Raiders Came Up Short in NFL's Shortest Season
The 1982 Los Angeles Raiders might have been the best team in the NFL, but unfortunately, much of the season was wiped out by a players’ strike.
Still, the Raiders posted an 8-1 record in their first season in L.A., the best record in the league in the games that were played. They did this while practicing in Oakland and flying to Los Angeles for home games, which in a way made every game seem like it was on the road.
The Raiders made the full move to Southern California in 1983.
It appeared the Silver and Black might be on their way to Super Bowl XVII when they trounced the Cleveland Browns, 27-10, in a wild-card game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for their sixth consecutive victory.
Running back Marcus Allen, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, rushed for 72 yards on 17 carries and touchdowns of two and three yards, in addition to catching six passes for 75 yards including a 35-yarder.
Quarterback Jim Plunkett completed 24-of-37 passes for 386 yards as the Raiders piled up 510 total yards.
The Raiders sacked quarterback Paul McDonald six times, including two each by linebacker Rod Martin and nose tackle Johnny Robinson while holding the Browns to 284 total yards.
However, the following week after Allen scored on a three-yard run, Plunkett threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Malcolm Barnwell, both in the third quarter to give the Raiders a 14-10 lead over the New York Jets, and the season came to a sudden end.
Quarterback Richard Todd drove the Jets 67 yards on six plays, including a 45-yard pass to wide receiver Wesley Walker, and running back Scott Dierking leaped over the Raiders line for the winning touchdown with 3:45 remaining.
“It was just a speed-and-go pattern,” Walker said of his huge reception. “'I thank the Lord for that one. I was hoping we’d called it earlier.''
The Raiders had two more chances, but linebacker Lance Mehl intercepted passes by Plunkett twice in the final minutes to preserve the victory. Mehl stayed with wide receiver Cliff Branch for his second and clinching pick, saying: “He came across the field, so I went with him. I was just ready.”
Said Plunkett, who led the Raiders to a 27-10 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XV after the 1980 season, said after throwing those interceptions. “It was my fault. We had chances to win this game and just didn’t get it done. We believe we are the best team in the NFL and had a chance to win the Super Bowl again.”
Added tight end Todd Christensen: “We messed up and lost a game we should have won, or we might have wound up winning the Super Bowl.”
And defensive end Howie Long added: “I think having to get on a plane and fly to play a game every week during the season finally caught up with us.”
The Raiders made up for 1982 in their second season playing in Los Angeles, going 12-4 during the regular season before routing the Pittsburgh Steelers, 24-10, and the Seattle Seahawks, 30-14, in the playoffs before trouncing the Washington Redskins, 38-9, in Super Bowl XVIII.
“Not only, in my opinion, are you the greatest Raiders team of all time, I think you rank with the great teams to have ever played any professional sport,” Managing General Partner Al Davis told his team after accepting the Vince Lombardi trophy from Commissioner Pete Rozelle for the third time in eight years.
“Tom Flores isn’t just a great coach in our league. With all due respect, he’s one of the greatest coaches of all time. I want to say one thing to the fans and great players who wore the Silver and Black in the past all over the country. And I want to pay tribute to my partner, Ed McGah, who died earlier this winter.
“Again (to his players), you were magnificent. You dominated. And I love all of you, and you know that. Just win, baby!”
The Raiders might have been as good in 1982, but they left no doubt and got it done this time.
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