5 times the Raiders got absolutely hosed by the officials
By Brad Weiss
5 times the Raiders got absolutely hosed by the officials
Rob Lytle Non-Fumble in 1977 AFC Championship Game
During the 1977 NFL season, the AFC West had two of the best teams in football. The 12-2 Denver Broncos won the West, and the 11-3 Raiders finished in second, and when both teams won in their respective Divisional Round games, the stage was set for the two rivals to meet up for a chance to go to the Super Bowl.
For the Raiders, it was their fifth straight trip to the AFC Championship Game, and as the returning Super Bowl champs, the expectation was that they would take care of business. It was a close game until the second half, when fate would once again turn against the Raiders on one of the biggest stages in football.
With the score sitting at 7-3 in favor of the Broncos, Raiders star Jack Tatum looked to have made a play that would have turned the game on its head. Tatum forced a fumble on Denver running back Rob Lytle, and Mike McCoy scooped it up and was halfway down the field before the ball was blown dead.
Unfortunately for the Raiders, the refs never saw the fumble, and gave the ball back to the Broncos at the one-yard line. After the Broncos scored on the next play to go up 14-3, the Raiders were unable to mount a comeback, and the Silver and Black fell to their division rival by the score of 20-17.