Chiefs at Raiders-Detail on 1969 Title

[LeonardRachiele]

Despite the 10 point spread this game was close until the Raiders Daryle Lamonica threw three interceptions in the last quarter. Two key items:

–The Chiefs sacked Lamonica four times costing the Raiders 37 yards. Oakland got just one sack for eight yards.
–George Blanda missed three field goals. The next year would be his miracle season.

–Len Dawson completed seven of 17 passes for 129 yards. Wendell Hays and Robert Holmes scored touchdowns on short runs. One play early in the second period was the key to the game. The Chiefs were trailing 7 to 0 and had the ball just inside their five yard line. If the Raiders held, Jarrell Wilson would have punted inside the KC End Zone. Oakland might have had good field position. Instead Dawson completed a 35 yard pass to Otis Taylor moving the Chiefs to the 40 yard line. For the day, Taylor caugh three passes for 62 yards

–Charlie Simth had a great day for the Raiders catching eight passes for 86 yards. Daryle Lamonica completed 15 of 39 passes for 168 yards. Daryle appeared snake bit throwing those three interceptions in the fourth quarter deep in the Chiefs’ territory. Blanda replaced DL briefly in the third quarter completing two of six passes for 24 yards and an interception. Details on interceptions are as follows:

Emmitt Thomas caught two passes returning them 69 yards; Jim Kearney and Jim Marsalas each had one interception but did not advance the ball. While these interceptions real hurt Oakland, Raiders recovered four fumbles. The turnovers may have cancelled out.

The four sacks, three missed fields, and Lamonica caving in for the Raiders gave the Chiefs their second Super Bowl. To sum up, the Raiders were 12-1-1 but the 11-3 Chiefs won when it counted the most.

[CraigRye]

On the interceptions.

Emmitt Thomas' first interception was in the end zone in the third quarter and he returned it to the KC 6 yard line.

The other three interceptions were all in the fourth quarter. With Thomas returning his second for 62 yards. Marsalis returned his interception 23 yards and Kearney returned his for 17 yards.

[RRMarshall]

Everyone should be aware that Raiders QB Darryl Lamonica smashed his hand on KC DE Aaron Brown's helmet in the 3rd quarter. After coming out for a series in favor of George Blanda he returned with his throwing hand quite swollen and then preceded to toss the 3 picks. He also got hurt the following year in the 1970 AFC Title Game in Baltimore when Colts DE Bubba Smith bounced him off the Memorial Stadium infield dirt. The Mad Bomber didn't seem to have a lot of luck going for him in the big games...

[SixtiesFan]

Everyone should be aware that Raiders QB Darryl Lamonica smashed his hand on KC DE Aaron Brown's helmet in the 3rd quarter. After coming out for a series in favor of George Blanda he returned with his throwing hand quite swollen and then preceded to toss the 3 picks. He also got hurt the following year in the 1970 AFC Title Game in Baltimore when Colts DE Bubba Smith bounced him off the Memorial Stadium infield dirt. The Mad Bomber didn't seem to have a lot of luck going for him in the big games...

The columnist Glenn Dickey once wrote that Lamonica could hit a receiver running downfield 50 yards away in stride but would miss a flare pass a few yards away. The latter happened in the last minutes of the 1968 AFL Championship game.

[Brian wolf]

In my view, I think Madden started to lose some confidence in Lamonica after that loss in Baltimore. The next year, the Raiders failed to make the playoffs, with Blanda talking up Stabler, who started the opener in 1972. Madden didnt make the switch permanent till 1973, when Davis finally relented. He always preferred the deep pass to a more ball controlled offense.

[LeonardRachiele]

He was injury prone but it was more from his style of play. Those long bombs made him wide open to rushes from the defensive lineman.. Had he tried some short or screen passes, Lamonica could have been an even better passer and has fewer exits from the game.

[JohnR]

In my view, I think Madden started to lose some confidence in Lamonica after that loss in Baltimore. The next year, the Raiders failed to make the playoffs, with Blanda talking up Stabler, who started the opener in 1972. Madden didnt make the switch permanent till 1973, when Davis finally relented. He always preferred the deep pass to a more ball controlled offense.

In that critical 1971 wk 13 game in KC Madden pulled Lamonica and inserted Blanda. He played fairly well and had them ahead by 1, but failed FG attempts and the big PI call on Jimmy Warren ended their season. Stabler won the starting nod in '72 but that was short lived. Daryle won the job back and had a good year. Madden did a lot of QB juggling from '70-'73. I think I read somewhere that Daryle had contracted the flu in the days before the '72 Steeler playoff? Anyone else have any recollection of that?

[JohnH19]

In the 1972 season opener against the Steelers, Madden started Stabler, who threw three early interceptions, and then went to Blanda before finally turning to Lamonica. The Mad Bomber lived up to his nickname, going 8 of 10 for 172 yards, and led the Raiders to three 4th quarter TD’s, two of them on bombs, and was the starter again until he finally lost the job to Stabler during the third game of the 1973 season.

I have always wondered why Madden inserted Blanda rather than Lamonica when he pulled Stabler.