2004 Oakland Raiders

The once-mighty Oakland Raiders were one of the NFL's four punching bags in 2003, with a 4-12 record to show for all their work. 2004 brings a new coach, Norv Turner, a new quarterback, former New York Giant Kerry Collins, and renewed hopes for vast improvement. Given the long-term excitement that the Raiders have generated over the years, it's time to get tickets, before they are all gone.

The Raiders were professional football's most consistent team from the mid-1960s through the mid-1980s, reaching the playoffs 15 times and earning four NFL or American Football League (AFL) titles in 19 seasons. As AFL champions, they played in the second Super Bowl, in 1968, and lost to the Green Bay Packers. During John Madden's ten years as head coach (1969-1978), Oakland played in seven league or conference championship games and won one Super Bowl, in 1977. From 1980 to 1993 the team reached the postseason eight times, winning the Super Bowl in 1981 and 1984. The Raiders are the only team that appeared in at least one Super Bowl each decade during the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

The Raiders joined the AFL as a charter member in 1960. Al Davis, a former assistant coach for the San Diego Chargers, was hired as head coach and general manager in 1963. He reorganized the Raiders, and the team improved to a 10-4 win-loss record. Four years later, the club captured the 1967 AFL title under head coach John Rauch. Quarterback Daryle Lamonica won the first of his two passing titles as Oakland advanced to the Super Bowl to face the NFL-champion Green Bay Packers. Green Bay won 33-14, but the Raiders had established themselves as an AFL power.

Oakland joined the NFL in 1970 when the NFL and AFL completed their merger. The team promptly won the 1970 Western Division crown and advanced to the AFC Championship Game, where they lost to the Baltimore Colts. Under Madden the Raiders gained a reputation as one of the most intimidating teams in professional sports. The Raiders lost three consecutive AFC Championship Games from 1973 to 1975 before winning the game in 1976. In the subsequent Super Bowl, the Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 32-14.

Madden left the Raiders after the 1978 season and was replaced by Tom Flores, who had been the team's first quarterback. In Flores's nine seasons as head coach he led the club to five postseason appearances and two Super Bowl championships.

With hopes of a better-equipped stadium and more fan support, the Raiders franchise moved to Los Angeles, California, following the 1981 season. At its new home in the Los Angeles Coliseum, the team put together a 12-4 record in 1983 and returned to the Super Bowl.

Following the 1994 season the Raiders moved back to Oakland, as fan support in Los Angeles reached an all-time low and disagreements over renovations of the Los Angeles Coliseum continued between the city and owner Al Davis. After the 13-year hiatus, the Oakland City Council welcomed the team back with a remodeled, expanded stadium and helped the franchise pay for relocation expenses. Despite the move, the club remained near the bottom of the division through the mid- and late 1990s.