Some thought the ’67 Raiders were good enough to win the Super Bowl, while others thought the AFL needed time to gain equal footing with the established NFL.
Before we discuss the Oakland Raiders’ 1967 season, let’s review their first seven seasons. Things didn’t look promising in their first three seasons, as the team won only nine of 42 games.
Things changed quickly in 1963 when Al Davis took over as head coach and general manager. The Raiders finished the season with a 10–4 record, a vast improvement over their 1–13 record in 1962. Unfortunately for Oakland, they were in the same division as the 11–3 SD Chargers, who went on to win the AFL Championship. The team digressed in 1964, finishing with a 5–7–2 record, before bouncing back in 1965 & 1966 with identical 8–5–1 records.
The Raiders made some good moves during the off-season, picking up quarterbacks Daryle Lamonica from the Buffalo Bills and George Blanda, a top-notch kicker, from the Houston Oilers. They also picked up cornerback Willie Brown from the Denver Broncos and assistant coach John Madden from San Diego State. Additionally, they used their first-round draft pick to get offensive guard Eugene Upshaw from Texas A&M.
Al Davis, who stepped down as head coach after the 1965 season, became AFL Commissioner, part owner of the Raiders, and continued his job as the team’s General Manager. The new Head Coach was former assistant John Rauch.
Warren Powers (photo, Raiders.com)
WEEK 1: The season got off to a terrific start as Oakland destroyed the Denver Broncos in Week 1. Leading 44–0 in the fourth quarter, defensive back Warren Powers intercepted a pass and ran it back 36 yards to make the final score 51–0. The Raiders gained 208 yards rushing, and fullback Hewritt Dixon gained 55 yards on just 11 carries with one touchdown and added another 78 yards receiving with one touchdown. Receiver Warren Wells caught one pass for 46 yards and another for a 50-yard touchdown. So dominant was the Raiders’ defense that the Broncos had only three first downs the entire game and had minus five in total yardage.
WEEK 2: The following week, Quarterback Daryle Lamonica connected with receiver Fred Biletnikoff on a 32-yard touchdown strike to start the scoring as Oakland cruised to an easy 35–7 win over the Boston Patriots. It was a big day for Lamonica, who completed 15 of 25 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He also had a 21-yard run for a touchdown. Former Houston Oiler Billy Cannon caught four passes for 114 yards, while running back Clem Daniels rushed for 95 yards on 20 carries and scored one touchdown. The Raiders defense held the Patriots running game to 65 yards and harassed Boston quarterback Babe Parilli into three interceptions while registering eight sacks.
WEEK 3: The Raiders faced the defending AFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs. Oakland jumped out to a 10–0 lead in the second quarter, but KC scored a touchdown to cut the lead to three points. Two George Blanda field goals increased the Raiders’ lead to nine points, but the Chiefs scored their second touchdown to cut the lead to only two points. Lamonica and tight end Billy Cannon connected on a 29-yard touchdown strike, and Oakland held on to win 23–21. The Raiders’ defense played well, allowing the Chiefs only 243 total yards. Daryle Lamonica had a good game, completing 23 of 38 for 236 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception despite getting sacked five times.
Darryl Lamonica (photo, NFL.com)
WEEK 4: Oakland traveled to New York after three home games to play the vastly improved Jets. The Raiders were behind 20–0 before the team knew what hit them. The Raiders’ defense had a tough time stopping Jets running back Emerson Boozer, who gained 98 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns. Jets receiver Don Maynard also gave them fits, gaining 86 yards on four receptions. The Oakland offense couldn’t get much going all day, gaining just 210 yards. Lamonica threw four interceptions and was sacked three times as the Raiders went down to defeat, 27-14.
WEEK 5: The Raiders fell behind 7–0 In a Week 5 game against the Buffalo Bills before scoring 17 unanswered points. Fred Biletnikoff tallied on a 41-yard reception, and middle linebacker Dan Connors scored on a 30-yard interception return. The Raiders’ defense made up for their lackluster performance against the Jets, holding the Bills running game to just 38 yards and sacking Bills quarterback Jack Kemp eleven times.
WEEK 6: The Raiders had no trouble with the hapless Patriots, winning easily 48–14. Oakland dominated Boston in every phase of the game, outgaining them 395 yards to 83. The Raiders’ defense continued to make life miserable for opposing quarterbacks, registering seven sacks. Daryle Lamonica threw for 240 yards, four touchdowns, and had no interceptions. Receivers Fred Biletnikoff and Warren Wells both had big days. Biletnikoff had three receptions for 109 yards, and Wells scored two touchdowns, one for 48 yards and another for 24 yards.
WEEK 7: The 5–0–1 Chargers came to Oakland in Week 7 and fell behind 16–3 before receiver Lance Alworth caught a 71-yard touchdown pass from John Hadl to close the gap to six points. But the second half was all Raiders. Leading 30–10 after three quarters, Lamonica connected with Biletnikoff on a 70-yard touchdown pass, and the Raiders had a 51–10 victory. The Raiders defense had a tough time stopping Lance Alworth, who had ten receptions for 213 yards. But to be fair to the Raiders, no defense in the league could stop Alworth. On the other hand, Oakland held the Chargers to only 54 yards rushing and forced five turnovers. Lamonica had a solid game, passing for 316 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Running back Clem Daniels had a terrific game, rushing for 94 yards on 16 carries with one touchdown and gaining another 101 yards receiving with one touchdown.
WEEK 8: The Oakland defense played another outstanding game in Week 8 against the Broncos, holding them to seven first downs and 119 total yards while sacking Broncos quarterbacks eleven times. Offensively, Hewritt Dixon had 74 yards rushing and another 75 yards receiving. Oakland won 21–17, improving their record to 7–1.
Billy Cannon (photo, Raiders.com)
WEEK 9: With a 24–17 lead in the fourth quarter, Lamonica connected with Billy Cannon for a 46-yard touchdown to give the Raiders a 31–17 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Week 9. Receiver Jim Clancy played well for the Dolphins, catching eight passes for 114 yards, but the stingy Raiders’ defense held Miami to only 81 yards rushing. Despite getting sacked five times and throwing two interceptions, Daryle Lamonica completed 21 of 33 passes for three touchdowns and 292 yards. Billy Cannon had six receptions for 99 yards and scored three touchdowns.
WEEK 10: The Raiders kept rolling with a decisive 44–22 win in a Week 10 rematch with the KC Chiefs. The Raiders’ run defense had become so dominant that opposing teams didn’t even try to establish a running game. The Chiefs ran the ball only 18 times for a meager 56 yards and threw the ball 40 times for only 136 yards. The Oakland defense also forced four interceptions and sacked Len Dawson six times. Defensive backs Warren Powers and Willie Brown ran back interceptions for touchdowns. Fred Biletnikoff had another big day, catching six passes for 158 yards and one touchdown. Fullback Pete Banaszack, usually the Raiders’ short-yardage man, gained 81 yards on just 13 carries, added another 27 yards receiving, and scored a touchdown.
WEEK 11: The Raiders traveled to San Diego in Week 11 for a rematch with the Chargers. The Chargers’ only season loss came in week seven against the Raiders. The Chargers’ high-powered offense penetrated the seemingly invincible Raiders’ defense, gaining 115 yards on the ground and 315 yards through the air. However, the Oakland D forced three interceptions, and Daryle Lamonica had his best game of the season, completing 21 of 34 passes for 349 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. The final score was Oakland 41, San Diego 21.
WEEK 12: In a Week 12 game against the Houston Oilers, the Raiders trailed 7–3 after three quarters but scored 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to win 19–7. Oakland outgained Houston 431 yards to 238. Hewritt Dixon had a good game, rushing for 96 yards on 21 carries and scoring one touchdown.
Fred Biletnikoff (photo, Raiders.com)
WEEK 13: Week 13 was a shootout between Joe Namath and Daryle Lamonica. Lamonica passed for 336 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions, while Namath passed for 370 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions. Three receivers gained over 100 yards in this game. For the Jets, Don Maynard gained 159 yards and scored two touchdowns. George Sauer gained 146 yards and scored one touchdown. For the Raiders, Fred Biletnikoff gained 110 yards in receiving. Billy Cannon gained 90 yards receiving and scored a 47-yard touchdown. Pete Banaszak gained 86 yards rushing and added another 73 yards receiving. Ultimately, Oakland avenged the week four loss to the Jets, winning this game 38–29.
WEEK 14: Even though the Raiders defense had a tough time containing Bills receiver Paul Costa (six passes for 163 yards and scored one touchdown), that was about the extent of the Bills’ offensive production. The Oakland D sacked quarterback Jack Kemp five times, and Dan Connors returned a fumble 21 yards for a touchdown. Defensive tackle Carleton Oats also returned a fumble for a touchdown. Offensively, the Raiders ran for 173 yards, led by Pete Banaszak, who had a 47-yard run – final score Oakland 28, Buffalo 21.
This stat illustrated the great season: the #1 ranked Oakland defense led the league in sacks with 67, a record that still stands. Individual performance was recognized in the many players who made the Pro Bowl: fullback Hewritt Dixon, receiver Fred Biletnikoff, guard Wayne Hawkins, tackle Harry Schuh, middle linebacker Dan Connors, cornerback Willie Brown, defensive tackle Tom Keating, defensive end Ben Davidson, cornerback Kent McCloughan, center Jim Otto, tight end Billy Cannon, and quarterback Daryle Lamonica. Lamonica was also voted league MVP.
AFC Championship: The 13–1 Raiders then played the 9–4–1 Oilers in the 8th AFL Championship game at the Oakland Alameda County Coliseum on New Year’s Eve. It was no contest. In the second quarter, Hewritt Dixon ran 69 yards for a touchdown to give Oakland a 10–0 lead. It only got worse for Houston as the Raiders went on to win 40–7.The Oakland defense dominated, allowing only 146 total yards and forcing three turnovers. Offensively, the Raiders kept the ball on the ground and rushed for 263 yards. Hewritt Dixon gained 144 yards on 21 carries, and Pete Banaszak gained 116 yards on 15 carries.
Victorious Packers (photo, Sports Illustrated)
SUPER BOWL: It was on to the Orange Bowl to face the defending Super Bowl Champion, the Green Bay Packers. The aging Packers were not the dominant team they had been in years past and came into the game with an 11–4–1 record. They had beaten the Dallas Cowboys in the coldest game ever to win the NFL Championship, and some felt the 14–1 Raiders could beat them. Others believed the AFL was not ready to challenge the established NFL, and the nod went to the naysayers. The Raiders fell behind 13–0 before Lamonica connected with Bill Miller on a 23-yard touchdown pass to close the gap to six points. But from then on, it was all Green Bay as the Packers went on to win 33–14. The Raiders were not dominated statistically in a game that saw a more experienced, battle-tested team take the title.
In 1976, the Raiders finally achieved the ultimate goal of a Super Bowl victory, but it took time to get there. From 1968 to 1975, the Raiders reached the AFL/AFC Championship game six times and lost every time.
