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.

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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]

Rookie of the Year: Tim Bowens, 1994

Defensive Tackle, Miami Dolphins

Age: 21

College: Mississippi

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 317

Prelude:

Bowens was taken by the Dolphins in the first round of the 1994 NFL draft (20^th overall) despite concerns about his weight and having played only nine games at the major college level. Still, he had performed well in pre-draft workouts and it was hoped that he would be able to dominate from the inside of the defensive line. While his lack of experience was apparent in his pass rushing during his rookie year, he excelled at stuffing the run.

1994 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

(Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20)

Sacks – 3

Most sacks, game – 1 at Minnesota 9/25, at NY Jets 11/27, vs. Detroit 12/25

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 0

Forced fumbles – 2

Tackles – 44

Assists – 8

Postseason: 2 G

Sacks – 0

Interceptions – 0

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

2^nd team All-AFC: UPI

Dolphins went 10-6 to finish first in the AFC East. Won AFC Wild Card playoff over Kansas City Chiefs (27-17). Lost Divisional playoff to San Diego Chargers (22-21).

Aftermath:

The next few seasons featured uneven play from Bowens, in which he dominated at times but not consistently. However, he broke out with a Pro Bowl season in 1998 as the Dolphins ranked third in defense. Bowens continued to give Miami solid play in the middle of the defensive line. While he struggled with his weight, he could be surprisingly quick in spurts. He was selected to a second Pro Bowl in 2002 but a back injury limited him to two games in 2004, his last season. Always far better against the run than the pass during his 11-season career, Bowens had a total of 22 sacks and was twice selected to the Pro Bowl. While widely perceived to be a risky first-round draft choice in 1994, he went on to have a solid pro career.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year). 

MVP Profile: Lawrence Taylor, 1981

Linebacker, New York Giants

Age: 22

1^st season in pro football

College: North Carolina

Height: 6’3”   Weight: 237

Prelude:

Following a college career in which he was a consensus first-team All-American and Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year for 1980, Taylor was chosen in the first round by the Giants in 1981 (second overall). It was expected that he would start right away, and he did with an immediate impact.

1981 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

(Bracketed numbers indicate league rank)

Sacks – N/A

Interceptions – 1

Int. return yards – 1

Int. TDs – 0

Fumble recoveries – 1

Postseason: 2 G

Sacks – N/A

Interceptions – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Defensive Player of the Year: AP

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AP

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFW, NEA, Pro Football Weekly, Sporting News

1^st team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Giants went 9-7 to finish third in the NFC East while qualifying for the postseason as a Wild Card – the franchise’s first postseason appearance since 1963. Won NFC Wild Card playoff over Philadelphia Eagles (27-21). Lost NFC Divisional playoff to San Francisco 49ers (38-24).

Aftermath:

With his attacking style of play, Taylor almost immediately set new standards for outside linebackers and was a consensus first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection in each of his first six seasons and NFL Defensive Player of the Year again in 1982. In 1986 he received consensus MVP honors and was the AP Defensive Player of the Year for a third time following a season in which Taylor recorded 20.5 sacks and the Giants won the Super Bowl. Taylor continued to be the leader of the Giants defense, achieving consensus first-team All Pro honors twice more and being selected to four more Pro Bowls (for a total of 10 consecutive, going back to his rookie year). He retired following the 1993 season, with 132.5 career sacks, and his #56 was retired by the Giants. Taylor was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1999.

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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). Also includes Associated Press NFL Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year.

2007: Chargers Fire Marty Schottenheimer as Head Coach

The 2006 NFL season had ended in bitter disappointment for the San Diego Chargers, who put together the league’s best record at 14-2 but lost their only postseason game – a Divisional round contest against the New England Patriots. Several weeks later, on February 12, 2007, they took the step of firing Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer.

While the Chargers had been 47-33 under the 63-year-old coach, including 35-13 in the last three years, they were 0-2 in the playoffs. However, Schottenheimer could have survived the playoff disappointments – and initially it appeared that he would – but the bad relationship that existed between the head coach and GM A.J. Smith ultimately caused owner Dean Spanos to dismiss the coach, who cited a “dysfunctional situation” in making the surprise announcement

Two coordinators had already left to become head coaches (offensive coordinator Cam Cameron became head coach in Miami and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips moved on to the head job with the Cowboys) and two more assistant coaches left as well (tight ends coach Rob Chudzinski became offensive coordinator of the Browns and linebackers coach Greg Manusky moved to the 49ers as defensive coordinator). Schottenheimer had one year left on his contract, and was owed $3 million. He had turned down an offer for an additional year at $4.5 million three days after the playoff loss to the Patriots, which had apparently angered Spanos and Smith.

“This is absolutely unfair in my view,” said Schottenheimer in reaction. “We had no control over two guys who became head coaches in this league. We gave two guys an opportunity to be coordinators in this league. We’ve added a couple of guys that people should be very pleased with. The future coach will be very pleased as well.”

Smith had been promoted to general manager in April 2003 following the death from cancer of his predecessor, John Butler. Disagreements over personnel moves, such as QB Drew Brees being allowed to leave the club as a free agent, played a role in the rupture between Smith and Schottenheimer.

The 2006 Chargers had gotten off to a 4-2 start before winning ten straight games to close out the regular season. They were the league’s highest-scoring club as they scored 492 points and 59 touchdowns while on defense the Chargers led the NFL with 61 sacks. Top players on offense were QB Philip Rivers, who stepped up admirably in place of Brees; RB LaDainian Tomlinson, the consensus league MVP who gained 2323 yards from scrimmage and also set a new season scoring record; and TE Antonio Gates, who topped the receivers with 71 catches for 924 yards and 9 TDs. The key defensive players were NT Jamal Williams, linebackers Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips, and CB Quentin Jammer. Specialists were also strong with Pro Bowl PK Nate Kaeding, who missed only three of his 29 field goal attempts; punter Mike Scifres, who had 35 punts end up inside the 20 as opposed to just two touchbacks; and long snapper David Binn, another Pro Bowl selection.

The ability to turn teams around and win consistently had been signatures of Schottenheimer since he first became a NFL head coach with the Cleveland Browns during the 1984 season. The Browns went 44-27 under his direction with no losing records. Moving on to the Kansas City Chiefs, the club went 101-58-1 and didn’t fall under .500 until Schottenheimer’s tenth (and final) year at the helm. In one year in Washington, the Redskins were 8-8.

His 200-126-1 record during the regular season was the most successful of any coach not to reach the Super Bowl. However, the pattern of falling short in the postseason also became a part of his legacy. To be sure, the Browns came within a John Elway drive and ill-timed Earnest Byner fumble of advancing to the Super Bowl following the 1986 and ’87 seasons, respectively. But his teams were a combined 5-13 in the postseason and the loss to New England was his sixth straight in the playoffs, thus exacerbating the negative impression. On four occasions, his teams had entered the postseason with the best record in the conference (1986 Browns, 1995 Chiefs, 1997 Chiefs, as well as the 2006 Chargers).

A defense-minded coach (he had played linebacker, coached that position for three teams, and was elevated from defensive coordinator in Cleveland), Schottenheimer’s teams were known for utilizing a power-running attack on offense and attacking style on defense that yielded many sacks and turnovers. Even while updating to an offense that went to the air more often, he still never strayed far from the running game.

To succeed Schottenheimer, the Chargers went with Norv Turner, who brought a 58-82-1 record from his previous head coaching stops at Washington and Oakland and had most recently been offensive coordinator in San Francisco. Recognized for his prowess as an offensive assistant, he had yet to achieve success as a head coach.

With Turner at the helm, the Chargers topped the AFC West in each of the next three seasons, going a combined 32-16, although in 2008 it took a late charge to win the division with a mediocre 8-8 record. They did win playoff games in 2007 and ’08, advancing all the way to the AFC Championship game in Turner’s first year. But after failing to reach the playoffs in the ensuing three seasons, through 2012, Smith and Turner were let go.

The firing by the Chargers marked the end of Marty Schottenheimer’s NFL coaching career, although his name came up occasionally in rumors and he had success in one abbreviated year as head coach and general manager of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League (the Destroyers went 3-1 in the shortened 2011 season and won the four-team league’s title). 

Rookie of the Year: Kendrell Bell, 2001

Linebacker, Pittsburgh Steelers

Age: 23

College: Georgia

Height: 6’1”   Weight: 236

Prelude:

Bell was chosen by the Steelers in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft (39^th overall) to compete for the inside linebacker position vacated by Levon Kirkland. While he was slow in picking up pass coverage skills, he showed from training camp that he was suited to the starting lineup with his explosive speed and pass rushing ability. He became the first rookie to start a season-opening game for the Steelers since Hall of Fame MLB Jack Lambert in 1974.

2001 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Sacks – 9 [19, tied with six others]

Most sacks, game – 2 at Kansas City 10/14, vs. Jacksonville 11/18, vs. Cleveland 1/6

Interceptions – 0

Fumble recoveries – 0

Forced fumbles – 1

Tackles – 69

Assists – 13

Postseason: 2 G

Sacks – 1

Interceptions – 0

TD – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Rookie of the Year: Sporting News

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

2^nd team All-NFL: AP

Pro Bowl

Steelers went 13-3 to finish first in the AFC Central while leading the NFL in fewest overall yards allowed (4137) and rushing defense (1195 yards) and the AFC in fewest points allowed (212). Won AFC Divisional playoff over Baltimore Ravens (27-10). Lost AFC Championship to New England Patriots (24-17).

Aftermath:

Bell was nagged by an ankle injury in 2002 that caused him to miss four games and robbed him of some of his effectiveness. While he bounced back to play in every game in ’03, he was still far better against the run than in dropping back into pass coverage. However injuries, most notably a sports hernia that required surgery, limited Bell to just three games in 2004 and, released by the Steelers, he moved on to the Kansas City Chiefs. His three seasons in Kansas City were ultimately disappointing as he lost his starting job and continued to be nagged by injuries. Forced to retire in 2007, he ended up with 20.5 sacks in seven seasons – just 11.5 following his first year – and his Pro Bowl selection in 2001 was his only one. In all, he failed to fully live up to the outstanding potential he displayed during his Rookie of the Year season.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL (including NFC/AFC), AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year). 

[Updated 2/5/14]

MVP Profile: Randall Cunningham, 1990

Quarterback, Philadelphia Eagles

Age:  27

6^th season in pro football & with Eagles

College: Nevada – Las Vegas

Height: 6’4”   Weight: 203

Prelude:

Taken by the Eagles in the 2^nd round of the 1985 NFL draft, Cunningham saw some action in place of veteran QB Ron Jaworski, and while he completed only 42 % of his passes, he showed off his exciting running ability. In ’86, under new Head Coach Buddy Ryan, he saw more action in place of Jaworski and took over as the starting quarterback during the strike-interrupted 1987 season. Cunningham threw for 2786 yards and 23 TDs in 12 games and also rushed for 505 yards. He followed up with a 1988 season in which he set a new club record with 3808 passing yards and rushed for 624 yards as the Eagles won the NFC East. Cunningham had another Pro Bowl year in 1989, passing for 3400 yards and running for 621, but the Eagles again lost in the first round of the playoffs. An outstanding talent who could often improvise brilliantly, Cunningham was less adept at reading defenses and often irritated teammates with his demeanor.

1990 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing

Attempts – 465 [6]

Most attempts, game – 42 at NY Giants 9/9, at Washington 10/21

Completions – 271 [6]

Most completions, game – 25 at NY Giants 9/9

Yards – 3466 [6]

Most yards, game – 274 vs. Indianapolis 9/30

Completion percentage – 58.3 [7]

Yards per attempt – 7.5 [7]

TD passes – 30 [2, 1st in NFC]

Most TD passes, game – 4 vs. New England 11/4

Interceptions – 13 [14, tied with Warren Moon, Jeff George & Steve Walsh]

Most interceptions, game – 3 at NY Giants 9/9

Passer rating – 91.6 [5]

200-yard passing games – 11

Rushing

Attempts – 118

Most attempts, game - 13 (for 90 yds.) vs. Minnesota 10/15

Yards – 942 [9]

Most yards, game – 124 yards (on 8 carries) vs. New England 11/4

Yards per attempt – 8.0 [1]

TDs – 5

100-yard rushing games – 1

Scoring

TDs – 5

Points - 30

Postseason: 1 G (NFC Wild Card playoff vs. Washington)

Pass attempts – 29

Pass completions – 15

Passing yardage – 205

TD passes – 0

Interceptions – 1

Rushing attempts – 7

Rushing yards – 80

Average gain rushing – 11.4

Rushing TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL MVP: PFWA, Bert Bell Award

1^st team All-NFL: PFWA, Pro Football Weekly

1^st team All-NFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Eagles went 10-6 to finish second in the NFC East and qualify for the postseason as a Wild Card while leading the NFL in rushing (2556 yards) and the NFC in scoring (396 points) and touchdowns (48). Lost Wild Card playoff to Washington Redskins (20-6).

Aftermath:

Cunningham was lost to a season-ending injury in the first game of 1991 and, while he successfully returned in ’92, injuries became more of an issue as he missed most of 1993 with a broken leg. Benched in favor of Rodney Peete in ’95, he sat out a year in retirement before returning as a backup with the Vikings in 1997. When starting QB Brad Johnson was injured early in ’98, Cunningham put together an outstanding season, leading the league in passing (106.0 rating) while throwing 34 TD passes against just 10 interceptions. However, the team was upset by Atlanta in the NFC Championship game and Cunningham played in just six games in ’99. He finished up his career for good following a year each in Dallas and Baltimore. In the end, he passed for 29,979 yards and 207 TDs, was the career rushing leader for quarterbacks (4928 yards), and had the best rushing average (6.4) of any player in NFL history with over 750 carries (775).

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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]
[Updated 11/28/14]

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.