I was looking through the S.I. Vault the other day when I found this article that discussed the Oakland Raiders’ chance of winning Super Bowl II against Vince Lombardi and his Green Bay Packers. It is interesting stuff,in which author Edwin Shrake basically states that the only chance that Oakland had to win was if the defense put on a big show.
While the Raiders vertical offense was dominating, their defense, nicknamed “The 11 Angry Men,” was equally impressive. Their defense averaged nearly five quarterback sacks per game (69 sacks over 14 games), and featured Ike Lassiter, Dan Birdwell, Tom Keating and Ben Davidson across the front. The defensive backfield consisted of stars such as linebacker Dan Conners and defensive backs, Willie Brown and Dave Grayson. The defense intercepted 25 passes and recovered 28 fumbles in 1968, an average of more than three turnovers per game.
Unfortunately for Raiders fans, a Super Bowl victory was not to be. The Raiders defense sacked Packers quarterback, Bart Starr, four times, but did not force any turnovers. Meanwhile the Packers came out with a balanced attack, which netted them 160 yards on the ground and 162 through the air. The final score was 33-14 in the Packers favor.
The 1967 Raiders were arguably the greatest of all AFL teams. They were strong in all three phases of the game. But it was their first time to the dance. They were a bit intimidated by the Green Bay mystique. They continued to bee an excellent franchise for decades!!
I’ll go Howard one (or two) better… the Oakland Raiders of 1967-1969 were the best team(s) in all of pro football, my opine. Coming from a KC Chiefs fan like me, that is said with much reverence. Personally, history’s results put aside I’d take those Raiders teams over the Superbowl winning Packers, Jets & Chiefs the period 1966-1969, as well the vanquished others including the Colts & Vikings; that OAK never did win a Championship then doesn’t change my opinion.
Call it one man’s purview but Superbowls 1 & 2 were not routs, unless merely the final score is the measure… both games were in doubt till the very end the 3rd quarter, really. Mistakes not made by GB & those made by the AFL teams and capitalized on by the Packers the difference.
KC was a missed FG from leading GB 10-7 in Superbowl 1 & in hindsight that game did not get out of hand till the very end the 3rd quarter, 21-10 become 28-10 with about a minute left, 3rd. GB was still trying to score up 35-10 in the 4th as Starr threw a ‘bomb’ KC’s Willie Mitchell intercepted; Lombardi tried to rub it in even more, but KC did not quit, ever.
Superbowl II, a fumbled punt near midfield just before the half resulted in GB getting a FG, 16-7 lead instead a possible Raiders FG & a 13-10 deficit or even a TD & 14-13 Raiders lead. Point being, as great as GB was – I still think their 60’s teams are the best in pro football history – KC & OAK (both young teams), had but a bit of experience their own denied them, more so vast GB superiority.
Spoken like a true AFL fan, huh.
Would having Clem Daniels available for the Super Bowl have made a difference?
Daniels (or any other save for Providence Himself, perhaps) would not have made a difference, my opine. There was talk at the time that had OAK used Larry Todd (who did well in limited duty) mor,e the Raiders might’ve fared better… that is all speculation of course.
OAK, like KC the year before in Superbowl 1, was the bigger, stronger, faster team… alas, the ‘better’ team (best ever, Packers) won as is usually the case.
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