Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Super Raiders: Glancing back through the new Vegas team’s championship history

Al Davis

Greg Cava / Special to the Sun

Raiders owner Al Davis with the Super Bowl trophy. Davis, who won three Super Bowl titles during his half century in professional football, died Saturday at his home in Oakland at age 82. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed.

Only 10 NFL franchises have reached the Super Bowl five times or more, and the soon-to-be-local Raiders are on that exclusive list. They’re also one of nine franchises to have captured three or more Super Bowl trophies, having gone 3-2 in the NFL’s championship game.

Here’s a rundown on the Raiders’ five Super Bowl appearances and how they fared in each.

Super Bowl 2 (January 14, 1968; Miami) The Raiders went 13-1 to win the AFL behind a career year from quarterback Daryle Lamonica, but were set up to fail against coach Vince Lombardi’s imposing Green Bay Packers. The Packers rolled to a 33-14 victory.

Super Bowl 11 (January 9, 1977; Pasadena, California) Having just missed the Super Bowl with losses in the AFC Championship Game the three previous years, the Raiders weren’t going to let their long-awaited chance at gold slip away. They pounded the Minnesota Vikings 32-14 behind big games from future Hall of Famers Fred Biletnikoff, who had four catches for 79 yards, and Willie Brown, who returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown.

Super Bowl 15 (January 25, 1981; New Orleans) The Raiders came in as 3-point underdogs to the Philadelphia Eagles but scored touchdowns on two of their first three drives to continue a hot streak that saw them win five straight games heading into the Super Bowl. Quarterback Jim Plunkett threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns as part of the Raiders’ 27-10 victory.

Super Bowl 18 (January 22, 1984; Tampa, Florida) The Raiders again came in as 3-point underdogs to the NFC champions, the Washington Redskins this time around, and again clobbered their opponent. Known as “Black Sunday” for the color of the Raiders’ jerseys—they had worn white for the two previous Super Bowl wins—the game saw Marcus Allen explode for 191 yards and two touchdowns to help his team beat the Redskins 38-9.

Super Bowl 37 (January 26, 2003; San Diego) Then-former coach Jon Gruden defeated the Raiders in their fifth Super Bowl appearance, leading the Buccaneers to a 48-21 victory 11 months after owner Al Davis traded him away. The Raiders haven’t won a playoff game—and have only advanced to the postseason once—since.

This story appeared in Las Vegas Weekly.