The Oakland Raiders in the 1970s: A Trip Down Memory Lane

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The 1970 Oakland Raiders dug themselves a hole by not registering a win until week four. But they dug themselves out by not losing any of their next seven games. They finished the season with an 8–4–2 record, good enough for first place in their division. They would play the Dolphins, whom they had lost to earlier in the season, in the playoffs. They won that game 21–14 and would now travel to Baltimore to face the Colts in the AFC Championship.

Their season ended there with a 27–17 loss. Quarterback Daryle Lamonica, running back Hewritt Dixon, tight end Raymond Chester, receivers Warren Wells and Fred Biletnikoff, guard Gene Upshaw, center Jim Otto, and tackle Harry Schuh made the Pro Bowl. Upshaw and Otto also made All-Pro.

Jim Otto (Center) and Gene Upshaw (Guard) Los Angeles Raiders
Photo courtesy Mark Morthier's private collection of a Jim Otto (Center) and Gene Upshaw (Guard) Los Angeles Raiders football card

1971 - 1975 Oakland Raiders

After ten weeks of the 1971 season, Oakland stood at 7–1–2, but they went 1–3 in their next four games to finish the season at 8–4–2, the identical record they had the year before. But unlike last year, that record wasn’t good enough to make the playoffs. Running back Marv Hubbard, Raymond Chester, Fred Biletnikoff, Jim Otto, and tackle Bob Brown made the Pro Bowl. Cornerback Willie Brown made both the Pro Bowl and All-Pro.

After eight weeks, the 1972 Raiders’ record stood at 4–3–1, and it looked like they might not make it to the playoffs again, but they reeled off six wins in a row. They would face the Steelers in the playoffs, a team they had lost to on opening day in a high-scoring affair. This game would be a low-scoring defensive battle and would end with a Steelers victory (the famous “Immaculate Reception” game.)

Daryle Lamonica, Marv Hubbard, Fred Biletnikoff, Raymond Chester, Jim Otto, Gene Upshaw, tackle Art Shell, and Willie Brown made the Pro Bowl. Biletnikoff also made All-Pro.

Raymond Chester (Tight End) and Marv Hubbard (Running Back) Los Angeles Raiders
Photo courtesy Mark Morthier's private collection of a Raymond Chester (Tight End) and Marv Hubbard (Running Back) Los Angeles Raiders football card

A 5–4–1 record going into week eleven didn’t give Raiders fans much hope that their 1973 team would be a contender for a Superbowl appearance. But just like the previous season, Oakland suddenly got hot, winning five games in a row, including a convincing 33–14 win over the Steelers in the playoffs.

The Raiders traveled to Miami to take on the defending Superbowl Champion Dolphins in the AFC Championship game. The two teams met in week two, and the Raiders came away with a 12–7 win. The outcome would be quite different this time, with the Dolphins coming out on top 27–10. The silver and black defense was overwhelmed by the Miami running game, giving up 266 yards rushing.

Ken Stabler, who took over as quarterback, made the Pro Bowl, along with Marv Hubbard, Fred Biletnikoff, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, punter Ray Guy, linebacker Phil Villipiano, free safety Jack Tatum, and Willie Brown. Brown and Guy also made All-Pro.

Fred Biletnikoff (Wide Receiver) Los Angeles Raiders
Photo courtesy Mark Morthier's private collection of a Fred Biletnikoff (Wide Receiver) for Los Angeles Raiders football card
Willie Brown (Cornerback) Los Angeles Raiders
Photo courtesy Mark Morthier's private collection of a Willie Brown (Cornerback) Los Angeles Raiders football card

The 1974 Raiders had an outstanding season, cruising to an impressive 12–2 record. Their record was the best in the NFL and gave them home-field advantage in the playoffs. They avenged their 1973 loss to the Dolphins with a memorable 28–26 win in what became known as the “Sea of Hands Game.” The Raiders would now face the arch-rival Steelers at home in the AFC Championship. The Raiders were very confident going into this game, and with good reason.

1 — They had the best record in the NFL at 13–2.

2 — They had just beaten the defending NFL Champion Miami Dolphins.

3 — They were playing on their home turf in front of what many considered the wildest fans in the NFL.

4 — In their last two meetings against the Steelers, they had outscored them 50–14.
Perhaps they were overconfident, or maybe their game against the Dolphins the previous week had taken too much out of them.

Whatever the reason, they lost to Pittsburgh 24–13, and another great season ended in disappointment. Ken Stabler, receivers Cliff Branch and Fred Biletnikoff, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Ray Guy, defensive tackle Otis Sistrunk, Jack Tatum, and Phil Villipiano made the Pro Bowl. Cliff Branch, Ray Guy, Gene Upshaw, Art Shell, and Ken Stabler made All-Pro. Stabler also won the NFL MVP award.

Cliff Branch (Wide Receiver) and Ken Stabler (Quarterback)
Photo courtesy Mark Morthier's private collection of Cliff Branch (Wide Receiver) and Ken Stabler (Quarterback)

The 1975 Raiders got off to a bit of a shaky start, losing two of their first five games, one of which was a humiliating 42–10 loss to the Chiefs. They won nine of their next ten games, including two overtime victories and a playoff win. They took a 24–7 3rd quarter lead over the Bengals in the playoff game and held on for a 31–28 win.

They would travel to Pittsburgh for a rematch with the Steelers and lose again 16–10. It was the sixth time in the last eight years that Oakland made it to the Championship game, only to lose every time.

Raiders fans were beginning to lose hope that their team would ever get back to the Superbowl. Cliff Branch, Ray Guy, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Phil Villipiano, and Jack Tatum made the Pro Bowl. Branch and Guy also made All-Pro.

2nd Half of the Decade

The Raiders began the 1976 season with a come-from-behind 31–28 victory over the Steelers. They lost only one game all season, and that loss came at the hands of the NE Patriots, a humiliating 48–17 loss. They would get their chance for revenge in the playoffs.

Things looked bleak for Oakland as they trailed 21–17 with time running out. But a controversial roughing the passer penalty against the Patriots gave Oakland new life, and they pulled out a 24–21 victory. For the third year in a row, the Raiders and Steelers would do battle in the AFC Championship.

This time Oakland came out on top 24–7, but one more victory was needed to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the World Championship. On January 9, 1977, the Raiders defeated the Vikings 32–14 to win the Vince Lombardi trophy.

Long-time veteran Fred Biletnikoff won the Superbowl MVP. Ken Stabler, Cliff Branch, tight end Dave Casper, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Ray Guy, and Phil Villipiano made the Pro Bowl. Casper, Guy, and Branch also made All-Pro.

Ted Hendricks (Linebacker) and Phil Villiapano (Linebacker) of the Los Angeles Raiders
Photo Courtesy Mark Morthier's private collection of Ted Hendricks (Linebacker) and Phil Villiapano (Linebacker) of the Los Angeles Raiders


After nine weeks, the defending NFL Champions were 8–1 and finished the 1977 season at 11–3. The Raiders traveled to Baltimore and won a memorable playoff game in overtime. The following week they traveled to Denver to face the Broncos in the AFC Championship.

The Broncos beat the Raiders in a week five matchup, and the Raiders won in a week seven matchup. The Championship game was a hard-fought battle, but Oakland came out on the short end, 20–17. Ken Stabler, Cliff Branch, Dave Casper, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Ray Guy, and center Dave Dalby made the Pro Bowl. Guy, Casper, Shell, and Upshaw also made All-Pro.

The 1978 Raiders were 5–2 before the bottom fell out, losing five of their next nine games and missing the playoffs. It was the team’s worst record since 1964. Coach John Madden retired at season’s end. Dave Casper, Art Shell, and Ray Guy were the only players to make the Pro Bowl. Casper and Guy also made All-Pro.

The 1979 Raiders season didn’t go any better than the 1978 season, again finishing 9–7 and again missing the playoffs. Raymond Chester and Dave Casper made the Pro Bowl. Casper also made All-Pro.

The bottom line. Regular season record 100–38–6. Post-season record 8–6. Division titles — six. AFC titles — one. Superbowl titles — one.

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Mark Morthier is the host of Yesterday’s Sports, a podcast dedicated to reliving memorable sports moments from his childhood days and beyond.  He grew up in New Jersey just across from New York City, so many of his episodes revolve around the great sport’s teams of the 70s for the New York area. 

He is also an author of No Nonsense, Old School Weight Training (Second Edition): A Guide for People with Limited Time and Running Wild: (Growing Up in the 1970s)

Mark Morthier headshot - host of Yesterday's Sports podcast on the Sports History Network

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