10 best seasons in Raiders franchise history
By John Buhler
7. 1975: 11-3 (Lost in AFC Championship Game to Pittsburgh Steelers)
1975 was another great, but frustrating year for the Raiders. Oakland would go 11-3 and win the AFC West for the fourth straight year. Making the AFC Playoffs was a common theme for head coach John Madden, but under delivering in them was an entity unto itself.
Oakland won with defense this season, as the Raiders allowed a ridiculously low 37.2 opponent quarterback rating. Frankly, the opposition was better off just spiking the football into the turf on every possession. This remains the second-lowest opponent QBR in NFL history.
The Raiders would upset the Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC Divisional Round, 31-28. Getting off to a hot start was the key to victory for the Silver and Black in that playoff game. However, they would run into the same AFC nemesis that loved to wreck their dreams in those dreaded Pittsburgh Steelers.
Oakland was held scoreless through three quarters at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. While the Silver and Black put up 10 points in the fourth quarter, it was not enough to reach the Super Bowl. Pittsburgh would advance over the Raiders, 17-10.
While the Steelers would win Super Bowl X over the Dallas Cowboys in the Orange Bowl, this AFC Championship Game loss would eventually spark the Raiders to win Super Bowl XI over the Minnesota Vikings the next season.