The Oakland Raiders were first established in 1960. Between AFL Championships, Super Bowl titles, and overall unique plays, they have cemented many memories within their dedicated fan base and general football fans. Here are some of the best Raiders moments throughout the team’s long and exciting history.
1 – Super Bowl XVIII
The Raiders took on the Washington Redskins, known today as the Commanders, for the 1984 Super Bowl. Sports bettors considered the Raiders underdogs for this game, as the Redskins set NFL records for points scored and yards gained. That didn’t matter to the Raiders. The team blocked a first-quarter punt and recovered for a touchdown. Offensive momentum continued throughout the first half, and the Raiders held a 21-3 lead. Oakland kept its foot on the gas throughout the second half and took home the Super Bowl title with a decisive 38-9 victory.
2 – 1967 AFL Championship
Before the AFL and NFL joined forces, an AFL Championship was held yearly. In 1967, the Raiders had quite the season, finishing 13-1 on route to battling the 9-4-1 Houston Oilers for the championship. The Raiders beat the Oilers handily, outscoring them 40 to 7 while putting up significant statistics, including 263 yards rushing and about 100 yards passing. The game did start slow, as the Raiders only kicked a field goal in the first quarter and had fewer yards than the Oilers. The second quarter quickly changed the game’s tempo when the Raiders scored on a 69-yard touchdown run by Hewritt Dixon, after which the score began to slip away from the Oilers as they turned the ball over twice.
The AFL and NFL merged a couple of years later, as games like the AFL Championship demonstrated that the AFL matched the skill level of the NFL and would provide entertaining games for fans. For fans who love the modern NFL, which has many teams, a more extended playoff schedule, more forward passing, and far better betting opportunities, this will feel like old news, unlike this recent post about US sportsbook promos.
3 – Super Bowl XI
The Oakland Raiders cruised through the 1977 season, led by quarterback Ken Stabler, cornerback Willie Brown, and wide receivers Cliff Branch and Fred Biletnikoff. The Raiders finished 13-1 during the regular season, powered their way through the playoffs, and met the Minnesota Vikings in the Super Bowl, with both teams seeking their first Super Bowl title. The Vikings proved no match for the Raiders, as they put up a Super Bowl record 288 yards of offense in the first half alone, which matches what some teams might do today. Ultimately, the Raiders offense was not alone in putting points on the board, as Willie Brown returned a fourth-quarter interception for a touchdown. The final score wasn’t close, as the Raiders won 32-14.
4 – Ghost to the Post
Overtime isn’t very common, even in the modern NFL. Some consider the game and play to advance to overtime during the Raiders and Colts 1977 AFC Division playoffs game pretty memorable. The Raiders were trailing in the fourth quarter with little time left when Ken Stabler threw an infamous pass known as “Ghost to the Post,” which involved having tight end Dave Casper running a post pattern. Stabler lofted the ball downfield, where Dave Casper made a reaching grab to set up a late field goal.
With the game tied, the teams began overtime. Two overtimes later, they played the fifth-longest game in NFL history, but the Raiders finally emerged with a 37-31 victory.
5 – The Sea of Hands
Playoff games tend to produce some profound memories. The Raiders were facing the Dolphins in the 1974 Divisional Round. Oakland found themselves behind by five points with two minutes left while deep in Dolphin territory. While under defensive pressure and stumbling, Stabler tossed the ball to Clarence Davis, who was swarmed with three defenders but managed to catch and hold on to it for a touchdown and late lead, which led to a Raiders victory.
6 – The Holy Roller
While the moment wasn’t particularly consequential, it resulted in a win—albeit a weird one. Trailing by six late in the game, Ken Stabler led the Raiders to the Chargers 14-yard line with just 10 seconds left. Stabler faced pressure on the play and was about to be sacked when the ball fell out of his hands and onto the grass. Running back Pete Banaszak tried to pick it up but instead flipped it toward the goal line. The ball continued to roll toward the goal line, where tight end Dave Casper kicked it forward and across the goal line, into the touchdown, and finally secured it for a game-winning score. Some speculate that the touchdown shouldn’t have counted, but NFL rules state that the referees must determine whether the forward fumble movement was intentional. They ruled it was not, and the Raiders won the game on one of the weirdest plays in NFL history. This play changed the rule regarding forward progress on a fumble.
Conclusion
Fans of the Oakland, Los Angeles, and ultimately, Las Vegas Raiders franchise have many special—and sometimes unusual—memories of the team. Since joining the AFL and then the NFL, the team has experienced plenty of success, including Super Bowl victories and deep, suspense-filled playoff runs.