16. 1972 OAKLAND RAIDERS at 16. 1991 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
16. 1991 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Record 11-5
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 8th
Def: 1st
1st NFC West
Lost WC Falcons 27-20
HC: Jim Mora OC Carl Smith DC Steve Sidwell
Superdome
Larry Matson/Archie Manning
Offense
QB Bobby Hebert (31 NW St)
RB Gill Fenerty (28 H Cross)
WR Quinn Early (26 Iowa)
WR Eric Martin (30 LSU)
TE Hoby Brenner (32 USC)
TE John Tice (31 Maryland)
LT Richard Cooper (27 Tenn)
LG Jim Dombrowski (28 UVA)
C Joel Hilgenberg (29 Iowa)
RG Chris Port (24-R Duke)
RT Stan Brock (33 Colorado)
Defense
LDE Wayne Martin (26 Arkansas)
NT Jim Wilks (33 S Diego St)
RDE Frank Warren (32 Auburn)
LOLB Rickey Jackson (33 Pitt)
LILB Sam Mills (32 Montclair St)
RILB Vaughan Johnson (29 NC St)
ROLB Pat Swilling (27 Geo T) All Pro
LCB Vince Buck (23 Cen St)
RCB Toi Cook (27 Stanford)
SS Brett Maxie (29 Tex So)
FS Gene Atkins (27 Florida A&M)
K Morten Andersen (31 Mich St)
P Tommy Barnhardt (28 UNC)
KR Gene Atkins (27 Florida A&M)
PR Vince Buck (23 Cen St)
The '92 Saints won the Play In Game in Region 4 - back up a year and here's the '91 Saints; they come in with the best defense in the league, which is a lot to bring to a Play In Game. 3 LB made the Pro Bowl (and the one who didn't is 33 year old future Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson who had 11.5 sacks. Pat Swilling's 27, All Pro, 17 sacks. Offensively, 31 year old Bobby Hebert gets the start, 9 scores and 8 picks.
16. 1972 OAKLAND RAIDERS
Record: 10-3-1
Pythag: 10-4
Off: 3rd
Def: 8th
1st AFC West
Lost Div Rnd Steelers 13-7
HC: John Madden
Offense
QB Daryle Lamonica (31)
RB Charlie Smith (26)
FB Marv Hubbard (26)
WR Fred Biletnikoff (29) All Pro
WR Mike Siani (22-R)
TE Raymond Chester (24)
LT Art Shell (26)
LG Gene Upshaw (27)
C Jim Otto (34)
RG George Buehler (25)
RT Bob Brown (31)
Defense
LDE Tony Cline (24)
LDT Otis Sistrunk (26-R)
RDT Art Thoms (26)
RDE Horace Jones (23)
LLB Phil Villapiano ((23)
MLB Dan Conners (31)
RLB Gerald Irons (25)
LCB Nemiah Wilson (29)
RCB Willie Brown (32)
SS George Atkinson (25)
FS Jack Tatum (24)
K George Blanda (45)
P Jerry DePoyster (26)
KR Clarence Davis (23)
PR Cliff Branch (24)
The '74 Raiders got boatraced by the '16 Falcons in Region 3 - back up 2 years and here's the '72 team, with the 3rd best offense in football (it's Oakland's offense v the Saints defense in this one) The Mad Bomber is 31, 18 scores and a dozen picks. 26 year old Marv Hubbard ran for over a thousand yards. 29 year old Fred Biletnikoff is All Pro and, of course, the OL is stacked with Pro Bowlers (Raiders OL v. Saints LB to put a finer point on the matchup). One Pro-Bowler on the okay/good enough defense, it's Willie Brown, 32, with 4 picks.
Raiders v. Saints - winner to move into the Region 5 field to face the top seeded 1962 Packers. Let's go to the Superdome
1st Qtr
Saints to start way out at the 48, big Gene Atkins return on the opening kick.
1/10 - Hebert to Gill Fenerty for 3 - brought down by a vicious George Atkinson facemask, Fenerty's head violently twisted - it's 15 more and the Saints are at the Raider 34.
1/10 - Fred McAfee in for Fenerty now - stopped at the line.
2/10 - McAfee for 3.
3/7 - Bobby Hebert finds Quinn Early - it's 10 yds to the 21.
1/10 - Hebert scrambles for 5.
2/5 - Hebert to Eric Martin - 14 yards and the Saints are at the Oakland 2
1/goal - McAfee is into the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN SAINTS - 52 yard drive in first 5 minutes of the game - it's the Saints offense who gets this going early. Fred McAfee into the endzone.
Oakland at the 31.
1/10 - It's Charlie Smith with the first carry, Raiders likely to try to move on the ground today
2/2 - Smith picks it up.
1/10 - Hubbard gets a yard
2/9 - Incomplete
1/10 - Daryle Lamonica's first pass is to a screen to Hubbard - he gets behind Shell and Upshaw and rumbles for 21 to the Saints 37.
1/10 - Smith up the gut for 18.
1/10 - Sweep left to Hubbard - Shell and Upshaw leading the way -- to the end zone --- TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS - it takes Oakland less than 4 minutes to tie this up. Marv Hubbard with the 19 yard run.
Saints at the 23.
3 and out.
Raiders at the 33. They get one first down on a 13 yard Lamonica/Biletnikoff connection, but also punt.
Saints at the 16 - another 3 and out but the qtr ends before the punt.
2nd Qtr
Each team went down and scores on their opening drive - that's where it stands now, after the punt, Oakland to start at the 38.
3 and out. Saints at the 40, good runback by Vince Buck.
1/10 - McAfee has been on since Fenerty's injury on the first play, he goes for 24 here and the Saints are at the Raider 36.
1/10 - Hebert to Floyd Turner for 16 - Saints at the 20.
1/10 - Fenerty's back to the approval of the home crowd, he gets 6
2/4 - Fenerty again - he gets 8 and it is a first and goal for the Saints.
3 plays net 3 yards - chip shot for Morten Andersen makes it 10-7.
Raider ball at the 35. 7:39.
1/10 - Marv Hubbard running the ball behind that left side - 37 yards to the Saints 28.
1/10 - Lamonica is brought down by Frank Warren, 5 yard loss.
2/15 - Hubbard gets the 5 back.
3/10 - Lamonica to Smith - just short of the sticks. 4th and a foot.
Madden decides to go for it - it's Clarence Davis on the carry - he gets 4 and picks it up.
The next 3 plays net 4 yards - Blanda hits the short FG and again, we are tied.
Saints ball at the 37.
3 and out.
Raiders get it back at the 31. 2:19.
They'll get a first down, Lamonica to Smith for 9 and a 9 yard Smith run - but the Raiders punt.
Saints at the 29 - 3 and out.
Oakland has 52 seconds left when they get the ball back at the 30.
Lamonica picks up 22, 10 to Biletnikoff, 12 to Chester. Oakland uses its final timeout at 18 seconds at the Saints 48.
Lamonica gets 10 more - passing to Hubbard to the Saints 38, he's out of bounds at 10 seconds left.
Raiders maybe outside of Blanda's range here. Madden decides to take a shot - Lamonica to the end zone......incomplete, still 1 second left.
Blanda. 55 yards.......it's Good! George Blanda hits a 55 yard FG as we head to the locker room. 13-10
Third Qtr
Close, as you'd expect from the play in game - 2 2nd qtr Blanda FGs, including a bomb, maybe (I'd bet yes) the longest FG of his career, he's 45 in 1972, 55 yards, give Oakland the 13-10 lead. Raiders to open at the 26.
3 and out.
Saints at the 40, good field position on the Buck return. They get a first down, Hebert to Early for 8 yards the biggest play - but they punt around midfield. Raiders at the 19.
1/10 - Marv Hubbard for 1
2/9 - Charlie Smith for 7. Third and short.
3/2 - Smith picks it up. Raiders at the 32.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Lamonica to Mike Siani - 17 yards and the Raiders are near midfield.
1/10 - Hubbard for 4.
2/6 - Clarence Davis for 12 - Raiders at the 35.
1/10 - Charlie Smith sweep - running behind Shell and Upshaw -- Shell and Upshaw just clearing the road -- 35 yards --- straight to the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS - Oakland up 10 points now - the Raider OL really coming up big today against this excellent Saints defense.
Saints at the 17. 5:18.
3 and out. Oakland great field position at their own 46. They get a first down on a Charlie Smith 17 yard run - but Rickey Jackson gets a sack that backs Oakland up and they wind up punting. Touchback
On the next play - McAfee is met in the backfield by Sistrunk -- he forces the fumble and Oakland recovers at the Saints 20. Biggest play of the day - Raiders deep in the Saints end with a 10 point lead.
Hubbard runs for a yard and we head to the 4th qtr.
4th Qtr
Oakland's OL, 3 men all in the Pro Bowl, all headed to the Hall of Fame, starting to dominate now - Oakland up 10, 2nd and 9 at the Saints 19 after the McAfee fumble.
On the first play of the quarter, Charlie Smith bursts to the 5 and the Raiders have first and goal.
On the second play Hubbard gets to the 2.
On the third play, Clarence Davis goes in -- Oakland is up 27-10 and this one is done.
Saints will start at their own 15.
1/10 - Fenerty gets a yard, Saints then go back 5 on a penalty.
2/14 - McAfee gets 17 - Saints gonna have a long road trying to come back.
1/10 - Hillard stopped at the line.
2/10 - Fenerty stopped at the line
3/10 - Hebert to Eric Martin, 14 yards - Saints are at the 43.
1/10 - McAfee gets 4.
2/6 - Fenerty gets 4.
3/2 - Hebert going deep - Hebert looking to hit a homer -- Picked Off - by Willie Brown - Brown Intercepts Hebert and that will be that - Raiders at their own 20, 9 minute left, up 17.
3 runs and a punt. Buck gets the big return - back to the Raider 36.
4 Saints plays lose a total of 4 yards. Raiders regain possession, just a matter now of finishing up. 6 minutes left. Oakland at their own 40.
1/10 - Smith gains 5
2/5 - Hubbard busts one -- Hubbard busts one for 46 yards ---Hubbard all the way to the New Orleans 9 yard line.
1/goal - Davis loses 1
2/goal - Hubbard is into the endzone -- easy money today for the Raiders - TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS - this '72 Raider OL will be heading to Lambeau to face Lombardi and the top seed in the region. 34-10
Saints at the 35. 4 minutes left.
On the first play, Hebert hits that homer - to Floyd Turner - 65 yard TD strike - big shot for the Saints - they'll miss the 2 pt conversion and it's 34-16. TOUCHDOWN SAINTS
Raiders ball with 3:30 left. 34-16.
On the first play - Marv Hubbard breaks a 62 yard run -- Oakland hasn't thrown the ball all quarter - the Saints are playing the run and still they are getting gashed.
3 plays lose 5 yards. Blanda kicks the short FG and with a minute left it's 37-16.
Garbage time.
Saints at their own 20. They pass their way down the field - 13 to Early, 5 to Turner, 12 to Turner - there's a 38 yard draw play for McAfee - on the last play of the game Hebert throws a 10 yd TD pass to Eric Martin, the XP ends the game. TOUCHDOWN SAINTS
Final: Raiders 37 Saints 23
Game was not this close; Saints get 2 TDs in the last 4 minutes, this game was a blowout, the Raider running game just dominating. 313 yards on the ground for Oakland
Lamonica: 11 for 22, 109 yds
Hebert: 14 for 28, 191 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Hubbard: 19 carries, 194 yards, 2 TD
Smith: 15 carries, 100 yds, 1 TD
McAfee: 13 carries, 93 yds 1 TD
Biletnikoff: 3 catches, 29 yds
Martin: 5 catches, 45 yds 1 TD
Turner: 4 catches, 98 yds 1TD
Blanda: 3 FGs
Player of the Game: Marv Hubbard
