by Mike Siani
Week 9 @ Cincinnati
In Cincinnati, the Raiders were superb, blocking passes and field goals and destroying the Bengals’ offense. Blanda kicked two field goals and Clarence Davis scored on a one-yard run. Behind disciplined, almost flawless blocking, Charlie Smith rushed for an eight-yard TD and raced for 146 total yards. Oakland had their first must-win, 20–14.
Week 10 @ Denver
In Denver, pressure mounted but the Raiders were ready. Oakland’s defensive mind and muscle were magnificent as first-year find Otis Sistrunk was everywhere. The secondary with Jimmy Warren closed down the Denver scoring lanes and Coach John Madden’s meticulously designed offense was devastating, rolling up 25 first downs and punting not even once.
Fred Biletnikoff continued his march to another AFC receiving title with two touchdowns. Marv Hubbard and Charlie Smith added scores of their own, and George Blanda kicked three field goals as the proud, poised Raiders met the test with must-win number two, 37–20.
Week 11 vs. Kansas City
Now it was time for a showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.
There was always special tension in the air before a Raiders–Chiefs encounter because for the past six years, these meetings had decided the championship. This time, Oakland held a 1.5 game lead over Kansas City. A Raiders win now and the return to glory was but one step away.
From the very outset, it was silver and black dominance. The powerful Raiders grabbed an early lead, blasting for sixteen rushing first downs—the most in their proud history.
Just three weeks earlier they had been humiliated in Kansas City. But the Raiders never lost sight of their championship goal. They grew tougher, more determined. The Chiefs learned this first hand.
Charlie Smith scored from 2 yards out to open the scoring, and Blanda added a 27-yard field goal for a 10–0 lead. It was 10–3 when Lamonica hit Biletnikoff, making it 16–3. The Raider lead ballooned at 26–3 and stayed there, protected by George Atkinson and the entire silver and black defense.
With Oakland victorious, 26–3, it was all over, and more than 54,000 loyal Raiders fans knew their team needed but one more win to gain the division championship—their fifth in six years.
Week 12 @ San Diego
A large group of Raider boosters followed their team to San Diego, anxious to see the division title clinched.
The defense was shocked, earning breaks for the offense. The famed Raider precision passing built leads at 7–0 and 14–10. But the Chargers rallied late in the last quarter and led 19–14, threatening to score again, but quarterback John Hadl threw deep into the end zone. The ball was deflected and landed in the hands of Dan Conners.
The Charger threat continued, but it was as if the Raiders fans willed a miss kick and all that followed. Trailing by five points and with time draining away, the silver and black marshaled the attack team. Lamonica began a relentless move on the Chargers goal. He rifled one to Mike Siani, who was injured on the play and was replaced by Cliff Branch. Lamonica hit Branch on the 20 and took the ball to the nine. With first and goal to go, Lamonica gave the ball to Smith, who took the ball in for the touchdown. Final score: Raiders 21, San Diego 19.
The pledge had been kept. The Oakland Raiders had returned to glory, for they were the 1972 champions of the rugged AFC Western Division.
Week 13 vs. New York Jets
The Raiders and Jets played before the largest TV audience in Monday night pro football history. Joe Namath was spectacular and threw an early TD pass to give New York the lead. But the now battle-wise Raiders played sound team defense and, thirty-nine passes later, the Jets had been prevented from scoring even one more touchdown.
As the record Oakland Coliseum crowd of 54,843 cheered, the Raiders made it five in a row, beating the Jets 24–16.
Week 14 vs. Chicago
Marv Hubbard, who finished with a record 1,100 yards rushing, was presented with the annual Gorman Award before the start of the game.
Charlie Smith scored twice and Pete Banaszak once. Then Clarence Davis and the offensive line went on to beat the Bears 28 to 21 before a thirty-eighth consecutive sellout crowd, and Oakland entered the playoffs with a 10–3–1 record.
AFC Divisional Playoffs @ Pittsburgh
The playoff game in Pittsburgh was one of pro football’s defensive struggles. Led by Otis Sistrunk and Tony Kline, Oakland held the Steelers to just two field goals, but with 1:57 left in the game, the Raiders trailed 6–0. Then Kenny Stabler began a brilliant drive that marched the courageous Raiders downfield in what appeared to be another heroic finish.
Next Stabler went back to pass, then decided to run the ball into the end zone, making the score 7–6. Unfortunately, Raider heroics were short lived, for the Steelers in an impossible fourth down situation came up with a play that has been called miraculous, freakish, illegal, and certainly controversial.
Pittsburgh quarterback Terry Bradshaw dropped back to pass, but the Raiders flushed him out of the pocket to the right. He saw running back John (Frenchy) Fuqua over the middle at the Raiders’ 35, and with defenders closing, Bradshaw fired a pass toward Fuqua.
Fuqua, Raiders safety Jack Tatum, and the ball converged simultaneously, and out popped the ball. The Raiders began to celebrate, not realizing that rookie running back Franco Harris, trailing the play at the Raiders’ 42, had picked the ball out of the air at his shoe tops and taken off down the left sideline. Some Raiders gave chase, but they could not stop Harris from running to the end zone.
Touchdown? Nobody knew, including the officials. The Raiders argued that Fuqua had batted the ball to Harris (the rules of the time did not permit consecutive touches by offensive players). If Tatum had batted the ball, the play would have been a touchdown.
Referee Fred Swearingen, after consulting with NFL supervisor of officials Art McNally, came back on the field and ruled the play a touchdown. Pittsburgh kicked the extra point to take a 13–7 lead with five seconds left, a score that was finalized moments later.
As suddenly as the Raiders had forged ahead, their 1972 season was ended. But a moment of defeat cannot erase years of glory. The years 1963 through 1972 were when the Oakland Raiders proved that the true test of any great organization is its ability to maintain a level of excellence.
The Oakland Raiders, the famed and feared silver and black, now proudly stood as pro football’s winningest team over the past ten challenging seasons. Every Oakland Raider sacrificed to fulfill the destiny of this organization whose greatness was in its future, and all now proudly shared in their gallant return to glory.
1973 SEASON (9–4–1)
Defending champions of pro football’s toughest division, the Oakland Raiders faced a tough 1973 schedule, including the undefeated World Champions plus every AFC playoff team. Of the first seven games, only one would be at home.
Sunday night, November 18, found the silver and black, pro football’s winningest team the past ten years, third in the AFC West.
Experts buried Oakland’s chances for their sixth division championship in seven years, but the Raiders knew what remained to be done on the battered Coliseum turf. Forged in the fires of adversity, fueled by an unyielding total commitment to excellence, the character of the Raiders rose to heights of greatness in a thundering drive to the playoffs.
Thus was written another heroic chapter in the proud history of an organization that ranks atop the sports world. Thus was written conquest and character—the story of the 1973 Oakland Raiders.
Week 1 @ Minnesota
The challenge began in Minnesota against the eventual NFC champions. Daryle Lamonica started at quarterback and hit Mike Siani with six passes as Oakland gained 353 yards against the vaunted purple gang.
Top draft choice Ray Guy marked his pro debut with a 50-yard punting average, while George Atkinson’s electrifying punt return, which gave the Raiders a 13–10 lead at the half. But in the end, veteran Fran Tarkenton and Rookie of the Year Chuck Foreman spearheaded the Vikings’ 24–16 win over the
silver and black.
Week 2 vs. Miami
The next Sunday found Coach John Madden and the Raiders at California Memorial Stadium against the World Champion Miami Dolphins.
The order of battle was set early as Dan Conners blocked out Larry Csonka power. Then Bubba Smith and the young Raiders defensive unit turned out the light of flashy runner Mercury Morris.
Oakland played errorless football and over 74,000 appreciate fans, the largest crowd to ever see a pro game in Northern California, knew Miami’s eighteen-game win streak was in danger.
Charlie Smith and Marv Hubbard rampaged goalward. Four times this duo drove within field goal range. Four times Coach John Madden called upon veteran George Blanda. George was a perfect 4–4 and, coupled with superb defense and determined special teams, he helped the mighty Raiders to a 12–7 streak-breaking conquest of the World Champions.
Week 3 @ Kansas City
In unfriendly Kansas City, Oakland faced the first of five straight grueling road games. Clarence Davis darted on a 76-yard kickoff return, but the Raiders registered only three points. The powerful Chiefs managed only three field goals themselves as punter Ray Guy boomed the football into the land of no return.
The Oakland defense held the hard ground savagely. But with only two minutes left to play, a deflected pass intercepted by Willie Lanier and returned for a touchdown sealed the Raiders’ fate. The 16–3 loss to the Chiefs left Oakland with one win in three games. With four straight road games still ahead, the Raiders’ character would be severely tested.
Week 4 @ St. Louis
In St. Louis, the silver and black faced soaring temperatures and an explosive Cardinals offense. Ignoring the heat, the fired-up Raiders defenders, led by Otis Sistrunk, Tony Kline, Art Thoms, and Phil Villapiano, limited the high-scoring Cards to only ten points (who averaged 20 per game that season). Behind flawless protection from Jim Otto, George Buehler, Gene Upshaw, Art Shell, Bob Brown, and John Vella, Kenny Stabler completed 19 of 31 as the surging Oakland offense gained nearly 450 yards.
Marv Hubbard helped achieve a club record of eighteen rushing first downs. Defense had been paramount in the first three games, but offensive came forth as Hubbard blasted in for the 17–10 clincher.
Week 5 @ San Diego
The traveling Raiders were on the road again, and this time it was San Diego that challenged Oakland’s closed end zone policy. The silver and black took advantage of every Charger miscue. Pete Banaszak recovered one fumble and Bob Moore’s score, along with touchdowns from Cliff Branch and Marv Hubbard and two Blanda field goals, gave Oakland the victory with a final score of 27–17.
Week 6 @ Denver
Next, in a Monday night road game at Denver, the Raiders faced another team crusading to overtake them. Twenty-four-year veteran George Blanda became the first player to ever kick 300 field goals, but even more important kicks were yet to come.
Twice the Raiders rallied from behind. An 80-yard bomb from Kenny Stabler to Mike Siani brought Oakland back once, and the Raiders defense fought valiantly to protect the lead. Despite clutch plays such as Jack Tatum’s interception, the rugged Broncos forged a 17–13 lead. Cliff Branch then put Oakland ahead, 20–17. With Stabler injured, Lamonica came in and hit Branch to set up a go-ahead field goal. But Denver came back to tie the game at 23, and Oakland’s 3–2–1 record left the AFC Western Division title up for grabs.
Week 7 @ Baltimore
Now the Raiders were cross-country in Baltimore for a fifth straight road game. Ken Stabler hit Mike Siani, Fred Biletnikoff, and Bob Moore with six passes each, while completing 25 of 29 to set an all-time NFL completion percentage record. This record performance again brought to national attention the precision passing that has for so long been a feared weapon in the Raiders arsenal. When the Colts tried to immolate the Raiders’ success, they ran into trouble from alert Alonzo “Skip” Thomas. With the riddled Colts secondary playing deep, Clarence Davis rolled behind Gene Upshaw for two scores and a 34–21 Oakland victory. Five straight away games, and yet this young Raiders squad had allowed but one game to result in defeat.
Week 8 vs. New York Giants
Finally the silver and black were finally home to the Oakland Coliseum. Their opponent in this eighth week of the season was the New York Giants. With a fortieth consecutive Coliseum sellout crowd in attendance, the fatigue of travel and battle was temporarily forgotten as Coach John Madden skillfully unfolded a devastating game plan. Against New York, Oakland’s superiority was evident from the opening whistle. Yard by yard, man by man, point by point, Oakland vanquished the Giants in a surge of raw power.
The defense, with linebacker Gerald Irons leading the way, zeroed in on the Giants. Down after down, the Raiders displayed the intensity of a proud team in search of its ninth consecutive winning season.
On the offense side, Kenny Stabler threw a touchdown to both Bob Moore and Charlie Smith, while Clarence Davis, and Marv Hubbard (twice) rushed for scores. Daryle Lamonica came in during the fourth quarter and whistled one to wide receiver Steve Sweeney. It finished the Giants 42–0 and raised Oakland’s record to 5–2–1.
Week 9 vs. Pittsburgh
Against the playoff-bound Pittsburgh Steelers, the Raiders were plagued by turnovers and penalties, and Ken Stabler suffered a knee injury. Behind Lamonica, Oakland ran and passed for nearly 400 yards against the prestigious Steelers defense. Despite this display of strength, the Raiders scored only nine points—a field goal by Blanda and a touchdown by Biletnikoff. As things went awry, Oakland suffered its third loss of the 1973 season. But while the 17–9 defeat was damaging, the bruising defensive struggle with Cleveland the following week was even more costly.
Week 10 vs. Cleveland
Both defenses played tough, tightfisted football. For the silver and black, the 7–3 loss seemed deadly because that night when the scores were in, the Raiders stood third in the AFC West and many thought they were finished.
Week 11 vs. San Diego
With San Diego in Oakland, it was a must-win situation for the Raiders. The Chargers employed trick formations, but Coach Madden’s competent staff had the silver and black poised and ready.
Horace Jones and Kelvin Korver pressured the Chargers’ offense into big mistakes. The Raiders’ conference-leading defense forced a miscue that safety man George Atkinson turned into a score, and the Chargers were never close.
The defiant Raiders dug in and overpowered San Diego 31–3 with TDs from Smith, Biletnikoff, and Moore. The victory was crucial. Oakland’s comeback tradition blended with its strong pride that would not allow this team to give an inch despite the imposing obstacles that barred their charge to the division title.
With this victory, the Raiders were now tied for second, but faced yet another must-win in Houston.
Week 12 @ Houston
Against the Oilers, Marv Hubbard raced for 121 yards to contribute to a new Raiders season rushing record of 2,510 yards. But the Raiders were in a rugged battle inside the Astrodome.
The Oakland defense bent, but a touchdown saving effort by Willie Brown epitomized the Raiders’ determination. Two plays later, the Houston scoring threat was smashed when linebacker Phil Villapiano picked up a forced fumble. Fred Biletnikoff’s clutch catch finished the Oilers, 17–6.
Week 13 vs. Kansas City
The Raiders were atop the AFC West, but on the horizon was the team that hated them most: the Kansas City Chiefs.
Nemiah Wilson came up with a timely interception that helped limit the Chiefs to only seven points. Then the Raiders offense zeroed in with their big guns, and the explosion shook the football world. This was the offense that would finish number one in the AFC, and KNBR’s Bill King describes the relentless role of the onrushing silver and black way:
“Stabler gives the ball to Hubbard. He breaks a tackle at the 25, the 20, the 15, the 5, TOUCHDOWN, RAIDERS! Hubbard with a 31-yard touchdown gives the Raiders the lead of 13–0. Marv Hubbard did another crunch job.”
; And after the crunch came the crumble as the Oakland defense got it back and the Chiefs were ground to dust, 37–7. Now only two teams remained, and the last regular season game was the only one that mattered.
Week 14 vs. Denver
The Raiders had battled back and now faced the final challenge to their championship plans: the Denver Broncos. They forged an early lead and then added to it, as Stabler handed off to Davis for a score.
Throughout the year, the aggressive Raiders defense allowed only 175 points—58 less than any previous season. This intense pressure forced the Broncos to falter. Only the strong survive in the final quarter of a title game, and on this December day, once again it was the silver and black who conquered. A big play by the offense of Stabler to Siani for the score, and then another by the defense when the Broncos were intercepted by Thomas, rendered the final verdict, 21–17.
The Raiders, for the sixth time in seven years, had won the Western Division of the American Football Conference.
AFC Divisional Playoffs vs. Pittsburgh
Just six days after defeating Denver, the Steelers and Raiders met at an AFC playoff game marked by Oakland’s methodical mayhem at the Coliseum.
With a first and ten to go at the Pittsburg 39, Villapiano intercepted the ball at the 40-yard line of the Raiders. Later, Bradshaw was looking for Barry Pearson and overthrew him. Waiting in the midst was George Atkinson for the second interception of the day. Once again, Bradshaw set up and fired down field, and the ball was intercepted by Willie Brown, who raced 54 yards to the end zone for the score.
With design and desire, the awesome Raiders juggernaut ripped out huge chunks of Steelers turf. Time and time again they drove to the end zone door and battered it down. In the end, it was Raiders pride that dominated the day with a resounding 33–14 victory—a triumph saluted with a standing ovation by the ecstatic Oakland fans.