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.”

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.  

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.

1976: Late Rally Propels Raiders Over Steelers

Two of the strongest teams in the NFL’s American Football Conference faced off in a season-opening game on September 12, 1976. The Oakland Raiders had won their fourth straight AFC West title in ’75 under Head Coach John Madden, although they had once again come up short of reaching the Super Bowl. QB Ken “The Snake” Stabler (pictured at right) guided a talented offense and the defense was a tough veteran unit. One notable change was that, after nine years with the Raiders and 26 as a pro, 48-year-old placekicker and reserve QB George Blanda had finally been forced into retirement by rookie PK Fred Steinfort.

The visiting Pittsburgh Steelers were coming off back-to-back NFL titles. Coached by Chuck Noll, they were solid in every way, with QB Terry Bradshaw, the running of FB Franco Harris and HB Rocky Bleier, the talented young wide receiver tandem of Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, and the best overall defense in the NFL featuring such stalwarts as DT “Mean Joe” Greene (coming off an injury in ’75), DE L.C. Greenwood, MLB Jack Lambert, OLB Jack Ham, and CB Mel Blount.

There were 51,371 fans in attendance at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum for the big opening week matchup. The Raiders drove to the Pittsburgh 30 on the first series of the game, but Fred Steinfort’s 47-yard field goal attempt was blocked. Following a punt by the Steelers, Oakland again drove into Pittsburgh territory. Ken Stabler converted a third-and-five situation at his own 33 with a pass to WR Cliff Branch that gained 16 yards and three plays later, facing third-and-13, “The Snake” again went to Branch, this time for 26 yards to the Pittsburgh 28. But after advancing to the 14, Stabler tried for Branch in the end zone and was intercepted by FS Glen Edwards. The Raiders once more came up empty.

The Steelers advanced to the Oakland 35 with Rocky Bleier and Franco Harris running effectively and Terry Bradshaw completing one pass, to Bleier for 21 yards. But on a second down play, Bleier fumbled after making another good run and LB Monte Jackson recovered for the Raiders.

Finishing off the opening period, Stabler completed passes to HB Clarence Davis for nine yards and FB Mark van Eeghen for 16 yards to the Pittsburgh 45. Five plays into the second quarter, Stabler connected with TE Dave Casper (pictured at left) for a 30-yard touchdown. Steinfort’s extra point put the home team up by 7-0.

After the teams traded punts, the Steelers drove down the field, once again thanks to the solid running of Harris and Bleier. An 18-yard gain by Harris on a draw play put the visitors on the Oakland six, but the Steelers were finally halted at the two yard line. They came away with nothing when Roy Gerela was wide on the short 20-yard field goal try.

After the Raiders punted again, the Steelers took over at their 14 and put together a nine-play, 86-yard series. A pass on third-and-eight from Bradshaw to Bleier picked up 24 yards and was followed by an 11-yard completion to Lynn Swann to the Oakland 49. Three plays later, another Bradshaw pass down the middle to Harris picked up 39 yards to the five yard line and Bleier finished off the possession with a two-yard touchdown carry. Gerela tied the score at 7-7 and that was the tally at the half.

Neither team was able to mount much offense in the third quarter until midway through the period when, with the ball at the Pittsburgh 37, Bradshaw threw to Harris who ran for 25 yards before FS Jack Tatum grabbed him around the legs. As Harris was being tackled, he lateraled to John Stallworth, and he proceeded to the end zone for a 63-yard touchdown.

Stabler threw interceptions to end each of the next two Oakland possessions. The second one gave Pittsburgh the ball at the Raiders’ 39 and on the third play of the fourth quarter Bradshaw connected with WR Theo Bell for an 11-yard touchdown. The Steelers were up by 21-7.

The Raiders responded by driving 67 yards in seven plays. Stabler completed three passes, the last one to WR Fred Biletnikoff making a diving catch for a 21-yard TD. But Pittsburgh came back with a series that included two Bradshaw completions to Stallworth, for 25 and 20 yards, and helped by two penalties on the Raiders, reached the Oakland three from where Harris ran up the middle for a touchdown.

Stabler was picked off by Mel Blount on Oakland’s next play from scrimmage and, with less than six minutes left on the clock, the Steelers were ahead by 28-14 and driving. But with a first down at the Oakland 19, Harris fumbled and Monte Johnson recovered for the Raiders at the 25.

Making the most of the break, Stabler completed three straight passes and, following a facemask penalty on the Steelers and an 11-yard run by RB Pete Banaszak, he completed one more to Casper for a ten-yard TD.

The reeling Steelers had a short series followed by a punt that was partially blocked and gave Oakland the ball at the Pittsburgh 29. Stabler tossed three straight incomplete passes before, on a fourth-and-ten play, he hit Branch for 27 yards to the two. “The Snake” rolled out on the next play and ran the last two yards and, with Steinfort’s successful conversion, the game was tied at 28-28.

With time running out and the Steelers trying to win the game in regulation, Bradshaw fired a pass intended for rookie WR Ernie Pough that was deflected by DT Dave Rowe and picked off by LB WIllie Hall, who returned it to the Pittsburgh 12. Steinfort kicked a 21-yard field goal to put the Raiders ahead with 21 seconds remaining. Time ran out for the Steelers following two Bradshaw completions to the Oakland 48, and the Raiders came away with a dramatic 31-28 win.

Statistically, the game was as even as the final score. Oakland had a slight edge in total yards (440 to 438) and first downs (28 to 24). The Steelers gained more yards on the ground (196 to 116) while the Raiders were more proficient through the air (324 to 242). Each team recorded two sacks apiece. Oakland turned the ball over four times, to three suffered by Pittsburgh.

Ken Stabler completed 21 of 38 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns, but also gave up four interceptions. Dave Casper had 7 catches for 124 yards and two TDs and Cliff Branch and Fred Biletnikoff had four receptions apiece, for 83 and 67 yards, respectively. Pete Banaszak led the Raiders with 41 rushing yards on 10 carries and Mark van Eeghen was right behind as he gained 40 yards on 13 attempts.

For the Steelers, Terry Bradshaw was successful on 15 of 27 throws for 253 yards with a TD and an interception. Rocky Bleier (pictured at right) ran for 73 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries and Franco Harris added 68 yards on 18 attempts that also included a score, although he also had the big fumble. John Stallworth caught 6 passes for 94 yards.

“It changed the game around,” said Franco Harris of his key fumble in the fourth quarter. “It’s hard to say what happened, I was just trying to get by one man.”

The Raiders lost only one game all season as they topped the AFC West at 13-1 and advanced to a Super Bowl win over the Vikings. They met Pittsburgh again for the AFC Championship, the Steelers having recovered from a slow 1-4 start to finish first in the AFC Central at 10-4. Pittsburgh had been Oakland’s nemesis in the postseason, having eliminated them in the previous two years on their way to the top, and three times in four meetings commencing with the “Immaculate Reception” win in 1972. But in 1976, it was the Raiders stopping Pittsburgh’s drive to a potential third straight NFL title and grabbing the Lombardi Trophy for themselves.

Ken Stabler went on to be a first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl selection, as well as winning the Bert Bell Trophy as NFL Player of the Year. He led the league in passing (103.4 rating), completion percentage (66.7), yards per attempt (9.4), and touchdown passes (27). Cliff Branch (46 catches, 1111 yards, 12 TDs) and Dave Casper (53 catches, 691 yards, 10 TDs) joined him with the All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors.

Fred Steinfort, however, lasted just half the season after converting on only four of eight field goal attempts and 16 of 19 extra points. He would catch on with Atlanta the next year and go on to a seven-season career, with his greatest success coming as a member of the Denver Broncos.

MVP Profile: Ken Stabler, 1976

Quarterback, Oakland Raiders

Age:  31 (Dec. 25)

9^th season in pro football & with Raiders (counting 1968 and ‘69 seasons, as detailed in Prelude)

College: Alabama

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 215

Prelude:

Following an outstanding college career, the left-handed Stabler was chosen by the Raiders in the second round of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft. He was farmed out for a brief apprenticeship in the Continental Football League in ’68 and spent 1969 on injured reserve before he saw his first regular season NFL action as the third-string QB in 1970. Knee injuries robbed Stabler of his mobility, but “The Snake” was an accurate passer who took over as starting QB in 1973 and led the league in completion percentage (62.7) while earning selection to the Pro Bowl. He followed that up with a MVP and consensus All-Pro season in 1974 in which he led the NFL with 26 TD passes and a TD percentage of 8.4 as the Raiders advanced to the AFC Championship game for the second straight year. They made it three straight in ’75, although Stabler had a lesser year as he struggled with another knee injury and tossed 24 interceptions.

1976 Season Summary

Appeared in 12 of 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 291 [13, tied with Greg Landry]

Most attempts, game – 38 vs. Pittsburgh 9/12

Completions – 194 [7]

Most completions, game – 22 at Kansas City 9/20

Yards – 2737 [4]

Most yards, game – 342 vs. Pittsburgh 9/12

Completion percentage – 66.7 [1]

Yards per attempt – 9.4 [1]

TD passes – 27 [1]

Most TD passes, game – 4 vs. Cincinnati 12/6

Interceptions – 17 [4]

Most interceptions, game – 4 vs. Pittsburgh 9/12, vs. Kansas City 11/14

Passer rating – 103.4 [1]

300-yard passing games – 2

200-yard passing games – 9

Rushing

Attempts – 7

Yards – -2

Yards per attempt – -0.3

TDs – 1

Scoring

TDs – 1

Points - 6

Postseason: 3 G

Pass attempts – 67

Most attempts, game - 32 vs. New England, AFC Divisional playoff

Pass completions – 41

Most completions, game - 19 vs. New England, AFC Divisional playoff

Passing yardage – 501

Most yards, game - 233 vs. New England, AFC Divisional playoff

TD passes – 4

Most TD passes, game - 2 vs. Pittsburgh, AFC Championship

Interceptions – 0

Rushing attempts – 1

Most rushing attempts, game - 1 vs. New England, AFC Divisional playoff

Rushing yards – 1

Most rushing yards, game - 1 vs. New England, AFC Divisional playoff

Average gain rushing – 1.0

Rushing TDs – 1

Awards & Honors:

NFL Player of the Year: Bert Bell Award

AFC Player of the Year: Sporting News

1^st team All-NFL: Pro Football Weekly

2^nd team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA

1^st team All-AFC: Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

2^nd team All-AFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Raiders went 13-1 to finish first in the AFC West with the conference’s best record while leading the NFL in touchdown passes (33). Won AFC Divisional playoff over New England Patriots (24-21), AFC Championship over Pittsburgh Steelers (24-7), and Super Bowl over Minnesota Vikings (32-14).

Aftermath:

Stabler was again a Pro Bowl selection in 1977 and threw for a career-high 3615 yards in 1979. Traded to the Houston Oilers for QB Dan Pastorini with the expectation that he would get the Oilers into the Super Bowl, he instead endured two disappointing seasons before moving on to New Orleans for the last three years of his career. Overall, Stabler threw for 27,938 yards and, prone to taking chances, gave up 222 interceptions as opposed to 194 TDs. However, he was named to the Pro Bowl four times, his regular season record was 96-49-1, and he was 7-5 in postseason play.

--

MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself). 

[Updated 2/5/14]

1982: Saints Overcome Late Rally to Beat 49ers

Under second-year Head Coach Bum Phillips, the perennially-losing New Orleans Saints were showing signs of improvement. They started off the 1982 NFL season at 1-1 before the whole league went on hiatus for eight weeks due to a players’ strike. Upon returning, the Saints defeated the Chiefs and headed to San Francisco for a matchup with the 49ers on November 28.

36-year-old QB Ken Stabler (pictured at right) had been picked up just before the season began after having been unceremoniously released by the Oilers. Taking the spot of injured QB Dave Wilson, “The Snake” had beaten out 11^th-year veteran QB Archie Manning for the starting job. RB George Rogers was also a key player in the conservative offense that Phillips preferred to utilize. The defense had promising young talent, most notably DE Bruce Clark and LB Rickey Jackson.

The 49ers, under Head Coach Bill Walsh, were coming off a championship season in 1981 but had lost their first two pre-strike games in ’82 and, having also won their first post-strike contest, were at 1-2 as they hosted the Saints. While QB Joe Montana, who had emerged as a star in the title year, was still playing at a high level, the running game was insufficient and injuries on defense were a problem.

There were 51,611 fans at Candlestick Park on a rainy day in San Francisco. Things didn’t start out in promising fashion for the visitors. On their initial possession, a Stabler pass was deflected and intercepted by LB Willie Harper. While the 49ers weren’t able to capitalize on the turnover, they advanced to the New Orleans 34 and Jim Miller’s punt pinned the Saints down at their own one yard line.

However, Ken Stabler completed all five of his passes as the Saints drove 99 yards in the rain for the early lead. “The Snake” started with a 16-yard pass to TE Hoby Brenner from the one yard line, included another pass to Brenner for 25 yards, and finished off the series with a 10-yard scoring throw to FB Wayne Wilson.

San Francisco came back in the second quarter with a 57-yard drive in eight plays that ended with Ray Wersching kicking a 40-yard field goal. But later in the period, Rickey Jackson (pictured below) recovered a fumble at midfield and New Orleans capitalized as George Rogers ran for a 38-yard gain and RB Jimmy Rogers capped the five-play possession with a two-yard run for a touchdown. While Toni Fritsch’s extra point attempt hit the upright and was unsuccessful, the Saints were ahead by 13-3. Just before the end of the first half, Wersching booted a 45-yard field goal to narrow the margin to 13-6.

In the third quarter, New Orleans had first possession and methodically went 54 yards in 11 plays ending with Fritsch kicking a 27-yard field goal. Shortly thereafter, Jackson made another big play on defense as he intercepted a Montana pass and returned it 32 yards to the San Francisco six to set up a second scoring run by George Rogers, this time of just a yard. The extra point was good and the Saints held a seemingly-comfortable 23-6 lead.

The New Orleans defense stymied the 49ers until late in the fourth quarter and San Francisco also fumbled the ball away twice, once at the New Orleans 24. But with just over five minutes remaining to play, Montana and the 49ers caught fire. They drove 79 yards in nine plays that featured pass completions of 24 and 12 yards to WR Dwight Clark and 14 yards to WR Freddie Solomon. Following Montana’s completion to FB Earl Cooper for 13 yards to the New Orleans 17 in a second-and-15 situation, HB Jeff Moore ran for five yards and a first down and Montana fired a 12-yard touchdown pass to Moore. 

After a short series and punt by the Saints, the Niners got the ball back at their 41. A Montana pass to Solomon, who lateraled to Moore, got the ball to the New Orleans 29. It took a total of six plays to get into the end zone with Montana hitting TE Russ Francis from 17 yards out. But the score came with just five seconds remaining and San Francisco’s slim comeback hopes ended on the ensuing onside kick that WR Jeff Groth recovered for the Saints. New Orleans came away with a 23-20 win.

The 49ers gained more yards (376 to 324) and had more first downs (21 to 17) than the Saints, but also turned the ball over three times while New Orleans did so just once. San Francisco’s problems running the ball were also a hindrance, with 55 yards on 16 carries.

Ken Stabler completed 11 of 20 passes for 154 yards with a touchdown and an interception. George Rogers (pictured below) rushed for 97 yards and a TD on 17 carries, the biggest chunk of the 170 yards on the ground for New Orleans. Wayne Wilson, who ran for 25 yards in 8 attempts, had 53 receiving yards on his three catches to lead the club, and scored a touchdown. Hoby Brenner also had three receptions, for 49 yards.

For the Niners, Joe Montana was successful on 27 of 42 throws for 334 yards and two scores while tossing one interception. Dwight Clark pulled in 6 passes for 90 yards and Earl Cooper also had 6 catches for 68 yards to go along with his 15 yards on five runs. Likewise Jeff Moore, the team’s leading rusher with 23 yards on 8 attempts, gained more yards through the air as he caught four passes for 65 yards and a TD.

“That was one of the finest football games I’ve seen in the last few years,” said Bum Phillips. “The 49ers didn’t give up, showed why they are champs.”

“A lot of people had written me off, but I don’t ever remember leaving,” said Ken Stabler.

It was the high point of the abbreviated season for the Saints, who at 3-1 were off to the best start in franchise history and thinking playoffs. They lost their next four games and ended up with a 4-5 record, placing ninth and just out of the running for a postseason slot in the revised post-strike structure (no divisions with the top eight teams in each conference qualifying for spots in the playoff tournament. The Detroit Lions, also 4-5, came in eighth due to a better conference record than New Orleans). San Francisco had an even more disappointing year in going 3-6 to finish eleventh in the NFC.

Ken Stabler didn't have a big statistical season but helped the Saints with his leadership and savvy. He completed 61.9 percent of his passes for 1343 yards with six touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Injuries wore him down, as was also the case with George Rogers, who was nagged by a hamstring injury but rushed for 535 yards in six games and earned a second straight trip to the Pro Bowl.