1970 NFL Season Opener vs Oakland Raiders

Lore & Background

The Raiders entered the 1970 season as part of the newly merged NFL, having moved from the AFL. Under Madden, the team was building a reputation for tough play, with players like Jim Otto, Gene Upshaw, and Art Shell on the offensive line.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Coliseum was thick with the humidity of an early September evening and the electric tension of a new era. Fans in red and gold sat across from those in silver and black, all waiting to see if the Chiefs' Super Bowl pedigree could hold up against Oakland's relentless physicality. In the huddle, Len Dawson adjusted his helmet, looking out at a defense that had already proven it could stop anyone. The whistle blew, breaking the silence, and the first play of the merged league era began not with a handshake, but with a collision that echoed through the history books.

Reader's Guide

The game marked the first meeting between the Chiefs and Raiders after the AFL–NFL merger. The Raiders' offense, led by Lamonica, was known for its vertical passing game, a strategy implemented by Al Davis.

Did You Know?

• Daryle Lamonica was the Raiders' starting quarterback in 1970, not Ken Stabler.
• John Madden became the Raiders' head coach in 1969, not in the 1960s; John Rauch was the head coach for most of the 1960s.
• The Raiders' team colors were changed to silver and black by Al Davis in 1963.