NFL Playoffs: Top 10 Divisional Playoff games in NFL history

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JANUARY 23: Wide receiver Tyreek Hill #10 of the Kansas City Chiefs flashes a peace sign toward outside linebacker Matt Milano #58 of the Buffalo Bills as he heads for the end zone to score a touchdown during the 4th quarter of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Arrowhead Stadium on January 23, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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Best divisional round NFL games of all time (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Getty Images) /

Best divisional round games in NFL history: 3. Raiders 28, Dolphins 26 (AFC: 1974)

The Oakland Raiders were handily defeated by the Miami Dolphins, 27-10 in 1973 AFC title game as Don Shula’s club was on its way to a second straight Super Bowl title. One year later, John Madden’s club finished 12-2 and won the AFC West.

Back then, teams in the same division could not face each other in the playoffs until the title conference game. So the wild card Buffalo Bills went to Pittsburgh and the defending Super Bowl champion Dolphins made their way to the Bay Area.

This battle of powers in Oakland got off to a fast start as Dolphins’ wide receiver Nat Moore returned the opening kickoff 89 yards for a score. A see-saw affair saw Raiders’ quarterback Ken Stabler answer the two-time defending Super Bowl champions at every turn, and his thread-the-needle TD pass (while falling down) to running back Clarence Davis in a crowd with only 26 seconds to play capped an amazing afternoon.

Davis’ eight-yard touchdown reception, the difference in the club’s 28-26 victory, was a play that’s been dubbed the “Sea of Hands.”

Stabler threw for 293 yards and four touchdowns (1 interception). That included a 72-yard scoring connection in the fourth quarter to Cliff Branch. The Hall of Fame speedster made a diving reception, went untouched as raced to the end zone.

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