10. 1961 AFL CHAMPION HOUSTON OILERS at 7. 2002 AFC CHAMPION OAKLAND RAIDERS
7. AFC CHAMPION 2002 OAKLAND RAIDERS
Record: 11-5
Pythag: 12-4
Off: 2nd
Def: 6th
d. Jets Div Rnd 30-10
d. Titans AFC Title 41-24
Lost Super Bowl Bucs 48-21
Oakland Coliseum: 60 degrees
Greg Papa/Tom Flores
HC Bill Callhan, OC: Marc Trestman DC Chuck Bresnahan
Offense:
QB Rich Gannon (37 Delaware) All Pro
RB Charlie Garner (30 Tenn)
WR Tim Brown (36 N Dame)
WR Jerry Porter (24 W Virginia)
WR Jerry Rice (40 M Valley St)
TE Doug Jolley (23 BYU)
LT Barry Sims (28 Utah)
LG Mo Collins (26 Florida)
C Barret Robins (29 TCU) All Pro
RG Frank Middleton (28 Arizona)
RT Lincoln Kennedy (31 Wash) All Pro
Defense
LDE DeLawrence Grant (23 Ore St)
LDT Sam Adams (29 Tex A&M)
RDT John Parrella (33 Nebraska)
RDE Tony Bryant (26 Florida St)
LLB Bill Romanowski (36 B College)
MLB Napoleon Harris (23-R Nwestern)
RLB Eric Barton (25 Maryland)
LCB Charles Woodson (26 Mich)
RCB Tory James (29 LSU)
SS Derrick Gibson (23 Florida St)
FS Rod Woodson (37 Purdue) All Pro
K Sebastian Janikowski (24 Florida St)
P Shane Lechler (26 Tex A&M)
KR Marcus Knight (24 Mich)
PR Phillip Buchanon (22 Miami)
The '67 Raiders have advanced; move forward through the LA years and the Raiders are now back in Oakland with the '02 AFC Champs. 2nd best offense in '02, 6th best defense. Rich Gannon is a 37 year old All Pro, 29 scores and 10 picks. 30 year old Charlie Garner scored 11 times. Jerry Rice is 40 years old and caught 92 balls for over 1200 yards. 29 year old Barrett Robins and 31 year old Lincoln Kennedy are both All Pros. There's an All Pro on defense, 37 year old Rod Woodson had 8 picks.
10. 1961 AFL CHAMPION HOUSTON OILERS
Pythag: 12-2
Off: 1st
Def: 2nd
d. Chargers AFL Title 10-3
HC: Wally Lemm
Offense
QB George Blanda (34) All Pro
RB Billy Cannon (24) All Pro
RB Charlie Tolar (24)
WR Charley Hennigan (26) All Pro
WR Bill Groman (25) All Pro
WR Bill McLeod (23-r)
LT Al Jamison (24) All Pro
LG Bob Talamini (22)
C Bob Schmidt (25)
RG Hogan Wharton (26)
RT Rich Michael (23)
Defense
LDE Dalva Allen (26)
LDT Orville Trask (27)
RDT Ed Husmann (30)
RDE Don Floyd (23)
LLB Doug Cline (23)
MLB Dennit Morris (25)
RLB Mike Dukes (25)
LCB Tony Banfield (24) All Pro
RCB Mark Johnston (23)
LS Jim Norton (23)
RS Fred Glick (24)
K George Blanda (34)
P Jim Norton (23)
KR/PR Billy Cannon (24)
The 10th seed in Region 6 is the 1961 Oilers; the AFL Champs, best offense, second best defense in the AFL. 5 All Pros on offense. 34 year old George Blanda threw for 36 scores. 22 picks. 24 year old Billy Cannon scored 15 times in a 14 game season. Both men - future Raiders. 26 year old Charley Hennigan scored 12 times and had over 1700 yards receiving; 25 year old Bill Groman scored 18 times. 24 year old Al Jamison also is first Team All Pro. On defense, the All Pro is 24 year old Tony Banfield. He and 23 year old Jim Norton combined for 17 picks.
Two games left in region 6. Let's go to Oakland.
1st Qtr
Oilers start at the 17.
They'll get a first down, Blanda hitting Charley Hennigan for an 18 yard gain-but that's all, great punt, Raiders pinned back at their own 16.
1/10 - Rich Gannon is going deep on the game's first place - it's to the Goat - it's to 40 year old Jerry Rice, 49 yards - all the way to the 35.
1/10 - Gannon dump off to Charlie Garner, he gets 1.
2/9 -Gannon over the middle - Tim Brown - 13 yards, Oakland has come out firing.
1/0 - Pitch to Garner - one cut and he's got 11 and it's a first and goal.
1/goal - Garner - End Zone - Roland Wiliams - TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS - 10 yards from Gannon to Roland Williams - Oakland just flies down the field for the 7-0 lead.
Billy Cannon busts out the return - all the way to midfield.
3 and out.
Raiders get it at their own 7.
1/10 - Screen to Tyron Wheatley - he's got blockers - he's got a convoy -- Wheatley is going to go downfield - 56 yards - Oakland does not stop.
The next 3 plays net 4 yards -- and then Janikowski misses a 50 yard FG.
Oilers on their own 40. 3 and out.
Raiders at their own 19.
1/10 - Gannon going for it again -- deep down the middle of the field - caught by Roland Williams at midfield - two Oiler defenders collide-- AND WILLIAMS IS GONNA GO - ROLAND WILLIAMS IS GONNA MARCH INTO THE END ZONE - TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS - An 81 Yard Bomb from Gannon to Williams and it is 14-0 Oakland.
Oilers at the 35.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Cannon gets 2.
3/8 - Blanda finds Bill Groman, that's a 16 yard gain.
1/10 - Charley Tolar goes for 3.
2/7 - Blanda picks it up on the last play of the qtr - 15 yards all the way to the Oakland 29.
2nd Raiders
Gannon's come out slinging; Oakland up 14, just going right after the Oilers. Houston has a first down at the Raider 29.
1/10 - Blanda to Cannon for 9.
2/1 - Tolar is stopped dead.
3/1 - Blanda looking for the end zone --- Broken up by Charles Woodson and now it's 4th down.
4th and short- but Houston not taking the points - they're going to go for it right now, that's good stuff - let's go.
4/1 - Cannon picks it up. Houston at the 18.
1/10 - Tolar gets 2.
2/8 - Tolar busts up the gut - Tolar busts up the gut - Tolar into the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN OILERS - Charley Tolar into the endzone -- 16 yard TD run and the deficit is cut in half....nope, it's not, Blanda misses the PAT
Oakland at the 20.
3 and out. Oilers get the quick stop and take over at their own 40.
1/10 - Blanda to Cannon, Cannon making men miss - Cannon's got a 23 yard gain to the 37.
The next 3 plays net 4 yards....and then Blanda misses the 50 yard FG and Oakland regains at their own 40.
Oakland picks up one first down on a Gannon 18 yard shot to Terry Kirby, but again Oakland settles for a FG attemt....and again Janikowski misses it - Janikowski misses his second FG of the half.
Houston at their own 37, 5:37 left in the half. Down 14-6.
3 and out, Trace Armstrong getting a sack.
Oakland ball at their own 33. 2:39 left.
1/10 - Wheatley gets a yard.
2/8 - Garner gets 2 at the 2 minute warning, a false start makes it 3rd and 12.
3/12 - Gannon over the middle to Rice -- Rice runs away from the defense, 19 yard gain for the 40 year old Rice to midfield.
1/10 - Gannon to Garner - Garner's in space, 17 yards and Oakland's at the 33.
That's as far as it goes - the next 3 plays net 5 yards --- this time the Janikowski FG is good and it's 17-6. Houston will take the ball at the 20 with a minute left in the half - Blanda hits Cannon -- Cannon is Rocked by Bill Romanowski - Romanowski forces the Fumble and
Oakland will take oer with just under a minute left in the half at the Oiler 33.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Gannon in trouble, scrambles for 4 yards and a timeout.
3/6 - Gannon in trouble again - Gannon across the line - he's got 7 and it out of bounds at the 22 with 30 seconds left.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Gannon to Rice, 17 yards - Rice is taken down at the 5 - Oakland stopping the clock with 13 seconds left.
1/goal - It's a run - it's Garner -- Charlie Garner is into the endzone -- TOUCHDOWN RAIDERS -- Oakland calls a run with 13 seconds left in the half - it pays off and we go to the locker room 24-6.
3rd Qtr
2nd best offense in 2002, the Raiders are just punishing the Oilers.
Oakland starts at the 29.
1/10 Wheatley gets 1.
2/9 - Charlie Garnet gets 9 and a 5 yard facemask gives Oakland a first down at the 42.
1/10 - Gannon forced to run, gets 2.
2/8 - Gannon to Tim Brown - 5 yards. 3rd and short
3/3 - Gannon again to Brown, 8 yards and the Raiders are again in Oiler territory.
1/10 - Garner gets 8.
2/2 - Kirby gets 6, Oakland picks up another first down at the 35.
But that's all - a Don Floyd sack backs Oakland up and they punt.
Oilers at the 11. 3 and out.
Raiders in great field position at the Oiler 38.
3 and out - and then Janikowski misses his 3rd FG of the day.
Oilers at their own 36.
1/10 - Billy Cannon breaks a 29 yard run.
1/10 - Tolar gets 14 - two big runs and Houston's at the 21.
1/10 - Blanda finds Dave Smith for 16 - Houston getting chunks of yards and have a first and goal.
1/goal - Tolar for 2
2/goal -- Billy Cannon is into the end zone -- TOUCHDOWN OILERS - and with 2 minutes left in the third it is 24-13 Raiders.
Oakland at the 30.
1/10 - Garner gets a yard.
2/9 - Incomplete
3/9 - Gannon goes back to Brown - 16 more and Oakland's near midfield.
Two plays net a yard and as the qtr ends, Oakland has a 3rd and 9.
4th Qtr
Critical play here for Houston, they trail by 11, Oakland has a 3rd and long - if Houston can get the ball back right now, they have an opening to pull into this game.
Incomplete.
After the punt, Houston takes over at the 21. Okay. Let's see what's what.
1/10 - Smith goes for 13.
1/10 - Smith gets 1
2/9 - Tolar is stopped at the line, 3rd and 9.
3/9 - Blanda picks it up - hits Groman for 15 and the Oilers have a first down at midfield.
But that's as far as it goes and after the Houston punt, it's Oakland at their own 9, little less than 10 minutes left, with a 24-13 lead.
1/10 - Wheatly carries for 13.
1/10 - Gannon finds Doug Jolley for 11.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Gannon screen to Terry Kirby and its a convoy - 37 yards right down the field - Oakland is at the Oiler 30.
The next 3 plays net 5 yards....this time Janikowski's FG is good -- it's 27-13 Oakland with 6:38 to go in the game. Cannon terrific runback - all the way to the 46.
1/10 - Smith gets 6.
2/4 - Tolar picks it up.
1/10 - Cannon gets a yard.
2/9 - Blanda hits Hennigan for 15 and Houstons at the Raider 28 yard line. Holding on the next play backs them up 10, little more than 5 left.
1/20 - Cannon gets 4.
2/16 - Incomplete.
3/16 - Blanda picks it up - 21 yards to Groman -- Houston has the ball at the Raider 13 yard line.
1/10 - Smith gets 3.
2/7 - Cannon gets 2.
3/5 -- Blanda looks to the endzone-- Hennigan --- TOUCHDOWN OILERS - 8 yard score from Blanda to Charley Hennigan - and now with 3:45 left to go in the football game the Houston Oilers trail 27-20.
They kick it deep - Oakland starting back at their own 14. They need to pick up a couple of first downs.
1/10 - Gannon's throwing - surprise -- it's Garner out of the backfield and he's got a 14 yard gain - big play call there.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Wheatley gets a yard - and it's the 2 minute warning.
3/9 - Garner gets a yard - Oilers call timeout - Oakland has to punt -- Oilers take possession at their own 35 with a little less than 2 minutes to go.
Can Blanda drive down for the tie?
1/10 - Blanda dump off to Tolar, gets a yard and he's out of bounds.
2/9 - Blanda goes downfield -- Groman -- 26 yards - that's a big strike - the Oilers are at the Raider 38 yard line! Oilers second time out.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Blanda finds John White -- 13 yards -- Houston is at the Oakland 25 yard line -- Blanda up to the line quickly and spikes the ball. 28 seconds left in the game. Oilers 2nd down at the Raider 25. Down 7 points.
Woooooooo. Okay.
2/10 - Blanda picks it up - Hennigan over the middle for 11 - Houston calls their final timeout of the game at 19 seconds to go at the Raider 14 yard line. 14 yard line.
1/10 - Blanda drops back - Blanda looks to Groman -- End Zone --- Incomplete.
11 seconds left.
2/10 - Blanda drops back. Blanda -- looks endzone -- Hennigan.....PICKED OFF BY ROD WOODSON! PICKED OFF BY ROD WOODSON! WOODSON INTERCEPTION IN THE ENDZONE! Woodson takes the knee - just a couple seconds left, victory formation for Oakland and it is done.
Final: Raiders 27 Oilers 20
37 year old Rod Woodson picks off Blanda in the endzone to preserve the victory - Oakland will head to round two.
Gannon: 20 for 27, 387 yds, 2 TD
Blanda: 17 for 27, 239 yds, 1 TD/ 1 INT
Garner: 13 carries, 48 yds, 4 catches, 42 yds 1 TD
Cannon: 18 carries, 56 yds, 3 catches, 46 yds, 1 TD
Rice: 6 catches, 95 yds
Williams: 2 catches, 91 yds, 2 TD
Hennigan: 6 catches, 75 yds TD
Player of the Game: Rich Gannon
