Team Spirit author Mark Stewart talks about the OVERTIME web page.

Mark picks his favorite Raiders.

What’s new with the Raiders? That’s what this page is all about.

The Team Spirit OVERTIME website begins where the Team Spirit books end.

That’s because football never stands still … And I can never squeeze everything I want into 48 pages!

Scroll down for team updates, player profiles, and stats you won’t find in the book. Click on the videos to the left to hear me talk about Team Spirit OVERTIME as well as my favorite players. And take a look below at some of the Raiders collectibles I have in my home—pretty cool, right?

Enjoy this site, check back whenever you like, and contact me with any questions or comments.

Updates

2022 Season

2022 Season Roundup: A 2–7 start doomed the Raiders to a losing season even though Josh Jacobs led the NFL with 1,653 rushing yards. The team looked great at times, but was unable to win close games. Indeed, nine of the Raiders’ 11 losses came in games decided by 7 points or less. Derek Carr had plenty of weapons on offense, with Jacobs, Davante Adams, and kicker Daniel Carson enjoying All-Pro seasons. But with the exception of sack specialist Maxx Crosby, the Las Vegas defense simply did not get the job done.

2022 Season Preview: Quarterback Derek Carr is a happy man heading into 2022, thanks to the trade for Davante Adams. Adams is not only one of the best pass-catchers in the NFL, he and Carr were college teammates. On defense, newcomer Chandler Jones will be paired with Maxx Crosby to give Las Vegas a fearsome pass rush. As one of four good teams in the AFC West, the Raiders will need to block, tackle, and pass-defend week-in and week-out in order to make a return trip to the playoffs.

February 02, 2022: Maxx Crosby was named Defensive MVP of the Pro Bowl. The AFC beat the NFC, 41–35.

January 09, 2022: Daniel Carson booted an overtime field goal against the Chargers to send the Raiders into the playoffs. It was his fifth “walk-off” field goal of the season.

2021 Season

2021 Season Roundup: The Las Vegas Raiders made it to the playoffs thanks to four overtime wins, including one in their first and last games. Derek Carr threw for almost 5,000 yards and Hunter Renfrow reeled in more than 100 passes to help the team go 10–7—even though the Raiders gave up 65 more points than they scored! Maxx Crosby, Yannick Ngakoue, and Denzel Perryman were the standouts on defense. Las Vegas kept their playoff game with the Bengals close but could not put the ball in the end zone in the fourth quarter and lost 26–19.

September 30, 2021: Quarterback Derek Carr was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. He threw for 6 TDs and 1,203 yards in three games, including 435 on opening night against the Ravens.

2021 Season Preview: Is this the year that Raiders fans see coach Jon Gruden catapult his team into the playoffs? The Raiders seem to have a new look every year, so it is hard to tell whether they will win 10 games or lose 10 games in the NFL’s new 17-game season. Derek Carr leads an offense that features running back Josh Jacobs and tight end Darren Walker. The defense has some talent, but may still struggle to stop the league’s top quarterbacks.

2020 Season

2020 Season Roundup: The Raiders’ first season in Las Vegas ended with a so-so 8–8 record. Three losses in their final four games ended any hope of a playoff appearance. The Vegas offense was exciting at times, including a 40–32 win over the Chiefs. But that was followed by a 45–20 loss to the Buccaneers. Derek Carr had his third 4,000-yard season in a row, Josh Jacobs scored 12 touchdowns in his second NFL season, and tight end Darren Waller had another great year with 107 catches.

2020 Season Preview: Viva Las Vegas! That’s what the Raiders are saying as they start their first season in an incredible new stadium in Nevada. The team is cooking up a wide-open offense for its new fans, starring first-round pick Henry Ruggs and veteran quarterback Derek Carr. Tight end Darren Waller will still play an important role in short-yardage situations. The defense is full of question holes, but there is enough talent to plug them—and even make the playoffs.

2019 Season

2019 Season Roundup: The Raiders won 7 games in a rebuilding season, which isn’t bad. The team was in the playoff hunt right to the final week, despite a four-game losing streak in the second half of the season. Rookie Josh Jacobs topped 1,000 rushing yards and quarterback Derek Carr set a new career-best with 4,054 passing yards.

The Raiders played their last season in Oakland and decided to move to Las Vegas, Nevada for the 2020 season.

2019 Season Preview: All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown and first-rounder Josh Jacobs at running back give quarterback Derek Carr a couple of exciting weapons in 2019. The Raiders will need them, because there are no easy wins in the AFC West. Oakland’s defense will have to play its best to keep the offense in games. If they do, it could be a very interesting playoff race in the division.

2018 Season

2018 Season Roundup: The Raiders won only two of their first 12 games and finished 4–12 in the return of coach Jon Gruden. The team traded its best player, Amari Cooper, in October and received a first-round draft pick in return. Quarterback Derek Carr was solid, but he didn’t have much young talent to work with. Veterans Jared Cook, Marshawn Lynch and Doug Martin had good years but were not difference-makers. The Oakland defense was the worst in the AFC.

2018 Season Preview: If the Raiders can control enemy passing attacks, they should be competitive in 2018. Injuries and inexperience have slowed the pass defense, wasting great efforts from pass rushers Bruce Irvin and Khlail Mack, who was traded to the Bears during training camp. Derek Carr will look to lead a so-so offense that features veterans Marshawn Lynch and Jordy Nelson. Oakland fans probably would consider an 8–8 record a success.

2017 Season

2017 Season Roundup: Many people picked the Raiders to go all the way in 2017, but they finished with just six wins. A pair of four-game losing streaks—including their final four games—doomed Oakland’s season. Khalil Mack starred on defense for the Raiders, while QB Derek Carr completed 20 or more passes to eight different teammates.

2017 Season Preview: In 2016, the Raiders’ formula for success was a fast, hard-hitting defense plus mistake-free offense. Can they do it again? That will be one of the big stories in the NFL. QB Derek Carr is recovered from his broken leg and running back Marshawn Lynch has un-retired to wear the silver and black. If the team rushes the passer and covers receivers as well as it did last year, 2017 could be a season to remember.

2016 Season

2016 Season Roundup: After years of struggle, the Raiders finally put it all together and became one of the top teams in the AFC with a 12–4 record. Quarterback Derek Carr led the offense and lineman Khalil Mack led the defense. In all, seven Oakland players were named to the Pro Bowl and Mack was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Unfortunately, Carr was injured late in the season and the Raiders fell to the Texans 27–14 in the playoffs.

2016 Season Preview: Does young talent plus high-priced free agents equal a division title? Raiders fans can’t wait to find out. Oakland has a dependable quarterback in Derek Carr and exciting receivers in Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree. But it is the awesome line that gives the Raiders an edge on offense. On defense, Khalil Mack may get some voted for Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. He leads a unit that signed a trio of solid pass defenders in the off-season

2015 Season

2015 Season Preview: Derek Carr did a great job in 2014 with little help from teammates. In 2015, the young QB will have better blocking and an exciting target in rookie Amari Cooper. The defense has a way to go, but Raider Nation may have a lot to cheer about this year.

2014 Season

September 2, 2014: Oakland fans will need a program to recognize their players this season, as the team added more than a dozen new players. Among the more notable are defensive stars Justin Tick and Lamarr Woodley, along with running back Maurice Jones-Drew and quarterback Matt Schaub. The Raiders should be entertaining in 2014, but it is impossible to guess how many games they will win.

2013 Season

October 28, 2013: Terrelle Pryor set an NFL record for quarterbacks when he ran for a 93-yard touchdown against the Steelers.

September 4, 2013: Oakland fans may not have much to get excited about in 2013. The team has talent at almost every position, but many of the players are newcomers. Plus, the Raiders face a tougher schedule than they did in 2012, when they won only four games. The Raiders drafted good players who will see lots of time as rookies, but it's hard to say if any has any real star power. As Oakland tries to sort out its option at quarterback, the team will need a huge year from Darren McFadden, which the pressure is on the offensive line to come together.

2012 Roundup

February 2, 2013: The Raiders went through a frustrating season, finishing 4–12. The highlight of the year was a 34–31 victory over the Steelers. Their other three wins came against the AFC’s two worst clubs—the Jaguars and Chiefs. Carson Palmer threw for more than 4,000 yards, but the defense allowed 153 points more than the offense scored.

Summer, 2012: Carson Palmer and Darren McFadden give the Raiders a good offense. To do better than 8–8 (their record in 2010 and 2011), they will need to improve their defense and cut way down on their penalties. They set a record last year by averaging more than 10 penalties a game!

More Go-To Guys

Daryle Lamonica was one of my favorite players. He could throw touchdown passes from anywhere on the field. (Topps, Inc.)

Gene Upshaw continued to lead the NFL Players Union after he retired. (The Newsweek/Daily Beast Co., LLC)

Boom! Ray Guy was kind of skinny for a punter, but when he whipped his leg into the ball it shot off like a rocket. (Author's Collection)

The Raiders are really banking on Darren McFadden to become a star. (Black Book Partners)

  • Daryle Lamonica — Quarterback
    Born: 7/17/1941
    Played for Team: 1967 to 1974
    Daryle Lamonica was known as the "Mad Bomber" because no one threw long passes better than he did. Lamonica joined the Raiders after spending four years on the bench with the Buffalo Bills. He led the league in touchdown passes in 1967 and 1969—and was an All-Pro in both those seasons, too.

  • Willie Brown — Defensive Back
    Born: 12/2/1940
    Played for Team: 1967 to 1978
    Willie Brown was a master at one-on-one coverage. He was strong and quick, so he could stay close to any receiver. Brown was an All-Pro four times for the Raiders. In Super Bowl XI, he intercepted a pass and returned it 75 yards for a touchdown.

  • Gene Upshaw — Offensive Lineman
    Born: 8/15/1945
    Died: 8/20/2008
    Played for Team: 1967 to 1981
    Gene Upshaw was fast and powerful. Once Upshaw latched onto a defender, he usually knocked him flat on his back. Upshaw was also a great leader. He was a key member of the Raiders' Super Bowl teams in three different decades. Upshaw became the president of the union that represents NFL players after he retired.

  • Cliff Branch — Receiver
    Born: 8/1/1948
    Played for Team: 1972 to 1985
    When the Raiders needed a first down, they threw the ball to Fred Biletnikoff or Dave Casper. When they needed a touchdown, Cliff Branch was their man. His explosive speed helped him get open for long passes. In 1976, Branch averaged over 24 yards per catch!

  • Ray Guy — Punter
    Born: 12/22/1949
    Played for Team: 1973 to 1986
    Ray Guy spent his entire 14-year career with the Raiders. Many experts believe he is the greatest punter in NFL history. Guy's right leg was like a cannon. He regularly boomed punts more than 60 yards. Guy's career average was 42.2 yards per punt.

  • Rod Martin — Linebacker
    Born: 4/7/1954
    Played for Team: 1977 to 1988
    Most teams felt that Rod Martin was too small to play linebacker in the NFL. The Raiders loved his speed and set him loose on opponents. Martin became one of the team's most versatile defenders. He had 33.5 sacks, intercepted 14 passes, and scored four touchdowns during his career with the Raiders.

  • Lester Hayes — Defensive Back
    Born: 1/22/1955
    Played for Team: 1977 to 1986
    Lester Hayes was one in a long line of great Oakland pass defenders. He was extremely physical with receivers and fast enough to keep up with them as they raced down the field. Hayes helped the Raiders win two Super Bowls and was named NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1980.

  • Darren McFadden — Running Back
    Born: 8/27/1987
    First Year with Team: 2008
    Darren McFadden's lightning speed and sure hands made him the prize of the 2008 draft. Oakland fans were thrilled that he was still available when it was the team's turn to pick. McFadden showed his star power in 2010 when he rushed for 1,157 yards and had 507 receiving yards.

More Fun Facts

Mark van Eeghen looks like he paid the price to be on this magazine cover. Crunch! (Sports Illustrated/TIME Inc.)

  • THAT'S MY GIRL
    Running back Mark van Eeghen had three daughters and no sons, so he didn't think any of his children would end up in the NFL. How wrong he was! His daughter Amber became a member of the Patriots Cheerleaders, performing at games and going on tour to entertain US troops. Amber is as "NFL" as they get—she married New England's Super Bowl star Dan Koppen.

  • BIG BEN
    One of the best known Raiders in the 1960s and 1970s was Ben Davidson. The 6' 8" defensive lineman with the handlebar mustache was in a movie or TV show almost every year after he retired. Davidson had a fun way of playing bad guys that made audiences smile instead of sneer. He had big roles in the movies M*A*S*H* and Conan the Barbarian, and also appeared on the hit TV shows Happy DaysCharlie's Angels, and The Dukes of Hazzard.

  • W FOR DARYLE
    In Daryle Lamonica's eight years with the Raiders, he started 86 games. He won 66, lost 14, and tied four. That gave Lamonica a winning percentage of 78.4%—second all-time only to Hall of Famer Otto Graham.

League Leaders

The Raiders used to give photos like this one of Warren Wells out to reporters and fans in the 1960s. (Oakland Raiders)

Cliff Branch always found a way to get behind the defense and make huge catches. How did he do that? (Author's Collection)

Errol Mann only played a couple of seasons for Oakland, but he led the league in points one year. (Topps, Inc.)

  • RUSHING YARDS
    1963 — Clem Daniels — 1,099 (AFL)
    2022 — Josh Jacobs — 1,653

  • RECEIVING YARDS
    1963 — Art Powell — 1,304 (AFL)
    1969 — Warren Wells — 1,260 (AFL)
    1974 — Cliff Branch — 1,092

  • PASSING YARDS
    1969 — Daryle Lamonica — 3,302 (AFL)
    1997 — Jeff George — 3,917
    2002 — Rich Gannon — 4,689

  • RUSHING TDs
    1975 — Pete Banaszak — 16 (tied for NFL lead)
    1982 — Marcus Allen — 11

  • RECEIVING TDs
    1963 — Art Powell — 16 (AFL)
    1968 — Warren Wells — 11 (tied for AFL lead)
    1969 — Warren Wells — 14 (AFL)
    1974 — Cliff Branch — 13
    1976 — Cliff Branch — 12
    2022 — Davante Adams — 14

  • PASSING TDs
    1967 — Dayle Lamonica — 30 (AFL)
    1969 — Daryle Lamonica — 34 (AFL)
    1974 — Ken Stabler — 26
    1976 — Ken Stabler — 27

  • POINTS
    1967 — George Blanda — 116 (AFL)
    1977 — Errol Mann — 99
    1982 — Marcus Allen — 84
    1993 — Jeff Jaeger — 132

  • INTERCEPTIONS
    1968 — Dave Grayson — 10 (AFL)
    1980 — Lester Hayes — 13
    2002 — Rod Woodson — 8 (tied for NFL lead)

  • SACKS
    No Raider has led the league in sacks.

Playing for the Championship

SEASON GAME OPPONENT SCORE
1967 AFL Championship Houston Oilers Won 40–7
1967 Super Bowl II Green Bay Packers Lost 33–14
1968 AFL Championship New York Jets Lost 27–23
1969 AFL Championship Kansas City Chiefs Lost 17–7
1970 AFC Championship Baltimore Colts Lost 27–17
1973 AFC Championship Miami Dolphins Lost 27–10
1974 AFC Championship Pittsburgh Steelers Lost 24–13
1975 AFC Championship Pittsburgh Steelers Lost 16–10
1976 AFC Championship Pittsburgh Steelers Won 24–7
1976 Super Bowl XI Minnesota Vikings Won 32–14
1977 AFC Championship Denver Broncos Lost 20–17
1980 AFC Championship San Diego Chargers Won 34–27
1980 Super Bowl XV Philadelphia Eagles Won 27–10
1983* AFC Championship Seattle Seahawks Won 30–14
1983* Super Bowl XVIII Washington Redskins Won 38–9
1990* AFC Championship Buffalo Bills Lost 51–3
2000 AFC Championship Baltimore Ravens Lost 16–3
2002 AFC Championship Tennessee Titans Won 42–24
2002 Super Bowl XXXVII Tampa Bay Buccaneers Lost 38–21