1968 Oakland Raiders season

AFL team season December 2013 March 2026 Oakland Raiders 1968 12–2 1st AFL Western F. Wayne Valley Al Davis John Rauch Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Won Divisional Playoffs(vs. Chiefs) 41–6Lost AFL Championship(at Jets) 23–27 Raiders seasons The 1968 Oakland Raiders season was the Raiders' ninth season in both Oakland and the American Football League. It saw the team try to improve upon its 13–1 record from 1967. They ultimately finished one game short of matching that year's result; their 12–2 finish still ensured that they would lead the league in wins for a second consecutive year. Led by third-year head coach John Rauch, they tied with Kansas City for the division title,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VBxUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-zkNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3757%2C5422606 Lawrence Daily Journal-World Kansas Associated Press Bird's big theft propels Oakland December 16, 1968 18https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VBxUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-zkNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7247%2C5427074 Lawrence Daily Journal-World Kansas Associated Press Chiefs resume practice December 16, 1968 19 which was settled by an unscheduled tiebreaker playoff, won 41–6 by the Raiders in Oakland.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WRxUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-zkNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7206%2C6203184 Lawrence Daily Journal-World Kansas Associated Press Collier, Ewbank throw bouquets at Colts, Raiders December 23, 1968 14 The season featured a growing rivalry between the Raiders and the New York Jets, led by fourth-year superstar quarterback Joe Namath. The teams met twice in 1968: the first was on November 17 in Oakland, which saw the Raiders complete a stunning fourth-quarter comeback over the Jets, scoring two touchdowns in nine seconds.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sqxVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6596%2C4377766 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Raiders stun Jets with nine-second blitz November 18, 1968 3B Known today as the Heidi Game,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sqxVAAAAIBAJ&pg=5202%2C4378925 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Heidi upstages pro football November 18, 1968 3B it remains one of the most famous in AFL/NFL history. They paired up six weeks later in the AFL Championship Game in New York, where Namath's Jets emerged victorious in a 27–23 upset on December 29.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2ApWAAAAIBAJ&pg=6391%2C7819591 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Chass Murray Super Bowl stage set as Baltimore, New York win: Weeb captures 3rd grid title December 30, 1968 3B Two weeks later, the Jets upset the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. The 1968 season is also notable for a few changes to the team including the additions of George Atkinson, Art Shell, and Ken Stabler. All three won a championship with the Raiders eight years later in Super Bowl XI. Additionally, Shell in 1989, and Stabler in 2016, were both inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Offseason NFL/AFL draft 1968 NFL/AFL draft 1968 Oakland Raiders 2 52 Ken Stabler QB Alabama yes yes yes 3 80 Art Shell T Maryland Eastern Shore yes yes yes Personnel Staff / Coaches 1968 Oakland Raiders Majority Co-Owner - F. Wayne Valley Minority Co-Owner/General Manager - Al Davis Minority Co-Owner: Ed McGah President of the General Partner / General Manager – Al Davis Senior Executive – John Herrera Head coach – John Rauch Offensive Backs – John Polonchek Tight ends – Bill Meyers Offensive line – Ollie Spencer Defensive line – Tom Dahms Linebackers – John Madden Defensive backs – Charlie Sumner Special teams – John Rauch Strength and Conditioning - Marv Marinovich Source:1968 Oakland Raiders (AFL) Scores, Roster, Stats , Coaches, Draft https://www.profootballarchives.com/1968afloak.html 2026-09-27 www.profootballarchives.com Roster 1968 Oakland Raiders 16 George Blanda K 19 Cotton Davidson  3 Daryle Lamonica 12 Ken Stabler y 40 Pete Banaszak 35 Hewritt Dixon 30 Roger Hagberg 37 Preston Ridlehuber 23 Charlie Smith running back y 25 Fred Biletnikoff 10 Eldridge Dickey y 82 John Eason y 89 Bill Miller wide receiver 41 John Roderick American football 81 Warren Wells 33 Billy Cannon 88 Dave Kocourek 70 Jim Harvey American football G 65 Wayne Hawkins G 62 Bob Kruse C 00 Jim Otto C 79 Harry Schuh T 78 Art Shell y T 76 Bob Svihus T 63 Gene Upshaw G 53 Dan Birdwell DT 83 Ben Davidson DE 71 Al Dotson DT 77 Ike Lassiter DE 85 Carleton Oats DT 80 Karl Rubke DE 50 Duane Benson OLB 48 Bill Budness MLB 55 Dan Conners MLB 86 Bill Fairband OLB 52 Jerry Hopkins American football OLB 61 Dave Ogas y OLB 56 Chip Oliver y OLB 34 Gus Otto OLB 43 George Atkinson safety y CB 21 Rodger Bird SS 24 Willie Brown American football CB 45 Dave Grayson FS 47 Kent McCloughan CB 49 Dave Morrison y no CB 20 Warren Powers SS 29 Howie Williams SS 26 Nemiah Wilson CB 11 Mike Eischeid P 74 Tom Keating American football DT IR 42 Bill Laskey American football LB IR 22 Larry Todd American football RB IR -- Charley Warner CB IR Schedule 1968 American Football League season Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 Bye 2 September 15 at Buffalo Bills W 48–6 1–0 War Memorial Stadium 43,057 Recap 3 September 21, 1968 at Miami Dolphins W 47–21 2–0 Miami Orange Bowl 30,021 Recap 4 September 29 at Houston Oilers W 24–15 3–0 Houston Astrodome 46,098 Recap 5 October 6 Boston Patriots W 41–10 4–0 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 44,253 Recap 6 October 13 San Diego Chargers L 14–23 4–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,257 Recap 7 October 20 at Kansas City Chiefs L 10–24 4–2 Municipal Stadium 50,015 Recap 8 October 27 Cincinnati Bengals W 31–10 5–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 37,083 Recap 9 November 3 Kansas City Chiefs W 38–21 6–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,357 Recap 10 November 10 at Denver Broncos W 43–7 7–2 Mile High Stadium 50,002 Recap 11 November 17 New York Jets W 43–32 8–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,118 Recap 12 November 24 at Cincinnati Bengals W 34–0 9–2 Nippert Stadium 27,116 Recap 13 November 28 Buffalo Bills W 13–10 10–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 39,883 Recap 14 December 8 Denver Broncos W 33–27 11–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 47,754 Recap 15 December 15 at San Diego Chargers W 34–27 12–2 San Diego Stadium 40,698 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Saturday night (September 21), Thursday (November 28: Thanksgiving) Postseason 1968 American Football League playoffs Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap Divisional December 22 Kansas City Chiefs W 41–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,357 Recap AFL Championship December 29 at New York Jets L 23–27 Shea Stadium 62,627 Recap Standings Game summaries Week 11 vs. Jets The Heidi Game 1968 New York Jets season Oakland Raiders 1968 2; text-align:center collapsed New York Jets (7–2) at Oakland Raiders (7–2) November 17 1:00 p.m. PST Jets 6 6 7 13 Raiders 7 7 8 21 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum • Oakland, California 53,318 60 F • Wind — Bob Finley NBC Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote Pro-Football-Reference.com, Pro Football Hall of Fame Jets Joe Namath19/37, 381 Yds, TD Matt Snell21 Rush, 46 Yds Don Maynard10 Rec, 228 Yds, TD Raiders Daryle Lamonica21/34, 311 Yds, 4 TD, 2 INT Hewritt Dixon4 Rush, 75 Yds Fred Biletnikoff7 Rec, 120 Yds, TD NYJ OAK collapsed 1 7:42 Jets FG 44 Turner 3 0 1 5:23 Jets FG 18 Turner 6 0 1 2:32 Raiders RecTD Wells Lamonica 9 good Blanda run/pass good/failed/incomplete 6 7 2 13:34 Raiders RecTD Cannon Lamonica 48 good Blanda run/pass good/failed/incomplete 6 14 2 0:05 Jets RushTD Namath 1 pass failed 12 14 3 9:59 Jets RushTD Mathis 4 good Turner run/pass good/failed/incomplete 19 14 3 1:46 Raiders RushTD Smith 3 pass good 19 22 4 14:15 Jets RecTD Maynard Namath 50 good Turner run/pass good/failed/incomplete 26 22 4 8:49 Jets FG 12 Turner 29 22 4 3:10 Raiders RecTD Biletnikoff Lamonica 22 good Blanda run/pass good/failed/incomplete 29 29 4 1:05 Jets FG 26 Turner 32 29 4 0:42 Raiders RecTD Smith Lamonica 43 good Blanda run/pass good/failed/incomplete 32 36 4 0:33 Raiders FumbleTD Ridlehuber 2 good Blanda run/pass good/failed/incomplete 32 43 32 43 Week 12 vs. Bills Oakland Raiders 1968 2; text-align:center collapsed Buffalo Bills (1–10–1) at Oakland Raiders (9–2) November 28, 1968, Thanksgiving Day 1:00 p.m. PST Bills 0 3 0 7 Raiders 0 3 10 0 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum • Oakland, California 39,883 54 F • Wind 5 mph 0 on NBC Pro-Football-Reference.com Bills Ed Rutkowski10/25, 160 Yds, 2 INT Max Anderson11 Rush, 60 Yds, TD2 Rec, 31 Yds Raiders Daryle Lamonica12/32, 145 Yds, INT Charlie Smith12 Rush, 54 Yds Warren Wells3 Rec, 61 Yds BUF OAK collapsed 2 Raiders FG 39 Blanda 0 3 2 Bills FG 26 Alford 3 3 3 Raiders FG 33 Blanda 3 6 3 Raiders IntTD Atkinson 33 good Blanda run/pass good/failed/incomplete 3 13 4 Bills RushTD Anderson 5 good Alford run/pass good/failed/incomplete 10 13 10 13 References 2 External links 1968 Oakland Raiders at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1968 Oakland Raiders at jt-sw.com 1968 Oakland Raiders at ProFootballArchives.com Oakland Category:Oakland Raiders seasons Oakland Category:1960s in Oakland, California