Oakland Raiders: 30 Iconic Moments In Franchise History

Nov 15, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders fans cheer before the start of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

13. November 17, 1968 – The Heidi Bowl

It was the greatest victory that nobody saw – at least, nobody that wasn’t actually at the stadium Ironically, the game was voted the Tenth Most Memorable NFL Game of the Century.

With two of the league’s marquee teams in the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders doing battle, it was must-see TV for the football loving audience. But with 65 second remaining and the Jets holding a 32-29 lead, NBC, who was televising the game, had scheduled the movie Heidi to air at seven p.m. The network went to a commercial and the game did not come back.

What the television viewing audience didn’t see was Raiders quarterback Daryle Lamonica throw a 43 yard touchdown strike to Charlie Smith giving the Raiders a 36-32 lead. Joe Namath and the Jets still had 42 seconds to drive the field, but they never got off the sideline – New York kick returner Earl Christy fumbled the kickoff and Raiders special teamer Preston Ridlehuber scooped it up and ran it into the endzone to give the Raiders a 43-32 lead and the win.

NBC, as you can imagine, got tons of letters and phone calls from angry football fans who didn’t see either touchdown and instead of watching one of the most memorable games in league history, were instead, watching a little girl in pigtails singing her heart out.

Next: December 8, 1963