1963: Raiders Score 31 Points in Fourth Quarter to Defeat Chargers

The Oakland Raiders were the American Football League’s most improved team as they hosted the San Diego Chargers on December 8, 1963. Under new Head Coach Al Davis, the Raiders had a new look and attitude, and a 7-4 record which, for a club that had won a total of three games over the last two seasons, was noteworthy enough. The duo of Tom Flores and Cotton Davidson handled the quarterbacking and HB Clem Daniels (pictured above) had emerged as a top rusher and receiver out of the backfield while split end Art Powell was a productive receiver. The defense, although better, was still a work in progress.

San Diego, at 9-2, was the team the Raiders were trying to catch, and they had upset the Chargers earlier in the year on the road. Head Coach Sid Gillman’s club featured an explosive offense directed by 35-year-old QB Tobin Rote. The receiving corps led by flanker Lance Alworth was outstanding and the running back combination of HB Paul Lowe and FB Keith Lincoln productive. The defense was tough, led by a rugged front line that featured DE Earl Faison and DT Ernie Ladd. 

There were 20,249 fans in attendance at Frank Youell Field in Oakland in what was viewed as the biggest game thus far in the Raiders’ brief history. However, it was the Chargers striking quickly on the game’s opening possession. Tobin Rote threw to Keith Lincoln on the first play to pick up 26 yards to the Oakland 26 and, while the visitors lost yardage on the next two plays, Rote passed to split end Don Norton on a third-and-16 play that resulted in a 32-yard touchdown. George Blair added the extra point for the early 7-0 advantage.

The teams exchanged punts before the Raiders, taking possession at their 40, drove to the San Diego 30. Clem Daniels threw an option pass to Art Powell for 10 yards in a third-and-seven situation and QB Tom Flores connected with Daniels for 14 yards to the San Diego 33. Mike Mercer kicked a 37-yard field goal to make it a 7-3 game.

The Chargers again punted following a short series and Oakland was driving as the game headed into the second quarter but also was forced to punt from midfield after Flores was sacked on third down. San Diego proceeded to drive 89 yards in six plays. Rote passed to Lance Alworth for a big pickup of 54 yards to the Oakland 35 and then connected with TE Dave Kocurek for another nine yards. Rote carried for five yards and a first down, threw to Norton for seven yards, and two plays later FB Bobby Jackson ran 14 yards for a TD. Blair again successfully converted and the visitors were up by 14-3.

Oakland responded with a scoring drive of 70 yards in six plays. Flores completed consecutive passes to Daniels, the longest for 21 yards, and while a holding penalty cost the Raiders 15 yards, Flores completed a throw to FB Alan Miller for 20 yards while facing second-and-22. A Daniels carry lost a yard, but on fourth down Flores fired down the middle for Powell (pictured below) and the result was a 45-yard touchdown. Mercer added the point after and the San Diego lead was narrowed to 14-10.

Alworth returned the ensuing kickoff 34 yards to give the Chargers good starting field position at their 44 and Rote immediately threw to Paul Lowe for 12 yards. But the series stalled at the Oakland 38 and Blair was wide on a 45-yard field goal attempt. The Raiders reached the San Diego 39 on their next possession but turned the ball over on downs and, with time running down in the first half, the Chargers moved 61 yards in five plays. Rote hit Norton twice, for 22 and 36 yards, to reach the Oakland three and, after losing ground on a running play, it was Rote to TE Jacque MacKinnon for a five-yard TD. Blair missed the extra point but the Chargers took a 20-10 lead into halftime.

The Raiders, with Cotton Davidson now at quarterback, had the first possession in the third quarter and thanks primarily to a run by Daniels for 23 yards they advanced into San Diego territory. But a holding penalty moved them back after reaching the 24 and after a long throw by Davidson intended for Powell in the end zone fell incomplete, Mercer was short on a 48-yard try for a field goal.

The teams again traded punts before the Chargers advanced 75 yards in six plays. A pass interference penalty helped San Diego along and Rote completed a pass to Kocurek for 40 yards. Rote finished the series off with a toss to Alworth for a 15-yard touchdown and, with Blair successful on the extra point, the Chargers carried a seemingly-comfortable 27-10 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Raiders had to punt early in the final period but got the ball back when Jackson fumbled after gaining 24 yards on a screen pass and safety Tom Morrow recovered for Oakland. Daniels took off on a 35-yard run and while Davidson was sacked by Earl Faison on the next play, he connected with Powell in the end zone on third down for a 10-yard TD. Mercer converted and the Raiders were down by ten points at 27-17.

On the second play of San Diego’s next possession, Lowe fumbled and safety Joe Krakoski recovered for the Raiders at the Chargers’ 23. Davidson tossed three incomplete passes but Mercer kicked a 30-yard field goal to narrow the margin to 27-20.

A short series by the Chargers resulted in a punt and Paul McGuire, after fielding a bad snap, kicked short to his own 43. Davidson threw a swing pass to Miller for six yards on second down and scrambled for 12 yards to the 22. Another pass and a run by Daniels got the ball to the nine, and from there Davidson ran for a touchdown. Mercer added the point after and the score was tied at 27-27.

Another short San Diego possession resulted in a punt and a good return by CB Claude Gibson had 15 yards tacked on due to a face mask penalty on the Chargers. Three plays later, Davidson passed to Powell in the end zone for a 40-yard TD. With Mercer’s kick, the Raiders were now in front by 34-27.

John Hadl was at quarterback when the reeling Chargers had the ball next, and he completed his first two passes, the longest of 18 yards to Norton to reach the Oakland 38. But the next three throws were incomplete and, on fourth down, Hadl’s pass was intercepted by LB Clancy Osborne, who returned it 48 yards to the San Diego 12. Miller ran for a two-yard touchdown that was the final nail in San Diego’s coffin. With the 31-point fourth quarter explosion, Oakland came away the winner by a final score of 41-27.

The Raiders led in total yards (406 to 336) and first downs (24 to 17). They held San Diego’s vaunted running attack to just 45 yards while gaining 154 yards of their own. San Diego also turned the ball over three times, with catastrophic results in the fourth quarter, while Oakland had no turnovers. However, the Raiders were penalized eight times, at a cost of 101 yards, to two flags thrown on the Chargers.

Tom Flores was 11 of 23 for 173 yards and a touchdown before being relieved by Cotton Davidson, who completed 6 of 17 passes for 95 yards and two TDs and ran seven times for 41 yards and a score. Clem Daniels rushed for 90 yards on 17 carries and had 7 catches for another 90 yards and also completed a 10-yard pass. Art Powell caught 6 passes for 132 yards and three touchdowns.

For the Chargers, Tobin Rote was successful on 17 of 25 throws for 284 yards and three TDs. Don Norton (pictured at right) had 6 pass receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown and Lance Alworth contributed three catches for 71 yards and a TD as well. However, Bobby Jackson led the team in rushing with 33 yards on five attempts that included a score while Paul Lowe was held to five yards on six carries and Keith Lincoln to no yards on two attempts.

“I didn’t really feel we were out of it at any time,” said Oakland’s Coach Davis. “We were always in there but just couldn’t do things right for awhile.”

The stunning win kept the Raiders in contention in the Western Division and they won their last two games, for a total of eight straight, to finish with a 10-4 record. However, San Diego also won its remaining contests and topped the division at 11-3. The Chargers went on to demolish the Boston Patriots to win the AFL Championship.

With Tom Flores passing for 2101 yards and Cotton Davidson 1276, the Raiders accumulated 3377 yards through the air and a league-leading 31 touchdowns. Clem Daniels set a new AFL record with 1099 rushing yards and also led the circuit by averaging 22.8 yards on 30 pass receptions. Art Powell topped the league with 16 touchdown receptions and 1304 receiving yards on his second-ranked 73 catches.

1980: Plunkett Leads Raiders to Win Over Steelers

The Oakland Raiders were at 3-3, having won for the first time in three weeks in their previous game, as they faced the 4-2 Steelers in Pittsburgh on October 20, 1980. Not much was expected of the Raiders heading into the season as they sought to retool following a 9-7 record in ’79 that caused them to miss the playoffs for the second straight season. QB Dan Pastorini had been obtained from the Oilers for the exciting, if erratic, QB Ken Stabler and he had gone down for the year with a broken leg two weeks earlier. QB Jim Plunkett (pictured above), once a highly-touted prospect with the Patriots who had become a forgotten backup in Oakland, was now behind center. Castoffs and savvy veterans were filling out the roster (a typical occurrence over the course of the franchise's history) and beginning to show results under second-year Head Coach Tom Flores.

Pittsburgh was coming off of back-to-back NFL titles in 1978 and ’79, the third and fourth under Head Coach Chuck Noll. But injuries had knocked starters out of the lineup at running back (FB Franco Harris) and wide receiver (Lynn Swann and John Stallworth). QB Terry Bradshaw was still formidable but other veterans were showing their age, particularly in the once-proud defensive unit. The Steelers were upset by the Bengals the previous week.

It was a cool, partly cloudy Monday night at Three Rivers Stadium with 53,940 fans in attendance. The Steelers had the first possession and drove 69 yards in six plays. Terry Bradshaw started off with passes to WR Theo Bell for 15 yards and FB Greg Hawthorne for 16. Another completion to Bell picked up 21 yards and was followed by a throw to WR Jim Smith in the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown. Matt Bahr added the extra point and the home team was ahead by 7-0.

On Oakland’s first play from scrimmage, HB Kenny King fumbled and SS Donnie Shell recovered to give Pittsburgh the ball at the Raiders’ 19. HB Rocky Bleier ran for 12 yards on first down and, while the Steelers were unable to reach the end zone, Coach Noll declining to not run a play on fourth down with less than a foot to go, Bahr kicked an 18-yard field goal to extend the lead to 10-0.

A short kickoff return had the Raiders starting their next series at their own 15, but a pass interference penalty advanced them 39 yards and the six-play, 85-yard drive ended with King running around end for a 27-yard TD. Bahr converted to make it a three-point game. To make matters worse for Pittsburgh, MLB Jack Lambert left with strained knee ligaments, removing a key player from the defense.

The teams traded punts until the Steelers, in a series that extended into the second quarter, drove 84 yards in ten plays. Bradshaw (pictured above) threw to Smith for a 25-yard gain on first down and Hawthorne followed up with a 13-yard carry. Hawthorne and FB Russell Davis pounded away, with Davis gaining three yards in a fourth-and-one situation at the Oakland 37, Bradshaw passed to TE Bennie Cunningham for 15 yards, Davis ran for another 12, and after Hawthorne ran around end for six yards, Davis dove into the end zone from a yard out for a touchdown. Bahr’s PAT put the home team ahead by ten points once again at 17-7.

The Raiders again had to punt following their next series, but they got the ball back in short order when LB Ted Hendricks intercepted a Bradshaw pass. Starting from the Pittsburgh 39, it took the visitors seven plays to score. The key play along the way was a Plunkett throw to WR Bob Chandler for 37 yards to the one yard line, and while the Raiders stopped three consecutive running plays, FB Mark van Eeghen reached paydirt from a yard out on fourth down. Bahr again converted and the score was 17-14.

The Steelers were backed up by a holding penalty to start their next possession but got a first down on a Bradshaw completion to Cunningham for 21 yards and a pass to Bell gained another 16. But on a third down play near midfield, Bradshaw fumbled when sacked by DE Cedrick Hardman. DE Willie Jones recovered for Oakland and lateraled to LB Rod Martin, who ran 34 yards for a touchdown. Bahr added the point after and the Raiders were in front by 21-17.

Backup QB Cliff Stoudt replaced Bradshaw, who had a bruised shoulder, and his third pass was picked off by Hendricks to give Oakland the ball at the Pittsburgh 49. Three plays later, Plunkett connected with WR Morris Bradshaw for a 45-yard TD. Bahr kicked the extra point and the visitors were now ahead by 28-17.

The Steelers got the ball with 1:17 remaining in the first half and advanced 79 yards in seven plays. Stoudt passed to Bell for 26 yards, Hawthorne for seven, and Bleier for 17 yards and finally to Smith for a 13-yard touchdown. Bahr’s conversion made the halftime score 28-24 in favor of the Raiders.

The Raiders wasted little time extending their lead in the third quarter, driving 75 yards in five plays. Plunkett connected with WR Cliff Branch (pictured at right) for a 56-yard TD and, with Bahr’s extra point, Oakland was ahead by 35-24. Terry Bradshaw was back behind center for the Steelers and they responded by going 68 yards in 11 plays. Bradshaw converted a third-and-10 situation by throwing to WR Calvin Sweeney for 19 yards and hit Smith for 15 yards on a third-and-11 play. The series ended with another Bradshaw pass, this time to Bell for a 36-yard touchdown. Bahr’s conversion made it a four-point game once more.

The Raiders, with van Eeghen and King primarily running the ball, drove into Pittsburgh territory, but van Eeghen fumbled at the 37 and LB Robin Cole recovered and ran to the Oakland 49. Bradshaw was sacked on first down for a loss of six yards but came back with a pass to Cunningham for 15 yards and a personal foul on Hardman for roughing the quarterback advanced the ball further, although it necessitated Stoudt coming back into the game for two plays. After reaching the Oakland 15, two Bradshaw passes into the end zone fell incomplete but Bahr booted a 32-yard field goal to make it a one-point contest at 35-34.

The Raiders had the ball as the fourth quarter started and drove 82 yards in eight plays. Plunkett completed a pass to TE Raymond Chester for 11 yards and had back-to-back throws to Branch for 13 yards apiece. One more pass to Branch resulted in a 34-yard touchdown and, with Bahr’s kick, the visitors had an extended lead of eight points at 42-34.

A short series by the Steelers resulted in a punt and Oakland, taking over with 8:41 on the clock, put together a 14-play, 35-yard drive. The Raiders converted two fourth downs along the way and HB Arthur Whittington carried most of the load on the ground. Bahr kicked a 36-yard field goal with 58 seconds left in the game to nail down the 45-34 win.  

The Steelers had the most total yards (467 to 390) and first downs (27 to 20). However, Pittsburgh turned the ball over three times, to two suffered by the Raiders, and hurt themselves with 10 penalties at a cost of 115 yards, to five flags thrown on the visitors. Oakland also accounted for five sacks as they battered Terry Bradshaw, who had to leave the game three times, while the Steelers registered none.

Jim Plunkett completed 13 of 21 passes for 247 yards with three touchdowns while giving up no interceptions. Cliff Branch was the primary recipient with five catches for 123 yards and two TDs. Kenny King (pictured below) rushed for 70 yards on 14 carries that included a score and Mark van Eeghen contributed 52 yards and a TD on 18 attempts.

For the Steelers, Terry Bradshaw was successful on 18 of 27 throws for 299 yards and two TDs while giving up one interception. Jim Smith caught 6 passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns and Theo Bell gained 114 yards on his five receptions that included one TD. Russell Davis led the team in rushing with 51 yards on 9 carries and Greg Hawthorne gained 38 yards on 12 attempts with one score and also caught four passes for 46 yards.

Oakland lost only twice more the rest of the season, putting together an 11-5 record that placed second in the AFC West and secured a Wild Card playoff spot. The Raiders went on to reach the Super Bowl, becoming the first Wild Card team to win. As for the Steelers, the loss to the Raiders was viewed as a major sign that the Pittsburgh dynasty was coming to a close, even though they remained in a tie atop the AFC Central. They lost again the next week, rallied to win three straight games, but split the remainder to end up at 9-7 and out of the postseason for the first time since 1971.

Jim Plunkett received Comeback Player of the Year honors from the Associated Press as he passed for 2299 yards and 18 touchdowns while the club went 9-2 with him behind center in the regular season. He capped the year by being named Super Bowl MVP.

1967: Bills Rally in Fourth Quarter to Defeat Jets

The refurbished Buffalo Bills hosted the New York Jets in an American Football League season-opening game on September 10, 1967. Coached by Joe Collier for the second year, the Bills had won the last three Eastern Division titles but, after advancing to consecutive league championships in 1964 and ‘65, failed to win the AFL title game in ’66, thus costing them a spot in the first Super Bowl. The team made major trades during the offseason in an effort to upgrade at key positions. QB Tom Flores and split end Art Powell were obtained from Oakland and HB Keith Lincoln from San Diego.  All three were highly regarded veterans and Flores moved ahead of QB Jack Kemp (pictured above), who had been behind center during the previous successful seasons. The Bills even had a new placekicker in Mike Mercer, an experienced hand who performed ably for the Chiefs in 1966.

New York, entering the fifth year under Head Coach Weeb Ewbank, was coming off of a 6-6-2 record in ’66, which was a step up from four consecutive five-win seasons. Talented QB Joe Namath had a strong arm and quick release that could yield big gains through the air but also gave up many interceptions. There were outstanding receivers in flanker Don Maynard and split end George Sauer, and an effective running tandem in FB Matt Snell and HB Emerson Boozer. However, the defense had been a sore spot and would need to improve if the club was to rise further in the standings.

There were 45,478 fans in attendance at War Memorial Stadium and they saw both teams miss scoring opportunities in the first quarter. Mike Mercer attempted a 46-yard field goal for the Bills that was blocked by DB Cornell Gordon and New York’s Jim Turner was wide to the left on a 16-yard field goal try.

During the second quarter, the Jets put together a 10-play, 57-yard series that was helped along by a pass interference penalty on LB John Tracey. Three plays later, Joe Namath threw to Don Maynard, who outmaneuvered CB Booker Edgerson for a 19-yard touchdown. Turner added the extra point.

Buffalo responded with a promising possession, but after Keith Lincoln (pictured at left) ran for 23 yards to the New York 35, a holding penalty and two sacks moved the Bills back. On the next series, the Jets took just five plays to advance 71 yards. Namath again connected with Maynard, this time for a 56-yard TD with 21 seconds left in the first half. Turner’s conversion staked New York to a 14-0 lead at halftime.

The Bills were unable to put together sustained drives with Flores behind center and a twisted knee suffered late in the second quarter forced him to the bench. Jack Kemp took his place in the second half, although the results were not immediately different. One of his passes was intercepted by safety Jim Hudson, and the result was that the Jets increased their lead less than five minutes into the third quarter when Turner kicked a 32-yard field goal.

The home team continued to struggle on offense and another New York interception, this time by Cornell Gordon, who was injured on the play, nearly led to another score but Turner missed a field goal attempt from 40 yards.

Down 17-0 after three quarters, the Bills came to life early in the final period. They advanced 46 yards in five plays, although it nearly was for naught when Lincoln fell while running a pass route and Solomon Brannan, the replacement for Gordon, dropped a potential interception. On the next play, Kemp passed to Art Powell for a 24-yard touchdown and Mercer added the point after.

The Jets had to punt following their next possession and Curley Johnson’s 29-yard kick was returned seven yards by CB Butch Byrd to the New York 37. On the next play Kemp threw long to Powell in the end zone for another TD. Mercer’s conversion narrowed the tally to 17-14 with 4:39 on the clock.

New York fought back as Namath completed two passes and a personal foul penalty again moved the visitors into scoring territory. However, Turner once again failed on an attempted field goal, this time from 35 yards. The Bills were forced to punt but Paul Maguire’s kick traveled 50 yards and was downed at the New York one yard line. The Jets had to punt in turn, and while three plays by Buffalo gained nothing, Mercer kicked a 51-yard field goal (a new club record at the time) to tie the score with 2:27 remaining to play.

Another series by the Jets resulted in a punt and the Bills had the ball at their 18 with 1:20 to go. Kemp tossed a swing pass to Lincoln that gained 24 yards and then threw to TE Paul Costa, who made a leaping catch for 21 yards. With the clock down to four seconds, Mercer booted a 43-yard field goal and Buffalo won by a final score of 20-17.

New York had the edge in total yards (287 to 248) although the Bills led in first downs (15 to 14). Buffalo also suffered the only two turnovers of the game and sustained four sacks by the Jets while recording two of its own.  However, while Mike Mercer (pictured at right) kicked the two big field goals for Buffalo, Jim Turner missed on three of his four attempts.

Jack Kemp completed 12 of 23 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns while giving up two interceptions in relief of Tom Flores, who was 6 of 11 for 40 yards and no TDs (or interceptions) in the first half. Keith Lincoln rushed for 81 yards on 13 carries and netted another 23 yards on three pass receptions. Flanker Elbert Dubenion caught 6 passes for 54 yards while Art Powell gained 91 yards on his 5 receptions that included the two touchdowns.

For the Jets, Joe Namath was successful on 11 of 23 throws for 153 yards and two TDs while having none picked off. Don Maynard caught 5 of those passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Snell topped the rushers with 95 yards on 19 attempts and Emerson Boozer contributed 53 yards on his 16 carries.

While Buffalo fans might have felt optimistic following the come-from-behind win, particularly with newcomers Art Powell, Keith Lincoln, and Mike Mercer having starring roles (if not Tom Flores), the season went downhill from there. The Bills lost their next three games on their way to a 4-10 record that tied with Miami for third place in the Eastern Division that they had previously dominated. While Lincoln and Mercer performed well, Powell lasted for six games before going out with a knee injury that required surgery and Flores, suffering from a sore arm, completed only 34.4 percent of his 64 passes and threw for no touchdowns while giving up eight interceptions, thus being relegated to the bench. Adding insult to injury, QB Daryle Lamonica, the backup who was sent to Oakland in the deal for Flores and Powell, had a MVP season as the Raiders won the AFL Championship.

The Jets went 5-0-1 over the next six weeks and appeared to be the successors to the Bills, who they defeated in the rematch at New York, until a late-season collapse caused them to finish second to Houston with an 8-5-1 tally. Joe Namath passed for a record 4007 yards but threw for more interceptions (28) than touchdowns (26). Don Maynard (pictured at left) caught 71 passes, second only to teammate George Sauer, for a league-leading 1434 yards and 10 TDs.

1982: Raiders Overcome 24-Point Deficit to Beat Chargers in LA Debut

The Raiders made their long-delayed regular season home debut as a Los Angeles team against the San Diego Chargers on November 22, 1982. Having made the move from Oakland to LA in the face of much resistance from the NFL, the Raiders won their first two games on the road before the 57-day players’ strike put the entire league on hiatus.

The Raiders, coached by Tom Flores, fell to 7-9 in ’81, which was their first sub-.500 record since 1964, and were looking to rebound. QB Jim Plunkett had been troubled by injuries but was healthy again and HB Marcus Allen (pictured above), the first draft choice out of USC, was a welcome addition to the offense – indeed, the game against the Chargers marked his return to the stadium where he had starred in college and won the Heisman Trophy. Todd Christensen took over as starting tight end in place of the injured Derrick Ramsey with promising results. On defense, DE Lyle Alzado was obtained from the Browns and combined with second-year DE Howie Long to provide an enhanced pass rush.

San Diego came into the game at 1-1 following the long layoff. Under offensive-minded Head Coach Don Coryell, the Chargers boasted the league’s most prolific passing attack, guided by QB Dan Fouts and including TE Kellen Winslow and wide receivers Charlie Joiner and Wes Chandler. RB Chuck Muncie provided power and all-purpose RB James Brooks speed.

Skies were overcast for the nationally-televised Monday night game at the Memorial Coliseum with just 42,162 fans in attendance. Fans were disgruntled from the long work stoppage and, as was the case at other locales in this first post-strike weekend, there were many no-shows. The Chargers had the first possession and drove 79 yards in 12 plays. Dan Fouts was quick to go to the air and completed six passes along the way, the longest to TE Eric Sievers for 21 yards, and two penalties on the Raiders helped the visitors along. But with first-and-goal at the one, three carries by Chuck Muncie netted a loss of a yard and Rolf Benirschke kicked a 19-yard field goal.

The Raiders were forced to punt following their first series and San Diego moved quickly to another score, advancing 83 yards in just four plays. Following a five-yard run by Muncie, Fouts (pictured below) connected on passes of 12 yards to Sievers and 22 yards to Charlie Joiner. A personal foul on the Raiders added another ten yards and then Fouts threw to WR Dwight Scales for a 29-yard touchdown. Benirschke added the extra point and the Chargers were ahead by 10-0.

QB Jim Plunkett was intercepted by FS Tim Fox on the next possession, but while Fouts completed passes to Muncie for 27 yards and three to WR Wes Chandler that picked up a total of 41 yards, the Chargers ultimately had to punt. As the game headed into the second quarter, the Raiders also punted and, with good starting field position at the LA 48, San Diego moved quickly down the field. Fouts had completions to Chandler for 24 yards and Kellen Winslow for 19 yards to reach the five yard line, and two plays later Muncie ran up the middle for a two-yard TD. Benirschke added the point after to make it a 17-0 contest.

The Raiders moved well on their next series as Plunkett completed three passes, the longest to WR Malcolm Barnwell for a gain of 25 yards. Marcus Allen picked up 15 yards on a sweep and HB Greg Pruitt ran for another 13, but after reaching the San Diego 29, Plunkett was sacked by DE Leroy Jones for an 11-yard loss and then was intercepted by LB Cliff Thrift. The Chargers made the most of the turnover, going 57 yards in six plays, although it was a 42-yard pass interference penalty on CB Ted Watts that moved them all the way to the LA two. Muncie dove for a one-yard touchdown shortly thereafter and, with Benirschke’s PAT, the visitors extended their lead to 24-0.

Now in a deep hole, the Raiders stormed back. Plunkett completed five passes, with throws to WR Cliff Branch for 16 yards and FB Kenny King (pictured at left) for 28. Allen ran effectively, including a 17-yard carry on a trap play. But Plunkett was again thrown for a loss while rolling out on a third down play and Chris Bahr missed wide to the left on a 36-yard field goal attempt.

LA got a break on the next play, however, as Muncie fumbled the handoff and LB Ted Hendricks recovered for the Raiders at the San Diego 17. Five plays later, Plunkett connected with TE Todd Christensen for a one-yard touchdown to finally get the Raiders on the board. Bahr converted and the score was 24-7 at halftime.

The Raiders punted after a short series to start the third quarter and the Chargers lost ground due to two penalties and a sack of Fouts by Hendricks. Maury Buford punted and the shanked kick traveled only 27 yards to the LA 36. Plunkett came out throwing, hitting Christensen twice for 11 and 12 yards. King and Allen then combined for 40 yards on the ground with the star rookie gaining the last three for a TD. Bahr added the PAT and San Diego’s lead was cut to ten points at 24-14.

Following the kickoff, Fouts threw to Winslow for 21 yards to midfield, but three plays later Winslow fumbled when hit by DB Odis McKinney after catching a short pass and NT Ruben Vaughn recovered for the Raiders. LA scored again in four plays, highlighted by King running for a 21-yard gain up the middle, and Allen swept for the last three yards and another touchdown. Bahr’s extra point made it a three-point game.

The teams traded punts to finish out the period and San Diego started off the fourth quarter with a drive to the LA 15. James Brooks picked up 23 yards on three carries and Fouts had passes to Winslow for 15 yards and Chandler for nine. But the Chargers came up empty when Benirschke missed a 22-yard try for a field goal.

The Raiders responded by going 80 yards in nine plays. Plunkett was successful on three passes, including one to Christensen for 24 yards on a third-and-three play, and Barnwell gained 14 yards on a reverse. FB Frank Hawkins ran for a one-yard TD, Bahr added the point after, and the home team, once down by 24 points, was in front by four with 5:54 remaining to play.

San Diego fought back as Fouts fired to Chandler for completions of 30 and 24 yards. But after getting to the LA 18, Fouts threw into the end zone under a heavy rush and was intercepted by FS Vann McElroy. It in effect clinched the game for the Raiders as, with 1:56 remaining on the clock, they were able to maintain possession until the final seconds when Fouts threw a last desperation pass into the end zone that was batted away to nail down the 28-24 comeback win for Los Angeles.

The Chargers gained more total yards (411 to 326) and had the edge in first downs (26 to 23), but they also turned the ball over four times, to two by LA. The Raiders were dominant on the ground (181 yards to 72).

Marcus Allen rushed for 87 yards on 18 carries that included two touchdowns and caught 5 passes for 37 more yards. Jim Plunkett completed 18 of 25 passes for 163 yards and a TD while giving up two interceptions. Kenny King contributed 68 yards on 13 rushing attempts. Todd Christensen topped the club with 8 catches for 83 yards and a TD.

For the Chargers, Dan Fouts was successful on 24 of 42 throws for 357 yards and a touchdown while tossing two interceptions. Kellen Winslow (pictured below) caught 8 passes for 105 yards and Wes Chandler gained 118 yards on his 7 receptions. Chuck Muncie had six catches for 50 yards but was held to 23 yards on 15 rushing attempts that included two for TDs. James Brooks topped the club with 49 yards on eight carries.

"I don’t know what it is about Monday night football, but we’re very proud of our Monday night record,” said Coach Tom Flores, commenting on the fact that the come-from-behind win gave the Raiders a 19-2-1 record in Monday night contests.

The Raiders lost at Cincinnati the next week but didn’t drop another game during the remainder of the truncated regular season, finishing atop the AFC with an 8-1 record. With the divisions set aside, LA was the top seed in an eight-team conference postseason tournament and handily defeated the Browns in the first round before losing to the Jets in the second. San Diego, which lost to the Raiders again in the season finale, ended up at 6-3 and fifth-seeded in the AFC. The Chargers also won their first round game at Pittsburgh and lost to Miami in the second round.

Marcus Allen continued to have an excellent first season, receiving consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors as well as Rookie of the Year recognition. He rushed for 697 yards on 160 carries (4.4 avg.) and caught 38 passes for another 401 yards to lead the league in yards from scrimmage with 1098. His 14 touchdowns also led the circuit, as did his 84 points, making him the first rookie to lead the NFL in scoring since Gale Sayers in 1965.

As he had in each of the previous three seasons, Dan Fouts led the NFL in passing yards with 2883 and also topped the circuit in TD passes (17, tied with Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana) and yards per attempt (8.7). Kellen Winslow led the AFC in pass receptions (54) and Wes Chandler topped the league in pass receiving yards (1032). All three received consensus first-team All-NFL honors and were selected to the Pro Bowl. 

1979: Tom Flores Becomes Head Coach of Raiders

On February 8, 1979 the managing general partner of the Oakland Raiders, Al Davis, confirmed that Tom Flores would succeed John Madden as head coach. Madden had been highly successful, leading the club to 112 wins and a NFL title over the course of a decade, but he stepped down due to health concerns – more specifically, an ulcer.

Just as he had done when he elevated Madden in 1969, Davis promoted an assistant coach with the team to the head coaching job. The 41-year-old Flores had been Oakland’s receivers coach since 1972 (he turned 42 before the season commenced). In contrast to the emotional and demonstrative Madden, Flores was quiet and calm. His elevation also made him the first Mexican-American head coach in NFL history.

“Of my 19 years in pro football, all but five have been with the Oakland Raiders,” said a happy Flores. “My heart has always been in Oakland with the community, the people, and the Raiders.”

“Tom is ready to be a head coach,” said an approving John Madden. “He has a lot of experience as a player and a coach. He knows everyone involved, the players, the administration, the set up. Tom did a good job as an assistant.”

Flores had been an original player with the Raiders in 1960 and became the starting quarterback. He performed well for a poor team and led the AFL in completion percentage (54.0) in the league’s inaugural year. A bout with tuberculosis cost him the 1962 season, but he came back to play admirably under Al Davis, then himself the new head coach, in ’63. He was traded to Buffalo in 1967 and finished his nine-year career with the Chiefs in their Super Bowl-winning season of ‘69. Flores returned to Oakland as an assistant on Madden’s staff.

After winning the Super Bowl following the 1976 season, the Raiders had gone 11-3 in ’77, losing the AFC Championship game to the upstart Denver Broncos, but then dropped to 9-7 and missed the postseason for the first time in seven years in 1978. 33-year-old QB Ken Stabler threw far too many interceptions. OT Art Shell and G Gene Upshaw, who had been stalwarts on the left side of the offensive line, were showing signs of wear. 36-year-old WR Fred Biletnikoff was also showing his age and was benched during the season. Similarly, the once-formidable defense was breaking down and veterans who had been obtained to fill holes, such as CB Monte Jackson, failed to produce as anticipated. In addition, trades to obtain veteran talent for the short-term had caused the Raiders to not have a first-round draft pick available for four straight years.

There were still plenty of assets, of course. All-Pro TE Dave Casper was coming off his most productive season. FB Mark van Eeghen rushed for 1080 yards, and rookie HB Arthur Whittington showed promise. Linebackers Ted Hendricks and Phil Villapiano were consistently outstanding.

With the added distraction of Davis fighting the league in order to move the franchise to Los Angeles, the Raiders again went 9-7 in 1979. Stabler bounced back from his subpar ’78 showing and benefited from heavy use of two-tight end sets that featured Casper and Raymond Chester. But the running attack ranked 24^th in the league and the club was also 21^st in overall team defense.

There was surprise in the offseason when the Raiders chose not to draft a running back in the first round, taking QB Marc Wilson out of Brigham Young instead. An even bigger shock came when they dealt Stabler to the Houston Oilers for QB Dan Pastorini. As Flores, who did not approve the trade, summed up, “We are getting a fine quarterback, but we are losing a great one.”

With Pastorini starting, Oakland got off to a 2-3 start in 1980. But when Pastorini went down with a season-ending broken leg against the Chiefs, backup Jim Plunkett took over with outstanding results. The former first overall draft choice of the Patriots in 1971 had been cast off by the 49ers and was an afterthought on Oakland’s bench in ’79. Now his career was rejuvenated at age 33 and the Raiders went 9-2 the rest of the way. There were other factors in the team’s turnaround: unheralded RB Kenny King ran for 761 yards in tandem with van Eeghen and rookie MLB Matt Millen was an outstanding addition to the defense, as were veteran CB Dwayne O’Steen and FS Burgess Owens. CB Lester Hayes led the NFL with 13 interceptions, fifth-year ILB Bob Nelson finally hit his stride, and OLB Rod Martin achieved stardom.

The Raiders finished second to the San Diego Chargers in the AFC West with an 11-5 record, defeated the Oilers (and Stabler) in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, squeaked past Cleveland in the Divisional round, and beat the Chargers for the AFC title. They then dominated the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl to become the first Wild Card team to win a NFL title.

The unexpected Championship season of 1980 was followed by a precipitous drop in ’81. The Raiders went 7-9 and endured a stretch of three straight games in which they were shut out. Flores felt the heat following the franchise’s first losing record since 1964, in the second year of the Al Davis era, but was retained. The team finally moved to Los Angeles in 1982 – or at least played their home games there while they still practiced in Oakland - and rebounded to go 8-1 in a strike-shortened year. Rookie RB Marcus Allen had an immediate impact on the offense, while TE Todd Christensen went from unheralded backup and special teams player to star. With the usual emphasis on obtaining veteran talent, DE Lyle Alzado was added to the squad with good results.

The Raiders fell short in the postseason, but the stage was set for another successful Super Bowl appearance in 1983. Although Plunkett struggled and lost his starting job to Wilson for a time during the season, Allen and Christensen were productive on offense, third-year DE Howie Long was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time and the defense picked up another savvy veteran in CB Mike Haynes. LA finished strong and upset the high-powered Redskins for the NFL Championship.

The team went a combined 23-9 over the next two years to again reach the postseason, but there were no further titles. The story remained the same – a strong defense, Allen’s running and Christensen’s receiving on offense, and instability at quarterback, with Rusty Hilger joining the mix. LA went 8-8 in 1986 and despite the acquisition of multi-sport star RB Bo Jackson, fell further to 5-10 in the strike-interrupted ’87 season. Flores stepped down afterward – likely under pressure.

Flores’ overall record with the Raiders was 83-53, for a healthy .610 winning percentage, and a further 8-3 tally in the postseason that included two Super Bowl victories. The unflappable, low-key coach labored in the shadow of Al Davis, however, and never seemed to receive the recognition that his record might otherwise have drawn. It did not help change the impression that Oakland owed its successes more to the managing general partner than the coach when Flores became head coach and GM of the Seattle Seahawks in 1992 and the club went a combined 14-34 over three losing seasons. But his calm and steady leadership certainly was of benefit to the Raiders, particularly in keeping the team focused during periods of off-field turmoil, and none of the club’s other coaches – including the more highly-esteemed Madden – can match the two NFL titles achieved under Flores.

1984: Raiders Overwhelm Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII

Super Bowl XVIII on January 22, 1984 featured the defending NFL Champions, the Washington Redskins, against the Los Angeles Raiders. If anything, the Redskins, coached by Joe Gibbs, appeared to be even better in ’83, at least on offense. After losing their opening game, they breezed through the rest of the schedule to again top the NFC East at 14-2. Along the way, they set a new league record for points (541) thanks to a high-powered offense directed by QB Joe Theismann and including RB John Riggins and wide receivers Charlie Brown, Art Monk, and Alvin Garrett along with an outstanding offensive line, known as “the Hogs”. If there were major concerns, they were in regard to the pass defense. 

The Raiders, coached by Tom Flores, topped the AFC West with a 12-4 record. While QB Jim Plunkett had lost his job to Marc Wilson for a time during the season, he played well down the stretch. Second-year RB Marcus Allen (pictured above) was outstanding both as a runner from scrimmage and receiver out of the backfield, TE Todd Christensen caught 92 passes, and veteran WR Cliff Branch was still productive when healthy. The veteran-laden defense was tough and aggressive.

The two teams had met during the regular season and the Redskins won an exciting back-and-forth contest in Washington. The defending champs, having thrashed the Rams and then just gotten past the 49ers in the postseason to win the NFC title, were three-point favorites coming into the game. Meanwhile, LA had soundly beaten the Steelers and Seahawks in the playoffs.

There were 72,920 fans in attendance at Tampa Stadium. Following their first possession, the Redskins were forced to punt from their 30 yard line. The kick by Jeff Hayes was blocked by TE Derrick Jensen (pictured below), who then recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown to give Los Angeles the early lead.

On Washington’s next series, it was the turn of the Raiders to suffer a miscue on a punt as the kick by Hayes hit Los Angeles CB Ted Watts in the back and was recovered by the Redskins. However, they failed to capitalize, gaining just 15 yards before Mark Moseley missed a field goal try from 44 yards out.

Both teams had difficulty generating offense in the early going. On the third play of the second quarter, it seemed as though the Redskins might benefit from a botched punt when Ray Guy had to jump for a high snap, but he one-handed it and was able to get the kick away. LA held the Redskins on the next series and, upon regaining possession, came out throwing. Jim Plunkett connected with Cliff Branch down the middle for a 50-yard gain. Two plays later, it was Plunkett to Branch again for a 12-yard touchdown and, with the successful extra point, a 14-0 lead.

Down by two touchdowns, the Redskins put together a 13-play, 73-yard series, highlighted by Theismann completing a pass to Alvin Garrett for 17 yards in a third-and-17 situation and throwing to TE Clint Didier twice, for 18 yards and then 20 yards to get inside the LA 20. However, they were unable to reach the end zone as the drive stalled at the seven. Moseley kicked a 24-yard field goal to get Washington on the board.

The Redskins got the ball back following a punt by the Raiders at their 12 yard line with 12 seconds left in the half. Theismann, with three receivers set wide to his right, tossed a swing pass to the left intended for RB Joe Washington – a play that had been a big-gainer when the clubs met in the regular season – but LB Jack Squirek stepped in front of the receiver, picked off the pass at the five, and had clear sailing for a touchdown (pictured at left) that made it 21-3 in favor of the Raiders at the half.

Washington started the second half strong with a 70-yard scoring drive. Theismann completed three passes and John Riggins ran the ball six times, the last on a one-yard plunge into the end zone for a TD. However, TE Don Hasselbeck blocked Moseley’s extra point attempt to keep the score at 21-9.

The Raiders responded with a 70-yard drive in eight plays that was helped along by a 38-yard pass interference penalty on CB Darrell Green. Los Angeles converted a third-and-four play at the Washington 11 as Plunkett threw to FB Frank Hawkins for six yards and Marcus Allen capped the series with a five-yard touchdown carry.

Trying to keep up, the Redskins were unable to convert on fourth-and-one at the LA 26 and, on the last play of the third quarter, Allen made a big play that, for all intents, finished off the defending champs. With a first down at the LA 26, Allen took a pitchout from Plunkett and began to sweep to his left. However, with SS Ken Coffey fast approaching, he reversed field and had clear sailing to a 74-yard TD. It set a new Super Bowl record for longest run, eclipsing the 58-yard carry by Tom Matte of the Colts in Super Bowl III. More importantly for the Raiders, it put Washington in a very deep hole at 35-9.

The fourth quarter was anticlimactic. The Raiders added a 21-yard field goal by Chris Bahr following an interception by CB Mike Haynes and came away with a stunning 38-9 win. It was the most points scored in a Super Bowl up to that time, as well as a record victory margin.

LA had more total yards (385 to 283) although the Redskins generated more first downs (19 to 18). But, critically, Washington was only able to gain 90 yards on the ground, averaging 2.5 yards per carry as the Raiders typically dominated the line of scrimmage.  In addition, the Los Angeles defense sacked Theismann six times and the Redskins turned the ball over three times – once directly for a score – as opposed to two turnovers by LA.

NT Reggie Kinlaw was a big part of the successful effort against the ground game while cornerbacks Mike Haynes and Lester Hayes blanketed wide receivers Charlie Brown and Art Monk.

Marcus Allen was the game’s MVP as he rushed for 191 yards on 20 carries that included two touchdowns;  the rushing total set a new Super Bowl record, breaking that of John Riggins set a year earlier. Jim Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a TD with none intercepted. Cliff Branch (pictured at right) caught 6 passes for 94 yards and a score.

For the Redskins, the continually-harassed Joe Theismann was successful on 16 of 35 throws for 243 yards with no touchdowns and two picked off. John Riggins was held to 64 rushing yards on 26 carries and scored a TD. Clint Didier led the club with 5 pass receptions, for 65 yards, while Charlie Brown gained 93 yards on his three catches.

 “The turning point was when they scored at the start of the second half and we came right back and scored,” said Tom Flores. “That was big for us.”

“What hurt the most was the Raiders coming back right after we scored at the start of the third quarter,” echoed Charlie Brown in summing up the defeat.

“This is the first time since Joe Gibbs has been here that any team has controlled our offense the way the Raiders did,” Joe Theismann noted.

“They pressed us with tight man-to-man coverages,” explained Coach Gibbs. “When they play you like that you either get the big plays or you have problems.”

In speaking to the Raiders afterward, managing general partner Al Davis enthused, “Of all the great teams we’ve had, this team dominated so much that, in my opinion, you are the greatest Raider team of all time and you rank with the greatest teams that ever played in any sport.”

The Raiders were 11-5 in the highly-competitive AFC West in 1984, reaching the postseason as a Wild Card team and losing to the division-rival Seahawks in the first playoff round. Washington topped the NFC East again in ’84, but also fell short of a return to the Super Bowl with a loss to the Bears in the Divisional round of the playoffs. The Redskins would win another NFC title in 1987, by which time such stalwarts as Joe Theismann and John Riggins were long gone. 

1980: Plunkett Replaces Injured Pastorini at QB for Raiders

Following back-to-back 9-7 seasons in 1978 and ’79, the Oakland Raiders made changes for 1980, most notably dealing QB Ken Stabler to the Houston Oilers for QB Dan Pastorini. While younger than “The Snake”, Pastorini was not nearly as accomplished and in the first four weeks of the year he threw eight interceptions as opposed to five touchdown passes and his yardage totals steadily decreased. The once-mighty Raiders, coached by Tom Flores, were 2-2 and viewed as a team in decline.

On October 5 the Raiders hosted the Kansas City Chiefs, a club they had beaten in the opening game. Kansas City was 0-4 under Head Coach Marv Levy and had been struggling with injuries to the offensive line. However, the defense came alive at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum to spur a 31-point explosion in the first half.

In the first quarter, Pastorini had fumbled when sacked by DE Dave Lindstrom and LB Gary Spani recovered and ran 16 yards for a touchdown. Two minutes later, Pastorini was hit after throwing a pass and suffered a fractured tibia plus damaged cartilage in his knee. He was done for the year.

Into the game came backup QB Jim Plunkett, a once-highly regarded prospect whose pro career had gone badly off course. The 1970 Heisman Trophy winner at Stanford had been the first overall pick of the ’71 NFL draft by the New England Patriots and had initially displayed great promise. At 6’3” and 220 pounds, he had ideal size plus a strong arm. But by 1975 he had taken a beating with a mediocre team and lost his starting job to the more mobile Steve Grogan. Dealt to San Francisco, Plunkett seemed to revive his career during the first half of the ’76 season, but again the team was not strong, collapsed during the second half, and sank further in 1977. He was let go by the 49ers during the ’78 preseason and signed by the Raiders, seeing no action during that first year and tossing just 15 passes in 1979. Frustrated after the club turned to Pastorini (and after not gaining the starting job even though he was the better quarterback during the preseason), Plunkett was very much an afterthought in Oakland – until the newcomer went down.

It was a tough initiation for Plunkett against the Chiefs, as he was forced immediately to play catch-up. He went to the air 52 times and completed just 20 for 238 yards, tossing two fourth quarter touchdown passes but also five interceptions. The Chiefs also recovered three Oakland fumbles, ran up six sacks, and scored two defensive touchdowns in all as they held on for a thumping 31-17 win.

It got better for Plunkett and the Raiders in the ensuing weeks. Plunkett tossed five touchdown passes in the next two games and, after getting off to the 2-3 start, Oakland won six straight and 9 of 11 contests to close out the regular season. To be sure, the tough defense that featured All-Pros in LB Ted Hendricks and CB Lester Hayes had a great deal to do with the surge. Rookie LB Matt Millen moved into the starting lineup and played above expectations. Castoffs like DE John Matuszak, LB Rod Martin, CB Dwayne O’Steen, and FS Burgess Owens all contributed. On offense, WR Bob Chandler came back from a knee injury to catch 49 passes for 786 yards and 10 touchdowns and 32-year-old TE Raymond Chester performed well all-around and contributed 28 pass receptions.

But Plunkett played well and was the biggest comeback story, throwing for 2299 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Raiders finished second in the AFC West with an 11-5 record and qualified for the postseason as a Wild Card. After handily beating the Houston Oilers (and Stabler) in the first round, they just got by the Browns on a frigid day in Cleveland that came down to an interception in the end zone and then defeated the division-rival Chargers for the AFC Championship. The crowning achievement was a dominating 27-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl. It was the first time a Wild Card team had reached the pinnacle.

Plunkett’s postseason numbers were 49 completions in 92 attempts (53.3 %) for 839 yards with seven touchdowns against three interceptions. He was at his best in the biggest game, completing 61.9 percent of his passes for 261 yards with three TDs and no interceptions in earning Super Bowl MVP honors. It was a stunning turnaround for the quarterback who had seemed all-but-forgotten when the season began.

Plunkett lasted another six years with the Raiders, who moved to Los Angeles in 1982. Things did not always go so well as in ’80 as his performances were sometimes uneven and he had difficulty holding the starting job. But he did lead the Raiders to another Super Bowl victory following the 1983 season, which certainly added luster to his career. 

1967: Raiders Obtain Daryle Lamonica from Bills

Concurrent with the first combined NFL/AFL draft, there were several major trades. Perhaps the biggest occurred on March 14, 1967, the first day of the draft, as the Oakland Raiders dealt QB Tom Flores, split end Art Powell, and a second round draft choice to the Buffalo Bills for QB Daryle Lamonica, split end Glenn Bass, and two draft picks (third and fifth round).

The 25-year-old Lamonica (he turned 26 prior to the ’67 season) had been taken by the Bills in the 24th round of the 1963 AFL draft out of Notre Dame (he was chosen by Green Bay in the NFL). He proved to be an effective backup to veteran Jack Kemp with the Bills and, with ideal size (6’3”, 215), a strong arm, and outstanding ability as a long passer, often relieved Kemp if a change of pace seemed in order in his first few seasons. He was also mobile and, even in a part-time role, led AFL quarterbacks in rushing with 289 yards in 1964. By 1966, however, he was seeing less action and was restless in Kemp’s shadow.

Meanwhile, Tom Flores, a week short of his 30th birthday at the time of the trade, was an original member of the Raiders in 1960 and was coming off a very solid year for a team that went 8-5-1. He ranked third in passing and achieved career highs with 2638 yards and 24 touchdown passes, earning selection to the AFL All-Star Game. However, there was a sense that the team’s managing general partner, Al Davis, and head coach, John Rauch, had concluded that Flores was not the quarterback to take the team to the next level.

As for the two receivers involved, Powell had been one of the best in the AFL since joining the New York Titans in 1960. After moving to the Raiders in ’63, he had never scored fewer than 11 touchdowns in a season (with a high of 16 in that first year) and had been over a thousand yards receiving in three of four years, including 1026 on 53 catches in 1966. Considered temperamental, he was nevertheless highly talented.

By contrast, Glenn Bass had caught just 10 passes for 130 yards in ’66. While he had 82 receptions in his first two seasons and had pulled in 43 throws for 897 yards and 7 touchdowns in 1964, Bass had been having physical problems, including a major ankle injury in 1965, and lost his starting job to rookie Bobby Crockett in ’66. At age 27, there were certainly doubts regarding his future.

At the time, the trade was viewed as a major gamble by the Raiders, who were giving up two experienced and accomplished players for a backup quarterback and injury-prone receiver. Meanwhile, Buffalo had topped the Eastern Division for three straight years, but after back-to-back AFL Championships, the Bills were badly beaten by Kansas City for the ’66 league title. The trade with Oakland, in conjunction with other deals, seemed likely to strengthen the club for a possible Super Bowl run in 1967.

In fact, the results proved to be very different and, ultimately, very one-sided for the Raiders. Bass failed to make the team, but Lamonica more than made up for it with a MVP performance. The player who came to be known as “The Mad Bomber” proved to be an excellent fit in Oakland’s offense with his ability to throw deep and also displayed strong leadership skills. Despite the lack of a legitimate deep threat, flanker Fred Biletnikoff, split end Bill Miller, and TE Billy Cannon performed capably. The Raiders went 13-1 and won the AFL Championship, succumbing to the NFL’s Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl.

Things did not go as well for Buffalo. Flores initially gained the starting job but had arm problems and, even with Kemp playing erratically, saw limited action – he threw a total of 64 passes, none for touchdowns but with 8 of them intercepted. Powell played in only six games and went down with a knee injury, catching 20 passes for 346 yards and four TDs. Instead of contending, and despite the efforts of a still-formidable defense, the Bills fell to 4-10.

Lamonica and the Raiders were 24-3-1 over the next two seasons, although they fell short of another AFL title both times. Still, Lamonica remained one of the league’s best quarterbacks and again received MVP recognition in 1969 as he passed for 3302 yards and 34 touchdowns. The arrival of fleet WR Warren Wells provided an effective deep threat to pair with Biletnikoff.

With the AFL merging into the NFL in 1970, Lamonica was still the starting quarterback for the Raiders and was selected to the Pro Bowl following the ’70 and ’72 seasons. However, the team, while still fundamentally strong, was not as successful and zone defenses began to neutralize the strong-armed quarterback. He began to yield playing time to the younger Ken Stabler and signed with the World Football League’s Southern California Sun, where he ended his career. It was an outstanding one – in eight years in Oakland (six as the primary starting quarterback) he passed for 16,655 yards and 148 TDs and the team went 62-16-6 in his starts and qualified for the playoffs in five of those first six seasons.

As for the Bills, the decline in ’67 continued through 1972, long after Tom Flores and Art Powell were gone. Flores appeared in one game in 1968 after being injured during the preseason, was dealt to the Chiefs during the ’69 season to provide veteran insurance when QB Len Dawson missed time due to injury, and retired afterward. He would eventually return to the Raiders as a head coach, leading the team to two NFL titles. Powell was gone in 1968, catching one pass for the Minnesota Vikings before his career also came to an end.

As for the draft choices the Raiders received, the third round selection was used to take Bill Fairbrand, linebacker from Colorado, and the fifth round pick went for LB Mike Hibler of Stanford. The second round choice the Bills got from Oakland was used for TE Jim LeMoine from Utah State. None of them were of consequence.

A risky trade that worked far better for the team that took the bigger chance proved a dud for the club that was seeking to retool and remain successful with veteran acquisitions. For the Oakland Raiders, it meant going from a promising team to a champion – and with a quarterback whose style of play came to define the franchise. But for the Buffalo Bills, it symbolized a descent from championship-level play to mediocrity.

1963: Records Fall as Raiders Beat Oilers in High-Scoring Thriller

By the time the Oakland Raiders faced the Houston Oilers in their season finale on December 22, 1963, they had long ago become the talk of the American Football League. In the first three years of the AFL’s existence, the Raiders had been one of its poorest clubs – both on and off the field. They had gone a combined 9-33, including a dreadful 1-13 in ’62, under three head coaches. That all changed in 1963 as 34-year-old Al Davis, previously an assistant under Sid Gillman with the Chargers, took over as head coach and general manager. The team had a new look, in silver-and-black uniforms, and a new attitude summed up in the phrase “pride and poise”. Their record coming into the contest with Houston was 9-4, having won seven straight after a 2-4 start, and the Raiders were just a game behind division-leading San Diego.


The Oilers, under Head Coach Frank “Pop” Ivy, were going in the opposite direction. They had finished on top of the Eastern Division in each of the first three AFL seasons, and were overall champions after the first two. However, following six wins in the first ten games, Houston had lost three straight to fall out of contention at 6-7. With 36-year-old QB George Blanda (pictured at right) and an able group of receivers, the Oilers were still capable of putting points on the board – as they would prove against the Raiders.

There were 17,401 in attendance at Frank Youell Field, the temporary structure built by the city of Oakland while a new facility was awaiting construction. The crowd may have been small, but it was enthusiastic and on its feet for much of the game.

Still, the Raiders offense started slowly, not getting a first down during the first quarter, although they got a quick score when CB Claude “Hoot” Gibson returned a punt 68 yards for a touchdown.

The Oilers came back with a four-yard scoring pass from Blanda to flanker Charley Hennigan that capped an 11-play series. Before the first quarter was over, Blanda’s passing set up another touchdown as he tossed a swing pass to FB Dave Smith for a 32-yard gain – Smith then followed up with a two-yard touchdown run.

Houston seemed to be getting the breaks as a Flores pass was deflected by LB Doug Cline and intercepted by FS Fred Glick, who returned it 14 yards to the Oakland 27. An unnecessary roughness penalty moved the ball to the 12 and Houston’s lead was 21-7 after Blanda immediately threw to end Willard Dewveall for a TD.

The Raiders fought back as Flores hit on three passes, to split end Art Powell (pictured at top) and flanker Bo Roberson, and connected with TE Ken Herock for a seven-yard touchdown that capped a six-play, 49-yard drive. A few minutes later, the score was tied when Flores took advantage of Powell and Roberson splitting the defenders to opposite sides and threw to star HB Clem Daniels, an outstanding receiver out of the backfield as well as runner from scrimmage, straight down the middle for a 56-yard touchdown.

The second quarter scoring was far from over and it was Houston again with Smith catching a pass from Blanda at the 10 and pulling away from LB Jackie Simpson for 25 yards and a TD. The possession had lasted for six plays and covered 64 yards.

The Raiders again tied the game at 28-28 as Flores, having been sacked for a nine-yard loss but seeing that the Oilers were continuing to go with single-coverage on Powell, connected with the star split end for an 81-yard touchdown - the ball traveling some 60 yards in the air.

Houston came right back in four plays, with Blanda throwing to Dewveall for 35 yards to the Oakland nine and was helped along by a pass interference penalty in the end zone. FB Charlie Tolar crashed over from the one to put the Oilers back in front at 35-28.

Getting the ball back with just over a minute left in the half, the Raiders scored in six plays, four of them Flores passes, the last of which was to Powell in the corner of the end zone for a 20-yard TD. Mercer tied the game once again with the extra point.

The tally was 35-35 at the half, with the teams having combined for 49 points in the second quarter alone and 21 inside the last two minutes. Each quarterback had completed 12 passes - Flores already had accumulated 277 yards and Blanda 222.

On the first play from scrimmage of the third quarter, Daniels ran for 11 yards, fumbled, and recovered when a Houston defender inadvertently kicked the ball back to him. Still, the Raiders, who had scored on their last four possessions, finally had to punt.

Oakland got the ball back and advanced into Houston territory - it appeared that Daniels had run 62 yards for a TD but an official ruled that he had stepped out of bounds at the 35, cutting the gain to 27 yards. After the Raiders were pushed back by a holding penalty, Powell scored again, splitting two defenders and pulling in a Flores pass for a 46-yard TD. It gave Oakland the lead for the first time.

Down 42-35, the Oilers came back, taking four plays to get to the Oakland 26 from where Blanda fired to Dewveall, who made a tumbling catch for a touchdown to finish off the 69-yard drive. The score was tied at 42-42 with just over seven minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The Raiders had to punt and Houston scored again on a Blanda pass play to TE Bob McLeod, who outmaneuvered CB Fred “the Hammer” Williamson, that covered 21 yards for a TD with 2:22 to go in the period. The Oilers had gone 67 yards in seven plays.

At this point, the teams exchanged interceptions. On the first play of the fourth quarter, Flores was picked off in the Houston end zone by CB Bobby Jancik. A pass thrown under pressure by Blanda was then intercepted by LB Archie Matsos to give the Raiders the ball at the Houston 24.

Flores went to Powell for a 23-yard touchdown, with the receiver pulling in the ball at the ten, stumbling, and then leading three defenders into the end zone. Once again the score was tied at 49-49 and there were still nearly twelve minutes to play.

Houston again drove into scoring position but Gibson intercepted Blanda’s pass on the goal line. The Raiders proceeded to drive from their 20 to the Houston 32. Mike Mercer, attempting the only field goal of the game by either team, was successful from 39 yards with 4:37 remaining on the clock.

There was still plenty of time, but the Oakland defense rose to the occasion. DE Jon Jelacic hit Blanda and forced a fumble, which the Oilers recovered. Rushed hard again, Blanda’s poorly-thrown pass was incomplete intended for Dewveall. DE Dan Birdwell knocked down another pass that was intended for McLeod and Houston was forced to punt.


Taking over on their own four, the Raiders successfully maintained possession to run out the clock, giving the ball to Daniels (pictured at left) six times in eight plays. On the final play of the game, and with the home crowd chanting his name, Daniels ran for three yards to break the AFL season rushing record. Oakland won the offensive scoring fest by a final score of 52-49.

The 101 points broke the previous record of 93 by the Chargers and Titans in 1960 and would remain the highest-scoring game in the AFL’s 10-year history. Records were also set for combined passing yards (749), combined TD passes (11), total yards (1063), and combined TDs (14).

The Raiders gained the most yards (540 to 468) while Houston led in first downs (27 to 21). Each team turned the ball over two times, but the Oilers sacked Tom Flores seven times and the Raiders were penalized on 9 occasions, for a loss of 88 yards, as opposed to 6 flags thrown on Houston.

Art Powell had an especially noteworthy performance as he caught 10 passes for a club-record 247 yards and four touchdowns. Tom Flores threw for 407 yards and 6 touchdowns as he completed 17 of 29 passes and had two intercepted. Clem Daniels rushed for 158 yards on 22 carries and gained 76 more yards on his two pass receptions that included the one long TD.

For the Oilers, George Blanda was successful on 20 of 32 throws for 342 yards with 5 touchdowns and two picked off. Willard Dewveall hauled in 7 of those passes for 137 yards and two scores. Dave Smith gained 94 yards out of the backfield on 4 catches that included a touchdown and also ran for 43 yards on 8 carries and a TD. Charlie Tolar was the team’s leading rusher as he gained 65 yards on 12 attempts and scored once.

It was the eighth straight win to close out the year for the resurgent Raiders, but San Diego walloped Denver to clinch the Western Division title. Still, the 10-4 tally marked a huge turnaround for the franchise as well as a second place finish. Houston came in third in the Eastern Division at 6-8.

“I’m not crying,” said Al Davis. “We’ve had a fantastic year. The only problem was, no one else could knock off the Chargers, so they’re the champs. But these guys are my champs. They’ve given more than a football team should be asked to give, and they deserve every bit of praise and honor that comes their way.” It was the beginning of what would be a long association between Davis and the Raiders – although he was head coach for only the first three years of that association.

Art Powell, in his first year with the Raiders following three with the New York Titans, led the league with 1304 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns on his second-ranked 73 catches. He averaged 17.9 yards per reception, was a consensus first-team all-league selection and chosen for the AFL All-Star Game.

In addition to accumulating his record 1099 rushing yards on 215 carries, Clem Daniels also led the league in yards per reception (22.8) as he gained 685 yards on 30 catches. He, too, was a consensus first-team All-AFL choice and was named to the league All-Star Game. He also received MVP honors from The Sporting News.


Tom Flores (pictured at right) led the league in yards per completion (18.6) and percentage of TD passes (8.1) as he threw for 2101 yards with 20 touchdown passes and 13 interceptions. It was a great comeback for a player who had missed all of the 1962 season due to a bout with tuberculosis.

1966: Dolphins Score Quick TD, But Lose Debut to Raiders

September 2, 1966 marked the regular season debut of the American Football League’s first expansion team, the Miami Dolphins. Coached by George Wilson, who once led the NFL Lions to a championship, the Dolphins, like all first-year teams, were made up of a combination of veteran castoffs and inexperienced young talent.

The quarterback position included examples of both, with strong-armed but immobile Dick Wood, a fifth-year veteran most recently with the Raiders and, for two years before that, the Jets, slated to start and rookie Rick Norton, the club’s first draft choice out of Kentucky, who was the primary backup. Miami had been successful in signing 11 of its draft choices, which in addition to Norton notably included another Kentucky star, LB Frank Emanuel, and split end Howard Twilley out of Tulsa.

There were 26,776 in attendance at the Orange Bowl on a Friday night to welcome the new club as it hosted the Oakland Raiders. Oakland, with a new head coach in John Rauch, was coming off of an 8-5-1 season in 1965 and was a 17-point favorite against the newcomers.

It didn’t take long for the Dolphins to excite the home crowd. HB Joe Auer, a 25-year-old Miami-area resident who had been a reserve with the Buffalo Bills, started things off with a bang by returning the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown (pictured above). Only Oakland’s DB Rodger Bird came close to stopping him, missing a tackle at the 10 before Auer dove into the end zone and was greeted by entertainer Danny Thomas, one of the team’s co-owners.

Things went quickly downhill from there. While the Raiders offense sputtered, especially when a first quarter bomb from QB Cotton Davidson was dropped by a wide-open (and normally reliable) split end Art Powell at the Miami 35 yard line, the Dolphins proved adept at beating themselves. Wood was intercepted four times in the first half, twice each by safety Howie Williams and CB Dave Grayson.

The interceptions proved critical, cutting off two promising drives and leading to 10 points for the Raiders in the second quarter. Twice Oakland took possession on the Miami 16, leading to a 16-yard field goal by Mike Mercer and a two-yard TD run by FB Hewritt Dixon. The Raiders led narrowly by 10-7 at halftime.


The rookie Norton took over at quarterback for the Dolphins in the second half. Early in the third quarter, Miami got a break when CB Jim Warren intercepted a Davidson pass. The Dolphins established their ground game in the ensuing drive as Auer and FB Billy Joe ran the ball effectively. However, seventh-year veteran Gene Mingo missed a 19-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the game.

Tom Flores replaced Davidson at quarterback and led the Raiders on an 11-play, 81-yard drive that included passes of 17 yards to Powell, 19 yards to FB Roger Hagberg, and 12 yards to TE Tom Mitchell. The possession resulted in a 15-yard TD pass to Powell with 3:27 remaining in the period, extending Oakland’s lead to 17-7.

The Dolphins resorted to trickery as the head coach’s son, George Wilson Jr., who was also the punter and a backup quarterback, took off on a fake punt and ran 37 yards to the Raiders’ 11. But Mingo missed another short field goal attempt, this time from 15 yards. Still, Miami got on the board again and made the game close when Norton tossed a two-yard scoring pass to aging ex-Bears FB Rick Casares for a TD that cut Oakland’s lead to 17-14.

Near the end, the Raiders finally clinched the win when Flores threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell to cap a 72-yard drive with just over two minutes left to play. The extra point attempt failed and the final score was 23-14.

“Except for the alertness of Williams and Grayson, we would have been in real trouble,” said a relieved John Rauch afterward.

The Raiders outgained Miami (257 yards to 182), especially dominating in net passing yards (241 to 88). However, they ran the ball poorly, gaining just 16 yards on 22 attempts to 94 yards by the Dolphins, and for as much as Miami was damaged by five turnovers, Oakland hurt itself with six.


Cotton Davidson completed only 7 of 19 passes for 80 yards with no TDs and three interceptions. Tom Flores was more effective, going to the air 20 times and completing 11 for 161 yards with two touchdowns against one that was picked off. Art Powell made up for his early drop with 8 catches for 104 yards and a TD. Roger Hagberg led the anemic rushing attack with 23 yards on six carries.

For the newcomers, Dick Wood completed just 4 of 13 passes for 49 yards and, of course, had the four interceptions. Rick Norton was successful on 7 of 19 throws for 52 yards with a TD as well as an interception. George Wilson Jr., with his one carry on the fake punt, led the Dolphins in rushing with 37 yards. Billy Joe gained 31 yards on 9 attempts and Joe Auer, who started things off in spectacular fashion with the kickoff return touchdown, ran for 25 yards on 10 carries and caught two passes for 30 more to lead the team in pass receiving yardage. The old pro, 35-year-old Rick Casares, caught the most passes, with three for 21 yards and a score.

It took until the sixth week of the season for the Dolphins to finally win their first game, and they ended up at 3-11 and tied for last in the AFL’s Eastern Division with the Houston Oilers. The Raiders once again went 8-5-1 to place second in the Western Division.

The quarterback position remained unsettled for Miami all through the inaugural season, with four different players starting. Joe Auer ended up being the club’s leading rusher (416 yards) and scorer (nine touchdowns for 54 points), but the fullback position was held down by several players along the way. Only the defensive backfield truly came together, as Jim Warren and safety Willie West were AFL All-Stars.