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Oakland Raiders: A definitive case for Jim Plunkett’s enshrinement in Canton

By Kevin Saito

21 Dec 1986: Quarterback Jim Plunkett of the Los Angeles Raiders dropping back during game against the Indianapolis Colts at the Los Angeles Memorial Colesium in Los Angeles, California. The Colts won the games 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Al
21 Dec 1986: Quarterback Jim Plunkett of the Los Angeles Raiders dropping back during game against the Indianapolis Colts at the Los Angeles Memorial Colesium in Los Angeles, California. The Colts won the games 30-24. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Al /
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Oakland Raiders
LOS ANGELES – SEPTEMBER 28: Quarterback Jim Plunkett #16 of the Los Angeles Raiders takes a break from the action during the game against the San Diego Chargers at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 28, 1986 in Los Angeles, California. The Raiders won 17-13. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images) /

Argument #5: Namath Was Better In Crunch Time

Namath’s legendary status and likely, what helped pave his road to Canton was him guaranteeing a win in Super Bowl III and then delivering on that promise with a victory over the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in what’s still considered one of the NFL’s greatest upsets of all time.

That guaranteed win has led to a belief that Namath was somehow a crunch time god who always delivered in the clutch. It’s a belief that has little actual basis in fact.

Following that Super Bowl win in 1968, Namath had exactly three winning seasons as a starting quarterback. Three. There was a 10-4 record the following year, a 2-1 record in 1971, and a 7-6 record in 1972.

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It also seems relevant to point out that Namath’s teams did not make the playoffs after 1969 — the season after the Super Bowl win. His career record in the postseason sits at a paltry 2-1.

And it seems fair to point out that his career postseason numbers are less than stellar — a 43 percent completion percentage for 636 yards to go along with three touchdowns and four interceptions.

Those numbers aren’t exactly the stuff of a legend. But hey, they were good enough to get him into the Hall, right?

Compare Namath’s numbers with those of Plunkett in the postseason. First of all, Plunkett not only has two Super Bowl titles, his postseason mark as a starter is 8-2.

He not only got to the playoffs as a starter more often, but he also won more too. In the playoffs, Plunkett completed 60 percent of his passes for 2,293 yards with 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

So, who was better in crunch time again?

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