Cheating Is Encouraged

by Mike Siani

  Week 4 @ Cleveland

  In Cleveland, 80,000 saw Neil Colzie and the Raiders playing with controlled fury despite a short week and a third consecutive road game.

  All scoring was from short yardage. Van Eeghen again rushed for over 100 yards and a pair of touchdowns while kicker Errol Mann scored on four consecutive field goals for the 26–10 romp, which was the Raiders’ 17th consecutive win over two seasons.

  Week 5 vs. Denver

  When the undefeated Denver Broncos visited Oakland, their league-leading defense proved formidable. After an early score by Dave Casper, the Raiders were denied the end zone. Turnovers became touchdowns as Denver went on to win, 30–7.

  Clearly 1977 would severely challenge the class and courage, leadership and loyalty of every member and fan of this Oakland Raiders organization.

  Week 6 @ New York Jets

  In New York, two ex-Alabama quarterbacks met, but Raiders assistants Tom Dahms and Lew Erber knew well that the Jets provide competition—not conversation.

  Stabler to Casper put Oakland up 14–7, but the Jets roared back on an 87-yard score from Richard Todd to Wesley Walker.

  The Jets increased their lead to 27–14 and held on till the fourth quarter. Calmly and deliberately, Raiders coach John Madden responded.

  Stabler to Fred Biletnikoff brought the Raiders within six with time running out.

  This seesaw struggle brought back memories of the Raiders’ last New York visit: in 1970, with seconds to go, Oakland was trailing 13–7. Daryle Lamonica to Warren Wells defied all odds with a last second score to win the game.

  Now as then, the Raiders’ come-from-behind tradition would be tested, and once again the Raiders would pull another one out of the fire, as Stabler hit Siani in the corner of the end zone to beat the Jets, 28–27.

  Week 7 @ Denver

  In Denver, the Raiders, now 5–1, met the undefeated Broncos on “Orange Sunday,” but Oakland would be the top dog today.

  John Matuszak led the charge as Toomay and Sistrunk helped record eight sacks. Then the Raiders offense went to work—a pass from Stabler to Branch in the end zone drew first blood. Following an Errol Mann 42-yard field goal, the Raiders struck again with an eight-yard score by Clarence Davis and a one-yard score by Mark van Eeghen. Behind offensive captain Gene Upshaw, Clarence Davis ran for 105 yards as Oakland controlled and conquered, 24–14.

  After five road games in seven weeks, the Raiders returned to the Coliseum, hopeful their roster would stabilize for the coming playoff drive.

  Week 8 vs. Seattle

  Against Seattle, Oakland’s special teams were quick and deadly and Lester Hayes was lethal. On defense, Willie Brown, Skip Thomas, and Jack Tatum helped ground the Seahawks.

  Van Eeghen followed Henry Lawrence en route to an AFC rushing title. With precision passing by Stabler to Siani, Biletnikoff, and Casper, rushing scores by Clarence Davis and Terry Robiskie, and three field goals from Errol Mann, Oakland triumphed, 44–7.

  Next, assistants Oliver Spencer and Tom Flores prepared for Houston.

  Week 9 vs. Houston

  The Raiders defense pressured early with Dave Rowe and Otis Sistrunk in the forefront. The alert silver and black intercepted four passes as the defense created all the necessary breaks.

  Stabler completed 23 passes as the explosive Raiders flashed toward a record 13th consecutive winning season.

  But the Oilers hung in and trailed by only five points despite a swarming Raiders secondary. Neal Colzie’s interception stopped one drive, and then safety Jack Tatum ended the drama. Final score: Oakland 34, Houston 29.

  But there was no relief in San Diego the following week, as Ken Stabler joined the team’s already lengthy injury list.

  Week 10 @ San Diego

  Inspired defense allowed the Chargers only 12 points, with Tatum and Thomas teaming up on an interception.

  Quarterback Mike Rae scrambled for the Raiders’ only score, as Oakland suffered their second loss of the season. Final score: San Diego 12, Oakland 7.

  Week 11 vs. Buffalo

  Buffalo was next, and the Monday-night crowd and television audience alike learned again that pride and poise is no idle phrase to the silver and black. Losses and injuries were forgotten, as brilliant Coach John Madden rallied his troops.

  Three times Stabler threw for touchdowns—twice to Branch, once to Biletnikoff, and two TD rushes by Banaszak. There could be no doubt why these Oakland Raiders were feared, respected, and imitated. The disciplined offense planned well and executed perfectly, completely dominating the Bills.

  The defense led by Toomay, Matuszak, and Hendricks intimidated, controlled, and established superiority. Lawrence and Buehler sprung van Eeghen.

  When the smoke cleared, the Raiders were victorious, 34–13.

  Week 12 @ Los Angeles

  In Los Angeles, photographers and fans awaited the Raiders.

  The playoff-bound Rams excelled on defense, but the Raider offense—number one in the AFC—chipped away. Always productive Pete Banaszak scored once and Mark van Eeghen surpassed 1,000 yards for the second straight season.

  Late in the game, Casper put the Raiders ahead, 14–13, but the Rams struck back against an Oakland secondary thinned earlier by the loss of George Atkinson with a broken leg.

  The Raiders valiantly fought back, but their heroic efforts came up short. Final score: Los Angeles 20, Oakland 14.

  Week 13 vs. Minnesota

  Week 13 brought the Minnesota Vikings in for a rematch of Super Bowl XI, but Oakland needed victory now to make the playoffs.

  Superb blocking by Dalby, Upshaw, Buehler, Shell, and Lawrence enabled Stabler to find Cliff Branch.

  Special teams led by captain Warren Bankston, Ray Guy, Steve Sylvester, Terry Robiskie, and Jeff Barnes stunned Minnesota.

  Linebacker Willie Hall’s fumble recovery broke the dam and a tidal wave of Oakland points poured through.

  Aggressive defenders were everywhere and linebacker Floyd Rice pounced on another Minnesota fumble. Raider fans were ecstatic, but there was still more to come.

  With big Art Shell riding the rush harmlessly away, Ken Stabler hit for three scores in the devastating 35–13 win.

  Once again the Oakland Raiders had clinched a playoff berth—their tenth in eleven years.

  Week 14 vs. Kansas City

  Prior to the final game of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs, Mark van Eeghen received the coveted Gorman Award as Most Inspirational Raider.

  Despite the three field goals from Errol Mann and a touchdown by Carl Garrett, the Raiders trailed the Chiefs throughout the game until the fourth quarter, when Mike Rae threw to Carl Garrett to give them a 20–18 lead. Mann’s 28-yard field goal gave them the 21–20 victory.

  The Raiders were now headed for Baltimore and an unbelievable AFC playoff game.

  AFC Divisional Playoffs @ Baltimore

  This game would be played before the largest home crowd in the Baltimore Colts’ history. The game itself would soon make history as one of the longest and greatest ever played in fifty-eight years of professional football.

  From the beginning, the Raiders’ execution was impressive as Stabler began a classic shootout that would total 345 yards passing as just one phase of a thundering assault.

  While Davis left tacklers clutching at air, Baltimore quarterback Bert Jones was sacked by Matuszak. Like a great silver wall, Rice, Matuszak, Hendricks, Johnson, and others rose up.

  Then the Raiders struck again with a deep bomb to Branch to the 20-yard line. A few plays later he lobbed one to Casper for the score.

  Every play was big. Ted Hendricks got a hand on a Baltimore Colts fumble and Jeff Barnes recovered. The Raiders converted the blocked punt into points and led midway through the third quarter, 21–17.

  But the Colts fought back, going ahead 31–28. Time became crucial. The Raiders had to stop the Colts right now, and they did exactly that.

  They calmly sent “The Ghost to the Post.” Casper’s c
atch was a work of art. And then Madden called on Errol Mann to send the game into overtime.

  This AFC playoff would go into a fifth period—a period of magnificent defense. In the final 23 minutes of this incredible game, the towering Raider defense did not allow a first down.

  Tension and exhaustion tapped the last resources as the fifth period became the sixth. Desire and determination were stretched to ultimate limits, but these Raiders made one more gallant effort.

  First it was Stabler to Branch for 19. Then on 2nd and 7, a beautifully conceived pass play brought down the curtain. Dave Casper’s touchdown gave Oakland a 37–31 victory after 75 minutes and 43 seconds—the longest game in Raiders history.

  AFC Conference Championship @ Denver

  In the conference championship against the Denver Broncos, Dave Casper scored both touchdowns on passes from Stabler and Errol Mann kicked a 20-yard field goal. But the 17 points were not enough to stop the Broncos, as Oakland was defeated, 20–17.

  1978 (9–7–0)

  Week 1 @ Denver

  The opener in Denver before a sellout crowd of 75,000 saw the silver and black clash angrily with the Orange Crush.

  With linebacker Jeff Barnes and rookie defensive end Dave Browning seeking action, Denver was held to just five pass completions. But all the Raiders could muster that day were two field goals by Errol Mann. In the end, it was an incompletion that would hurt Oakland the most. A questionable interference call set up a Broncos touchdown and Oakland turnovers proved costly.

  For Coach John Madden, the 14–6 loss was especially troublesome with the Chargers up next.

  Week 2 @ San Diego

  Despite over 700 yards total offense in San Diego, unique scoring plays still captured the headlines. Instead of a Raider interception came a Charger touchdown. But Ken Stabler hit Dave Casper and Morris Bradshaw as Oakland trailed, 20–14.

  The Raiders stormed goalward again. Action peaked with only ten seconds to play. The ball was fumbled, bobbled, and kicked. And when play ended, Dave Casper had the winning touchdown. The silver and black had their 160th league victory (including playoffs) to add to the legend. Final score: Oakland 21, San Diego 20.

  Week 3 @ Green Bay

  Green Bay was the third consecutive road game and Mark van Eeghen rushed for a career-high 151 yards. With Clarence Davis on injured reserve, Terry Robiskie started and found pay dirt.

  A pass from Stabler to Casper and then a hand off to Terry Robiskie put the Raiders up 14–0.

  With Dave Dalby firing off from center and rookie Arthur Whittington following the silver and black convoy to two more scores, the Raiders destroyed the Packers. Final score: Raiders 28, Green Bay 3.

  Week 4 vs. New England

  For the NFL’s first Sunday-night national telecast against New England, Steve Grogan’s evening wear featured Ted Hendricks and John Matuszak.

  Ken Stabler hit Dave Casper for one score, then Whittington followed Pete Banaszak and Gene Upshaw for another as Oakland exploded for 14 points.

  A third Raiders score was called back. The Patriots had rallied to gain a winning position. Final score: New England 21, Oakland 14.

  The rugged 1978 schedule would severely test the Raiders’ will to win.

  Week 5 @ Chicago

  In Chicago, the fourth road game in five weeks would soon become the fourth overtime struggle in Raiders history. Chicago had won nine of their last ten, but tenacious defense led by Monte Johnson kept them in check. Terry Robiskie scored the first Raiders touchdown, but the Bears rallied for a 19–16 lead.

  With Chicago threatened again, they were forcefully denied. With 60 seconds left, Cliff Branch grabbed his eighth pass of the day. Then when Morris Bradshaw’s TD was called back, Errol Mann kicked his fourth field goal to bring the game into overtime. The Raiders had never lost in overtime, and they weren’t about to start now.

  Neal Colzie intercepted a Bears pass and ran it down to the three-yard line. On the next play, Whittington ran it in for the score and the win. Final score: Oakland 25, Chicago 19.

  Week 6 vs. Houston

  Oakland hosted the playoff-bound Houston Oilers and the NFL’s MVP Earl Campbell.

  First-year starters Dave Browning and Rod Martin and the entire defense rose to the challenge. Johnson, Browning, Matuszak, Otis Sistrunk, and company slowed Houston down.

  Then Arthur Whittington took the long way around to put Oakland up 7–3. The Oilers fired back to lead 17–7, but their next drive backfired when Browning jarred the ball loose and safety Charles Phillips returned it 96 yards for a score.

  Ray Guy’s sky-high punts were skillfully covered by Booker Russell, Larry Brunson, Steve Sylvester, Derrick Ramsey, Joe Stewart, and John Huddleston, and the Oilers found themselves deep in the well with the Raiders relentlessly coming on.

  With only 50 seconds to go, Ken Stabler rolled left and fired to Dave Casper, whose one-armed catch meant victory. Final score: Oakland 21, Houston 17.

  Week 7 vs. Kansas City

  The Kansas City Chiefs came to Oakland for their 39th meeting (including playoffs) and a rivalry dating back to 1960. But this October day, the Chiefs were no match for the Raiders’ precision passing.

  Cornerback Monte Jackson led a young secondary in scalping the Chiefs. Two scores by van Eeghen and one each by Casper and Phillips spelled doom for KC. In the end, Kansas City stumbled and Oakland alertly responded for a sweet 28–6 conquest.

  Week 8 @ Seattle

  In Seattle, things went sour for Oakland. Robiskie and Browning were injured early and versatile Seahawks quarterback Jim Zorn lit up a shocking scoreboard display.

  All the Raiders could salvage was their 182-game scoring streak with a late Stabler to Branch touchdown. Final score: Seattle 27, Oakland 7.

  Week 9 vs. San Diego

  The following week found San Diego in Oakland for a Western Division rematch.

  Aggressive linebacker Ted Hendricks forced a fumble that Mike McCoy picked off in midair. Then on a fake field goal, Dave Humm passed to Casper to keep the drive going. The Raiders rolled with van Eeghen and Whittington, utilizing blocking by Dalby, Mickey Marvin, Upshaw, Lawrence, and Shell.

  But again, another thrilling San Diego–Oakland game would close in controversy.

  On fourth down, Lester Hayes ended Charger hopes, but an official saw it differently than Raider players and John Madden, and San Diego had life. The Chargers’ winning tally created more controversy when the receiver appeared to step out of bounds when making the catch.

  Both 1978 finishes in this series would be long remembered. Final score: San Diego 27, Oakland 23.

  Week 10 @ Kansas City

  As pro football’s winningest team, the Raiders created sellouts and did so again Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium.

  The Raiders were on the rebound and safety Jack Tatum turned an alert play into an Oakland plus. All-Pro Dave Casper had seven catches for 112 yards and Arthur Whittington rushed for 134 yards—the first Raider rookie to top 100 yards in a decade.

  On the final play, Oakland captain Willie Brown and Lester Hayes ensured a 20–10 victory. With the victory, John Madden became the thirteenth head coach in NFL history to win 100 league games and only the second in modern times to achieve this remarkable feat in just ten seasons.

  Week 11 @ Cincinnati

  The Raiders were in Cincinnati for a Monday-night game, and their defense was punishing.

  Kenny Stabler hit Raymond Chester for six and the Raiders were out to maintain an unsurpassed record of only one loss in nine years of Monday-night play. Colzie, Casper, Bradshaw, and van Eeghen added TDs totaling 34 points.

  Phil Villapiano intercepted a Bengals pass to keep the Raiders in control, as Oakland raised their season record to 7–4, beating Cincinnati 34–21.

  Week 12 vs. Detroit

  A hot Detroit team, a short week, rain, and mud all failed to slow the Raiders.

  Stabler threw to Branch, who was taken down at the one. The ball was knocked loose,
and Mark van Eeghen recovered in the end zone for one of his three scores of the day. Casper scored the other touchdown while Phil Villapiano tackled Lions quarterback Gary Danielson in the end zone for a safety.

  Next, Matuszak, McCoy, Hendricks, Hall, Tatum and the rest defeated the Lions by a score of 29–17.

  Week 13 vs. Seattle

  The only NFL division with four winning teams is the tough AFC West, so the Seattle–Oakland game was a crucial one between playoff contenders.

  Otis Sistrunk and the Raiders defense had fire in their eyes. Big Charles Philyaw demolished plays and then Stabler went airborne for a 16–14 lead.

  Another cliffhanger: with just two seconds left, a 46-yard field goal downed the Raiders and tightened the playoff race.

  Final score: Seattle 17, Oakland 16.

  Week 14 vs. Denver

  A Sunday-night game against Denver was next with the division lead at stake.

  On the first three possessions, the Raiders drove inside the Denver 20, but only got two field goals out of it. Oakland mistakes were Denver breaks as the Broncos closed in on the division title as Raiders fans saw their playoff hopes slipping out of reach. Final score: Denver 21, Oakland 6.

  Week 15 @ Miami

  In the season’s 15th week, the Raiders traveled cross-country to Miami with a playoff berth still possible for the winner.

  A Biletnikoff touchdown was Oakland’s only score as their record dropped to 8–7—far below the level of excellence expected from Oakland. Final score: Miami 23, Oakland 6.

  Week 16 vs. Minnesota

  Before the final game of the season, Dave Casper received the Gorman as Most Inspirational Raider.

  The Raiders dominated the playoff-bound Vikings for pride, respect, and tradition. Scores by Biletnikoff, Phillips, and van Eeghen, along with two field goals by Errol Mann, defeated the Vikings, 27–20.

  It was John Madden’s final win before retiring and Mark van Eeghen’s third consecutive 1,000-yard season.

  The Raiders’ will to win had now earned 14 consecutive winning seasons—a mark exceeded only once in NFL history.

  1979 SEASON (9–7–0)