3 best Raiders teams in history to not win the Super Bowl

1974

The 1970s is the era you think about when it comes to the Oakland Raiders as many of the franchise’s best teams and players came from that era.

However, the 70s is also perhaps the most talent-rich era in league history, so the Raiders had to contend with other historic teams of the era like the Miami Dolphins and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Raiders made the playoffs seven times in the era, including five straight AFC championship from ’73 to ’77. And from that core of contending teams, it’s the 1974 team that was the best not to win.

Ken Stabler and the offense may have been at their apex in ’74 as they lead the league in points and passing touchdowns while also being third in rushing yards. And while the defense wasn’t the best of the decade, the team overall finished the season 12-2. What set this team apart is the fact that they ended the Miami Dolphins quest for a third straight Superbowl in the historic “Sea of Hands” game.

Beating such a fantastic team should have fueled Oakland, but instead, it may have led to a sense of complacency or emotional drain. The pandemonium after the game when you re-watched resembled a team that was convinced they had slain the only real opponent standing in their way.

That ended up not being the case, as the Pittsburgh Steelers came into the Oakland Coliseum and beat the Raiders. Pittsburgh scored 21 points in the fourth quarter en route to a 24-13 win, and they would go on to win the first of their four Super Bowl.

There is no particular order with this list, but this would probably be my vote for the best of the three teams consider the level of competition they faced.

You never know how things would have turned out, but if the Raiders win that AFC championship game, perhaps it is them, that becomes the defining dynasty of the 70s and win multiple Super Bowls.