When I watch these old games from the 1970s with the dirt, grass, and wet fields, I feel like I'm watching a movie during medieval times with swords, blood, and fire.
So well said. I thankfully grew up in the 70s. NFL Football was everything to me. I remember watching this game on television. Grew up 20 minutes from Oakland. Went to the championship game the following week. I’ll take this era over todays any day.
Stadiums with roofs, every team has dark/black uniforms, rarely weather conditions, don’t hit as hard, and less personality. Not to mention, you don’t have rivalries because players move around so often.
Yes, those were the days ... I remember the Raiders AT THAT TIME - had the best winning pct in Monday night football in history. I also remember the Eagles had never won at the Oakland Coliseum until 2007 - Madden career was Madden had a coaching record of 103-32-7 and zero losing seasons
Me too. I was a teen in the 1970s and a huge Raider fun, but I was raised in San Diego!!! San Diegans are very sore losers. I could only wear my Raiders shirts at work I was at The Holy Roller!!! I had to hold in my absolute ecstatic feeling, and must have been the only fan at that game. Geeze was it fun watching The Raiders breaking Charger fans hearts The Raiders wins fattened up my wallet as well. Hope The Raiders can wake up again cos I still love them and I'm in my 60s now!!!
Football played by real men! Players so fierce, they sometimes scared the coaches!! Guys like Joe Klecko, Marty Lyons, Jack Lambert, Ronnie Lott, JoeGreene, Merlin Olson, L.T. (Both of ‘em.) Dudes so high on speed and painkillers, running back to the sidelines, shoulder hanging out of its socket, Strength coach, Dr, setting it back, right on Camara then him running back in! Concussions out the wazzo. Oh, Double practices, am and pm. Watch any game from 1967 to 1982. You will see a breed of men like no others… Good luck this year, watch my Jets start to fly!🛫
@@frankpienkosky5688 Happens like that sometimes. Luck only brings you so far. Being a jet fan, I don’t know what luck is. We should have 5 Super Bowls. Never caught a break, not once! Watch us make our own luck the next five years!!!!
I remember that game like it was yesterday. It was about a week before Christmas and my father, rest his soul, had just bought us a brand new color television for the holidays. That game was the first thing we watch on it. We lived in California and I was rooting for the Raiders, but the way the Dolphins valiantly defended their title as champions so impressed me that I became a fan and have followed the team ever since. Rest in peace Coach Shula, Coach Madden, Jim "Mad Dog" Mandich, Nick Buoniconti, Bob "Kooch" Kuechenberg, Jim Kiick, Kenny " The Snake" Stabler, and all other greats of the game who have passed on. Also, RIP Al DeRogatis whose expert play by play analysis taught me so much about football.
I really love Phil Villapiano. As a player, it always seemed he was in on the big tackles. Here as a commentator you can just see and feel the pride that he felt While being an Oakland Raider
As a lifelong Dolphin fan, that was the saddest game of my life. Knowing the Dolphins would never be the same without Csonka, Kiick and Warfield. As a football fan, I can't help but admire the Raiders for winning that game.
Not the lost SB against 49er or AFC championship game against Pats? That was at the end of the Dolphin' s dynastie so it had to happen but to have the best Dolphins QB ever and the best receiver duo ever but only win one AFC title must be disappointing.
@@lesterpaul9657 that Miami team was like a bunch of robots...totally consistent week in and week out...scores might be close but you always knew they were going to win...until one day they didn't...
When I saw Stabler he said hhat as he was going down he just heaved the ball into the end zone, thinking it would likely be intercepted. He was delighted of course when Clarence Davis caught it between three Dolphins. Unfortunately for Oakland, the magic would en in the AFC championship the next week.
@@rufuspipemos True but something else, earlier that season Oakland beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-0, I remember many Steeler fans including my father saying the Steelers did not stand a chance in that years' AFC championship game against the Raiders, but coach Chuck Noll rallied and inspired the team to a 24-13 win and an eventual Super Bowl championship. However, your right about that 71 game, three overtime quarters, KC kicker Jan Stenaroud missing I think three field goals and Kicker Garo Yepremian winning the game with a 37-yard field goal right down the middle
@@rufuspipemos because it was Christmas Day around dinner time..a lot of people didn’t see it. I remember that game being on for about a quarter but my parents had a Christmas party that day so the tv got turned off.
@@graciemaemarie11jones16 The Raiders ranked only 21st out of the 26 NFL teams around in 1974 on run defense. This game and the next week game against the Steelers you can see why. You see big runs by Larry Csonka, Benny Malone, and next week Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier over and over again. And each time you see missed tackle after missed tackle by the Raider defense.
I remember being 13 yrs old and had to watch this game at my dad's electronic store because had no ride home. Being a huge Dolphins fan I cried my eyes out after this game. What a classic game called by the legend Curt Cowdy
Boy do I miss this time. I was just a kid and watched this game. Pure beauty to be a part of it. The announcers the fans the players. A time of life that is long gone. But so fortunate to experience it.
I talked to Ben Tompkins a few years ago on the phone. Ben is the official (#52) that was involved in several key plays in this historic game. He was very gracious with his time and great to talk to about the NFL. He was the official on the Biletnikoff almost 41 yard td pass where Fred's foot was just out. Biletnikoff (my childhood idol) argued with Tompkins but Ben indicated out of bounds several times in an almost comical retort to Fred. Tompkins was also involved moments later when Biletnikoff made his incredible td catch against Miami's Tim Foley. Ben was the official on the controversial Cliff Branch td reception. Finally Ben Tompkins was the official on the spot on The Sea of Hands catch by Clarence Davis.
I watched this game when I was 13 years old. I was a huge Dolphin fan. I was watching with my father who is still living today, but with dementia, at 91 years old. I almost cried when the Raiders caught that pass in the end zone. My father to his delight was jumping up and down cheering. 😂😂😂good times.
I watched that game as a teenager with my best friend. We were big Dolphins fans looking forward to winning 3 Super Bowls in a row. We thought the game was over when Malone shed 3 tackles and went into the end zone standing. We were dumb-struck when somehow Stabler got rid of the ball and Davis caught it. To this day it was the greatest game I ever saw. Both teams left it all out there that day.
This game was my introduction to the Oakland Raiders. I became a fan. Bless all you great players for giving us moments like this game. RIP to those gone on.
My late Father -- William S. Cavalier, Jr. -- had all 5 of his kids born in Oakland. So he'd be especially proud of the Oakland Raiders! So am I. We spent good times in Piedmont, CA = 401 Hampton Road. Love ya'll! * Robert Cavalier; born 18 June, 1957. *
I watched the Sea of Hands game when I was 10 years old and remember it well, The Cliff Branch td reception where he fell down is the play I remember most, I wish there was NBC footage of this game, Its my all time favorite Raider game.
I didn't get to watch this game live. I was moving from Oakland to San Diego, driving down I-5 and listening to it on the car radio. When Clarence Davis made that catch, I damn near lost control of the car. By the time i arrived, I had no voice -- from screaming with joy for so many mies.
Love the Sea of Hands, so glad this is on youtube, I've seen I believe this show on the NFL network when Stabler passed away. Happy it's on RU-vid. Worthy of a subscription
Real football played by real men… all those playing the game now are standing on the shoulders of these giants of the game… best thing about this classic game was the winner went on to lose to my beloved Steelers as they went on to win their first of 6 superbowls!
And I believe dolphins same result had they sacked Stabler in ending and played steelers at Pittsburgh we would be talking about steelers ending dolphins reign
I watched this game when it happened. It was incredible. Love it. And how great is Steve Sabol? One of the great icons of NFL history. He and his dad are two of the most important people, if not the most important, in NFL history.
And I was at the game. 40 Yard line. Madden was right about the kickoff: We were all fired up, waving our black handkerchiefs and then Nat Moore runs it back 90 yards. We were all so stunned nobody could sit down. As Phil Villapiano said, "What a game. What a game."
Most important people in football? Pass that shit I’ll have what ur smoking lol!!! That might be the dumbest paragraph I’ve ever read in my entire existence. Most important people is the people that played the game
Arguably the greatest game ever played. It is the one game you can point to that ended a dynasty. A dynasty that gave us the perfect team. "THE MIAMI DOLPHINS ARE DETHRONED!" - Bill King
@@jomic9060 I gave the Raiders credit for ending the Dolphins Dynasty. Just because I was pointing out chinks in the armor of the MIGHTY DOLPHINS MACHINE throughout the 1974 season doesn't mean I'm making excuses for them, nor does it mean I'm diminishing the Raiders' accomplishments of dethroning them. In my eyes, the Raiders won the game fair and square. And the Dolphins can't play the injury card because what's lost in all of this, the Raiders won WITHOUT their best defensive player and the best cornerback of the 70's Willie Brown.
How many fantastic and dramatic games have the Raiders been in? My memories go back to watching this on TV as a young 14 year old Bills fan, we couldn't stand what the Finns did to our Bills during the 70's. The Raiders made a lot of Bills fans happy that day.
I've been watching football for over 50 years. This may have been the greatest game I have ever seen. I was 13 when this game was played, and I remember my dad, he was as even-keeled as they come, and HE was yelling at the TV during the broadcast. Phenomenal football game, will never forget it.
I remember watching this game at age 9, definitely a great game between 2 great teams, patriot fan ....Pittsburgh, oak, Mia were easily 3 best teams in 1974 . This was like a NFL championship game
I watched that game on TV in 1974. When Stabler took the field on the final drive, I swear, I had no doubt. Wasn’t even nervous. Stabler had done it so many times before.
actually this was Stablers 2nd great comeback win. His first was earlier this same year in 1974 at home vs. Cincinatti when they won 30-27 on a Charlie Smith run with less than a minute to go. So most of the great Stabler comeback wins came after this Miami game, Ghost to the Post, Holly Roller, MNF vs. New Orleans in 1979.
@@erics2739 The problem with that is "almost". Being a Steelers fan, I'll give the Raiders their due. They beat the Steelers twice in 1976 and won the Super Bowl. Joe Greene said the Raiders had a great team that year. Oakland benefited by playing in a weak division. The Chargers were lousy until 1978-79. The Chiefs were crap after 1971. The Broncos were lousy until 1977. Pittsburgh had two tough division opponents every year. Some combination of Houston, Cleveland and Cincinnati was in the playoff hunt every year.
Miami had a lot of injuries that they couldn't overcome. I still believe that a healthy Miami team would have gone to their fourth straight Super Bowl. Still it was a great four year run...
Forgive me as I wipe the tears of Joy for John Madden and my Oakland Raiders. I lived in Oakland and a season ticket holder. Lady Esters. Wow, We always found a way to Just Win Baby
The field is that way because it's below ground level. If you look at the stadium from the outside, you saw the 2nd and 3rd deck, you couldn't see the 1st deck or below that, until you went inside. My mom and I were at Serramonte Mall in San Francisco christmas shopping and I had to listen to this entire game on the radio. I was 13 and almost had a heart attack.
OMFG! What an encredible episode - from the NFL films game footage to the greatly written story line - but then having J. Maddon's remarks - it doesn't get any better than this.
This was the greatest pro football game ever played . Yes the 58 colts / giants game I think though had a greater impact and the Ice bowl was great too . But for pure football back and forth drama this is the top.
Yes, this was great , i also think the chiefs vs dolphins overtime playoff game was for me a game i can never forget , AFC divisional game on christmas day dec 25th , 1971 , i believe still the longest game ever .
Chiefs vs dolphins gets my vote this game was great no doubt but the Christmas Day game was really special… this game had a lot of ugly where as the Christmas game has one of the great single game performances ever put in by Ed podolak just classic era though
'58 Colts/ Giants?...watched it because there was nothing else on...(only 3 channels)...then became mesmerized by what was happening....sudden death?...football for grown-ups!!...this was the beginning of the marriage between pro- football and tv....up to that point the college game dominated...and the professional game was relegated to a bunch of thug/losers who refused to grow-up and get on with their life.....
"They think they just played the Super Bowl out there. For my money the best team in football is right here in this locker room." Chuck Noll coach Pittsburgh Steelers
Greatest game I've ever seen, even to this day. Old school football. Typical Raider win during that era...back and forth, two-minute comeback, heart-attack for the fans watching. I don't know how John Madden avoided his own heart attack in this game. One for the ages, that showcased Cliff Branch's abilities, Fred Belitnickoff's talents, and Stabler's cool and skill. And with the play-calling of Bill King. Holy Toledo.
It's just hard to believe the Raiders only won a Super Bowl with all the talent they possessed. But look at Dallas in the 70's. Pittsburgh was the nightmare that spoiled the football dreamers! Dallas, and Oakland should have won more then one or two Super Bowls. But a Jet's fan can say they won the big one. Nothing wrong with that at all! Would hate to be a Patriot or Steeler fan. Too many Super Bowls takes a little bit of thrill out of the game. Like that Twilight Zone episode where the crook wins at everything he does. He got bored very fast.
@@tomodonovan5931 certainly looked that way in the opening moments of SB XLV...then the Steelers got their act together and made the game interesting....
@@frankpienkosky5688 The game was over in my mind when #34 fumbled that football, it is ironic that the 95 Steelers vs Cowboys saw the same fate, throwing a costly interception instead of scoring the TD that would have gave the lead to the Steelers. There's no telling if Dallas could have come back to take the lead, because they put the game out of reach with that TD with no chance for a Steeler come back. Dallas and Pittsburgh gave you three good Super Bowl games. You would think Aaron Rodgers would have more rings on his fingers, but he's in the HOF with what he has. Teams that can reload, and squeeze the Lombardi trophy after losing players to free agency. I'm surprised football has not become more like baseball, where the big money making teams get all the talent. It's what the Yankees do, use the rest of the major league for their farm teams. They see the best players ready to sign off with a contender, and they flash the cash in front of their faces! Thanks for the comment.
@@frankpienkosky5688 What can you say. Both you and I are Kennedy assassination nerds! lol! They thought the umbrella was some kind of James Bond shooting device! Funny, it rained that morning, but the sky was clear as day. Like 911. Not a cloud in sight. I think the umbrella man turned himself in. Scared undoubtedly, since so many witnesses later were bumped off under mysterious circumstances. Some umbrellas were used by Russian agents as poison injected weapons. So they say. The whole military went into Defcon mode. Much like the movie Wargames.
I was 11 years old and watched this game. My Dolphins had their chances and just came up a bit short. Every time I watch it I revert back to that disappointed and crying 11 year old boy😢.
Manny Fernandez, the eccentric, star defensive lineman of the Dolphins, was known to wrestle alligators for sport in the Everglades during the offseason. True.
Phil I’m an old friend of Jim Plunkett went to his wedding. I joined the Woodside fire department and moved to Sacramento. Lost track of Jim. I know he still lives in the same place anyway good to see your name and your face on the interview. you explained everything perfectly. Nice to hear the old names from Stanford.
Hard core lifelong Dolphin fan. Listened to this game on Armed Forces Radio in Italy, kickoff 2 in the morning. Fell asleep with Dolphins leading. Didn't find out they lost until I read it in the Herald Tribune on a train the next day.
@@jimegan6848 lookin at Sundays game plans by the light of the jukebox at some dive on a Saturday night...lol. The Snake was a legend...on and off the field
I had the honor of being at this game as a 9 year old with my father.It was raining early in the morning and my dad suggested we just stay and watch at home.I think he was messing with me, but I made sure he KNEW I WANTED TO GO! Great game, the fans were electric, Black Hankies for everyone...No one ever mentions how the Steelers came in to town and on the AFC championship...
have to admit I thought the Raiders were going to win against the Steelers....but as the game progressed a warm glow slowly enveloped me as I realized this bunch of ridiculous losers I had followed in the sixties...a team that had never won anything throughout their long history....was going to the Super Bowl....unreal.....
An incredible time in sports and life in America when men were men, football was about hitting people, kids came home when it was dark and drank water directly out of a hose. I get emotional just thinking back to those days compared to the pathetic society and NFL we have today. Thank you Dolphins and Raiders for this game and the men you were.
many say the greatest game was the Giants and the Colts in a sudden death game...that one ushered in the marriage for tv and the NFL....and started the league's ascent to the #1 sport in the country instead of a bunch of thug- losers playing a game that lacked the respect of the college version...I remember watching it because there wasn't anything good on the other two channels...and slowly becoming mesmerized by what I later defined as football for grown-ups....a fight to the death....WOW!
That was the first NFL game I ever attended. I was hanging out near one of the entrances when a group of middle-aged dudes with an extra ticket invited me in with them midway through the first quarter. I remember the throw and catch like it was yesterday. I was of the fans on the field after the game.
Ive been a Dolphin fan all my life. This game is my first memory of watching the Phins. I was 5 yea4s old. I remember adking my dad what happened when Davis caught the Touchdown and he was in shock and couldnt speak. Watching this extensive footage of this game, i now onow how he felt at the end of it. Raiders, Dolphins and Steelers were the Ali, Frazier and Foreman of the NFL during the 70's.
One of my earliest memories is of watching this game at my grandparents' house. I remember seeing Raiders players walking side by side after the game and I loved their uniforms and became an instant Raiders fan.
Hey, we are the same age. About 71 I was watching a Raider / Dolphin game at a friends house . He was a Raider fan, but the Raiders were the bad guys so I started liking the Dolphins.
Definitely one of NFL’s greatest games. Glad I was able to watch it in real time. It had a bunch of HOF players in it not to mention a bunch of players who were tough SOBs. Hall of Fame finish.
What’s really amazing is on top of the pass and what looked to be a finger tip catch among all those players, was Davis still managed to retain control after being hit and sandwiched right after reception. Truly incredible!
Halfback practice every spring training running through the sea of hands ,ots called trying to strip the ball for the backs and if you fumble or get it stripped, all the guys holding the dummies will begin to pummel you with dummies til you get back on the ball. Remember those practice drills very well.
Exactly right. I posted this before. Oakland should have hosted Buffalo and Miami, Pittsburgh. This unfairness may be we they went to seeding the very next year.
as a kid I saw this game. I didn't remember much other than I knew I was pulling for the OAKLAND Raiders and hoping they would win. The thing that was most memorable to me was the last play of the game. Other than that, I don't remember much. I was just a kid. Wow! Starting from Phil Villapiano, to the start the final drive in slow motion. To the background music, and the GREAT Bill King announcing, what a setting. The scene couldn't even be told any better by NFL Films (great job guys!). Kinda reminds me of a Shakespearian play. All these years I didn't even realize this. June 18, 2024, when I saw Cliff Branch's catch. He actually trapped the football. I was surprised at the replay. Yes, I believe Branch trapped the ball. It wasn't a legit catch. The OAKLAND Raiders got lucky. I'm glad they won. The Dolphins is a classy team, class act. My hats off to them. Lot of great players in this game. Many Hall of Famers.
I was a Sr. in H.S. and working at The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World the day of this game...A very large breakroom down in the tunnels below Main Street USA had the game playing and it was standing room only...I was a diehard Dolphin's fan and I thought for sure we had them beat, but darn if The Snake didn't drive them and score a touchdown to win the game...that is still the biggest groan I have ever heard in my life when they scored with time running out.
I’ll never forget this game. I was 16 & on my knees praying the whole game. I’ve seen a lot of football along with the greatest games ever played, but none can ever match or equal this one. A great victory, but to no avail as the following week they suffered another crushing defeat from the Stealers.
Being a Steelers fan, I had very little faith they would beat Oakland after the way the raiders clobbered them in the regular season. However as John Madden later said..we celebrated too much after the Miami game and kind of looked past the Steelers. It didn’t help the Steelers were peaking and a totally different team from the one Oakland beat earlier. It’s hard to get up emotional after that game v Miami.
Raiders left it all on the field this day. Were drained next week in the AFC championship game and were crushed by the Steelers who went on to win the first of their 4 super bowls in the next 6 years..
Some of the most memorable NFL games happened with an ominous gray sky adding to the drama, Dallas and Pittsburgh in SB XIII, Oakland and San Diego in 1980, Colts/Jets SB III.
I've been a Cowboy fan all my life and remember watching football as a youngster in the 70's and wow, what great teams, you literally had 5 or 6 teams that could have had dynasties!! You had the Steelers, known to most as the team of the 70's with their 4 titles. then my Cowboys with 2 titles and 4 Super Bowl appearances, the Raiders won a title, the Vikings were always contenders and went to the big game four times early in the Super Bowl years, the Dolphins had a perfect season won a couple of titles...and it was ABSOLUTELY THE GREATEST FOOTBALL ERA EVER!!! So competitive and tough and hard hitting without the rules that protect todays players...it was THE golden era of football. You had so many characters , great players and teams, great nicknames, NFL Films music and the legendary voice of God Mr. Facenda! Also, loved listening to Alex Karras do the highlights and Game of the week!!! In all...what a time to be a kid and what a time for the NFL!!!! I watch this with joy even though the Steelers beat my Boys twice in the big game during the 70's (we got one back in the 90's but still owe you guys one lol) and the Raiders were always a threat, I watch this game with the GREATEST RESPECT FOR THESE TEAMS, PLAYERS AND COACHES!!!! Wow, how I miss those days!!!
@@davidcobb2693 Well, I said 5 OR 6, but honestly those 5 seemed to the be the teams that most remember when speaking of the 70's,. Of course you had teams with short runs such as the "Orange Crush" Broncos who were beaten handily by the Cowboys in 77, the Redskins also had a couple of really good squads in the 70's. However, when most purists think of the 70's NFL they think of Steelers, Cowboys, Dolphins, Raiders and I include the Vikings as they were a contender seemingly every season despite not winning a title. The Colts won a title off my Cowboys with a last second field goal at the start of the decade, the Rams had a few real good seasons eventually making it to the big game with QB Vince Ferragamo, but were beaten by the Steelers in 1980. However, probably the five teams I named earlier are the ones that most think of when they remember those days, at least from those that were alive and watching during that time. I think some of the younger fans obviously only have RU-vid and such to make their minds up and they just don't realize how intense the game was during the 70's nor these rivalries, especially rivalries with the Cowboys and Steelers, Raiders and Steelers and a few others as the fans were absolute diehard fans. At any rate, I feel this was the absolute pinnacle of football, simply doesn't get any better than 1970's NFL...the decade had it all!!! It was a great time to be a youngster and a great time for the NFL. Have a good day my friend.
remember this was all new and developing...the Packers era of domination was over and new teams were emerging....most with distinct identities....and slowly evolving rivalries....still think the fix was in for SBXXX....tha gamblers won that one....the only thing missing was the guy with the umbrella....but the league returned the favor in SBXL....they had an outcome in mind and made sure it happened......
One thing that really irks me about these dolphins teams is that they constantly whine. They did the same thing during the documentary on the Miami v San Diego game when one of the Dolphins players mocked Kellen Winslow for not walking off the field under his own power. Bottom line..it was a phenomenal game. Yeah they had injuries but give the raiders credit. A play here or there and any team could have won. Dolphins always came across to me as sore losers which Shula was known to be.
No matter who your team was, this was a classic! RIP- Kenny Stabler. At age 14, little did I know how good I had it! The media/NFL deleted the Buoniconti/Fernandez incident after the game. That fan was lucky Fernandez didn't kill him. Even vibration football had a Dolphins-Raiders edition after this... it was that iconic! Ps- I was too young to remember the black bras and panties but would expect nothing less from the Raiders culture 🧐 Nice job!
Yep, watched it live. Truly one of the NFL’s Greatest Games with one of the wildest, most improbable finishes imaginable. And this is NFL Films at its finest.😉🏆
