Celebrate the iconic history of the Raiders with our fan poll! For seven memorable decades, the proud wearers of the Silver and Black have had the greatest players, the greatest coaches, the greatest plays and been involved in the greatest games in the annals of professional sports. Join us in reliving the most notable moments from each decade of Raiders football by casting your vote for your favorites.
Memorable Plays from the 1960s
The 1960s served as the foundation for the Greatness of the Raiders, providing fans with many unforgettable moments, including:
- a 10-4 mark in 1963 after winning only nine games total in their first three seasons before Al Davis arrived
- an epic come-from-behind last second victory over the Buffalo Bills in 1964 when Tom Flores found Art Powell in the end zone on a 1-yard pass for a 16-13 victory with no time left
- a major breakthrough when the Raiders defeated the Houston Oilers 40-7 to win their first American Football League Championship
- the "Heidi Game" in which Charlie Smith's 43-yard touchdown reception from Daryle Lamonica was the first of two touchdowns in a nine-second span to propel the Silver and Black to a 43-32 victory over the New York Jets
The '60s closed with Silver and Black banners flying high as these gallant Raiders, in the final three seasons of this decade, won three division championships, an American Football League Championship and made their first of five Super Bowl appearances.
Memorable Plays from the 1970s
The 1970s saw a merger between the fledgling American Football League and the long-standing National Football League, and the Silver and Black, an original AFL member, continued to dominate in what would be the most exciting era in the Raiders' storied history.
This era began with the 1970 "Miracle Season of George Blanda," when the gritty 43-year-old quarterback and kicker garnered five consecutive weeks of accolades and led the Raiders to a 4-0-1 record in that span, capturing the hearts of fans of all ages.
The subsequent seasons during this decade would live forever in Raider lore with several name-games, including "Sea of Hands" (Ken Stabler game-winning TD pass to Clarence Davis), "Ghost to the Post" (Stabler to Dave Casper who made an over-the-shoulder catch) and "The Holy Roller" (Casper game-winning fumble recovery in the end zone).
The 1976 campaign proved to be the crowning glory for the Oakland Raiders, culminating in the team's first World Championship of Professional Football with a 32-14 triumph over the Minnesota Vikings in front of a record 103,424 fans in Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977. The signature moment from that victory was Willie Brown's 75-yard interception when "Old Man Willie" jumped an out-pattern and ran it back for a touchdown.
Every season in the '70s was a winning one for the Raiders, including seven postseason appearances and one Super Bowl title. The proud wearers of the Silver and Black earned an unmatched level of achievement and success as they readied for the challenges of the 1980s.
Memorable Plays from the 1980s
The Raiders continued to shine in the '80s. Led by the resurrection of quarterback Jim Plunkett and 1980 Defensive Player of the Year Lester Hayes, the Raiders thundered down the stretch and ultimately dominated the Philadelphia Eagles, 27-10, in Super Bowl XV in New Orleans. "Red Right 88" when Mike Davis made a game-sealing interception against the Browns in the AFC Divisional Round, Kenny King's 80-yard TD catch from Jim Plunkett and Rod Martin's Super Bowl-record three interceptions highlighted a special season in which the Oakland Raiders became the first-ever Wild Card team to win a Super Bowl.
After relocating to Los Angeles in 1982, the Silver and Black were bound for glory. Jim Plunkett to Cliff Branch for 99 yards in Week 5 of the 1983 campaign tied an NFL record for longest touchdown pass, Jack Squirek pick-sixing a screen pass at the end of the first half of Super Bowl XVIII gave the Raiders a 21-3 halftime advantage and Marcus Allen's 74-yard touchdown scamper on "17 Bob Trey 0" was the icing on the cake in the Raiders' 38-9 domination of the Washington Redskins to secure the team's third Lombardi Trophy in just eight seasons.
Major League Baseball/NFL All-Star Bo Jackson took center stage in 1987 and promptly scored three touchdowns in just his third game as a Raider, including a highlight-film worthy 91-yard TD run into the tunnel of the Seattle Kingdome in a victory that continued the Silver and Black's dominance on Monday Night Football.
The Raiders — proud winners of three World Championships of Professional Football — are the only team to have been in Super Bowls in the '60s, '70s and the '80s.
Memorable Plays from the 1990s
Through four decades, the Raiders maintained an unparalleled level of excellence as pro sport's winningest team.
The 1990s included even more historic moments for the Silver and Black, including Eddie Anderson's longest interception return for a touchdown in franchise history (102 yards) on Monday Night Football in Miami in 1992 and Napoleon McCallum's team playoff record three touchdowns in a 42-24 AFC Wild Card Game victory over Denver during the 1993 season.
After relocating back to Oakland in 1995, the East Bay was treated to Napoleon Kaufman's 83-yard scamper in a 28-25 win over the Broncos in 1997 while setting a then-franchise record for most rushing yards in a single game with 227. Oakland fans also witnessed defensive tackle Jerry Ball's "Big Man" touchdown when he returned an interception 66 yards for a score in a 17-3 win over Jacksonville and Eric Turner's 94-yard pick-six against Denver on September 20, 1998, marked the fifth longest INT return for a score in team history.
The 1999 season finale marked another classic comeback when Oakland rallied from a 17-0 deficit to overtake the division-rival Chiefs 41-38 in overtime in Kansas City. Tyrone Wheatley broke at least seven tackles on his way to the end zone in the third quarter for a 26-yard TD run to put the Raiders up 35-31.
For four decades, the Raiders were the most successful team in major professional sports in terms of consistent victory since Al Davis first pledged back in 1963 to build the finest organization in sports.
Memorable Plays from the 2000s
The beginning of the new millennium was highlighted by three consecutive AFC West crowns for the Silver and Black, culminating in a 2002 AFC Championship Game victory over the Tennessee Titans and a Super Bowl XXXVII appearance as the Raiders became the only team to appear in a Super Bowl in the '60s, '70s, '80s and 2000s.
To open the decade, Oakland barreled through the regular season with a 12-4 record and shut out Miami, 27-0, in the AFC Divisional Round for their first playoff shutout in franchise history. Tory James' 90-yard pick-six early in the first quarter set the tone for the rout of the Dolphins.
Two seasons later, the turning point of the '02 campaign came on a Monday night in Denver when future Pro Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson intercepted a pass near the goal line and returned it 98 yards for a touchdown to give the Raiders a 10-0 first quarter lead that they would not relinquish. After starting the '02 season 4-0 then dropping the next four contests, the Silver and Black didn't look back after defeating the Broncos, finishing the regular season 11-5 behind NFL MVP quarterback Rich Gannon and another future Pro Football Hall of Famer, Tim Brown, who recorded his 1,000th-career catch against the Jets on a Monday night in December.
The rest of the 2000s included an epic Ronald Curry one-handed touchdown grab in Denver in 2004, part of a classic comeback that saw Raiders 6-foot-8 offensive lineman Langston Walker block a field goal near the end of regulation to secure a 25-24 win, plus two victories over Pittsburgh in 2006 and 2009. The '06 victory over the Steelers was fueled by two pick-sixes, a 24-yarder by Nnamdi Asomugha and a 100-yarder by Chris Carr, second longest interception return for a score in franchise history.
For five historic decades, the Raiders continually defied the odds — both on and off the field — to maintain their unparalleled level of excellence.
Memorable Plays from the 2010s
The beginning of a new decade was highlighted by a 59-point explosion in Denver on October 24, 2010, the most-ever points scored by the Oakland Raiders.
Just a few weeks into the 2011 season, the Raiders lost a legend. On October 8, Al Davis, the Raiders' longtime owner, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, AFL Coach of the Year, AFL Commissioner, and the architect of the Raiders' Commitment to Excellence, passed away. Just 24 hours after his passing, the Silver and Black went into Houston and took down the Texans, 25-20. Michael Huff's interception with just 10 men on the field for the Raiders sealed the win at the end of regulation.
In 2013, the Silver and Black took down the Steelers for the fourth time in their last five meetings, highlighted by quarterback Terrelle Pryor's NFL record 93-yard touchdown scamper on the first play from scrimmage. The following season, Charles Woodson became the only player in league history to record 50 career interceptions and 20 career sacks. The 2016 playoff-bound Raiders started off strong in Week 1 at New Orleans when rookie Jalen Richard's first career carry was a 75-yard TD run to tie the score at 27. The eventual 35-34 victory was the first of 12 wins on the year for Oakland, which qualified for the postseason for the 22nd time.
The final few seasons in Oakland featured several individual and team achievements, including a Michael Crabtree touchdown grab on an untimed down in a 31-30 triumph over Kansas City, Maxx Crosby bursting on to the scene with four sacks in a 17-10 win over the Bengals and Dwayne Harris' unforgettable 99-yard punt return for a touchdown, which tied for second-longest in NFL history.
The Raiders were born in Oakland, a city that will always be a part of the Silver and Black's DNA. Unified in their commitment to excellence with a celebrated history in both Oakland and Los Angeles, the Raiders looked forward to the next chapter in their storied history in Las Vegas.
Memorable Plays from the 2020s
In 2020, the Raiders' arrival in Las Vegas ushered in a new era for the Sports and Entertainment Capital of the World. This new chapter immediately emerged with many thrilling moments for Raider Nation, both on the road and at home in Allegiant Stadium, the crown jewel of the Southern Nevada desert.
Alec Ingold scored the Raiders' first-ever touchdown at Allegiant Stadium in a memorable Monday Night Football 34-20 triumph over the Saints. Zay Jones' walk-off touchdown reception in overtime to open the 2021 season gave the Silver and Black a 33-27 victory over the Ravens in the first-ever regular-season game in front of fans at Allegiant Stadium. Later that season, Las Vegas clinched a playoff berth when Daniel Carlson's 47-yard field goal with no time left topped the Chargers, 35-32, in Week 18.
In 2023, led by Head Coach Antonio Pierce, the Silver and Black stole Christmas in Kansas City behind two defensive scores from Bilal Nichols (8-yard fumble return) and Jack Jones (33-yard interception).
Another Jones pick-six the following week helped break the franchise record for most points in a single game when the Silver and Black dominated the Chargers, 63-21, at Allegiant Stadium in Week 15 of the 2023 season.
For over seven memorable decades, the Raider tradition of greatness has been created, nurtured and fulfilled by thousands of talented individuals who have worn the famed, feared and respected Silver and Black. The past has been glorious, but the true Greatness of the Raiders will continue in its future.
