The 1976 Oakland Raiders season was the team's 17th season, and 7th in the National Football League.
After having appeared in the three previous AFC Championship Games – and having lost all three—the 1976 Raiders finally won the conference championship, and went on to win their first Super Bowl.
After posting a 13–1 regular season record and winning their sixth AFC West championship in seven seasons, the Raiders rolled to victories against the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers to achieve the second Super Bowl berth in team history. Then on January 9, 1977 at the Rose Bowl, the Raiders won Super Bowl XI by defeating the Minnesota Vikings 32–14. The victory had the Raiders compile a spectacular 16–1 overall record.
On March 30, 2012, the 1976 Oakland Raiders were named the greatest team of all time by NFL.com's "Bracketology"; a 15-day, 6 round fan vote tournament that features the 64 greatest teams from the Super Bowl era. Oakland beat the 2000 Baltimore Ravens in the final round by a .8% margin.[1]
Offseason
Players[3]>
| 1976 Oakland Raiders roster |
| Quarterbacks
Ken Stabler, David Humm, Mike Rae
Running backs
Clarence Davis HB, Mark van Eeghen FB, Pete Banaszak, Carl Garrett, Manfred Moore, Hubert Ginn
Wide receivers
Fred Biletnikoff, Cliff Branch, Mike Siani, Morris Bradshaw
Tight ends
Dave Casper, Warren Bankston |
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Offensive linemen
LT Art Shell, LG Gene Upshaw, C Dave Dalby, RG George Buehler, RT John Vella, Dan Medlin, Henry Lawrence, Steve Sylvester
Defensive linemen
John Matuszak, Dave Rowe, Otis Sistrunk, Charles Philyaw, Herb McMath |
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Linebackers
LOLB Phil Villapiano, LILB Willie Hall, RILB Monte Johnson, ROLB Ted Hendricks, Rodrigo Barnes, Floyd Rice, Rik Bonness
Defensive backs
George Atkinson, Willie Brown, Neal Colzie, Charlie Phillips, Mike Reinfeldt, Jack Tatum, Alonzo "Skip" Thomas
Special teams
K Errol Mann, P Ray Guy, PR Neal Colzie, KR Carl Garrett |
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| Offense |
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| LT |
LG |
C |
RG |
RT |
| Art Shell |
Gene Upshaw |
Dave Dalby |
George Buehler |
John Vella |
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Season
The Road to their first World Championship began on opening day as they faced the reigning world champion Pittsburgh Steelers. In their home opener, Oakland trailed 28–14 with just over five minutes to play, yet orchestrated what many to this day refer to as their Comeback Classic of 1976. They won 31–28 on a 21-yard Fred Steinfort field goal with 18 seconds left.
What followed was a mammoth 5-game road trip, featuring wins over each of the Raiders' three divisional foes. It also included Oakland's lone loss on the year, a 48–17 shocker in New England. However, this would just be a preview of things to come between the Raiders and the Patriots.
Oakland became virtually unbeatable after the defeat. Upon returning home, the Raiders cruised to big victories, like a 49–16 stomping of the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and had nail biters like the 28–27 victory against a competitive Chicago Bear team at Soldier Field. They closed out the season with a 24–0 shutout of the San Diego Chargers in Oakland.
The Raiders would end the 1976 season with a 64.3% pass completion. Ken Stabler would complete 66.7% of his passes. Mark van Eeghan would reach the 1000 yard mark with 1012 yards. Dave Casper would lead the team in receptions with 53 while Cliff Branch would lead the team in reception yards (1111), touch downs (12), and yards per reception for receivers who caught more than one pass (24.2).
Schedule
| Week | Opponent | Result | Game site | Attendance |
|---|
| 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 31–28 | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum | 51,371 |
| 2 | at Kansas City Chiefs | W 24–21 | Arrowhead Stadium | 60,884 |
| 3 | at Houston Oilers | W 14–13 | Houston Astrodome | 42,338 |
| 4 | at New England Patriots | L 17–48 | Schaefer Stadium | 61,068 |
| 5 | at San Diego Chargers | W 27–17 | San Diego Stadium | 50,523 |
| 6 | at Denver Broncos | W 17–10 | Mile High Stadium | 63,431 |
| 7 | Green Bay Packers | W 18–14 | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum | 52,232 |
| 8 | Denver Broncos | W 19–6 | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum | 52,169 |
| 9 | at Chicago Bears | W 28–27 | Soldier Field (I) | 53,585 |
| 10 | Kansas City Chiefs | W 21–10 | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum | 48,259 |
| 11 | at Philadelphia Eagles | W 26–7 | Veterans Stadium | 65,990 |
| 12 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 49–16 | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum | 49,590 |
| 13 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 35–20 | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum | 52,430 |
| 14 | San Diego Chargers | W 24–0 | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum | 50,102 |
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Game notes
Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Steelers |
0 |
7 | 7 | 14 |
28 |
| • Raiders |
0 |
7 | 0 | 24 |
31 |
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Week 2: at Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| • Raiders |
7 |
10 | 0 | 7 |
24 |
| Chiefs |
0 |
0 | 7 | 14 |
21 |
|
Week 3: at Houston Oilers
Oakland Raiders at Houston Oilers
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| • Raiders |
0 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
14 |
| Oilers |
6 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
13 |
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Week 4: at New England Patriots
Oakland Raiders at New England Patriots
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Raiders |
0 |
10 | 0 | 7 |
17 |
| • Patriots |
7 |
14 | 14 | 13 |
48 |
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Week 5: at San Diego Chargers
Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| • Raiders |
7 |
7 | 0 | 13 |
27 |
| Chargers |
7 |
0 | 3 | 7 |
17 |
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Week 6: at Denver Broncos
Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| • Raiders |
0 |
3 | 14 | 0 |
17 |
| Broncos |
0 |
10 | 0 | 0 |
10 |
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Week 7: vs. Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers at Oakland Raiders
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Packers |
7 |
0 | 0 | 7 |
14 |
| • Raiders |
0 |
18 | 0 | 0 |
18 |
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Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Broncos |
6 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
6 |
| • Raiders |
3 |
0 | 3 | 13 |
19 |
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Week 9: at Chicago Bears
Oakland Raiders at Chicago Bears
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| • Raiders |
0 |
14 | 7 | 7 |
28 |
| Bears |
7 |
0 | 20 | 0 |
27 |
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| Scoring summary |
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| 1 |
| Bears | Walter Payton 5-yard run (Bob Thomas kick) | Bears 7–0 |
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| 2 |
| Raiders | Dave Casper 17-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick) | Tie 7–7 |
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| 2 |
| Raiders | Cliff Branch 75-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick) | Raiders 14–7 |
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| 3 |
| Raiders | Clarence Davis 2-yard run (Errol Mann kick) | Raiders 21–7 |
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| 3 |
| Bears | James Scott 36-yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick) | Raiders 21–14 |
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| 3 |
| Bears | Walter Payton 12-yard run (kick failed) | Raiders 21–20 |
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| 3 |
| Bears | Walter Payton 2-yard run (Bob Thomas kick) | Bears 27–21 |
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| 4 |
| Raiders | Cliff Branch 49-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick) | Raiders 28–27 |
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Oakland escaped Chicago with a victory after a 31-yard field goal attempt by Bob Thomas with 15 seconds left got caught in a gust of wind and hit the upright.
Week 10: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders
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1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Chiefs |
0 |
7 | 3 | 0 |
10 |
| • Raiders |
7 |
7 | 7 | 0 |
21 |
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Week 11: at Philadelphia Eagles
Oakland Raiders at Philadelphia Eagles
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| • Raiders |
12 |
0 | 7 | 7 |
26 |
| Eagles |
7 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
7 |
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Week 12: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Oakland Raiders
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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| Buccaneers |
7 |
3 | 0 | 6 |
16 |
| • Raiders |
7 |
14 | 21 | 7 |
49 |
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Week 13: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals at Oakland Raiders
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Bengals |
6 |
7 | 7 | 0 |
20 |
| • Raiders |
14 |
7 | 7 | 7 |
35 |
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With the victory, the Raiders clinched a playoff berth for the Steelers.
Week 14: vs. San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Chargers |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
| • Raiders |
7 |
10 | 7 | 0 |
24 |
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Standings
Playoffs
[4]
AFC Divisional: vs. New England Patriots
AFC Divisional Playoff
New England Patriots at Oakland Raiders
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Patriots |
7 |
0 | 14 | 0 |
21 |
| • Raiders |
3 |
7 | 0 | 14 |
24 |
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AFC Championship: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
AFC Championship Game
Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders
| |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Steelers |
0 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
7 |
| • Raiders |
3 |
14 | 7 | 0 |
24 |
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Super Bowl XI: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Main article:
Super Bowl XI
| Game information |
- Second Quarter
- Third Quarter
- Fourth Quarter
- OAK - Pete Banaszak 2-yard run (Errol Mann kick) - Raiders 26-7
- OAK - Willie Brown 75-yard interception return (kick failed) - Raiders 32-7
- MIN - Stu Voigt 13-yard pass from Bob Lee (Fred Cox kick) - Raiders 32-14
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Awards and honors
References
See also
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| | | | Franchise | |
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| | Stadiums | |
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| | Personnel | |
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| | Culture | |
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| | Lore | |
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| | Rivalries | |
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| | Media | |
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| | Playoff appearances (21) | |
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| | Division championships (16) | |
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| | Wild cards (5) | |
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| | Conference championships (4) | |
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| | Super Bowl appearances (5) | |
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| | League championships (4) | |
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| | Current league affiliations | |
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| | 1960s | |
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| | 1970s | |
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| | 1980s | |
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| | 1990s | |
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| | 2000s | |
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| | 2010s | |
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