Dolphins vs. Raiders - 1974 Divisional Playoff

[@votered]

I well remember being a young 11 year old Dolphins fan, watching this game on TV. It was such a devastating loss. I still have not gotten over it and that was nearly 50 years ago.

[@craigmcalpin491]

From the opening kick off to the final play, this is the best playoff game I’ve ever seen. Still can’t believe he caught that ball.

[@adamdorgant9454]

You’re right about that!!!

[@JAWrightonline]

The Sea of Hands and The Catch are the Bay Area classics. Of course, a dumb millennial will say, "How can you call these great games? None of the teams even scored 30 points." SMH. Thanks a lot, Roger Goodell.

[@theoriginalsurferbob]

Fans say this all the time: I was there. From Woodstock to every big game. But I really was there, my first ever NFL game. Furthermore I was in row 3 of section 127. I can see my 10 year old self in that play. 🏴‍☠️

[@MCham52]

This is one of the better "game recap" pieces NFL Films ever produced. The combination of the music, John Doremus' narration and the inclusion of the announcing calls of Curt Gowdy, Al DeRogatis and Bill King make my spine tingle every time I watch this.

[@brianivey73]

Couldnt agree more

[@alialmahdi999]

Man! You said a Mouth full.

[@valleyforge65]

It's Don Meredith in the background saying "He caught it, he caught it!" Loved Curt Gowdy.

[@yehudafinkelstein7504]

Absolute Fire dood.

[@adamdorgant9454]

One of the greatest games in NFL History, period!!!!

[@scotday]

greatest game easy

[@JayDogTitan]

Adam Dorgant, I remember watching this game when I was 10 years old, It is in my opinion the greatest Raiders game of all-time, Definitely my all-time favorite.

[@adamdorgant9454]

Scott Nicholson Iam sure it was!!!

[@shermankelly9062]

As a die hard Raider fan, this game was an emotional roller coaster.

[@randyhanson4973]

Yes ... It was one of those rare games that lived up to the hype

[@brandonchabner6006]

This game had everything. Can't be topped.

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!

[@jamessollazzo4860]

it was the best game at that time only to be surpassed by some of the superbowls we had more recently

[@yehudafinkelstein7504]

@@jamessollazzo4860 What, honestly can top this?

[@steveN111333]

The music, the action, the emotion ! These NFL films are like Hollywood epics !!!

[@phess1668]

I watched this game by myself when I was 8 years old. Stabler falling as he threw the ball will be etched in my mind forever. It’s a memory I will cherish

[@irar4665]

And I remember watching it with my father as an 11 year old

[@lawrenceusher1902]

Not me. i was 7 and I locked myself in the bathroom for two hours crying and my parents could not get me out. :)

[@christophertindall8275]

the sea of hands gotta love the way nfl films presented this the voice over was top notch 5 stars all the way

[@adamdorgant9454]

You got that right!!!

[@alialmahdi999]

John Doremus was a beast!!!

[@millypoo7713]

Had to come and watch this when I heard of the passing of John Madden on 12/28/21. The coach with the highest winning percentage in NFL history. Seemed to be a very likeable guy, and I really enjoyed listening to his color commentary back in the day. RIP big man... you will be missed! 🙏

[@shermankelly9062]

The NFL lost a great man on that date Milly. RIP Big John.

[@fritterfoof5146]

Only because he quit while he was ahead .

[@1thepner]

43 years ago today........greatest game ever!!! "He caught it, he caught it!!!"

[@Mr.56Goldtop]

45 years ago.

[@G49V47D41]

Definitely!!! Greatest Pro Football Game ever played!!! And when you think of the incredible games played - the Ice Bowl (1967 NFL Championship Packers-Cowboys), the Immaculate Reception (1972 AFC Division Playoff Steelers-Raiders), the Catch (1981 NFC Championship Niners-Cowboys), the Duel in Miami (1981 AFC Divisional Playoff Chargers-Dolphins), and the Greatest Game Ever Played (1958 Colts-Giants), this game stacks up to all the aforementioned legendary games and then some. You can never be bored watching this great game!!!

[@1thepner]

@@G49V47D41 this game hit on so many levels. Other games were great. BUT...this one had a 3-time defending AFC Champion + 2-time defending SB champion fighting to the end. None of those other games (except GB) had a defending champion. Oakland....wow, I still get chills at how they played that day. And how close they came to losing. Inches, man. Agree with all your comments, too!

[@steelworking1143]

Branches catch was a trapp ball though

[@1thepner]

@@steelworking1143 not in the official history.

[@stephenjackson5131]

Never get tired of this ....and Branch score..he scores from curt gowdy.

[@TonyLovell]

I watched this. I was a young boy who loved the NY Giants. The Raiders were my emotional support team, as they were good. This was balm I needed.

[@ppgshook]

to this day don't understand why cliff branch is not in the HOF . he has three rings and was clutch for those Oakland raider teams in the 70 & early 80's .

[@kelvinkloud]

fair point.... he was a poor mans warfield. he served a key purpose in their attack. he was always a threat, that stretched D's/

[@cwhit10453]

Branch was great player, could easily be a HOFer I think. But in the "sea of hands" game he trapped that long TD catch...

[@kelvinkloud]

@@depaola63 he was consistent & yes, worthy of the hall... but your on crack if you think he was better then warfield. aside from perhaps lance alworth, warfield was the best and most talented wr of his era, no questions. just read jack tatum's book for ex., who played on the same team w/ branch & read about the respect he praised onto warfield. ditto what many other db's and defensive coordinators of that era said. warfield still holds the a top 3, after catch, avg yard gain status. & that was in an era in wh/ rules favored db's.... always remember, shula wanted to win & used warfield more sparingly b/c he had the best trio of rb's in the league, along w/ a great OL. plus griese was a control mid range passer, not a namath,hadl, lamonica long ball thrower type. he was lower risk to just grind & win. yet, none of that wouldve ever happened w/o warfield as the threat to always keep d's stretched.

[@depaola63]

..that's sad ! We never know what went on behind the game !...Cliff still has 3 RINGS and the #'s ..THAT'S ALL THAT SHOULD MATTER !! ..{ and I am NOT a Raider fan ! }

[@martinwhite3354]

Right On!!!

[@martinwhite3354]

Me and my Dad went to this game! I was 9 years old! Great memories..

[@housinauthority5258]

Amazing!!

[@ericradford2142]

RIP Don Shula, Cliff Branch, Bennie Malone, Bob Kuechenburg, Ken Stabler, Jack Tatum, Gene Upshaw, Nick Buoniconti, Willie Brown, Jim Mandich, Bob Matheson, Bill Stanfill, Garo Yepremian, Dave Dalby, Marv Hubbard, Al Davis, Jake Scott, Jim Kiick, Carl Taseff, Jim Langer, Joe Robbie, Bill King, George Blanda, Gerald Irons, Ben Dreith, Art Demmas, John Madden, Curt Gowdy, Earl Morrall, Daryle Lamonica, Skip Thomas, Dan Conners, Ray Guy, Ben Tompkins, Tim Foley, Mike Kolen, Jim Otto, Marlin Briscoe, Hubert Ginn, Mercury Morris

[@davidpridham3741]

Eric Redford- what a sobering list of amazing players who have passed away. You can add Jim Kiick to your list as well. There will never be backfield with talent and name cache as Zonk, Kiick and Mercury. The best era of NFL about 7 ultra talented teams who fielded consistently great squads. Miami,Pittsburgh, raiders, cowboys, Vikings, rams - with occasional interlopers like redskins and bengals ......before the game was set up with free agency and a motivation for 32 teams to go 8-8.

[@michaelleroy9281]

Some of them I didn't know about until l saw this right here

[@kencummings953]

George Blanda

[@michaelleroy9281]

Earl Morrall was on the 1974 Dolphins RIP

[@michaelleroy9281]

@@davidpridham3741 The NFL doesn't want dynasties any more

[@michaelleroy9281]

This has been called one of best playoff games ever

[@SuperPrince1007]

Top ten NFL Playoff Games in history. It had everything.

[@adamdorgant9454]

@@SuperPrince1007 True!!!!!

[@howardfrombroward3842]

1st playoff game I ever saw. I'm a dolphins fan and I was heartbroken.

[@adamdorgant9454]

Thanks for Sharing!!!

[@josephciccolini1590]

Me too, but time has healed the wound. The NFL is better for games like this.

[@kirkfrench1311]

The catch biletnikoff made. In that game was amazing as well just not the Davis catch

[@jamidavis7646]

Still the best game after by 2 great teams. There aren’t games like this anymore.

[@ericradford2142]

You’re wrong sir.

[@shermankelly9062]

@Jami Davis I thought no one noticed that but me J.D.

[@michaelleroy9281]

WRONG Super Bowl LI

[@josephrodriguez3408]

One the greatest moments for Madden and the Raiders. My favorite all-time player Snake Stabler had one his most famous games that day and I remember watching this game as an 11 year old and being mesmerized by Snake and the Raiders...Cliff Branch finally getting in the NFL HOF this year and he made a super catch and run in this one

[@tomodonovan5931]

Branch belonged in the HOF. He scared many opposing football fans with his speed, moves, catch, and intelligence to top it off. Drew Pearson was another great receiver that had many football fans wondering when is his enshrinement going to take place. They would dominate today's game if they were just drafted!

[@raider81blackhole15]

This is a happy moment in Raider football.....dont knock it.All you haters,yes we lost the following week.All you haters that call this luck...I guess Franco Harris catch,you all forgot. This video brings a feel-good moment to Raider fans.All teams have their moments.Dont like it,leave.RAIDER4LIFE!

[@1thepner]

Well said. Nobody but Pitt fans remember the next week. This game, this is what people remember.

[@mjp96]

It was the greatest game I ever saw. 1974? I was 11. Omg what a game. AND Curt Gowdy!!!

[@eddiecater1429]

Sea of Hands & The Catch 2 best playoff games I ever saw.

[@michaelleroy9281]

The Sea of Hands! Could be best playoff game ever

[@ericradford2142]

John doremus had a bad assed voiceover.

[@adamdorgant9454]

Agreed on that!!!!

[@brettshepherd5240]

ericradford2142 He was almost as good as facenda

[@scotday]

second to facenda

[@elosogonzalez8739]

The GREATEST game I've seen in my lifetime! A incredible team, a HELL OF A QUARTERBACK......... AND THE GREATEST FANS IN THE WORLD! Ken Stabler should have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame sooner. Joe Montana he wasn't. Roger Staubach he wasn't. But STABLER was the guy I'd want on my team! He didn't win them all but he gave NFL fans some of the GREATEST MEMORIES EVER!! RIP Snake. He would be 74 on Christmas day 2021. In the eyes of every Raiders fan, HE WAS THE GREATEST!

[@TruthLivesNow]

Elonso, as a Raiders fan, this was the GREATEST GAME I have seen in my lifetime also! Engraved in my head is that one handed catch by Fred Bilitnekoff in the end zone, the catch made by Cliff Branch on his back, and then getting up and running for a touchdown, and the "Sea of Hands" catch by Clarence Davis...all three super throws by Ken Stabler! I agree, Ken Stabler should have been in the Pro Football Hall of Fame before his death!

[@elosogonzalez8739]

@@TruthLivesNow It's a crime that Ken Stabler wasn't inducted while he was alive. Just another "SNUB" of the Raiders/Al Davis organization. With the facts all out...... Does anyone besides me think the Jon Gruden scandal and resignation was a "HIT JOB" by the NFL??

[@davemr6193]

@@TruthLivesNow From 71-74, went to about every Dolphins game in the O.B., and never saw them lose; can only imagine if Csonka, Kiick, and Warfield hadn't left after '74

[@SuperPrince1007]

Ken Stabler had a Joe Montana like coolness. The test of a truly great Quarterback is how well they perform under pressure. If you're a Quarterback who puts up big numbers & you choke under pressure you're not great. Bart Starr proved how great he was in that last drive in The Ice Bowl, Johnny Unitas proved how great he was in that 1958 Championship Game against The New York Giants right before Overtime & in the Overtime, Joe Montana proved how great he was in the 1981 NFC Championship Game against The Dallas Cowboys where "The Catch" was made in that last drive & so many other times including in The Super Bowl against The Cincinnati Bengals with just over three minutes to play to score a touchdown to win the The Super Bowl & all the times Tom Brady came through. Stabler proved just how great he was in the last two minutes of this game. In my opinion, Ken Stabler was as good as anybody who ever played the game. Terry Bradshaw even said Ken Stabler was great & underrated.

[@bufnyfan1]

At 6:24 when Curt Gowdy is describing the game winning TD you can also hear the voice of Don Mereidith-who not working on ABC's Monday Night Football at that time but for NBC for a few seasons

[@raider81blackhole15]

Was not Don Meredith,it was Al DeRogatis.

[@pep590]

Raiders81 No, Meredith was also in the booth. He's the one who said...He caught it, he caught it!

[@depaola63]

FACT !! I am now 56 and saw the game and knew " Dandy Don " on TV, IT WAS HIM as he did in fact jump ship for 2 seasons and went to NBC. GREAT ERA I came up in, THE BEST for music too as well as ALL sports in my opinion !! The 80's too !!!

[@1thepner]

@@raider81blackhole15 Al Derogatis-Curt Gowdy-Don Merideth. Three that day.

[@shermankelly9062]

@@raider81blackhole15 Listen when Clarence Davis made the catch 81. RIP Dandy Don.

[@pedrininito]

Every playoff game on 70s, and part of 80s, you could say: "I watched the best game on NFL history". Memmorable times.

[@sfgnyy]

Curt Gowdy what a great voice calling this game

[@adamdorgant9454]

Agreed!!

[@JayDogTitan-he6wo]

Curt Gowdy is my all time favorite play by play announcer, He called some great sports moments.

[@adamdorgant9454]

@@JayDogTitan-he6wo You’re right about that!!!

[@johnmanier7968]

This game was so great, so epic, that it wasn't all that diminished in history by the Raiders' loss the following week to the Steelers. Much like Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, which the Red Sox won in unforgettable fashion, even though they lost Game 7 to the Reds. These games will stand on their own merits forever, regardless of what followed.

[@shermankelly9062]

@John Manier Diminished my eye, J.M. Still a Raider fan to this day.

[@JAWrightonline]

Or the Milwaukee Bucks winning Game 6 vs. Celtics in double-overtime on Kareem's last-second skyhook in Boston Garden 1974 NBA Finals (Bucks were in the West back then).

[@guillermosanchez8843]

3:15 That reaction from Monte Johnson was from a different game, John Matuszak, the guy next to him, didn't play with the Raiders until 1976.

[@aldixon1977]

+Guillermo Sanchez: Good eye there! You're 100% correct...

[@ppgshook]

that was from the AFC championship game against Pittsburgh in 76 when they finally beat them .

[@vicepresidentmikepence889]

NFL films always does that. They call it dramatic license

[@Torgo1969]

Well spotted!

[@radar0412]

Creative License

[@oldguysrock2170]

An era when teams had the same players for years. None of this bouncing around from team to team. Each team, Cowboys, Steelers, Dolphins, and Raiders; all had great personalities and very different styles of play. Great times.

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!

[@DWilliam1]

The World Football League decimated the Fins.

[@brucedavis3816]

Watched the game live can't believe it's been 48 yrs!!!!

[@chrisanderson7984]

Classic. I’ve been looking for this

[@davidr5961]

The key in that game was when Jake Scott went down early with a knee injury; and then they lost Curtis Johnson later in the game;

[@amusement420]

I agree that opened things up for Stabler.

[@kelvinkloud]

bulls-eye.... both great db's. scott wouldve never let that ball get in at end.

[@jamesbranham7384]

And he would have been playing centerfield on smiths first touchdown of 31 yards. Stabler either would not have thrown into double coverage or the ball would likely have been picked off. Stabler does not throw for 300 yards and 4 t.d.'s with both those guys healthy. It should have been miami at pittsburgh the following week to determine the team of the 70's

[@cheaplaughkennedy2318]

DAVID R that’s true

[@1983jblack]

It makes you wonder had Scott not been injured, would Miami have held up? And, does Pittsburgh still go on to Super Bowl IX? I've been a Steelers fan for 30 years and that one has always had me thinking. They beat Oakland because John Madden shot his mouth off and gave them the motivation to win.

[@mickmcguire3521]

Cliff Branch should be in the hall of fame and I'm a cowboy fan

[@seveglider8406]

Damn right!

[@michaelleroy9281]

He is there

[@mikem591]

Don crying says it all. Seeing Shula on the sideline made it even cooler. The Raiders going up against The best!

[@mattyboie8891]

love the music on every key play

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!!

[@raider81blackhole15]

I lived in Miami at the time.As a Raider fan,(only one in the neighborhood)my friends rattled me all week about the Raiders getting killed.I was afraid to watch game at my rowdy Dolphin fan friends. Earlier the day ,our tv broke,so we bought a color tv at Kennedy and Cohen Appliance store.After game,I went to the Dolphin tv game party.... All were gone,no one answered the door.....BEST GAME EVER FOR RAIDERNATION.

[@shermankelly9062]

@Raider81 Black Hole I once thought I was was the only Raider fan east of the Mississippi 81.

[@JayDogTitan]

The greatest game in Oakland Raiders history!

[@melbias5046]

great call john!

[@michaelleroy9281]

John Doremus did a great job on this

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!

[@charlesrazo7246]

The Oakland Coliseum was called the house of thrills

[@Blackgodamen26]

This particular game won me a lot of 💰 💰 the 2 time champion Dolphin 🐬 had to play in Oak Town wasn't gonna happen 28-26 Raiders 🏈 best game I ever saw 👍🏿👍🏿

[@oldschoolruler]

Speed Kills...#21 Cliff Branch, RIP

[@jonburrows8602]

This should have been the AFC Championship game if not for the stupid rotational playoffs in their final year. If playoff seedings were in place in 1974, like they were from 1975 on, Raiders would have hosted WC Buffalo and Miami would have hosted the Steelers in the divisional playoffs.

[@1thepner]

You want to know why this particular version of the Oakland-Miami game is so important from other, more recent docs, copies?? At the 4:00 min mark, you get the Curt Gowdy call of Cliff Branch's 72-yard td. Gowdy's call of that td doesn't appear ANYWHERE else in all the other versions. And just prior to THAT, you get a nice audio clip of Daryl Lamonica talking to Branch on the bench. That also isn't in any other version, including the "Sea of Hands" NFL version!

[@shermankelly9062]

@1thepner I didn't know that was Daryl Lamonica 1thepner.

[@1thepner]

@@shermankelly9062 yeah, pretty good clip of him. He's in street clothes because he was the 3rd string qb, also his last yr in football.

[@shermankelly9062]

@@1thepner Street clothes? Isn't that a Raider helmet in his hand 1thepner?

[@1thepner]

@@shermankelly9062 I see the helmet. Good catch there. It's hard to tell if he was in uniform. But why would he have a helmet? I learn something about this game all the time.

[@perezmoore4333]

RIP Bennie Malone. This was your finish hour.

[@perezmoore4333]

RIP Bennie Malone. This was your finest hour in the NFL.

[@ibbetn1]

I had the privilege of being at this game. I wish someone had the NBC broadcast. Apparently, it doesn't exist.

[@aldixon1977]

@ibbetn1: That’s funny, I don’t remember seeing you there 🤔

[@MrSt3v3n5]

According to Steve Sabol before he unfortunately passed away, the lone existing copy of the NBC broadcast of that game was dubbed in Spanish and lost somewhere in Mexico. Too bad the NFL is TOO CHEAP to look for it because with today's technology, they could've found it, re-dubbed with the existing original audio of the NBC broadcast, air it on the NFL Network, and would've made more and more MILLIONS of $$$$$$$$$$$$$ from it.

[@JAWrightonline]

@@MrSt3v3n5 Lost in Mexico? And Trump wanted to put up a wall? Get that tape, somebody! We'll give you FULL U.S. CITIZENSHIP!!!

[@hotenhitonokoe2848]

great video

[@richardkonig1483]

The amount of HOF players on field mind boggling Two great teams

[@870Rem12gauge]

A freak last second play cost the Dolphins their 3rd Super Bowl.

[@charleslynching]

they would never had made it there JACKASS

[@jamesbranham7384]

Maybe. Maybe not. Tough call. The loss of Scott and Johnson in the secondary would not have been nearly so crucial against Pittsburgh as it was against Oakland because, unlike the raiders, the steelers were a ground oriented offense. Despite the fact the it was both Swann and Stallworth's rookie seasons. Webster was a rookie too but did not start until the '76 season after Mansfield retired after '75. '74 was also Lambert's rookie year and he did make a difference; one Miami would have had to deal with which they did not have to contend with while beating the steelers each of the previous 3 seasons. Miami did beat them at three rivers for the 72 AFC title, but one factor that helped them out in that game that people don't take into account was the unseasonably warm weather (temps in the low 60's). That would NOT have been the case in Pittsburgh on 29 Dec 74. Also no Bill Arnsparger coordinating the defence. As I said, tough call. Would have had to give a slight edge to the steelers, but mostly because of the home field and cold weather.

[@870Rem12gauge]

Yeah, Poetry. It was just luck they went to 3 straight Super Bowls, back to back wins, undefeated season.

[@seveglider8406]

WRONG! It cost the Dolphins this game!

[@philipClark-bj8rv]

My two favorite players Larry and Kenny .You los toros teammates know .And you guys at grossmont.All you guys were the best teammates I could have ever had.

[@TacoBellManager]

Bill King's call ... I could listen to that man read a phone book. Matter-of-fact, nuts-and-bolts details one instant and then POW the voice of excitement, the voice of posterity.

[@radar0412]

Stabler was the first to admit he threw up a Prayer. Stabler said Clarence Davis just wanted it more than everyone else.

[@RadicalCaveman]

The pass was dead-on, though. If it hadn't been, it could never have been caught and very likely would have been intercepted. And he was throwing as he was being tackled!

[@huckfinn9225]

"We're playing the Dolphins, and we're going be big" - John Madden

[@noahsmith6261]

Anyone know the piece of music that starts at 2:24?

[@scotday]

Greatest Game ever hands down

[@JAWrightonline]

Sea of Hands down? 😏😏😏

[@furpal40]

If Miami wasn't beat up with injuries they would have beat the hell out of these thugs.

[@SuperPrince1007]

You're absolutely right. That injury to Jake Scott turned the game around completely.

[@vfigueroa1]

Thank you John Madden!

[@purplesword5536]

Raiders got beaten by a good but not yet great pittsburgh team at home the next week one of the worse oakland losses during this period from 67-76 the raiders were considered "choakers" until they ran the table in 76.. I recall that in the 74 AFC Championship game they had a brutal 2nd half..

[@RadicalCaveman]

Stabler was really bad in that game, for some reason.

[@purplesword5536]

@@RadicalCaveman this was a game Oakland should have won imo, pitt wasn't yet elite m weather in Oakland wasn't a factor, the next yr in the AFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME at three rivers stadium it was bitter cold and the turf was an icy nightmare oakland could manage only 10pts.

[@BruceShweky]

Jake Scott getting hurt in 1st quarter really hurt us

[@SuperPrince1007]

In my opinion, had Jake Scott not gotten injured the Miami Dolphins would've won this game. I saw this game when I was ten years old & was so happy that the Oakland Raiders won this game. I couldn't get over how great this game was. Now looking back on it now I wish the Oakland Raiders didn't win this game because we were cheated out of a truly great historic game - the AFC Championship Game between the Miami Dolphins & the Pittsburgh Steelers. My feelings changed because Oakland lost to the Steelers the following week. I'll always wonder who would've won that game. Would Jake Scott been able to play in that game?

[@irar4665]

The Sea of Hands

[@stardaddyo9]

My best friend shit his pants when Davis caught that pass.

[@michaelleroy9281]

With friends like those who needs enemies

[@PKennyKoHawaii555]

I went to that game!!

[@adamdorgant9454]

Good to know!!!!

[@Frip36]

These soundtracks were over the top absurd.

[@JacksonJohnson979]

What are the songs playing in this video?

[@NidaCourtier]

The way a champion should defends its title. The Dolphins made the Raiders take it from them and they did. Unforgettable game.

[@fromthefarside]

The "Cowboy" Curt Gowdy at his best.

[@jeffcope7388]

Cliff Branch dropped the ball on his touchdown pass.

[@kenrolston]

yup, that would have been overturned today.

[@irar4665]

Curious how you know he dropped it- cant see that on this video?

[@jeffcope7388]

Different video, Different angle.

[@irar4665]

@@jeffcope7388 Oh, ok...I'll check around

[@JAWrightonline]

The Dolphins defenders didn't react like it was a "trap." Quit whining.

[@michaelleroy9281]

Black Sunday was really a Saturday game

[@mattyboie8891]

I love the sound of raider fans on this one

[@billkeogh639]

The Raiders (completely flat) would lose the following week at home to the Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. It was the first of four Super Bowls the Steelers would win in the 1970's.

[@1thepner]

The Raiders defense against Pitt in the AFC Championship was nothing but spectacular for 3 qtrs. I mean, 3 pts? The damned Raiders offense, love them, let the team down that day. The D can only keep running out there so much.

[@Biggdoom344]

I didn’t think the raiders were flat. They were winning 10-3 in the fourth quarter.

[@1thepner]

@@Biggdoom344 they weren't flat defensively vs PITT. They were playing all-out. But the offense (rarity) did not come thru vs Pitt.

[@brianreid4567]

This was a great 😌 game

[@michaelklein8598]

The Dolphins 🐬 We’re Snake 🐍 bitten. Rest In Peace Ken the Snake Stabler 🏴‍☠️🖤 Thanks for the memories 🐍🏴‍☠️🖤

[@spinner9057]

The Raiders leaving Oakland is an insult. They enjoyed so much excellence there.

[@hero_know_viewtagucci2592]

Incredible play I have ever seen ! I never forget this play. Davis was a good RB just like Stabler was a good passer. By the way, what did the spectator shout many time, after Stabler's TD pass ?

[@davidr5961]

I'll never forget the fan that ran out on the field, after that play, and punched nick buoniconti; then, manny fernandez almost killed the guy

[@michaelleroy9281]

RIP John Madden

[@michaelleroy9281]

Benny Malone scored way to early

[@shermankelly9062]

@Michael Leroy In a game as topsy turvy as that one was, you score when the opportunity arises. You just have to trust your defense.

[@ronwbowlingjr]

Wonder if Miami had won where would they have played Pittsburgh?

[@jonlanier_]

They would have hosted Buffalo.

[@aldixon1977]

In Edmonton.

[@arnoldzipper1834]

At Pittsburgh. Dolphins would have won anyway.

[@killalltogepis9916]

@@arnoldzipper1834 Steelers would have beat Miami even if Miami wins this game.

[@mr.majestic2667]

@@killalltogepis9916 Not in Miami .

[@fraserwebster8761]

RIP John Madden.

[@oldredbarnman]

So Miami (11-3) had to travel to Oakland (12-2), while Pittsburgh (10-3-1) got to play at home against the wild card, Buffalo (9-5). The NFL sure had some kooky playoff formats back in the early 70s.

[@RadicalCaveman]

Yeah, for many, many years home field advantage in the playoffs was on a rotating basis and had nothing to do with your record.

[@adamdorgant9454]

True!!!

[@kirkfrench1311]

Biletnikoff

[@aldixon1977]

@Kirk French: Fred...

[@catoni13]

Was meant to be. Two stupid, insane catches by the Raiders and Malone sits on the one and its over.

[@LegacyProductionsOrg]

carrying off a coach after the first round of the playoffs? oh brother. they lost the next game.

[@michaelleroy9281]

The great Bill King

[@TheAerovons]

2 Miami defenders were out on that final play..,

[@michaelleroy9281]

Black Sunday was a Saturday game 12 21 74

[@davanmani556]

Where was Mercury?

[@TheAlfrulz]

He was injured early in the season and was lost for the year. Shame he wasn't able to help Miami's run for a three peat.

[@MrSt3v3n5]

​@@TheAlfrulz I read somewhere that the Dolphins medical staff said that Morris was healthy enough to play in the game but Morris refused to play claiming his knee was still in bad shape. And he was on the sideline in his uniform throughout the whole game.

[@TheAlfrulz]

@@MrSt3v3n5 - I didn't know about Mercury being dressed and on the sidelines during the game. I heard something similar too. It was a type of interview with Morris where he felt the knee still didn't feel right, although the team cleared him to play. He mentioned he was leery of the Dolphins medical staff after a neck injury during 1973. The team doctor cleared him to return, he finished the season, and during the Pro Bowl, another doctor diagnosed him with a broken neck. That neck injury nagged him for the rest of his playing career. Also, he was in Shula's doghouse in 1974 because of the injury debate and, more quietly, allegations of drug use by Mercury. Here's an article about Mercury's 1974 knee injury; www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=cdnc.ucr.edu/%3Fa%3Dd%26d%3DDS19741108.2.128&ved=2ahUKEwilkMnR3p_oAhXMl-AKHX5EAc8QFjABegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw12KX5-iiCRqg6hfSLoPFbY

[@MrSt3v3n5]

@@TheAlfrulz I saw Mercury clear as a day running with the rest of the team to their sideline just before kickoff in the opening segment of NFL'S Greatest Games. Another thing I noticed too is that Lloyd Mumford wasn't in the game when Curtis Johnson went down with an injury. He did play on special teams, but Shula decided to replace Johnson with Henry Stuckey instead of Mumford which turned out to be a CATASTROPHIC mistake as we all saw on that Cliff Branch 72-yard touchdown play.

[@TheAlfrulz]

@@MrSt3v3n5 - I only saw the "Greatest Games " episode once years ago, so I don't recall. But looking around recently, I did see one clip where a #22, alongside other dolphins, was jogging before the game underneath a scoreboard that said "Welcome Miami Dolphins". That would've been awkward having him on the sidelines and taking a roster spot, but unable to use on the field. But Benny Malone was a great substitute who replicated Mercury's outside speed to compliment Csonka's power. I don't think Morris's absence was too crippling because of Malone. I think most people would agree that injuries is what did in the Dolphins, particularly the secondary. I don't know the particulars regarding who was best to insert, Stuckey or Humphrey. One of the few things I remember from the "Greatest Games" episode was how only 1/4 of their starting secondary was left by the end of the game. They got picked apart not just on the 72 yard Branch TD, but the entire final game winning drive by Stabler who was like 7 of 7 passing.

[@ronbowlingjr6122]

who's the narrator?

[@scotday]

John Doremus probably the closest they ever got to John Facenda

[@markclark7178]

Oakland got lucky

[@ericradford2142]

But their luck ran out the next week against the Steelers.

[@michaelleroy9281]

They fell to the Steelers 24 13 in title game 1 week later

[@adamdorgant9454]

Yes, now that you mentioned it!!!

[@derrickthompson5736]

Just as their victory over Kansas City ended the Chiefs for 50 years, the Raiders victory over Miami ended their chances. Oh, they went to SB 17 and 19 but we all know how they ended. The only relevant game the Dolphins played and won since then was when they beat Chicago on Monday night and knocked them from the ranks of the undefeated. Other than that, haven't won since.

[@aldixon1977]

Raiders won !! 😎

[@Lewis9709]

Yes kids there was once a time when both the Raiders and the A's were successful winning franchises.

[@jasesmith1367]

5 people must be Dolphins Fans 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@adamdorgant9454]

Probably so!!!!

[@mcdonoghrahloh459]

Raiders thought they won the Super Bowl....Wrong!!!

[@aichejaye363]

How does Stabler get in the hall of fame when a friend of his (during his playing days) was a well known bookie???

[@scjct1]

Snake had been deserving entry into the HOF for years. Get over it man. Stop whining because your team lost bro.

[@aichejaye363]

My team? I don't have a favorite team. Stabler was dirty. That's why he got in the HOF after dying. NFL didn't want to honor him when he was alive. Same will go for Pete Rose. Won't be inducted by MLB into the HOF while he is still alive. Damn, I didn't know I was whining. Good looking out.

[@kelvinkloud]

@@aichejaye363 stabler like to party a lot. he hung out w/ all types who werent the sunday school type. but its a big leap to say he was involved in gambling on the nfl or worse fixing games. the same was said of jake scott, the great safety who played for the fins.... I dont buy either case. those guys had way to much to lose, esp back then when the money wasnt as good. gambler types hover around the party scene and like to try to get close and hang out w/ players. just like namath 5 years back. the access to get closer to players was also easier back then. but again, a huge leap to say the players were fixing games. all 3 of those guys were also committed team players who were never known to let fellow players down.

[@castiellight4142]

@@kelvinkloud stabler did NOT gamble into games he was playing.

[@michaelleroy9281]

@@scjct1 That was 1974 it was only a football game ( although a damn good one)

[@adamdorgant9454]

RIP John Madden!!🏈🏈🏈🏈

[@redmustangredmustang]

Then they lost to the Steelers at home the next week.

[@adamdorgant9454]

Yes, now that you mentioned it!!!!