1971 Oakland Raiders question

coolstanley

Why were their first four games all on the road?

LandrysFedora

Very good question, and I could find no viable explanation to this. I researched into news articles from that area during that timeframe in 71 and found nothing to justify this scheduling anomaly. No worlds fair, civil unrest, etc that would force them on the road for a month. In reading one synopsis of their season, I found this written in it..."What are the odds that in a 14-game schedule, your first four would be on the road? That was what Oakland was dealing with when they went to Denver."

coolstanley

@LandrysFedora said:
Very good question, and I could find no viable explanation to this. I researched into news articles from that area during that timeframe in 71 and found nothing to justify this scheduling anomaly. No worlds fair, civil unrest, etc that would force them on the road for a month. In reading one synopsis of their season, I found this written in it..."What are the odds that in a 14-game schedule, your first four would be on the road? That was what Oakland was dealing with when they went to Denver."

Then they had 6 out of their next 7 games at home. They went 8-4-2. Didn't make the playoffs.

perkdog

I looked as well, probably just an anomaly scheduling glitch because there was nothing of note about it

DocBenjamin

Was a good time to start betting on them on Monday Nights.

GroceryRackPack

my 1st thought was: still building Frank Youell Field... That's the Wrong Answer...

Now I'm gonna be up late at night thinking:
Why were their first four games all on the road?

Lemme give Al Davis & John Madden a call...

Why were their first four games all on the road?

I'm gonna end up in an Insaneasilium thinking about this...
🤣🙃🤣🙃 🏈🏈🏈

ElMagoStrikeZone

Pete Rozelle could tell you why.

GroceryRackPack

maybe...

SDSportsFan

It appears that the schedule was a result of trying to avoid conflict with the MLB post-season schedule.

I found the 1971 schedule listed in the April 13, 1971 San Mateo Times. It said that the Baltimore Colts, after playing their first two games at home, would be on the road for their next four games, to avoid possible conflict with the Orioles. The Jets were also on the road for their first four games, to avoid any conflicts with the Mets.

When the schedule was first announced, the Raiders' 4th game against Denver was supposed to be in Oakland, and then they were going to play in Denver on Dec 19th; but the games were switched on August 26th, to avoid conflict with the A's, as announced that day in the Richmond (CA) Independent.

Steve

coolstanley

@SDSportsFan said:
It appears that the schedule was a result of trying to avoid conflict with the MLB post-season schedule.

I found the 1971 schedule listed in the April 13, 1971 San Mateo Times. It said that the Baltimore Colts, after playing their first two games at home, would be on the road for their next four games, to avoid possible conflict with the Orioles. The Jets were also on the road for their first four games, to avoid any conflicts with the Mets.

When the schedule was first announced, the Raiders' 4th game against Denver was supposed to be in Oakland, and then they were going to play in Denver on Dec 19th; but the games were switched on August 26th, to avoid conflict with the A's, as announced that day in the Richmond (CA) Independent.

Steve

I think you may be correct. It probably had to do with the A's post season. I just looked up the 1969 New York Jets schedule. Their first FIVE regular season games were on the road. WOW!!! Then they had seven games in a row at home I guess they just did scheduling way different than today.