Thoughts on 1969 Raiders-Chiefs title game
Posted: Wed Apr 07, 2021 12:53 pm
*Chiefs had a run where they lost 7 of 8 to the Raiders. Comparing SB I Chiefs to the SB II Raiders, Willie Wood said the Chiefs were the most talented team the Packers ever faced. Willie Davis said the Packers were lucky to win SB I. Bart Starr said he was not concerned with the Raiders defense, because they didn't have any standout players like the Chiefs did the previous year in Buchanan, Bell, Holub & Johnny Robinson. So...did the Chiefs underachieve in the late 60's-early 70's with so much talent? Should they have at least broke even with the Raiders in head-to-head matchups?
*The regular season records of the 1967-69 Raiders were 13-1, 12-2, 12-1-1...4 losses in 3 years. Incredible achievement...did the Raiders underachieve in the postseason during that span?
*It was said that Bobby Bell could have played any position during his time. What other players would that be true of? Bronko Nagurski? I think the size disparity of the linemen to the other positions in the modern NFL eliminates most of those players.
*The Raiders have benefited by questionable calls in big games, but there were two terrible calls that lead to KC's second TD. The Otis Taylor catch had Otis with zero feet inbounds and bobbling the ball, but the ref kind of got turned around and wouldn't have been able to get a clear view of the play. There was a subsequent pass interference on Nemiah Wilson that was IMO an even worse call...the ref saw the play the whole way and threw a flag on Wilson when he was playing the ball and nudged shoulder pads with Otis Taylor. I'm not sure that KC would have scored a TD without that PI call.
*The end of the title game was one of the most bizarre. The Chiefs managed to turn the ball over 3 straight times deep in their own territory, and the Raiders 'capitalized' on this by throwing 2 INTs and having a 4th down sack. Very weird that the Raiders kept trying to throw into the end zone.
*The regular season records of the 1967-69 Raiders were 13-1, 12-2, 12-1-1...4 losses in 3 years. Incredible achievement...did the Raiders underachieve in the postseason during that span?
*It was said that Bobby Bell could have played any position during his time. What other players would that be true of? Bronko Nagurski? I think the size disparity of the linemen to the other positions in the modern NFL eliminates most of those players.
*The Raiders have benefited by questionable calls in big games, but there were two terrible calls that lead to KC's second TD. The Otis Taylor catch had Otis with zero feet inbounds and bobbling the ball, but the ref kind of got turned around and wouldn't have been able to get a clear view of the play. There was a subsequent pass interference on Nemiah Wilson that was IMO an even worse call...the ref saw the play the whole way and threw a flag on Wilson when he was playing the ball and nudged shoulder pads with Otis Taylor. I'm not sure that KC would have scored a TD without that PI call.
*The end of the title game was one of the most bizarre. The Chiefs managed to turn the ball over 3 straight times deep in their own territory, and the Raiders 'capitalized' on this by throwing 2 INTs and having a 4th down sack. Very weird that the Raiders kept trying to throw into the end zone.