1974 Oakland Raiders season

1974 Oakland Raiders season
Head coach	John Madden
General manager	Al Davis
Owner	Al Davis
Home field	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
Results
Record	12–2
Division place	1st AFC West
Playoff finish	Lost Conference Championship
← 1973 Raiders seasons 1975 →

1 2 3 4 Total Chiefs 0 0 7 0 7 • Raiders 7 13 0 7 27 Date: September 22 Location: Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 60°F • Wind 9

Scoring summary 1 OAK Dave Casper 5 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick) Raiders 7–0 2 OAK Mike Siani 9 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick) Raiders 14–0 2 OAK Pete Banaszak 20 yard run (kick failed) Raiders 20–0 3 KC Wilbur Young 50 yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick) Raiders 20–7 4 OAK Dave Casper 2 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick) Raiders 27–7

Scoring summary
1		OAK	Dave Casper 5 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick)	Raiders 7–0
2		OAK	Mike Siani 9 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick)	Raiders 14–0
2		OAK	Pete Banaszak 20 yard run (kick failed)	Raiders 20–0
3		KC	Wilbur Young 50 yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick)	Raiders 20–7
4		OAK	Dave Casper 2 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick)	Raiders 27–7

1 2 3 4 Total • Raiders 7 10 0 0 17 Steelers 0 0 0 0 0 Date: September 29 Location: Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Game start: 4:00 p.m. Game weather: 63°F • Wind 15

Scoring summary 1 OAK Ken Stabler 1 yard run (George Blanda kick) Raiders 7–0 2 OAK Cliff Branch 19 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick) Raiders 14–0 2 OAK George Blanda 35 yard field goal Raiders 17–0

Scoring summary
1		OAK	Ken Stabler 1 yard run (George Blanda kick)	Raiders 7–0
2		OAK	Cliff Branch 19 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick)	Raiders 14–0
2		OAK	George Blanda 35 yard field goal	Raiders 17–0

1 2 3 4 Total Cowboys 9 0 7 7 23 • Raiders 3 14 7 3 27 Date: December 14 Location: Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California Game start: 6:00 p.m. Game weather: 53°F • Wind 7

Scoring summary 1 DAL Drew Pearson recovers fumble in end zone (Efren Herrera kick) Cowboys 7–0 1 OAK George Blanda 31 yard field goal Cowboys 7–3 1 DAL Safety, center snap fumbled out of end zone Cowboys 9–3 2 OAK Fred Biletnikoff 9 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick) Raiders 10–9 2 OAK Charlie Smith 14 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick) Raiders 17–9 3 OAK Cliff Branch 28 yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick) Raiders 24–9 3 DAL Doug Dennison 1 yard run (Efren Herrera kick) Raiders 24–16 4 OAK George Blanda 34 yard field goal Raiders 27–16 4 DAL Doug Dennison 2 yard run (Efren Herrera kick) Raiders 27–23

Scoring summary
1		DAL	Drew Pearson recovers fumble in end zone (Efren Herrera kick)	Cowboys 7–0
1		OAK	George Blanda 31 yard field goal	Cowboys 7–3
1		DAL	Safety, center snap fumbled out of end zone	Cowboys 9–3
2		OAK	Fred Biletnikoff 9 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick)	Raiders 10–9
2		OAK	Charlie Smith 14 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick)	Raiders 17–9
3		OAK	Cliff Branch 28 yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick)	Raiders 24–9
3		DAL	Doug Dennison 1 yard run (Efren Herrera kick)	Raiders 24–16
4		OAK	George Blanda 34 yard field goal	Raiders 27–16
4		DAL	Doug Dennison 2 yard run (Efren Herrera kick)	Raiders 27–23

1 2 3 4 Total Dolphins 7 3 6 10 26 • Raiders 0 7 7 14 28 Date: December 21 Location: Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California Game start: 1:00 p.m. PST Game weather: 49°F, wind 8 mph Source: Pro-Football-Reference.com

Scoring summary 1 Dolphins Nat Moore 89 yard kickoff return (Garo Yepremian kick) Dolphins 7–0 2 Raiders Charlie Smith 31 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick) Tie 7–7 2 Dolphins Garo Yepremian 33 yard field goal Dolphins 10–7 3 Raiders Fred Biletnikoff 13 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick) Raiders 14–10 3 Dolphins Paul Warfield 16 yard pass from Bob Griese (kick failed) Dolphins 16–14 4 Dolphins Garo Yepremian 46 yard field goal Dolphins 19–14 4 Raiders Cliff Branch 72 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick) Raiders 21–19 4 Dolphins Benny Malone 23 yard run (Garo Yepremian kick) Dolphins 26–21 4 Raiders Clarence Davis 8 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick) Raiders 28–26

Scoring summary
1		Dolphins	Nat Moore 89 yard kickoff return (Garo Yepremian kick)	Dolphins 7–0
2		Raiders	Charlie Smith 31 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick)	Tie 7–7
2		Dolphins	Garo Yepremian 33 yard field goal	Dolphins 10–7
3		Raiders	Fred Biletnikoff 13 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick)	Raiders 14–10
3		Dolphins	Paul Warfield 16 yard pass from Bob Griese (kick failed)	Dolphins 16–14
4		Dolphins	Garo Yepremian 46 yard field goal	Dolphins 19–14
4		Raiders	Cliff Branch 72 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick)	Raiders 21–19
4		Dolphins	Benny Malone 23 yard run (Garo Yepremian kick)	Dolphins 26–21
4		Raiders	Clarence Davis 8 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick)	Raiders 28–26

The 1974 Oakland Raiders season was the team's 15th season in Oakland and fifth in the National Football League. The team would post a superb 12–2 record; the campaign's two losses would be by a total of four points. The Raiders' record (the team's best since 1969) would ensure their fourth AFC West title in five years.

For the second straight campaign, the Raiders exacted revenge upon the team that had eliminated them in the prior year's playoffs. This time, Oakland toppled the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Miami Dolphins, by a score of 28–26, in the playoffs' Divisional round. Quarterback Kenny Stabler threw a last-minute winning touchdown pass to running back Clarence Davis in what has come to be known as the "Sea of Hands" game.

For the second straight season, however, the Raiders lost in the AFC Championship Game. They were upset, 24–13, by the eventual champion Pittsburgh Steelers. While the Raiders led 10–3 at the end of the third quarter, a defensive meltdown would allow the Steelers to score 21 points in the final frame.

The 2006 edition of Pro Football Prospectus listed the 1974 Raiders as one of their "Heartbreak Seasons", in which teams "dominated the entire regular season only to falter in the playoffs, unable to close the deal." Pro Football Prospectus states, The John Madden Raiders were a consistently good regular season team, but the playoffs were a different story. The 1972 season came to an end with the painful Immaculate Reception game. The 1973 Raiders ended Miami's 18-game winning streak during the regular season but lost to the Dolphins in the AFC Championship game. In 1974, the Raiders seemed to finally have all the pieces."

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