1968 Oakland Raiders season

AFL team season

1968 Oakland Raiders season

Owner| F. Wayne Valley
General manager| Al Davis
Head coach| John Rauch
Home stadium| Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
Results
Record| 12–2
Division place| 1st AFL Western
Playoffs| Won Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Chiefs) 41–6
Lost 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.

## Offseason

[edit]

### NFL Draft

[edit]

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

## Roster

[edit]

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 (ST)

* 16 George Blanda K
* 11 Mike Eischeid P

|  |

Reserve

* 74 Tom Keating DT (IR)

Rookies in italics

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## Schedule

[edit]

Main article: 1968 American Football League season

Week  | Date  | Opponent  | Result  | Record  | Venue  | Attendance  | Recap

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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.

* Saturday night (September 21), Thursday (November 28: Thanksgiving)

## Postseason

[edit]

Main article: 1968 American Football League playoffs

Round  | Date  | Opponent  | Result  | Venue  | Attendance  | Recap

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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

## Standings

[edit]

AFL Western Division

* view
* talk
* edit

| 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 summaries

[edit]

### Week 11 vs. Jets

[edit]

Main article: The Heidi Game

See also: 1968 New York Jets season

New York Jets (7–2) at Oakland Raiders (7–2)

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Jets | 6 | 6 | 7| 13| 32
Raiders | 7 | 7 | 8| 21| 43

at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum • Oakland, California

* Date: November 17
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C) • Wind —
* Game attendance: 53,318
* Referee: Bob Finley
* TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote
* Pro-Football-Reference.com, Pro Football Hall of Fame

Game information

Jets

* Joe Namath
19/37, 381 Yds, TD
* Matt Snell
21 Rush, 46 Yds
* Don Maynard
10 Rec, 228 Yds, TD

Raiders

* Daryle Lamonica
21/34, 311 Yds, 4 TD, 2 INT
* Hewritt Dixon
4 Rush, 75 Yds
* Fred Biletnikoff
7 Rec, 120 Yds, TD

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Scoring summary

| Quarter  | Time  | Drive | Team  | Scoring information  | Score

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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

### Week 12 vs. Bills

[edit]

Buffalo Bills (1–10–1) at Oakland Raiders (9–2)

Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3| 4| Total

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Bills | 0 | 3 | 0| 7| 10
Raiders | 0 | 3 | 10| 0| 13

at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum • Oakland, California

* Date: November 28, Thanksgiving Day
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C) • Wind 5 mph (8 km/h)
* Game attendance: 39,883
* TV: NBC
* Pro-Football-Reference.com

Game information

Bills

* Ed Rutkowski
10/25, 160 Yds, 2 INT
* Max Anderson
11 Rush, 60 Yds, TD
2 Rec, 31 Yds

Raiders

* Daryle Lamonica
12/32, 145 Yds, INT
* Charlie Smith
12 Rush, 54 Yds
* Warren Wells
3 Rec, 61 Yds

|

Scoring summary

| Quarter  | Time  | Drive | Team  | Scoring information  | Score

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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

## Staff

[edit]

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]

## References

[edit]

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.

* v
* t
* e

Las Vegas Raiders

* Founded in 1960
* Played in Oakland, California (1960–1981, 1995–2019) and Los Angeles (1982–1994)
* Based in Paradise, Nevada
* Headquartered in Henderson, Nevada

Franchise|

* History
* in Oakland
* in Los Angeles
* relocation to Las Vegas
* NFL in Los Angeles
* Seasons
* All-time roster
* First-round draft picks
* Starting quarterbacks
* Head coaches

Stadiums|

* Kezar Stadium
* Candlestick Park
* Frank Youell Field
* Oakland Coliseum
* Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
* Allegiant Stadium

Key personnel|

* Owner/CEO: Mark Davis
* President: Sandra Douglass Morgan
* General manager: John Spytek
* Head coach: Pete Carroll

Culture|

* Las Vegas Raiderettes
* Raider Nation
* "The Autumn Wind"
* Mount Davis
* Ricky's Sports Theatre and Grill
* Straight Outta L.A.
* In the House

Lore|

* Heidi Game
* 1970 AFC Championship Game
* Immaculate Reception
* The Sea of Hands
* 1975 AFC Championship Game
* Ghost to the Post
* Holy Roller
* Red Right 88
* Tuck Rule Game
* Lunatic Lateral
* Favre's Dad Game

Rivalries|

* Denver Broncos
* Kansas City Chiefs
* Los Angeles Chargers
* Miami Dolphins
* Pittsburgh Steelers
* San Francisco 49ers
* Seattle Seahawks

Media|

* Television:
* KVVU
* KTNV
* KLAS
* KSNV
* KTLA (Los Angeles)
* KRON (San Francisco)
* Radio:
* Radio network
* KRLV (AM)
* KOMP (FM)
* KLAA (Los Angeles)
* KSRO (San Francisco)
* KENO (Spanish)

* Other:
* Compass Media Networks
* Personalities:
* Bill King
* Greg Papa
* JT the Brick
* Brent Musburger

Wild card berths (6)|

* 1977
* 1980
* 1984
* 1991
* 1993
* 2016
* 2021

Division championships (15)|

* 1967
* 1968
* 1969
* 1970
* 1972
* 1973
* 1974
* 1975
* 1976
* 1983
* 1985
* 1990
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002

Conference championships (4)|

* 1976
* 1980
* 1983
* 2002

League championships (4)|

* 1967
* 1976 (XI)
* 1980 (XV)
* 1983 (XVIII)

Current league affiliations|

* League: National Football League (1970–present)
* Conference: American Football Conference
* Division: West Division

Former league affiliation|

* League: American Football League (1960–1969)

* v
* t
* e

Las Vegas Raiders seasons

Played in Oakland (1960–1981, 1995–2019) and Los Angeles (1982–1994)

* 1960
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* 1968
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Bold indicates AFL Championship (1960–1965) or Super Bowl (1966–present) victory
Italics indicates AFL Championship (1966–1969) and/or Super Bowl (1966–present) appearance

* v
* t
* e

1968 AFL season

| Eastern Division| Boston | Miami| Cincinnati| Kansas City | Western Division

|
|
|
|
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Buffalo | New York| Denver| Oakland
Houston | | | San Diego

* 1968 AFL Draft
* AFL playoffs
* AFL Championship
* All-Star Game
* Super Bowl III

* Related: 1968 NFL season

*[FB]: Fullback
*[G]: Offensive guard
*[C]: Center
*[T]: Ties
*[DT]: Defensive tackle
*[DE]: Defensive end
*[FS]: Free safety
*[CB]: Cornerback
*[S]: Safety
*[K]: Kicker
*[P]: Punter
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[PCT]: Winning percentage
*[DIV]: Win–Loss record within their division
*[PF]: Points For (Total points scored)
*[PA]: Points Against (Total points allowed)
*[STK]: Current Winning or Losing Streak
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template