As the Oakland Raiders kick off their first postseason in 14 years with a Wild Card tilt against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium this Saturday, let's take a look back at the Top 10 Raiders playoff wins.
- 2000 AFC Divisional Playoffs vs. Miami Dolphins. The Raiders shut out the Miami Dolphins 27-0 in Oakland. Cornerback Tory James' 90-yard interception return for a touchdown set the tone and the Silver and Black recorded their only shutout victory in the team's playoff history.
- 1969 AFL Playoff vs. Houston Oilers. The 1969 Oakland Raiders defeated the Houston Oilers 56-7 in the most lopsided playoff victory in franchise history. Raiders quarterback Daryle Lamonica threw six touchdown passes, while the defense intercepted Oilers quarterback Pete Beathard three times, including safety George Atkinson's 57-yard pick six.
- 1970 AFC Divisional Playoff vs. Miami Dolphins. The American Football League merged with the National Football League during a process that began in the late 1960s. The NFL formally re-aligned into the AFC and NFC and began play with the two-conference system we know today in 1970. The Raiders defeated the Dolphins 21-14 in the Silver and Black's first playoff game after the merger. Quarterback Daryle Lamonica's 82-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass to wide receiver Rod Sherman gave the Raiders an insurmountable two-touchdown lead.
- 1976 AFC Divisional Playoff vs. New England Patriots. Hall of Fame quarterback Ken Stabler's one-yard touchdown scramble capped a Raiders comeback as the Silver and Black defeated the Patriots 24-21. The Raiders trailed 21-10 late in the third quarter before stunning the Patriots with their come-from-behind victory.
- 1976 AFC Championship Game vs. Pittsburgh Steelers. After losing three straight AFC title games, the Raiders finally broke through against their arch-nemesis, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Raiders defense held Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw and the explosive Steelers offense to just seven points, while the Raiders Hall of Fame quarterback Ken Stabler tossed a pair of touchdown passes.
- 1980 Wild Card vs. Houston Oilers. The Raiders dominated the Oilers 27-7 and began their journey to become the first Wild Card qualifier to ever win a Super Bowl. The Raiders held their former quarterback Ken Stabler largely ineffective, intercepting him twice, including 1980 Defensive Player of the Year Lester Hayes' 20-yard interception return for a touchdown.
- 1980 AFC Divisional Playoff vs. Cleveland Browns. Known as "Red Right 88," the Raiders continued their improbable Super Bowl march as the Wild Card with a gut-wrenching 14-12 win in frigid Cleveland. Eschewing a game-winning field goal attempt, Browns head coach Sam Rutigliano called "Red Right 88" and sent quarterback Brian Sipe out to try to throw for the win. Raiders safety Mike Davis stepped in front of Hall of Fame tight end Ozzie Newsome in the end zone and secured the win.
- 1980 AFC Championship Game vs. San Diego Chargers. The Raiders capped their wild Wild Card ride to the Super Bowl with a 34-27 win over the AFC West champion Chargers. The Raiders jumped out to a 28-7 lead just midway through the second quarter. The Silver and Black withstood a furious Chargers rally led by Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts. The Chargers cut the Raiders lead to seven with 6:52 left to play, but never saw the ball again as the running back Mark van Eeghen and the running game ran the clock out.
- 1974 AFC Divisional Playoff vs. Miami Dolphins. The "Sea of Hands" game. The Dolphins opened the game with an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and the game went back-and-forth from there. Trailing 26-21, Stabler heaved the ball into the end zone to running back Clarence Davis, who made an extremely difficult catch between several Miami defenders. Linebacker Phil Villapiano picked off Dolphins Hall of Fame quarterback Bob Griese to preserve the 28-26 victory.
1. 1977 AFC Divisional Playoff vs. Baltimore Colts. The "Ghost to the Post" game. Hall of Fame tight end Dave Casper's twisting, turning 42-yard reception set up the game-tying field goal that sent this thriller into overtime. Casper's third touchdown catch of the day gave the Silver and Black a 37-31 double-overtime victory in one of the greatest games played in NFL history. The Raiders defense sacked Colts quarterback Bert Jones six times on the day.
Honorable Mentions:
1967 AFL Championship Game – 40-7 over the Houston Oilers
1983 AFC Championship Game – 30-14 over the Seattle Seahawks
2002 AFC Championship Game – 41-24 over the Tennessee Titans
