1990 Los Angeles Raiders season
Encyclopedia
The 1990 Los Angeles Raiders season was the club's 31st season in the National Football League
(NFL). Led by Coach of the Year Art Shell
, the club appeared in its first AFC Championship Game since the 1983 season, but lost a lopsided affair to the Buffalo Bills
, 51–3.
), while holding the Bengals to just 182 total yards and sacking Boomer Esiason
four times (three by lineman Greg Townsend
), but still had to score 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to clinch the victory. The Bengals scored first during the second period with kicker Jim Breech
's 27-yard field goal. But Los Angeles quarterback Jay Schroeder
threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mervyn Fernandez
to give the Raiders a 7–3 lead before halftime. Los Angeles kicker Jeff Jaeger
made a 49-field goal in the third quarter, but Cincinnati tied the game early in the fourth period with running back Stanford Jennings
' 8-yard touchdown reception from Esiason. However, a 41-yard touchdown pass from Schroeder to tight end Ethan Horton
and Jaeger's 25-yard field goal clinched the victory.
This was Raiders running back Bo Jackson
's final NFL game, having injured his left hip during the third quarter while being tackled from behind by Bengals linebacker Kevin Walker. The injury was later revealed to have caused a degenerative bone condition in Jackson's hip called avascular necrosis
. Before being knocked out of the game, he rushed 6 times for 77 yards. Some Bengals fans theorize that this injury to one of the greatest athletes ever placed a curse on the Bengals franchise (sometimes called "the curse of Bo Jackson"), and that this curse is partially responsible for the Bengals' notorious failure to field a competitive football team for most of the next decade and half.
This game is also notable for being Marcus Allen's last 100-plus yard rushing performance with the Raiders, as well as the last postseason game the Bengals would play in until the 2005 season.
became the first African-American coach to take his team to a conference championship game, but the results were not in his favor.
The Bills shredded the Raiders, limiting quarterback Jay Schroeder
to 13 of 31 completions for 150 yards and intercepting him 5 times, while also holding running back Marcus Allen
to just 26 yards on 10 carries. On offense, the Bills amassed 502 total yards, including 202 yards on the ground. Running back Thurman Thomas rushed for 138 and a touchdown while also catching 5 passes for 61 yards, while running back Kenneth Davis tied an AFC playoff record with 3 rushing touchdowns. Buffalo also set an NFL playoff record by scoring 41 points in the first half. Bills quarterback Jim Kelly
threw for 300 yards and two touchdown passes to wide receiver James Lofton
, who finished the game with 5 receptions for 113 yards. Thomas recorded a 12-yard touchdown run, while Davis scored from 1 yard, 3 yards, and 1 yard out. Linebacker Darryl Talley
returned one of his two interceptions 27 yards for a touchdown.
On Buffalo's opening drive, Kelly completed six consecutive passes, the last one a 13-yard touchdown throw to Lofton after he recovered a fumbled snap in shotgun formation. The Raiders responded with a 41-yard field goal from Jeff Jaeger
, but Buffalo stormed back with another touchdown just four plays after the ensuing kickoff, set up by Kelly's 41-yard completion to Lofton. After a punt, Los Angeles defensive back Gary Lewis intercepted a pass from Kelly. But two plays later, Talley intercepted a pass from Schroeder and returned it for a touchdown. The Raiders were forced to punt on their next possession, and Buffalo stormed down the field again, scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run by Davis on fourth down and goal. An interception by Nate Odomes
set up Davis' second touchdown less than a minute later, and before the half ended, Lofton caught his second touchdown pass to give the Bills a 41–3 first half lead.
Buffalo increased their lead to 48–3 with Davis' third touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Later on, Scott Norwood
closed out the scoring with a 39-yard field goal.
Buffalo recorded a total of six interceptions, the third highest total ever in a single NFL game. Defensive back Mark Kelso
recorded his fourth career postseason interception in the game, a Bills' record.
Bo Jackson, Pro Bowl
Greg Townsend, Pro Bowl
Marcus Allen, 13 total touchdowns, 12 rushing and 1 receiving
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). Led by Coach of the Year Art Shell
Art Shell
Arthur "Art" Shell is an American former collegiate and professional football player in the American Football League and later in the NFL, a Hall of Fame offensive tackle, and a two-time former head coach of the Oakland Raiders...
, the club appeared in its first AFC Championship Game since the 1983 season, but lost a lopsided affair to the Buffalo Bills
1990 Buffalo Bills season
The 1990 Buffalo Bills season was the 31st season for the team in the National Football League. The Buffalo Bills finished the National Football League's 1990 season with a record of 13 wins and 3 losses, and finished first in the AFC East division. The Bills were 8–0 at home for the second time in...
, 51–3.
NFL Draft
| Pick # | |Player | |College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Los Angeles Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
Anthony Smith Anthony Smith (defensive end) Anthony Wayne Smith is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Raiders 11th overall in the 1990 NFL Draft... |
Defensive End | Arizona |
| 38 | Los Angeles Raiders | Aaron Wallace Aaron Wallace Aaron Wallace is a former American football linebacker who played his entire career for the NFL's Raiders franchise. He played college football for Texas A&M.... |
Defensive End | Texas A&M |
| 96 | Los Angeles Raiders | Torin Dorn Torin Dorn Torin Damon Dorn is a former professional American football cornerback in the National Football League. He played seven seasons for the Los Angeles Raiders and the St. Louis Rams .... |
Cornerback | North Carolina |
| 124 | Los Angeles Raiders | Stan Smagala | Defensive Back | Notre Dame |
| 150 | Los Angeles Raiders | Marcus Wilson Marcus Wilson Marcus Ali Dwayne Wilson is a retired professional basketball player, who played his career in a variety of places across the world including South America, several countries in Eastern and Western Europe and the United States... |
Running Back | Virginia |
| 174 | Los Angeles Raiders | Garry Lewis | Cornerback | Alcorn State |
| 198 | Los Angeles Raiders | Arthur Jimerson Arthur Jimerson Arthur L. Jimerson is a former linebacker for the former Los Angeles Raiders. He was born May 12, 1968 in Erie, PA, and attended elementary and middle school in Norfolk, VA. He attended Deep Creek high school in Chesapeake, VA where he excelled at football, basketball, and track. He was chosen as... |
Defensive End | Norfolk State |
| 231 | Los Angeles Raiders | Leon Perry | Running Back | Oklahoma |
| 304 | Los Angeles Raiders | Ron Lewis | Wide Receiver | Jackson State |
| 305 | Los Angeles Raiders | Myron Jones | Running Back | Fresno State |
| 332 | Los Angeles Raiders | Demetrius Davis | Tight End | Nevada |
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 9, 1990 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 14–9 | |
| 2 | September 16, 1990 | at Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
W 17–13 | |
| 3 | September 23, 1990 | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
W 20–3 | |
| 4 | September 30, 1990 | Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 24–10 | |
| 5 | October 7, 1990 | at Buffalo Bills Buffalo Bills The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 38–24 | |
| 6 | October 14, 1990 | Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
W 24–17 | |
| 7 | October 21, 1990 | at San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 24–9 | |
| 8 | Bye | |||
| 9 | November 4, 1990 | at Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a... |
L 9–7 | |
| 10 | November 11, 1990 | Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
L 29–16 | |
| 11 | November 19, 1990 | at Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 13–10 | |
| 12 | November 25, 1990 | Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a... |
L 27–24 | |
| 13 | December 2, 1990 | at Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 23–20 | |
| 14 | December 10, 1990 | at Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
W 38–31 | |
| 15 | December 16, 1990 | Cincinnati Bengals Cincinnati Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL... |
W 24–7 | |
| 16 | December 22, 1990 | at Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
W 28–24 | |
| 17 | December 30, 1990 | San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 17–12 | |
Game details
- Week 1 Sep 9 W 14–9 vs Denver Broncos: On opening day the Raiders achieved an important victory but they did not score an offensive touchdown. At halftime the Broncos led Los Angeles 6–0. During the third quarter, Denver quarterback John Elway was intercepted by Raider lineback Jerry Robinson and the veteran returned the ball to the endzone for a touchdown. Later, cornerback Terry McDaniel scored the first touchdown of his career on a 42-yard fumble return. Leading 14–6 the Raiders defense held firm and only surrendered a third field goal to Denver.
- Week 2 Sep 16 W 17–13 at Seattle Seahawks: The Raiders won their second straight game to start the 1990 season with a 2–0 record. A defensive struggle ensued between the two teams and by the end of the third quarter the Seahawks led 10–3. Raiders starting quarterback Jay SchroederJay SchroederJay Brian Schroeder is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League who played for the Washington Redskins , Los Angeles Raiders , Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals .He attended Palisades High School and was a high school football teammate of actor...
tied the game with a 12-yard scoring strike to wide receiver Mervyn FernandezMervyn FernandezMervyn "Swervin' Mervyn" Fernandez is a former professional American and Canadian football player who played wide receiver with the NFL Los Angeles-Oakland Raiders and the Canadian Football League BC Lions....
. Seattle regained the lead a few moments later on a 19-yard field goal. With time running short the Raiders drove downfield and scored on a 1-yard run by reserve running back Greg Bell to earn the victory. - Week 3 Sep 23 W 20–3 vs Pittsburgh Steelers: The Raider defense combined for six sacks to beat Pittsburgh. The Steelers took a 3–0 lead but the Raiders scored 20 straight points to rout the men of the Steel city.
- Week 4 Sep 30 W 24–10 vs Chicago Bears: Marcus Allen scored the first points of the game, a 1 yard touchdown run, and the Raiders never looked back. Another Allen touchdown and a short fumble return for a touchdown by Greg Townsend rounded out the scoring. Willie Gault beat up his former team with 103 yards receiving on just 4 receptions.
- Week 5 Oct 7 L 38–24 at Buffalo Bills
- Week 6 Oct 14 W 24–17 vs Seattle Seahawks
- Week 7 Oct 21 W 24–9 at San Diego Chargers: The Raiders rewarded Bo JacksonBo JacksonVincent Edward "Bo" Jackson is a former American baseball and football player. He was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports, and also won the Heisman Trophy in 1985....
's return from professional baseball by giving him the ball 12 times for 53 yards and 2 touchdowns. On defense the Raiders recorded two sacks and held the Chargers to just three field goals. - Week 8 Bye Week
- Week 9 Nov 4 L 9–7 at Kansas City Chiefs: The Raiders scored the only touchdown of the game but the Chiefs outscored and outrushed the Raiders to hand the Raiders their second loss of the season.
- Week 10 Nov 11 L 29–16 vs Green Bay Packers: The Packers overcame 8 sacks by the Raiders to force 4 Raider turnovers and bask in the glory of 10 Raiders penalties.
- Week 11 Nov 19 W 13–10 at Miami Dolphins: On Monday Night Football both Marcus Allen and Bo Jackson rushed for 79 yards and 99 yards respectively to beat Miami and rebound for consecutive losses to Kansas City and Green Bay. Marcus Allen scored the only Raider touchdown of the game.
- Week 12 Nov 25 L 27–24 vs Kansas City Chiefs: The Raiders lost their fourth game of the 1990 season and their third defeat in four weeks. Marcus Allen scored 3 times and both Allen and Jackson combined for over 100 yards rushing but it was not enough. Chiefs quarterback Steve DeBergSteve DeBergSteven Leroy DeBerg had a long career as an American Football quarterback. His career spanned 21 years over 3 decades. Despite the fact that large portions of his career were spent as a backup, DeBerg ultimately accumulated some impressive NFL statistics, particularly during the early 1990s, when...
threw 3 touchdown passes and the Chiefs defense combined for 5 sacks to earn a season sweep of Los Angeles. - Week 13 Dec 2 W 23–20 at Denver Broncos: Bo Jackson had been fairly quiet all season until a dose of Denver defense cured him of any of his struggles. During the third quarter and with the Raiders leading 14–13, Bo Jackson broke several tackles during a 62-yard touchdown run. The score was Jackson's second touchdown of the afternoon and the former Auburn star rushed 13 times for 117 yards. Receiver Willie Gault helped out with 9 receptions for 99 yards.
- Week 14 Dec 10 W 38–31 at Detroit Lions: For the second time in four weeks the Raiders played on Monday Night Football. The games biggest prime time stage contained some of the greatest college football players in history. The teams set a NFL record with five combined Heisman Trophy winners taking the field. (For the Raiders it was Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson and Tim Brown. For the Lions it was Barry Sanders and Andre Ware.) The game turned out to be a shootout with Allen, Brown, Jackson and Barry Sanders scoring touchdowns. Sanders rushed for 176 yards on 25 carries and Jackson carried 18 times for 129 yards. The Raiders defense captured four sacks and an interception to earn their ninth win of the season.
- Week 15 Dec 16 W 24–7 vs Cincinnati Bengals: During the game Bo Jackson rushed 8 times for 117 yards and Tim Brown scored twice. After trailing 7–0 the Raiders scored 24 unanswered points to crush Cincinnati.
- Week 16 Dec 22 W 28–24 at Minnesota Vikings: Jay Schroeder gave Los Angeles a 14–0 lead after hitting receivers Sam GraddySam GraddySamuel Louis Graddy III is a former American athlete and American football player, winner of gold medal in 4x100 m relay at the 1984 Summer Olympics....
and Mervyn Fernandez with touchdown passes. The Vikings reentered the game with 10 unanswered points but Schroeder threw two more touchdown passes to Marcus Allen and Ethan HortonEthan HortonEthan Shane Horton is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League. He played one season for the Kansas City Chiefs , and seven seasons as a tight end for the Los Angeles Raiders , and the Washington Redskins...
to give Los Angeles a 28–10 lead. Future Raider quarterback Rich GannonRich GannonRichard Joseph Gannon is a former football quarterback, who achieved most of his success late in his career with the Oakland Raiders in the National Football League...
replaced Vikings starter and future Raider Wade Wilson and threw two touchdown passes to earn the final points of the contest. The Raiders defense came through again with 5 sacks and an interception. - Week 17 Dec 30 W 17–12 vs San Diego Chargers: The two losses to Kansas City hurt the Raiders here but hopes of a divisional championship still reigned. With a win the Raiders would win the AFC West and the team did not disappoint. Trailing 12–10 in the fourth quarter, the Raiders mounted an important drive and fullback Steve SmithSteve Smith (running back)Steven Anthony Smith is a former professional American football running back, playing 9 seasons in the National Football League with the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks. He was a team captain on Penn State's 1986 National Championship team.Smith was a third-round draft choice of the Raiders...
finalized the win with a short touchdown reception from Jay Schroeder.
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
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Offensive Linemen
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Defensive Linemen
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Linebackers
Riki Ellison Riki Morgan Ellison is a former linebacker, who went by Riki Gray while in college at USC as an All Pac 10 player in 1982.-College career:... Jerry Robinson Jerry Robinson is an American comic book artist best known for his work on DC Comics' Batman line of comics during the 1940s.He was inducted into the Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2004.-Career:... William Thomas -Politics:* William Thomas , clerk of Edward VI's privy council, executed for treason after Edward's death* Sir William Thomas, 1st Baronet , British Member of Parliament for Seaford and Sussex... Defensive Backs
Special Teams
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AFC Divisional Playoff
The Raiders recorded 235 rushing yards (with 140 of them coming from running back Marcus AllenMarcus Allen
Marcus LeMarr Allen is a former American football player and, until recently, was affiliated with CBS as a game analyst. As a professional, Allen ran for 12,243 yards and caught 587 passes for 5,412 yards during his career for both the Los Angeles Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs from 1982 to 1997...
), while holding the Bengals to just 182 total yards and sacking Boomer Esiason
Boomer Esiason
Norman Julius "Boomer" Esiason is a former American football quarterback and current network color commentator. He played for the National Football League's Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, and Arizona Cardinals before working as an analyst for ABC and HBO...
four times (three by lineman Greg Townsend
Greg Townsend
Gregory Townsend is a former American football defensive end in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Raiders in the fourth round of the 1983 NFL Draft...
), but still had to score 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to clinch the victory. The Bengals scored first during the second period with kicker Jim Breech
Jim Breech
James Thomas Breech is a former American football kicker in the National Football League, who played for Oakland Raiders in 1979 and Cincinnati Bengals from 1980-1992. Before his NFL career, Breech played for the University of California and Sacramento High School...
's 27-yard field goal. But Los Angeles quarterback Jay Schroeder
Jay Schroeder
Jay Brian Schroeder is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League who played for the Washington Redskins , Los Angeles Raiders , Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals .He attended Palisades High School and was a high school football teammate of actor...
threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mervyn Fernandez
Mervyn Fernandez
Mervyn "Swervin' Mervyn" Fernandez is a former professional American and Canadian football player who played wide receiver with the NFL Los Angeles-Oakland Raiders and the Canadian Football League BC Lions....
to give the Raiders a 7–3 lead before halftime. Los Angeles kicker Jeff Jaeger
Jeff Jaeger
Jeff Todd Jaeger , is a former American football placekicker who played in 12 National Football League seasons and was an All-American kicker at the University of Washington. In the NFL Jaeger played for the Cleveland Browns, the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and the Chicago Bears...
made a 49-field goal in the third quarter, but Cincinnati tied the game early in the fourth period with running back Stanford Jennings
Stanford Jennings
Stanford Jamison Jennings is a former American football running back in the NFL. Jennings played seven seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals , and one each for the New Orleans Saints and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . He played college football at Furman University...
' 8-yard touchdown reception from Esiason. However, a 41-yard touchdown pass from Schroeder to tight end Ethan Horton
Ethan Horton
Ethan Shane Horton is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League. He played one season for the Kansas City Chiefs , and seven seasons as a tight end for the Los Angeles Raiders , and the Washington Redskins...
and Jaeger's 25-yard field goal clinched the victory.
This was Raiders running back Bo Jackson
Bo Jackson
Vincent Edward "Bo" Jackson is a former American baseball and football player. He was the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major American sports, and also won the Heisman Trophy in 1985....
's final NFL game, having injured his left hip during the third quarter while being tackled from behind by Bengals linebacker Kevin Walker. The injury was later revealed to have caused a degenerative bone condition in Jackson's hip called avascular necrosis
Avascular necrosis
Avascular necrosis is a disease where there is cellular death of bone components due to interruption of the blood supply. Without blood, the bone tissue dies and the bone collapses...
. Before being knocked out of the game, he rushed 6 times for 77 yards. Some Bengals fans theorize that this injury to one of the greatest athletes ever placed a curse on the Bengals franchise (sometimes called "the curse of Bo Jackson"), and that this curse is partially responsible for the Bengals' notorious failure to field a competitive football team for most of the next decade and half.
This game is also notable for being Marcus Allen's last 100-plus yard rushing performance with the Raiders, as well as the last postseason game the Bengals would play in until the 2005 season.
AFC Championship Game
Raiders head coach Art ShellArt Shell
Arthur "Art" Shell is an American former collegiate and professional football player in the American Football League and later in the NFL, a Hall of Fame offensive tackle, and a two-time former head coach of the Oakland Raiders...
became the first African-American coach to take his team to a conference championship game, but the results were not in his favor.
The Bills shredded the Raiders, limiting quarterback Jay Schroeder
Jay Schroeder
Jay Brian Schroeder is a former professional American football quarterback in the National Football League who played for the Washington Redskins , Los Angeles Raiders , Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals .He attended Palisades High School and was a high school football teammate of actor...
to 13 of 31 completions for 150 yards and intercepting him 5 times, while also holding running back Marcus Allen
Marcus Allen
Marcus LeMarr Allen is a former American football player and, until recently, was affiliated with CBS as a game analyst. As a professional, Allen ran for 12,243 yards and caught 587 passes for 5,412 yards during his career for both the Los Angeles Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs from 1982 to 1997...
to just 26 yards on 10 carries. On offense, the Bills amassed 502 total yards, including 202 yards on the ground. Running back Thurman Thomas rushed for 138 and a touchdown while also catching 5 passes for 61 yards, while running back Kenneth Davis tied an AFC playoff record with 3 rushing touchdowns. Buffalo also set an NFL playoff record by scoring 41 points in the first half. Bills quarterback Jim Kelly
Jim Kelly
James Edward Kelly is a former American football quarterback in the NFL for the Buffalo Bills and the USFL's Houston Gamblers....
threw for 300 yards and two touchdown passes to wide receiver James Lofton
James Lofton
James David Lofton is a former American football player and coach. He is a former American football coach for the San Diego Chargers but is best known for his years in the National Football League as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers , Los Angeles Raiders , the Buffalo Bills...
, who finished the game with 5 receptions for 113 yards. Thomas recorded a 12-yard touchdown run, while Davis scored from 1 yard, 3 yards, and 1 yard out. Linebacker Darryl Talley
Darryl Talley
Darryl Victor Talley is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the second round of the 1983 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia....
returned one of his two interceptions 27 yards for a touchdown.
On Buffalo's opening drive, Kelly completed six consecutive passes, the last one a 13-yard touchdown throw to Lofton after he recovered a fumbled snap in shotgun formation. The Raiders responded with a 41-yard field goal from Jeff Jaeger
Jeff Jaeger
Jeff Todd Jaeger , is a former American football placekicker who played in 12 National Football League seasons and was an All-American kicker at the University of Washington. In the NFL Jaeger played for the Cleveland Browns, the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, and the Chicago Bears...
, but Buffalo stormed back with another touchdown just four plays after the ensuing kickoff, set up by Kelly's 41-yard completion to Lofton. After a punt, Los Angeles defensive back Gary Lewis intercepted a pass from Kelly. But two plays later, Talley intercepted a pass from Schroeder and returned it for a touchdown. The Raiders were forced to punt on their next possession, and Buffalo stormed down the field again, scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run by Davis on fourth down and goal. An interception by Nate Odomes
Nate Odomes
Nathaniel Bernard Odomes is a former professional American football defensive back who played for the Buffalo Bills , Seattle Seahawks , and the Atlanta Falcons...
set up Davis' second touchdown less than a minute later, and before the half ended, Lofton caught his second touchdown pass to give the Bills a 41–3 first half lead.
Buffalo increased their lead to 48–3 with Davis' third touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Later on, Scott Norwood
Scott Norwood
Scott Allan Norwood is a former American football placekicker in the NFL who played for the Buffalo Bills. Norwood was an integral part of its offense during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and kicked in Buffalo's first two Super Bowl appearances...
closed out the scoring with a 39-yard field goal.
Buffalo recorded a total of six interceptions, the third highest total ever in a single NFL game. Defensive back Mark Kelso
Mark Kelso
Mark Alan Kelso is a former American football player who was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the tenth round of the 1985 NFL Draft. A 5'11", 177 lbs. safety from North Hills High School and the College of William & Mary, Kelso played in eight NFL seasons and his entire career with the...
recorded his fourth career postseason interception in the game, a Bills' record.
Awards and records
Art Shell, NFL Coach of the YearBo Jackson, Pro Bowl
Greg Townsend, Pro Bowl
Marcus Allen, 13 total touchdowns, 12 rushing and 1 receiving