Raiders and Cowboys Notes

Raiders will be the visiting team in the annual Thanksgiving Day tilt at Dallas vs the Cowboys.

This will be the first time that the Raiders will be in that game. While the Raiders are perceived to win about six games and Dallas about nine, there is no diminishing these two teams’ national appeal.

The Cowboys, whom I believe first played on Thanksgiving in 1966, certainly had their first big season in 1966. From 1966-1983, the Cowboys made the playoffs an incredible 17 of 18 times. In none of those seasons, were there even 5 teams per conference or league making the post season, no less the six from each conference that qualify today.

The Raiders began their great run a year later in 1967, going to the second Super Bowl. In their rout win vs the Houston Oilers (now the Tennessee Titans) in the AFL Title game, the Raiders had a touchdown off a faked field goal attempt, with veteran Dave Kocourek scoring.

From 1967-1985, the Raiders made the playoffs 14 of 18 seasons with the same tougher qualification standards than are in place today.

Though in the playoffs together 13 times during those 20 seasons (1966-1985), the two teams never met in the Super Bowl.

The Raiders have won three Super Bowls but their last was in the season that began 30 years ago.

The Cowboys have won 5 Super Bowls but none since the 1995 season. This year, who knows? It’s nice to reflect on each team’s past glory and look forward to their Thanksgiving Day clash.

Oakland vs Houston 1967