson was successful on 17 of 27 throws for 201 yards and two TDs while not being intercepted. Chip Myers topped the club with 67 yards on three catches, followed closely by Charlie Joiner with his three receptions for 60 yards that included a touchdown. Boobie Clark rushed for 46 yards on 8 attempts and caught four passes for 38 yards.

The Raiders advanced to the AFC Championship game, where they lost a close contest to the Steelers. They would go on to a Super Bowl-winning season in 1976. Cincinnati’s playoff loss turned out to be the last game coached by Paul Brown. He announced his retirement a few days later, although he remained active in the front office. The Bengals were 10-4 under Brown’s successor, Bill Johnson, in 1976 but missed the postseason and wouldn’t return until 1981.

1977: Raiders Score 2 TDs in 4th Quarter to Overcome Todd & Jets

The Oakland Raiders, defending NFL Champions, were heavy favorites as they faced the New York Jets on October 23, 1977. Head Coach John Madden’s team was 4-1 and coming off a loss the previous week to the upstart Denver Broncos. QB Ken “The Snake” Stabler (pictured at right) gave up seven interceptions against the Broncos, but was still a highly capable passer while FB Mark van Eeghen led the ground attack, and the line was very much a strong point. The aggressive defense was showing some age in spots but remained a tough unit.

New York, meanwhile, was 2-3 under new Head Coach Walt Michaels and in the process of rebuilding. Gone was star QB Joe Namath, and in his place was another quarterback out of Alabama, Richard Todd. The team’s 1976 first draft choice was showing potential, but had tossed only three touchdown passes thus far. Another player displaying potential was swift rookie WR Wesley Walker, who could make big plays but also had many drops in the early going.

There were 56,734 fans in attendance on a sunny afternoon at Shea Stadium. The Raiders took the opening kickoff and drove 72 yards in 12 plays. Mark van Eeghen ran the ball seven times for 48 yards, with a 19-yard carry setting up his three-yard touchdown run. Errol Mann kicked the extra point to give the visitors the early 7-0 lead.

The Jets responded with a six-play, 73-yard possession. Richard Todd completed three passes to TE Jerome Barkum, the second for 39 yards to the Oakland 22 and the last for an 18-yard TD. Pat Leahy converted to tie the score.

Oakland came back with a long scoring drive of 76 yards in 13 plays. Ken Stabler completed a pass to TE Dave Casper for 13 yards in a third-and-12 situation and connected with Casper again for a 19-yard touchdown. Mann’s kick gave the Raiders a 14-7 lead.

The Jets then struck quickly in return. On the second play after the kickoff, and following a holding penalty that backed them up to their 13 yard line, Todd fired long down the right sideline for Wesley Walker (pictured at left), who beat CB Skip Thomas to make the catch and went the distance for an 87-yard TD. However, Leahy missed the extra point and Oakland was still ahead by 14-13 at the end of the eventful opening period.

Following a quarter of unstoppable offense, the teams traded punts to start the second quarter. Midway through the period, the Jets again moved rapidly to put points on the board. On first down, Todd again went long for Walker and it was complete for a 52-yard gain to the Oakland 22. FB Clark Gaines picked up eight yards on a draw play and then Todd passed to WR Rich Caster coming across the middle for a 14-yard TD. This time Leahy made good on the PAT and New York held a 20-14 lead.

On the next series, the Jets got the ball back when Stabler, pressured by DE Lawrence Pillers, threw a pass that was intercepted by LB John Ebersole. But two plays later, Todd was picked off by CB Neal Colzie. The visitors went three-and-out on the resulting possession and punted, and, taking over with 1:41 left in the first half, the Jets advanced 58 yards in eight plays to extend their lead. Todd completed four straight passes at one point, the first to Walker for 21 yards, and he finished off the drive with a throw to Gaines in the middle of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown. Leahy converted and New York had a 27-14 halftime margin.

The third quarter started with turnovers as Todd fumbled the ball away while attempting to pass, Casper coughed up the football after making a catch, and Colzie intercepted a throw from Todd. The last gave the Raiders the ball at their own five yard line, and unable to move on offense, they punted and the Jets had good starting field position at the Oakland 43. Two carries by HB Kevin Long and a screen pass to Gaines advanced the ball to the 20, but the drive stalled and Leahy was wide on a 32-yard field goal attempt.

In a series that extended into the fourth quarter, the Raiders drove 80 yards in 11 plays. Stabler completed five passes, including one to Casper that gained 18 yards in a second-and-11 situation, and the drive was capped by a throw to WR Fred Biletnikoff for a seven-yard touchdown. Mann added the extra point and New York’s lead was cut to six.

The Jets had to punt after a short series but retained possession due to a penalty on the Raiders. Todd threw to Caster for a 58-yard gain to the Oakland 10, but the Raiders held and Leahy missed another field goal try, this time from 26 yards.

On the ensuing series, Stabler threw to WR Mike Siani for gains of 29 and eight yards to reach the New York 43, and following a short carry by van Eeghen, “The Snake” connected with Casper for 15 yards. Two more runs by van Eeghen picked up eight yards before Stabler found Siani in the left corner of the end zone for a 24-yard TD. Mann’s conversion put the Raiders in front by a point.

Pinned deep in their territory following the kickoff, the Jets couldn’t get beyond their 14 and had to punt. Oakland took possession at the New York 44 with 6:11 left and never relinquished it. van Eeghen and HB Clarence Davis chipped away and reached the 11, from where Mann attempted a 27-yard field goal that missed to the right. However, the Jets were penalized for running into the kicker and that clinched it. The Raiders won by a final score of 28-27.

The game was reminiscent of the old shootouts so common when the teams were in the AFL. The Jets had the edge in total yards (442 to 423), although Oakland was more balanced with 213 net passing yards and 210 on the ground, while the Raiders had the lead in first downs (29 to 17). New York turned the ball over three times, to two by Oakland, but ultimately the game came down to Pat Leahy’s missed extra point and two errant field goals.

Mark van Eeghen (pictured at right) had a big rushing performance, gaining 143 yards on 36 carries that included a touchdown. Ken Stabler completed 19 of 26 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns, two of them in the fourth quarter, and gave up one interception. Dave Casper had 7 catches for 92 yards and a TD and Mike Siani contributed 86 yards on his five receptions that also included a score.

For the Jets, Richard Todd had a big performance as he hit on 17 of 29 throws for 396 yards and four touchdowns while being picked off twice. Wesley Walker caught four of those passes for 178 yards and a TD, Jerome Barkum added another 94 yards on four receptions that included a score, and Rich Caster pulled in three catches for 82 yards and another TD. Clark Gaines had 5 pass receptions for 38 yards and a TD and also led the club with 9 carries for 35 yards on the ground.

“We all knew what we had to do,” said Ken Stabler regarding the Oakland comeback. “We were 13 points down but we knew we had plenty of time. We kept our poise.”

The Raiders went on to win their next three games on the way to an 11-3 record, although for the first time in six years they failed to finish first in the AFC West. They were second to the Broncos, but qualified for the playoffs as a Wild Card and reached the conference title game before falling to Denver. New York continued to struggle and won only one more contest the rest of the way to end up fourth in the AFC East at 3-11.

Ken Stabler passed for 2176 yards and his 20 touchdowns ranked second in the NFL, although he also gave up 20 interceptions. He was chosen to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time. Mark van Eeghen led the AFC with a career-high 1273 yards on 324 carries (3.9 avg.).

Richard Todd (pictured at left), who missed three games due to injury, had a respectable season with 1863 passing yards and 11 touchdowns while being intercepted 17 times. Wesley Walker had 35 catches for 740 yards and three TDs, and his 21.1 yards per reception led the NFL.  

1973: Raiders End Miami’s Winning Streak

The Miami Dolphins, who were coming off an undefeated NFL Championship season in 1972, had an 18-game winning streak on the line (playoff games included) as they met the Oakland Raiders on September 23, 1973. Head Coach Don Shula’s team had last been defeated by the Cowboys in Super Bowl VI following the ’71 season and, in terms of regular season play, had won their last game in 1971 in addition to all 14 in ‘72 and, with a 21-13 victory over the 49ers in Week 1, the first in ’73 for a total of 16. QB Bob Griese directed an efficient ball control offense with FB Larry Csonka the chief ground gainer and WR Paul Warfield the dangerous receiver who could stretch the field and keep opposing defenses honest. The so-called “No Name” defense was tough and effective.

Oakland, coached by John Madden, topped the AFC West in 1972 with a 10-3-1 record but had lost its ‘73 opening game at Minnesota the previous week. At age 32, QB Daryle Lamonica had his share of critics but was still a fine passer and there was quality and depth at the receiving and running back positions. The offensive line was excellent and the defense was a good veteran group.   

The game was played at Memorial Stadium at the Univ. of California due to a scheduling conflict for the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum with baseball’s Oakland Athletics, and there were 74,121 fans in attendance, which set a franchise record for a Raiders home game. The Dolphins had first possession and moved in typical fashion from their 16 yard line with Larry Csonka and HB Mercury Morris running the ball and Bob Griese completing three short passes. But after reaching the Oakland 45, Csonka fumbled and SS George Atkinson recovered for the Raiders.

Now it was Oakland’s turn to move methodically down the field, with an 11-yard carry by HB Charlie Smith followed by FB Marv Hubbard (pictured at left) running the ball four straight times, the last picking up 26 yards to the Miami four. The Dolphins held at that point and George Blanda (pictured at top), who had recently celebrated his 46^th birthday and was playing in his 300^th pro game, kicked a 12-yard field goal to give the Raiders the early 3-0 lead.

The Dolphins had to punt following their next series and, in a possession that stretched into the second quarter, Oakland kept the ball on the ground and moved effectively, the biggest carry being for 19 yards by Smith. Once again the Raiders went for a field goal, this time much longer from 46 yards, but the result was the same as Blanda’s kick was good.

Miami went three-and-out on its next possession, but got a break when SS Jake Scott intercepted a pass by Daryle Lamonica. Starting at the Oakland 41, Csonka and HB Jim Kiick ran the ball down to the 18. However, Griese threw three straight incomplete passes at that point and the Dolphins came up empty when Garo Yepremian’s 26-yard field goal attempt was wide to the right. Neither team was able to threaten again for the remainder of the half, which ended with the Raiders ahead by 6-0.

The teams exchanged punts to start the third quarter before the Raiders, taking advantage of a short 24-yard kick by Larry Seiple, gained possession at the Miami 46. Smith and Hubbard again ran to good effect and Lamonica completed a pass to Smith for seven yards. The drive stalled at the 12 and Blanda kicked his third field goal, this time from 19 yards.

RB Charlie Leigh returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards to give the Dolphins good starting field position at the Oakland 45, but they were unable to put together a drive and Yepremian was short on a 45-yard field goal attempt that DT Art Thoms, stretching the full length of his 6’5”, got a hand on.

The teams again traded punts as the contest headed into the fourth quarter, with neither able to move well on offense. With 11 minutes remaining in the game, the Raiders began to advance as Lamonica completed passes to WR Fred Biletnikoff for nine and 22 yards. From the Miami 27, Smith and Hubbard again ground away at the Dolphin defense, and after driving 58 yards in 12 plays, Blanda was successful on a 10-yard field goal try, his fourth. With the clock down to 2:24, Oakland was up by 12-0.

The Dolphins came out throwing following the kickoff, with Griese completing passes to Kiick and Lee that totaled nine yards. Morris ran for six yards and a first down, and after an incompletion, he carried for seven yards. Griese threw to TE Jim Mandich for ten yards and the Dolphins picked up another 15 yards thanks to a personal foul. The seven-play, 75-yard series concluded with Griese passing to Mandich for a 28-yard touchdown. With Yepremian’s extra point, the Dolphins were down by five points and the clock showed just over a minute to go.

Miami tried for an onside kick but HB Pete Banaszak recovered for the Raiders. Three running plays were followed by a punt into the end zone and, with 42 seconds left and a winning streak on the line, the Dolphins took over at their 20. But all four of Griese’s passes fell incomplete and the Raiders held on to win by a final score of 12-7.

Oakland led in total yards (250 to 195) and first downs (12 to 10), reflecting the defensive nature of the contest. Neither team reached triple figures in net passing yards, with the Dolphins leading by 90 to 63. Miami turned the ball over twice, to one by the Raiders.

Daryle Lamonica went to the air just 10 times and had 7 completions for 63 yards with one intercepted. Marv Hubbard ran for 88 yards on 20 carries and Charlie Smith was right behind with 80 yards, also on 20 attempts. Fred Biletnikoff was Oakland’s leading receiver with three catches for 36 yards. The specialists did their part, with George Blanda kicking four field goals in as many attempts to account for all of the team’s points and Ray Guy averaging 49.0 yards on six punts. Otis Sistrunk, Art Thoms, and Phil Villapiano were most noteworthy in what was an outstanding group effort by the Oakland defense.

For the Dolphins, Bob Griese completed 12 of 25 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown with none intercepted. Mercury Morris gained 48 yards on 7 carries and Larry Csonka had 47 yards on 10 attempts. Charlie Leigh led the club with three catches, for 16 yards, while Jim Mandich (pictured at right) totaled 38 yards on his two receptions that included the game’s only TD.

“We wanted to play them last year and stop the streak but we didn’t get the chance,” said Oakland’s Coach Madden. “But now we’re the team that did it.”

The Dolphins shook off the loss and reeled off ten straight wins on the way to a 12-2 record and second Super Bowl victory. Oakland lost the following week, and with the offense having difficulty scoring points, Daryle Lamonica was replaced by Ken Stabler at quarterback. The Raiders again topped the AFC West at 9-4-1 and advanced to the AFC Championship game, where the Miami exacted its revenge.

The 24^th-year veteran George Blanda went on to kick a career-high 23 field goals in 33 attempts (69.7 %) and, adding in 31 extra points, scored an even 100 points. Marv Hubbard led the Raiders in rushing with 903 yards and in touchdowns with six. He was selected to the Pro Bowl.

1976: Raiders Hold Off Rally by Chiefs for Monday Night Win

Two fierce rivals, the Oakland Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs, were featured in a Monday night NFL game on September 20, 1976. The visiting Raiders had won their opener over Pittsburgh the previous week while Kansas City lost to the Chargers, but beyond that, the two clubs were in very different places as they met for the 35^th time.

Oakland, coached by John Madden for the eighth season and coming off an 11-3 record in ‘75, had topped the AFC West in five of the previous six seasons. QB Ken “The Snake” Stabler (pictured above) was an able, if immobile, passer and had fine wide receivers available in Cliff Branch and the aging Fred Biletnikoff, plus up-and-coming TE Dave Casper. There was also a good, if unspectacular, group of running backs operating behind an excellent line. The defense was tough and aggressive.

The Chiefs had not done so well in recent years. They finished at 5-9 in each of the previous two seasons, including their first under Head Coach Paul Wiggin, successor to the esteemed Hank Stram, in ’75. QB Len Dawson had finally retired after an outstanding career and longtime backup Mike Livingston was taking over the reins, but there were still too many aging players on the roster.

It was a clear Monday night at Arrowhead Stadium with 60,884 fans in attendance. The teams traded punts before the Raiders drove 67 yards in 12 plays. Ken Stabler completed six passes, including two that converted third downs and the last for a 15-yard touchdown to Dave Casper. Fred Steinfort added the extra point.

Following another short possession leading to a punt by the Chiefs, Oakland put together another 12-play scoring drive that extended into the second quarter, advancing 72 yards. FB Mark van Eeghen (pictured below) and HB Pete Banaszak ran effectively and Stabler connected twice on passes to Cliff Branch, the first for 13 yards to convert a third down and the second for a 10-yard TD. Steinfort again converted and the Raiders were ahead by 14-0 and clearly the dominant team.

The teams exchanged punts until the Raiders got the ball back at their 14 with three minutes to play in the half. HB Clarence Davis ran for the necessary 14 yards in a third-and-14 situation and Banaszak followed up with a 15-yard carry. Completions to Branch, Casper, and Fred Biletnikoff advanced the ball to the Kansas City 20 and, with the clock down to 27 seconds Steinfort kicked a 37-yard field goal to stake Oakland to a 17-0 halftime lead. Kansas City had managed just 37 yards of offense thus far.

The Chiefs had the first possession of the third quarter and, with Mike Livingston completing passes to TE Walter White for 25 yards and WR Henry Marshall for 21, reached the Oakland 23. However, they came up empty when Jan Stenerud was wide on a 41-yard field goal attempt.

CB Tim Collier intercepted a Stabler pass on the next series, but the Chiefs fumbled the ball right back. Oakland went three-and-out and had to punt, and Kansas City put together another good drive of 54 yards in nine plays, and this time didn’t fail to put points on the board. HB Woody Green ran the ball four times for 35 yards and FB MacArthur Lane carried for the last yard and a touchdown. Stenerud added the extra point and it was a 17-7 game after three quarters.

The Raiders responded by driving 72 yards in eight plays. A 16-yard Stabler completion to Biletnikoff had an unnecessary roughness penalty on FS Gary Barbaro tacked onto it to advance Oakland to the KC 14, and from there Stabler connected with WR Mike Siani for a TD. Steinfort’s PAT again made it a 17-point margin favoring the visitors, although “The Snake” was injured from a hit by DE Wilbur Young on the scoring play.

The Chiefs had to punt following their next series and the Raiders, now with Mike Rae at quarterback for Stabler, punted the ball back in turn. With 3:41 left on the clock, Kansas City took over and drove 87 yards in 12 plays. Livingston completed three passes but it was the running of Green and Lane that fueled KC’s advance. Livingston ran the ball himself for a one-yard touchdown and, with Stenerud again adding the extra point, Oakland’s lead was narrowed to 24-14.

That still appeared formidable as the Raiders took possession, but Banaszak ran the ball three straight times, fumbled on the last carry after gaining first down yardage, and LB Billy Andrews recovered for the Chiefs at the Oakland 25. On the next play, Livingston threw to TE Billy Masters in the middle of the end zone for a TD, Stenerud converted, and the home team was only behind by a touchdown.

That was as far as Kansas City’s surge would carry, however. The ensuing try for an onside kick failed and, with the Chiefs out of timeouts, the Raiders were able to run out the clock as van Eeghen carried four times for 27 yards and two first downs. Oakland held on to win by a final score of 24-21.

The Raiders dominated in total yards (446 to 280), with 211 of that total coming on the ground, and also had the edge in first downs (25 to 18). Oakland also recorded the only three sacks of the game, but also turned the ball over twice (to one by KC) and was penalized 11 times at a cost of 104 yards, to 8 flags thrown on the Chiefs.

Ken Stabler was highly efficient as he completed 22 of 28 passes, including 11 of his first 12, for 224 yards and three touchdowns while giving up one interception, until a strained right knee forced him from the contest. Mark van Eeghen ran for 84 yards on 19 carries, Pete Banaszak contributed 61 yards on 11 attempts, and Clarence Davis gained 59 yards on his 12 runs. Cliff Branch had 5 catches for 62 yards and a TD and Dave Casper was right behind at 5 receptions and 57 yards with a score.

For the Chiefs, Mike Livingston was successful on 12 of 21 throws for 190 yards and a TD with none intercepted. Woody Green ran for 75 yards on 14 attempts and caught three passes for 28 more yards while MacArthur Lane (pictured below) gained 34 yards on 9 carries that included a touchdown and had a team-leading four pass receptions for 69 yards.

“I can’t account for the first half,” said Kansas City’s Coach Wiggin. “I wish I could. It was just a solid indication we were playing a superior football team.”

The Raiders lost only once all season, again topping the AFC West at 13-1 and advancing to a win over the Vikings in the Super Bowl. Kansas City compiled a third straight 5-9 record to place fourth in the division.

Ken Stabler missed the following week due to his injury but came back to lead the NFL in passing (103.4 rating) in addition to completion percentage (66.7), yards per attempt (9.4), and TD passes (27). He was chosen to the Pro Bowl and received the Bert Bell award as NFL Player of the Year. Cliff Branch (46 catches, 1111 yards, 24.2 avg., 12 TDs) and Dave Casper (53 catches, 691 yards, 10 TDs) were both consensus first-team All-NFL as well as Pro Bowl selections. Mark van Eeghen ran for 1012 yards on 233 carries (4.3 avg.), his first of three straight thousand yard ground-gaining seasons.

Woody Green’s career ended four weeks later due to a knee injury that required surgery while 34-year-old MacArthur Lane led the Chiefs in rushing with 542 yards and topped the NFL with 66 catches, for 686 yards.

1974: Raiders Stun Dolphins in AFC Divisional Playoff Game

The Miami Dolphins had won the Super Bowls following the 1972 and ’73 seasons and were looking to make it three straight as they faced the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Divisional playoff round on December 21, 1974. Coached by Don Shula for the fifth year, Miami featured a highly productive ground game on offense led by FB Larry Csonka. QB Bob Griese was an able field general who, on the occasions when he passed, was very effective and WR Paul Warfield was a deep threat who kept defenses honest. The fact that Csonka and Warfield, along with HB Jim Kiick, were lame ducks in Miami because of having signed with the World Football League’s Memphis Southmen for 1975 didn’t limit their performance in ‘74. Defensively, the team was strong with solid ends Bill Stanfill and Vern den Herder, aging MLB Nick Buoniconti anchoring a fine corps of linebackers, and the outstanding safety tandem of Jake Scott and Dick Anderson. The Dolphins topped the AFC East with an 11-3 record and appeared primed for another title run.

Oakland, coached by John Madden, was an annual title contender but had not been to the Super Bowl since representing the AFL after the 1967 season. QB Ken “The Snake” Stabler was an exciting performer who led the league with 26 TD passes during the regular season. The starting wide receivers were excellent, with Cliff Branch providing the speed and Fred Biletnikoff the reliability as a possession receiver.  The stable of running backs was a good one and the defense, while not the best, was rugged. The Raiders topped the AFC West at 12-2 and, in the eyes of many fans, the Raiders and Dolphins were the league’s two best teams and this Divisional playoff, as a result, was the “real” Super Bowl.

There were 52,317 fans in attendance on a gray Saturday at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The game got off to an exciting start when Miami WR Nat Moore ran the opening kickoff back 89 yards for a touchdown. Garo Yepremian added the extra point and the Dolphins were ahead by 7-0 after just 15 seconds of action.

The contest settled into a battle for field position as the teams traded punts until the Raiders put together a seven-play, 78-yard drive to get on the board in the second quarter. Ken Stabler completed two nine-yard passes, to Fred Biletnikoff and FB Marv Hubbard, and HB Clarence Davis had a 19-yard carry to the Miami 36. Three plays later, Stabler connected with HB Charlie Smith for a 31-yard TD and George Blanda’s extra point tied the score.

The Dolphins responded with a long scoring drive of 63 yards in 11 plays. The first six were running plays, with HB Benny Malone, Larry Csonka, and Jim Kiick carrying the load. Facing third-and-four at the Oakland 29, Bob Griese threw to Kiick for five yards and, after getting to the 16, Yepremian kicked a 33-yard field goal with just over a minute remaining in the half. The Dolphins held a 10-7 lead at halftime.

The teams again exchanged punts to start the third quarter. On their second series, the Raiders advanced 60 yards in nine plays. Stabler passed to Biletnikoff for 20 yards on the first play, taking the ball into Miami territory, and a pass to TE Bob Moore on third-and-seven was just enough for a first down. A run by HB Pete Banaszak picked up nine yards and Davis gained eight. Finally, Stabler connected with Biletnikoff for a 13-yard touchdown. Blanda added the PAT and Oakland was on top for the first time by 14-10.

The Dolphins came back with another score. Griese helped his cause with a nine-yard scramble and Malone and Csonka had good gains along the way. A pass interference penalty on the Raiders gave Miami a first down at the Oakland 16 and, from there, Griese threw to Paul Warfield for a touchdown. Yepremian’s extra point attempt was blocked by DE Bubba Smith, but the Dolphins remained ahead by two points at 16-14.

The teams again traded punts until, on the last play of the third quarter, Csonka ran for 15 yards to spark a drive that covered 60 yards in nine plays. With Malone and Csonka running effectively and Griese completing a pass to Warfield for 20 yards along the way, the visitors reached the Oakland 28. Yepremian kicked a 46-yard field goal to widen the Miami lead to 19-14.

After another exchange of punts, and with less than five minutes remaining in the game, the Raiders scored in spectacular fashion. Stabler threw to Cliff Branch, who made a diving catch at the Oakland 28. However, CB Henry Stuckey failed to touch him and the alert Branch leaped up and ran the distance for a 72-yard TD. Blanda’s extra point put the home team on top at 21-19 with 4:37 remaining to play.

In response, the Dolphins went 68 yards in just four plays. Griese threw to Nat Moore for 23 yards and then Miami ran at the Oakland defense, with Csonka picking up a total of 22 yards on two carries. Finally, Malone (pictured below) swept around end on a 23-yard touchdown run that put Miami back in the lead. Yepremian added the extra point and it was 26-21 with a little over two minutes on the clock.

Starting from the Oakland 32 after the ensuing kickoff, Stabler completed passes to Biletnikoff of 18 and 20 yards and two more throws, to Branch and WR Frank Pitts, got the ball to the Miami 14. Facing third-and-one, Coach Madden called for a running play and Davis gained six yards off tackle for first-and-goal at the eight. The time remaining was now down to 35 seconds and the Raiders used their final timeout. On the next play, with the primary receivers well covered Stabler seemed about to be sacked by Vern Den Herder but caught a glimpse of Davis in the end zone and threw while falling forward. Leaping amid a crowd of defenders, Davis pulled the ball away from LB Mike Kolen and fell to the ground for a touchdown (pictured at top). Blanda again converted and Oakland had a two-point lead.

That was enough. The Dolphins got the ball back, but Griese threw a pass that was intercepted by LB Phil Villapiano, and the Raiders won the classic encounter and advanced by a final score of 28-26.

Oakland had more total yards (411 to 294) and the edge in first downs (19 to 18). The Dolphins ran the ball well, totaling 213 yards on the ground (to 135 for the Raiders) while Oakland had 276 net passing yards to Miami’s 81. Each team recorded two sacks and turned the ball over one time apiece.

Ken Stabler  (pictured below) completed 20 of 30 passes for 293 yards and four touchdowns with one interception.  Fred Biletnikoff had 8 catches for 122 yards and a TD and, with the long scoring reception, Cliff Branch contributed 84 yards on three catches. Clarence Davis led the team’s running attack with 59 yards on 12 attempts while also accounting for two pass receptions for 16 yards and the game-winning score. Marv Hubbard was right behind with 55 yards on 14 carries.

For the Dolphins, Bob Griese was successful on 7 of 14 throws for 101 yards and a TD, while one pass was picked off. Larry Csonka rushed for 114 yards on 24 attempts and Benny Malone gained 83 yards on 14 carries that included a touchdown. Paul Warfield caught three passes for 47 yards and a TD.

“When you lose like that, you know it wasn’t meant to be,” said Don Shula. “Your dreams just go down the drain.”

The loss did indeed end Miami’s dream of a third consecutive NFL Championship, but, ironically enough considering the speculation that the winner of this game would be sure to advance to the Super Bowl, the Raiders did not make it that far as they lost to Pittsburgh in the AFC Championship game.

Oakland topped the AFC West again in 1975, and again reached the AFC title game before falling to the Steelers. The Raiders finally achieved the elusive NFL Championship in ’76. As for the Dolphins, the loss to the Raiders did mark the end of an outstanding run that was highlighted by the three straight AFC titles as well as the back-to-back Super Bowl victories. The loss of the veterans Csonka, Warfield, and Kiick in 1975 had an effect, with Csonka’s role at fullback proving difficult to replace. Miami just missed the playoffs with a 10-4 record and fell to 6-8 in 1976; the Dolphins would not return to the postseason until 1978. 

1977: Rams Beat Raiders to Clinch NFC West Title

The Los Angeles Rams had won four straight NFC West titles and were looking to clinch a fifth as they hosted the Oakland Raiders on December 4, 1977. Head Coach Chuck Knox, unhappy working for owner Carroll Rosenbloom but still at the helm, had molded the Rams into a consistent winner with a ground-oriented offense and solid defense, although the winning had yet to reach full fruition in the postseason. 34-year-old Joe Namath had come from the Jets and started the season at quarterback but was quickly supplanted by Pat Haden, who made up for a lack of size and arm strength with mobility and intelligence (he had studied at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar). HB Lawrence McCutcheon (pictured above) ably led the ground game and, when the Rams passed, they had an outstanding deep threat in WR Harold Jackson. After getting off to a 4-3 start, Los Angeles had won four straight – with the defense giving up no more than ten points in any of those games – and came into the contest against Oakland at 8-3, a full two games in front of the nearest competitor in the division.

The Raiders, coached by John Madden, were the defending NFL Champions but, at 9-2, were in a battle with the upstart Denver Broncos for leadership in the AFC West. QB Ken “The Snake” Stabler was having something of an off year, but the Raiders were still a tough, veteran club.

There were 67,075 fans in attendance on a pleasant day at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Raiders had first possession and drove just past midfield before Stabler was intercepted by LB Jim Youngblood. The Rams moved into Oakland territory with Lawrence McCutcheon running effectively and catching a pass from Pat Haden (pictured below) for a 14-yard gain in a third-and-six situation. The drive finally stalled at the 28 but LA came up empty when Rafael Septien’s 46-yard field goal attempt sailed wide to the right.

The teams exchanged punts but the Rams got another break when WR Rick Jennings of the Raiders fumbled while attempting to make a fair catch of Glenn Walker’s kick. Rookie safety Nolan Cromwell recovered at the Oakland 27 and this time LA did not fail to capitalize. Following two short passes, McCutcheon carried five straight times to reach the three and FB John Cappelletti ran the final yard for a touchdown. Septien added the extra point.

In a series that carried over into the second quarter, the Raiders responded by advancing into Los Angeles territory, but Errol Mann’s 39-yard try for a field goal was blocked by CB Pat Thomas. The teams again traded punts before Oakland once again marched into LA’s end of the field. The Raiders started off at their ten but HB Clarence Davis took a pitchout and ran 32 yards and a 12-yard carry by FB Mark van Eeghen brought the ball to the LA 37. Following two short runs and a pass, Stabler fired twice for the end zone. The first fell incomplete and the second was picked off by CB Monte Jackson to extinguish the threat.

However, it was now Oakland’s turn to benefit from a turnover. Cappelletti fumbled and DE Pat Toomay recovered for the Raiders at the LA 31. Eight plays later, and with just under a minute remaining in the half, FB Pete Banaszak pounded one yard for a TD. Mann’s extra point tied the score at 7-7, which remained the tally at halftime.

The Rams took the second half kickoff and rolled methodically down the field, going 62 yards in 11 plays. Haden threw to TE Terry Nelson for 16 yards and to Cappelletti for nine yards in a third-and-four situation. Another 16-yard completion to Nelson got the ball to the Oakland 11 and, after McCutcheon ran twice and Haden’s third-down pass was tipped by DE John Matuszak, Septien kicked a 21-yard field goal to put Los Angeles back in the lead.

The Raiders reached the LA 45 on their next series before having to punt. The home team got a big play when Haden threw to McCutcheon for a 30-yard gain to the Oakland 36, but the drive stalled and the Rams punted in turn. A Stabler pass was tipped and intercepted by SS Dave Elmendorf, but Oakland got the ball back on the next play when Cappelletti fumbled again and CB Lester Hayes recovered. As the game headed into the final period, the Raiders reached the LA 32, but Stabler fumbled when sacked by LB Isiah Robertson and DE Jack Youngblood came up with the ball.

The Rams went 17 yards in six plays before Septien kicked another field goal, this time from 44 yards, to make it a six-point game. But the Raiders, starting at their 13 following a penalty on the ensuing kickoff, responded with a 12-play, 87-yard drive. Davis and van Eeghen ran the ball well and, when the series stalled at the Oakland 45 and the Raiders punted, an offsides penalty on the Rams kept the possession alive. Van Eeghen took off for a 20-yard run and a defensive holding penalty allowed the Raiders to convert another third down. Finally, Stabler threw to TE Dave Casper for a 21-yard touchdown and, with Mann adding the extra point, Oakland was in front by 14-13 with less than five minutes remaining to play.

With the ball at the LA 17 following the kickoff, Haden threw to Nelson for 20 yards and, after a short running play, tossed a swing pass to Cappelletti for another ten. McCutcheon ran for six yards and another swing pass lost ground, but Haden then went long for the fleet Harold Jackson who caught the ball in the end zone for a 43-yard TD. Septien’s PAT made it a six-point lead for the home team.

There were still two minutes left as the Raiders took possession. Stabler was looking to pass on every play, and after being sacked by Jack Youngblood to face a fourth-and-20 situation, he connected with Casper for a 24-yard gain. Two plays later, “The Snake” hit WR Cliff Branch for nine yards, but a sack and an incomplete pass had the Raiders back at their 49 with seven seconds remaining on the clock. Stabler found Branch for 24 yards but time expired before he could get out of bounds and the Rams came away with a 20-14 win.

The Raiders led in total yards (351 to 302), with 198 of that total coming on the ground, and first downs (27 to 19). However, Oakland also turned the ball over six times, to two suffered by the Rams. Stabler was also sacked four times, as opposed to two recorded by LA.

Pat Haden completed 13 of 22 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. Lawrence McCutcheon ran for 97 yards on 25 carries and also led the Rams with 63 yards on four pass receptions. John Cappelletti had 5 catches for 29 yards to go along with his 34 yards and a TD on 13 rushing attempts. Terry Nelson contributed three receptions for 51 yards while Harold Jackson had the one big 43-yard scoring catch.

For the Raiders, Ken Stabler was successful on 16 of 38 throws for 194 yards and a TD, and gave up four interceptions. Clarence Davis rushed for 80 yards on 10 carries and Mark van Eeghen was right behind as he gained 79 yards on 16 attempts. Dave Casper (pictured at right) topped the receivers with 5 catches for 73 yards and a touchdown and Fred Biletnikoff added four receptions for 47 yards.

The win for the Rams clinched another NFL West crown and they finished at 10-4. However, they once again fell short in the postseason with a loss to Minnesota in the Divisional playoff round. The loss for the Raiders assured that they would need to qualify for the postseason as a Wild Card entry. They did just that, winning their last two contests to place second in the AFC West at 11-3. Oakland won an exciting overtime game in the Divisional round over the Colts before falling to the Broncos in a close contest for the AFC Championship.

Lawrence McCutcheon ranked third in the NFL with 1238 yards on 294 rushing attempts (4.2 avg.), his fourth thousand-yard season in five years. He caught 25 passes for 274 yards and scored a total of nine touchdowns in garnering his fifth consecutive selection to the Pro Bowl.

Pat Haden ranked third in the league in passing with an 84.5 rating. He completed 56.5 percent of his passes for 1551 yards and 11 touchdowns, giving up just 6 interceptions, and was also named to the Pro Bowl.