Browns vs. Raiders: 5 best games of all-time
By Thomas Moore
The very first meeting between the Browns and the Raiders, on Nov. 8, 1970, would prove to be one of the most memorable in the series.
The Browns were in the beginning stages of the end of a dynasty – they would finish the season at 7-7, just the second season since 1956 where they did not win more games than they lost – when they traveled to Oakland-Alameda Coliseum to take on the Raiders.
The Browns fell behind 13-0 in the second quarter before ripping off 20 consecutive points behind a 10-yard pass from Bill Nelsen to Leroy Kelly, a 63-yard run by Bo Scott, and a pair of field goals from Don Cockroft.
But the day would belong to Oakland’s George Blanda, who had entered the NFL in 1949 and had been the Raiders regular kicker since 1967.
It was Blanda’s arm as well as his leg that did in the Browns that day, as the 43-year-old was called into the huddle in the fourth quarter after quarterback Daryle Lamonica was knocked out of the game.
Trailing 20-13, Blanda led the Raiders on a game-tying touchdown drive, hitting Warren Wells with a 14-yard pass with just a little more than a minute remaining.
The Browns were not satisfied to head all the way to California only to settle for a tie, but Nelsen threw an interception near midfield with 34 seconds remaining.
The Raiders moved the ball close enough for Blanda to come on and kick a 52-yard field goal to earn the win. It was his third field goal of the day to go along with his touchdown pass, as Blanda was seven-of-12 for 102 yards.
On the opposite side, Nelsen finished just nine-of-28 for 110 yards to go along with three interceptions.
Next: No. 3: Breaking the Streak