The 1968 Oakland Raiders season was the Raiders' ninth season in both Oakland and the American Football League. It saw the team try to improve upon its 13–1 record from 1967. They ultimately finished one game short of matching that year's result; their 12–2 finish still ensured that they would lead the league in wins for a second consecutive year. Led by third-year head coach John Rauch, they tied with Kansas City for the division title, which was settled by an unscheduled tiebreaker playoff, won 41–6 by the Raiders in Oakland.
The season featured a growing rivalry between the Raiders and the New York Jets, led by fourth-year superstar quarterback Joe Namath. The teams met twice in 1968: the first was on November 17 in Oakland, which saw the Raiders complete a stunning fourth-quarter comeback over the Jets, scoring two touchdowns in nine seconds. Known today as the Heidi Game, it remains one of the most famous in AFL/NFL history. They paired up six weeks later in the AFL Championship Game in New York, where Namath's Jets emerged victorious in a 27–23 upset on December 29. Two weeks later, the Jets upset the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.
The 1968 season is also notable for a few changes to the team including the additions of George Atkinson, Art Shell, and Ken Stabler. All three won a championship with the Raiders eight years later in Super Bowl XI. Additionally, Shell in 1989, and Stabler in 2016, were both inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Offseason
NFL/AFL draft
Personnel Staff / Coaches
Roster
Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 Bye 2 September 15 at Buffalo Bills W 48–6 1–0 War Memorial Stadium 43,057 Recap 3 at Miami Dolphins W 47–21 2–0 Miami Orange Bowl 30,021 Recap 4 September 29 at Houston Oilers W 24–15 3–0 Houston Astrodome 46,098 Recap 5 October 6 Boston Patriots W 41–10 4–0 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 44,253 Recap 6 October 13 San Diego Chargers L 14–23 4–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,257 Recap 7 October 20 at Kansas City Chiefs L 10–24 4–2 Municipal Stadium 50,015 Recap 8 October 27 Cincinnati Bengals W 31–10 5–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 37,083 Recap 9 November 3 Kansas City Chiefs W 38–21 6–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,357 Recap 10 November 10 at Denver Broncos W 43–7 7–2 Mile High Stadium 50,002 Recap 11 November 17 New York Jets W 43–32 8–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,118 Recap 12 November 24 at Cincinnati Bengals W 34–0 9–2 Nippert Stadium 27,116 Recap 13 November 28 Buffalo Bills W 13–10 10–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 39,883 Recap 14 December 8 Denver Broncos W 33–27 11–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 47,754 Recap 15 December 15 at San Diego Chargers W 34–27 12–2 San Diego Stadium 40,698 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Saturday night (September 21), Thursday (November 28: Thanksgiving)
Postseason
Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Recap Divisional December 22 Kansas City Chiefs W 41–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,357 Recap AFL Championship December 29 at New York Jets L 23–27 Shea Stadium 62,627 Recap
Standings
Game summaries Week 11 vs. Jets
Week 12 vs. Bills
References
External links 1968 Oakland Raiders at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1968 Oakland Raiders at jt-sw.com 1968 Oakland Raiders at ProFootballArchives.com