1968 Oakland Raiders season (original) (raw)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

AFL team season

1968 Oakland Raiders season
Owner F. Wayne Valley
General manager Al Davis
Head coach John Rauch
Home field Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
Results
Record 12–2
Division place 1st AFL Western
Playoff finish Won Divisional Playoffs(vs. Chiefs) 41–6Lost AFL Championship(at Jets) 23–27
← 1967 Raiders seasons 1969 →

The 1968 Oakland Raiders season was the team's ninth season in both Oakland and the American Football League. It saw the team try to improve upon its 13–1 record from 1967. They ultimately finished one game short of matching that year's result; their 12–2 finish still ensured that they would lead the league in wins for a second consecutive year. Led by third-year head coach John Rauch, they tied with Kansas City for the division title,[1][2] which was settled by an unscheduled tiebreaker playoff, won 41–6 by the Raiders in Oakland.[3]

The season featured a growing rivalry between the Raiders and the New York Jets, led by fourth-year superstar quarterback Joe Namath. The teams met twice in 1968: the first was on November 17 in Oakland, which saw the Raiders complete a stunning fourth-quarter comeback over the Jets, scoring two touchdowns in nine seconds.[4] Known today as the Heidi Game,[5] it remains one of the most famous in AFL/NFL history. They paired up six weeks later in the AFL Championship Game in New York, where Namath's Jets emerged victorious in a 27–23 upset on December 29.[6] Two weeks later, the Jets upset the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

The 1968 season is also notable for a few changes to the team including the additions of George Atkinson, Art Shell, and Ken Stabler. All three won a championship with the Raiders eight years later in Super Bowl XI. Additionally, Shell in 1989, and Stabler in 2016, were both inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1968 Oakland Raiders draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
2 52 Ken Stabler * † QB Alabama
3 80 Art Shell * † T Maryland Eastern Shore
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

1968 Oakland Raiders roster | Quarterbacks (QB) 19 Cotton Davidson 3 Daryle Lamonica 12 Ken Stabler Running backs (RB) 40 Pete Banaszak 35 Hewritt Dixon FB 30 Roger Hagberg 37 Preston Ridlehuber 23 Charlie Smith 22 Larry Todd Wide receivers (WR) 25 Fred Biletnikoff 10 Eldridge Dickey 82 John Eason 89 Bill Miller 41 John Roderick 81 Warren Wells Tight ends (TE) 33 Billy Cannon 88 Dave Kocourek | | Offensive linemen (OL) 70 Jim Harvey G 65 Wayne Hawkins G 62 Bob Kruse G 00 Jim Otto C 79 Harry Schuh T 78 Art Shell T 76 Bob Svihus T 63 Gene Upshaw G Defensive linemen (DL) 53 Dan Birdwell DT 83 Ben Davidson DE 71 Al Dotson DT 77 Ike Lassiter DE 85 Carleton Oats DT 80 Karl Rubke DT | | Linebackers (LB) 50 Duane Benson 48 Bill Budness 55 Dan Conners 86 Bill Fairband 52 Jerry Hopkins 61 Dave Ogas 56 Chip Oliver 34 Gus Otto Defensive backs (DB) 43 George Atkinson FS 21 Rodger Bird 24 Willie Brown CB 45 Dave Grayson S 47 Kent McCloughan CB 26 Nemiah Wilson CB Special teams 16 George Blanda K 11 Mike Eischeid P | | | | Reserve 74 Tom Keating DT (IR) Rookies in italics | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 Bye
2 September 15 at Buffalo Bills W 48–6 1–0 War Memorial Stadium 43,057 Recap
3 September 21 at Miami Dolphins W 47–21 2–0 Miami Orange Bowl 30,021 Recap
4 September 29 at Houston Oilers W 24–15 3–0 Houston Astrodome 46,098 Recap
5 October 6 Boston Patriots W 41–10 4–0 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 44,253 Recap
6 October 13 San Diego Chargers L 14–23 4–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,257 Recap
7 October 20 at Kansas City Chiefs L 10–24 4–2 Municipal Stadium 50,015 Recap
8 October 27 Cincinnati Bengals W 31–10 5–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 37,083 Recap
9 November 3 Kansas City Chiefs W 38–21 6–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,357 Recap
10 November 10 at Denver Broncos W 43–7 7–2 Mile High Stadium 50,002 Recap
11 November 17 New York Jets W 43–32 8–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,118 Recap
12 November 24 at Cincinnati Bengals W 34–0 9–2 Nippert Stadium 27,116 Recap
13 November 28 Buffalo Bills W 13–10 10–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 39,883 Recap
14 December 8 Denver Broncos W 33–27 11–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 47,754 Recap
15 December 15 at San Diego Chargers W 34–27 12–2 San Diego Stadium 40,698 Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap
Divisional December 22 Kansas City Chiefs W 41–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,357 Recap
AFL Championship December 29 at New York Jets L 23–27 Shea Stadium 62,627 Recap
AFL Western Division
viewtalkedit W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Oakland Raiders 12 2 0 .857 6–2 453 233 W8
Kansas City Chiefs 12 2 0 .857 7–1 371 170 W5
San Diego Chargers 9 5 0 .643 5–3 382 310 L2
Denver Broncos 5 9 0 .357 1–7 275 404 L3
Cincinnati Bengals 3 11 0 .214 1–7 215 329 L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings in the AFL.

Game information
Jets Joe Namath19/37, 381 Yds, TD Matt Snell21 Rush, 46 Yds Don Maynard10 Rec, 228 Yds, TD Raiders Daryle Lamonica21/34, 311 Yds, 4 TD, 2 INT Hewritt Dixon4 Rush, 75 Yds Fred Biletnikoff7 Rec, 120 Yds, TD
Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP NYJ OAK 1 7:42 Jets 44-yard field goal by Turner 3 0 1 5:23 Jets 18-yard field goal by Turner 6 0 1 2:32 Raiders Wells 9-yard touchdown reception from Lamonica, Blanda kick good 6 7 2 13:34 Raiders Cannon 48-yard touchdown reception from Lamonica, Blanda kick good 6 14 2 0:05 Jets Namath 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass failed 12 14 3 9:59 Jets Mathis 4-yard touchdown run, Turner kick good 19 14 3 1:46 Raiders Smith 3-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass good 19 22 4 14:15 Jets Maynard 50-yard touchdown reception from Namath, Turner kick good 26 22 4 8:49 Jets 12-yard field goal by Turner 29 22 4 3:10 Raiders Biletnikoff 22-yard touchdown reception from Lamonica, Blanda kick good 29 29 4 1:05 Jets 26-yard field goal by Turner 32 29 4 0:42 Raiders Smith 43-yard touchdown reception from Lamonica, Blanda kick good 32 36 4 0:33 Raiders Fumble recovery returned 2 yards for touchdown by Ridlehuber, Blanda kick good 32 43 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 32 43
Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP BUF OAK 2 Raiders 39-yard field goal by Blanda 0 3 2 Bills 26-yard field goal by Alford 3 3 3 Raiders 33-yard field goal by Blanda 3 6 3 Raiders Interception returned 33 yards for touchdown by Atkinson, Blanda kick good 3 13 4 Bills Anderson 5-yard touchdown run, Alford kick good 10 13 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 10 13

Head coach: John Rauch

Assistants: John Polonchek (RB), Ollie Spencer (OL), Tom Dahms (DL), John Madden (LB), Charlie Sumner (DB), Marv Marinovich (Str)

Source:[7]

  1. ^ "Bird's big theft propels Oakland". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. December 16, 1968. p. 18.
  2. ^ "Chiefs resume practice". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. December 16, 1968. p. 19.
  3. ^ "Collier, Ewbank throw bouquets at Colts, Raiders". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. December 23, 1968. p. 14.
  4. ^ "Raiders stun Jets with nine-second blitz". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 18, 1968. p. 3B.
  5. ^ "Heidi upstages pro football". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. November 18, 1968. p. 3B.
  6. ^ Chass, Murray (December 30, 1968). "Super Bowl stage set as Baltimore, New York win: Weeb captures 3rd grid title". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 3B.
  7. ^ "Raiders coaches – Silver and Black Report". Archived from the original on April 18, 2010. Retrieved December 21, 2010.