OCTOBER 27, 1974 OAKLAND RAIDERS 35, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 24 CLASSIC COMEBACKS
Offensive linemen Gene Upshaw (63), Art Shell (78) and Henry Lawrence (70) await a chance to return to action.
As professional sports’ winningest team over a four-decade span, the Raiders are a prime target for every opponent. Beating the big, bad Silver and Black is a special goal for other NFL organizations. Coaches, players, general managers and owners alike put a real premium on doing well against the Raiders. However, some Raider rivals are even more intense than others - the San Francisco 49ers, for instance. Geography, of course, has played a major role in developing the special interest in this rivalry - locally and nationally. In 1974, the NFL schedule-makers had the Raiders crossing the Bay Bridge from Oakland to San Francisco’s Candlestick Park in late October. It would be the weekend before Halloween, but there would be no fun and games in this one. The Raiders went into the game with a 5-1-0 record, with the only loss being by one point in the season’s opener in Buffalo. This would also be the fifth game in seven weeks on the road for the Raiders due to the Major League Baseball Oakland A’s playoff involvement. The 49ers entered this game on a “must-win” situation. After starting strong with two wins, the Niners lost four games in a row and playoff hopes were fading fast. Rookie quarterback Tom Owen and the 49ers would go against the reshuffled Raider lineup on offense and defense. Injuries to halfback Clarence Davis, wide receiver Mike Siani, safety Jack Tatum and defensive linemen Tony Cline and Kelvin Korver would force Raider head coach John Madden to go to his bench.
But managing general partner Al Davis had stocked that bench wisely and well, and capable reserves like veterans Jimmy Warren and Pete Banaszak and youngsters like Dave Casper, Mark van Eeghen, Cliff Branch and Morris Bradshaw and others, would have to rise to the challenge. It was a cloudy, cool afternoon but the 49ers opened hot, driving 80 yards after the opening kickoff to go ahead 7-0 on a five-yard pass from Tom Owen to running back Larry Schreiber. A 30-yard kickoff runback by Pete Banaszak allowed the Raiders to open offensive action at midfield. It took only four plays for Kenny Stabler to move the explosive Raiders to the end zone, with fullback Marv Hubbard bursting off right tackle for the final 17 yards to tie the score at seven all. The first quarter ended and the second began with the 49ers moving the ball well. A 37-yard field goal then put the San Francisco 49ers ahead, 10-7. The Raiders, with at least as many supporters in the sold-out stadium as had the home team 49ers, fired right back. Just four downs later a play that would bring fear to the hearts of defenders for a full decade enfolded as Kenny Stabler found a flying Cliff Branch open deep and combined with the rookie wide recover for 64 yards and the go-ahead touchdown. Raiders 14, 49ers 10. The first half ended with the visiting Raiders up by four. Continued on page 147
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