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Super Bowl XV
January 25, 1981
Superdome - New Orleans, LA
Final Score - Raiders 27 - Eagles 10 |
In New Orleans, fans, media and everyone else who was there for Super Bowl XV, were greeted by the motto of the Raiders Organization... "COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE." This motto and the accompanying Raider logo were emblazoned on giant billboards along highways and streets, on bus stops benches and on the sides of more than 100 city buses. These all sent one singular message to the home of the NFC New Orleans Saints... the AFC Champion Oakland Raiders were in town!
These signs were part of Raiders Owner-General Partner Al Davis' effort to create a positive environment for his athletes. The NFC Champion Philadelphia Eagles were favored by 3 1/2 points in this World Championship Game. The Eagles after all, had defeated the Raiders 10-7 in Philadelphia just eight weeks earlier. They recorded an embarrassing eight quarterback sacks, pounding Jim Plunkett from kickoff to game's end.
The role of underdog sat well with the Raiders. They started the 1980 season with a 2-3-0 record, then losing starting quarterback Dan Pastorini with a broken leg. Having new starters everywhere on offense, defense and special teams; having been returned to Oakland in late March by court order after moving the franchise to Los Angeles at the start of the month; having made it all the way to the Super Bowl as a "wild card" team that had to win playoff and conference championship games on the road... this was a team that had not only survived adversity; this was a team that had learned to thrive on adversity.
These adversities, these distractions were never allowed to become distractions. The main purpose of the Raiders was to win, and everything else was secondary. The team lived and breathed football and their only thought was winning. And win they did!
After the 2-3-0 start, the 1980 Raiders won the next 12 of their 14 games to end up in New Orleans in January for Super Bowl XV. There were the three post-season wins; 27-7 over the Houston Oilers in the wild card game in the Oakland Coliseum. Then there was the 14-12 victory over the Browns in Cleveland Stadium and the 34-27 win in the AFC Championship Game in San Diego.
The Eagles had won the NFC East with a 12-4-0 record. Then, they beat Minnesota 31-16 in the NFC Playoff and the Dallas Cowboys 20-7 in the NFC Championship Game. Head Coach Dick Vermeil had his Eagle team primed and ready to represent their Conference in Super Bowl XV.
Just as it happened four years earlier, when the Raiders dominated the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI, this World Championship would be a one-sided triumph for the Oakland Raiders. Quarterback Jim Plunkett would be voted Most Valuable Player in this Super Bowl.
Dressed in their white jerseys, silver pants and silver and black helmets with the stark pirate logo on each side, these combat ready warriors quickly established their superiority. On the third play of the game, Raider right side linebacker Rod Martin cut in front of Ron Jaworski's pass on the Eagles 47, returning it the 30.
With only a few plays and few minutes, the eager Raider offense capitalized on the gift of their defense. On third-and-goal from the Philadelphia two-yard line, Jim Plunkett set up, looking for wide receiver Bob Chandler. Chandler was covered. When Plunkett started moving forward threatening to run, an Eagles linebacker responded, leaving a hook spot unguarded. Secondary receiver Cliff Branch quickly filled that spot. Plunkett fired, and Branch clutched the game's first score to his chest. The extra point was drilled home by Chris Bahr, putting the Silver and Black ahead 7-0.
Defensive game plans for the Raiders were designed to control Eagles top rusher Wilbert Montgomery. If Montgomery could be controlled, this would force Philadelphia to pass. Design, through practice and intensity, became execution. Montgomery was limited to 2.8 yards per carry on 16 runs. Jaworski had to go airborne, setting a Super Bowl record by passing 38 times.
Philadelphia lost one scoring opportunity when Jawarski threw a long touchdown pass to receiver Rodney Parker. It was nullified by an obvious illegal motion violation. Subsequently, the Eagles punted. The Raiders took over on the 14-yard line, deep in their own territory. Two plays later, Kenny King caught a pass from Plunkett on the 40, going all the way for the touchdown.
Running back Kenny King had set a Super Bowl record. He had been acquired that year from the Houston Oilers. The play covered 80 yards, and the Raiders went ahead, 14-0.
The Eagles only earned two more first downs in the opening quarter. However, using passes to backs and tight ends, they were able to move the ball down to the Raider 13-yard line in an early second-period drive. Defensive tackle Dave Pear and rookie linebacker Matt Millen made big plays, forcing the Eagles to settle for a 30-yard field goal. They now trailed the Raiders 14-3.
Midway through the second quarter, the Raiders missed a long field goal try. Getting off their best march of the half, the Eagles started at their own 27-yard line and drove to the Raider 11. Rising to the challenge was the big Silver and Black defense. It was three plays later and the Eagles were still on the 11. Reaching up, Ted Hendricks swatted away a 28-yard field goal attempt. This preserved the 14-3 halftime lead for Oakland.
Following the Raider philosophy of pressure football, not percentage football, Tom Flores had his offense firing away right from the start of the third quarter. Plunkett hit Kenny King for 13 along the right sideline. Then he found Chandler crossing diagonally from right to left for 32 more yards. One play later, behind an unbroken wall set by pass protectors Art Shell, Gene Upshaw, Dave Dalby, Mickey Marvin and Henry Lawrence, Jim Plunkett was able to go deep down the left side. Waiting there was Cliff Branch. He out-positioned and out-leaped Eagles cornerback Roynell Young for a spectacular touchdown. This put the Raiders way out in front, 21-3.
Chris Bahr added a pair of field goals, a 46-yard kick in the third quarter and a 35-yard kick in the final period. Finally, the Eagles found the end zone early in the fourth quarter. Rod Martin got his second and third pass interceptions. Defensive end Willie Jones recovered a fumble, and safety Burgess Owens was in on nine tackles. Safety Mike Davis knocked down three passes. Raider pass protection was near perfect. Mark van Eeghan ran for 80 yards total. Cliff Branch caught five passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Chandler caught four for 77 yards and Kenny King two for 93 yards and one touchdown. Jim Plunkett completed 13 of 21 for 261 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. The Raiders forced four turnovers while committing absolutely none.
In the locker room after their victory, Tom Flores expressed his pride in his team, and acknowledged that they were the best this Super Bowl Sunday.
The final word of the season belonged to the boss... Al Davis, as he accepted the Super Bowl Trophy from NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle.
"...You know when you look back on the glory of the Oakland Raiders, this was our finest hour... to Tom Flores, the coaches and the great athletes, you were magnificent out there.
...Take pride and be proud. Your commitment to excellence and your will to win will endure forever. You were magnificent!"
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