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SuperBowlConcierge.com > Super Bowls > SB 15 Champion Oakland Raiders |
Super Bowl History |
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The Raiders' main offensive deep threat was wide receiver Cliff Branch (44 receptions,
858 yards, 7 touchdown), while wide receiver Bob Chandler contributed 49
receptions for 786 yards and 10 touchdowns. Running back Mark van Eeghen was the
team's top rusher with 838 yards and 5 touchdowns, while also catching 29 passes
for 259 yards. Halfback Kenny King rushed for 761 yards and catching 22 passes
for 145 yards. The Raiders also had an outstanding offensive line lead by 2
future hall of famers, tackle Art Shell and guard Gene Upshaw. Upshaw became the
first player to play in three Super Bowls with the same team in three different
decades. He also played in Super Bowls II (1967) and XI (1976). |
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SB 15 Champion Oakland Raiders |
Super Bowl XV was the climax of Plunkett's revival as an NFL starting quarterback.
The 1970 Heisman Trophy winner was drafted by the New England Patriots and was
later named the 1971 NFL Rookie of the Year. But Plunkett suffered though 5 losing
seasons with the Patriots and 2 uneven seasons with the San Francisco 49ers
before being released as a free agent before the 1978 season. Plunkett was signed by Oakland to be their backup quarterback, and thus he did not see much playing time, throwing no passes in 1978 and just 15 passes in 1979. But after the Raiders started the 1980 season with a 2-3 record, starter Dan Pastorini broke his leg and suddenly Plunkett was thrust into the starting role. The 33-year old Plunkett got off to a bad start, throwing 5 interceptions in a 31-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs after relieving Pastorini. However, he recovered and led the Raiders to victory in 9 of their last 11 games in the season, qualifying for the playoffs as a wild card team. Plunkett made 165 out of 320 pass completions for 2,299 yards, 18 touchdown passes, and was intercepted 15 times. He also contributed 141 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground. |
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Super Bowl MVPs |
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Oakland's defense, anchored by defensive tackle John Matuszak, was punishing. Defensive
back Lester Hayes led the league in interceptions (13) and interception
return yards (273). The Raiders also had 2 great linebackers: future hall of famer
Ted Hendricks (3 interceptions) and Pro Bowler Rod Martin. |
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Jim Plunkett passed for three touchdowns, including an 80-yard strike to Kenny King,
as the Raiders became the first wild-card team to win the Super Bowl. Plunkett's touchdown bomb to King – the longest play in Super Bowl history – gave Oakland a decisive 14-0 lead with nine seconds left in the first period. Linebacker Rod Martin had set up Oakland's first touchdown, a 2-yard reception by Cliff Branch, with a 17-yard interception return to the Eagles' 30-yard line. The Eagles never recovered from that early deficit, managing only Tony Franklin's field goal (30 yards) and an 8-yard touchdown pass from Ron Jaworski to Keith Krepfle. Plunkett, who became a starter in the sixth game of the season, completed 13 of 21 for 261 yards and was named the game's most valuable player. Oakland won 9 of 11 games with Plunkett starting, but that was good enough only for second place in the AFC West, although they tied division winner San Diego with an 11-5 record. The Raiders, who had previously won Super Bowl XI over Minnesota, had to win three playoff games to get to the championship game. Oakland defeated Houston 27-7 at home followed by road victories over Cleveland (14-12) and San Diego (34-27). Oakland's Mark van Eeghen was the game's leading rusher with 75 yards on 18 carries. Philadelphia's Wilbert Montgomery led all receivers with six receptions for 91 yards. Branch had five for 67 and Harold Carmichael of Philadelphia five for 83. Martin finished the game with 3 interceptions, a Super Bowl record. |
GAME RECAP |
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Raiders 14
0 10 3 27 Eagles 0 3 0 7 10 |
BOX SCORE |
1 2 3
4 Total |
Date January 25, 1981 Stadium Louisiana Superdome City New Orleans, Louisiana MVP Jim Plunkett, Quarterback Favorite Eagles by 3 National anthem Helen O'Connell Coin toss Marie Lombardi Referee Ben Dreith Halftime show Jim Skinner Productions presents "Mardi Gras Festival" Attendance 76,135 TV in the United States Network NBC Announcers Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen Nielsen Ratings 44.4 Market share 63 Cost of 30-second commercial US$324,000 |
Super Bowl 15 Information |
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Super Bowl Champs |
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Future Super Bowl Locations |
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Super Bowl XLII, Glendale, Ariz. Feb. 3, 2008 Super Bowl XLIII, Tampa, Fla. Feb. 1, 2009 Super Bowl XLIV, South Florida TBA, 2010 Super Bowl XLV, North Texas TBA, 2011 |
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