1968 Oakland Raiders season


The 1968 Oakland Raiders season was the team's 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. They were led by third-year head coach John Rauch. They tied with Kansas City for the division title, which was settled by an unscheduled tiebreaker playoff, won 41–6 by the Raiders in Oakland.
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. Known today as the Heidi Game, 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. 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 Draft

Roster

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordAttendance
1September 15at Buffalo BillsW 48–61–0
43,057
2September 21at Miami DolphinsW 47–212–0
30,021
3September 29at Houston OilersW 24–153–0
46,098
4October 6Boston PatriotsW 41–104–0
44,253
5October 13San Diego ChargersL 14–234–1
53,257
6October 20at Kansas City ChiefsL 10–244–2
50,015
7October 27Cincinnati BengalsW 31–105–2
37,083
8November 3Kansas City ChiefsW 38–216–2
53,357
9November 10at Denver BroncosW 43–77–2
50,002
10November 17New York JetsW 43–328–2
53,118
11November 24at Cincinnati BengalsW 34–09–2
27,116
12November 28Buffalo BillsW 13–1010–2
39,883
13December 8Denver BroncosW 33–2711–2
47,754
14December 15at San Diego ChargersW 34–2712–2
40,698

Postseason

Standings

Game summaries

Week 11 vs. Jets

Week 12 vs. Bills

Staff

HC: John Rauch
Ast: John Polonchek, Ollie Spencer, Tom Dahms, John Madden, Charlie Sumner, Marv Marinovich