The 1976 Oakland Raiders

In 1976, the Oakland Raiders reached the summit of professional football by defeating the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI. It was the culmination of more than a decade of excellence under the leadership of Raiders owner/coach, Al Davis. The 1976 Raiders suffered some early setbacks, losing several defensive linemen to injury. Head coach John Madden found a quick solution, dropping his 4-3 scheme in favor of a 3-4. Offensively, the Raiders had an embarrassment of riches. Four starters -- receiver Fred Biletnikoff, tight end Dave Casper, and the left side of the line, guard Gene Upshaw and tackle Art Shell, are in the Hall of Fame, while quarterback Ken Stabler, and wide receiver Cliff Branch were among the finest at their position. The regular season felt like a formality, as Oakland tied a club record with 13 wins. In the playoffs, Oakland squeaked past New England and stormed past the archrival Pittsburgh Steelers. The Raiders' performance in Super Bowl XI, including a breathtaking interception return by Hall of Fame cornerback Willie Brown, places them among the greatest teams of all time.