1978 Oakland Raiders season

1978 Oakland Raiders season
Head coach	John Madden
General manager	Al Davis
Owner	Al Davis
Home field	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
Results
Record	9–7
Division place	2nd AFC West
Playoff finish	did not qualify
← 1977 Raiders seasons 1979 →

1 2 3 4 Total • Raiders 0 7 0 14 21 Chargers 0 13 0 7 20 Date: September 10 Location: San Diego Stadium, San Diego Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST Game weather: Sunny; 71°F; wind 11 Referee: Jerry Markbreit

Scoring summary Q2 SD Curran 14 yard pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick) SD 7–0 Q2 OAK Casper 6 yard pass from Stabler (Mann kick) Tie 7–7 Q2 SD Bauer 1 yard run (kick failed) SD 13–7 Q4 SD Bauer 2 yard run (Benirschke kick) SD 20–7 Q4 OAK Bradshaw 44 yard pass from Stabler (Mann kick) SD 20–14 Q4 :00 OAK Casper recovered fumble in end zone (Mann kick) OAK 21–20

Scoring summary
Q2		SD	Curran 14 yard pass from Fouts (Benirschke kick)	SD 7–0
Q2		OAK	Casper 6 yard pass from Stabler (Mann kick)	Tie 7–7
Q2		SD	Bauer 1 yard run (kick failed)	SD 13–7
Q4		SD	Bauer 2 yard run (Benirschke kick)	SD 20–7
Q4		OAK	Bradshaw 44 yard pass from Stabler (Mann kick)	SD 20–14
Q4	:00	OAK	Casper recovered fumble in end zone (Mann kick)	OAK 21–20

1 2 3 4 Total • Raiders 0 14 0 14 28 Packers 0 3 0 0 3 Date: September 17 Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: 59°F • Wind 13

Scoring summary 2 OAK Dave Casper 11 yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick) Raiders 7–0 2 OAK Terry Robiskie 11 yard run (Errol Mann kick) Raiders 14–0 2 GB Chester Marcol 34 yard field goal Raiders 14–3 4 OAK Arthur Whittington 7 yard run (Errol Mann kick) Raiders 21–3 4 OAK Arthur Whittington 10 yard run (Errol Mann kick) Raiders 28–3

Scoring summary
2		OAK	Dave Casper 11 yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick)	Raiders 7–0
2		OAK	Terry Robiskie 11 yard run (Errol Mann kick)	Raiders 14–0
2		GB	Chester Marcol 34 yard field goal	Raiders 14–3
4		OAK	Arthur Whittington 7 yard run (Errol Mann kick)	Raiders 21–3
4		OAK	Arthur Whittington 10 yard run (Errol Mann kick)	Raiders 28–3

The 1978 Oakland Raiders season was the team's 19th season. During a pre-season game, Jack Tatum paralyzed New England Patriots wide receiver Darryl Stingley from the chest down while making a hit.

1978 would prove to be an up and down year for the silver and black. The Raiders were plagued by one of quarterback Kenny Stabler's worst seasons, tossing 16 TD's, while throwing 30 interceptions. The running game also fall off from seasons past. Even the great wide receiver Cliff Branch, only caught one touchdown. The season started off with a 14 to 6 loss in Denver. The Raiders would rally to a 5 – 3 start, then climbed to 8 – 4. After a last minute loss to the Seattle Seahawks 17 – 16, a team beat the Raiders twice in the same season for the first time since 1965. Then the Broncos completed their sweep of the Raiders with a 21 – 6 victory in Oakland, followed by a 23 – 6 defeat in Miami. A meaningless 27 – 20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings kept the Raiders consecutive seasons with a winning record streak alive. This was head coach John Madden's last season as head coach of the team. He was replaced by new coach Tom Flores.

During this game, one of the most famous plays known as the Holy Roller occurred. Kenny Stabler fumbled the ball and Pete Banaszak moved it forward allowing Dave Casper to finish the job for a touchdown. It is one of the most controversial plays in the history of the NFL.

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