1963 Oakland Raiders season

The 1963 Oakland Raiders season was the team's fourth in Oakland. The campaign saw the team attempt to improve upon its abysmal 1962 record of 1–13.

1963 Oakland Raiders season
Owner	F. Wayne Valley
General manager	Al Davis
Head coach	Al Davis
Home field	Frank Youell Field
Results
Record	10–4
Division place	2nd AFL Western
Playoff finish	Did not qualify

In his first year with the organization, Raiders legend Al Davis, formerly a receivers coach with the San Diego Chargers, replaced the team's original gold and black uniforms with the current "silver and black" scheme. Under his leadership as head coach and general manager, the Raiders stunned the rest of the AFL by winning ten games. They finished with a record of 10–4, which was good for second place in the Western Division, one game behind the eventual AFL champion Chargers, whom they had defeated twice. The Raiders swept the Western division in 1963, winning all six games. For his role in the Raiders' miraculous turnaround, Al Davis was named the AFL's "Coach of the Year".

Season schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance	Recap
1	September 7	at Houston Oilers	W 24–13	1–0	Jeppesen Stadium	24,749	Recap
2	September 15	Buffalo Bills	W 35–17	2–0	Frank Youell Field	17,568	Recap
3	September 22	Boston Patriots	L 14–20	2–1	Frank Youell Field	17,131	Recap
4	September 28	at New York Jets	L 7–10	2–2	Polo Grounds	17,100	Recap
5	October 5	at Buffalo Bills	L 0–12	2–3	War Memorial Stadium	24,846	Recap
6	October 11	at Boston Patriots	L 14–20	2–4	Fenway Park	26,494	Recap
7	October 20	New York Jets	W 49–26	3–4	Frank Youell Field	15,557	Recap
8	October 27	at San Diego Chargers	W 34–33	4–4	Balboa Stadium	30,182	Recap
9	November 3	Kansas City Chiefs	W 10–7	5–4	Frank Youell Field	18,919	Recap
10	November 8	at Kansas City Chiefs	W 22–7	6–4	Municipal Stadium	24,879	Recap
11	November 17	Bye week
	November 24	Scheduled AFL games postponed to December 22
12	November 28	at Denver Broncos	W 26–10	7–4	Bears Stadium	14,763	Recap
13	December 8	San Diego Chargers	W 41–27	8–4	Frank Youell Field	20,249	Recap
14	December 15	Denver Broncos	W 35–31	9–4	Frank Youell Field	15,223	Recap
15	December 22	Houston Oilers	W 52–49	10–4	Frank Youell Field	17,401	Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Roster

1963 Oakland Raiders roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 19 Cotton Davidson 15 Tom Flores Running backs (RB) 36 Clem Daniels 33 Doug Mayberry 37 Alan Miller     Jesse Murdock 32 Glenn Shaw 29 Mike Sommer Wide receivers (WR) 42 Dobie Craig 84 Art Powell 40 Bo Roberson Tight ends (TE) 82 Jan Barrett 86 Ken Herock

Offensive linemen (OL) 66 Sonny Bishop 65 Wayne Hawkins 77 Proverb Jacobs 70 Dick Klein 87 Bob Mischak 00 Jim Otto 63 Ollie Spencer 78 Frank Youso Defensive linemen (DL) 80 Dalva Allen 53 Dan Birdwell 46 Dave Costa 88 Jon Jelacic 73 Chuck McMurtry 72 Jim Norris

Linebackers (LB) 44 Bob Dougherty 56 Archie Matsos 81 Clancy Osborne 48 Charlie Rieves 49 Jackie Simpson Defensive backs (DB) 25 Claude Gibson 27 Joe Krakoski 45 Jim McMillin 35 Tommy Morrow 20 Warren Powers 39 Herman Urenda 24 Fred Williamson Special teams 10 Mike Mercer

Rookies in italics

Game summaries

Week 1 at Oilers

Week One: Oakland Raiders (0–0) at Houston Oilers (0–0)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Raiders	0	0	10	14	24
Oilers	6	0	0	7	13

at Jeppesen Stadium, Houston, Texas

• Date: September 7
• Game weather: 88 °F (31 °C)
• Game attendance: 24,749
• Box Score

Game information

First quarter HOU – George Blanda 30-yard field goal. Oilers 3–0. HOU – George Blanda 46-yard field goal. Oilers 6–0. Second quarter No scoring Third quarter OAK – Clem Daniels 2-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). Raiders 7–6. OAK – Mike Mercer 11-yard field goal. Raiders 10–6. Fourth quarter OAK – Art Powell 85-yard pass from Tom Flores (Mike Mercer kick). Raiders 17–6. OAK – Ken Herock 15-yard fumble return (Mike Mercer kick). Raiders 24–6. HOU – Charley Hennigan 34-yard pass from Jacky Lee (George Blanda kick). Raiders 24–13. Top passers OAK – Tom Flores – 7/21, 217 yards, TD HOU – Jacky Lee – 10/28, 123 yards, TD, INT Top rushers OAK – Clem Daniels – 16 rushes, 73 yards, TD HOU – Charley Tolar – 9 rushes, 44 yards Top receivers OAK – Art Powell – 7 receptions, 181 yards, TD HOU – Charley Hennigan – 7 receptions, 101 yards, TD

Week 2

1 2 3 4 Total Bills 0 10 7 0 17 • Raiders 0 21 7 7 35 Date: September 15 Location: Frank Youell Field, Oakland, California Game attendance: 17,568 Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C); wind 12 mph

Scoring summary Q2 OAK Powell 5-yard pass from Davidson (Mercer kick) OAK 7–0 Q2 BUF Yoho 32-yard field goal OAK 7–3 Q2 OAK Daniels 73-yard pass from Davidson (Mercer kick) OAK 14–3 Q2 OAK Miller 2-yard run (Mercer kick) OAK 21–3 Q2 BUF Dubenion 17-yard pass from Kemp (Yoho kick) OAK 21–10 Q3 OAK Davidson 5-yard run (Mercer kick) OAK 28–10 Q3 BUF Dubenion 58-yard pass from Kemp (Yoho kick) OAK 28–17 Q4 OAK Jelacic 1-yard interception return (Mercer kick) OAK 35–17

Week 7

1 2 3 4 Total Jets 7 6 0 13 26 • Raiders 21 14 7 7 49 Date: October 20 Location: Frank Youell Field, Oakland, California Game attendance: 15,557 Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C); wind 13 mph

Scoring summary Q1 NYJ Heeter 34-yard pass from Wood (Guesman kick) NYJ 7–0 Q1 OAK Miller 3-yard run (Mercer kick) Tie 7–7 Q1 OAK Craig 93-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) OAK 14–7 Q1 OAK Daniels 8-yard run (Mercer kick) OAK 21–7 Q2 NYJ Guesman 51-yard field goal OAK 21–10 Q2 NYJ Guesman 16-yard field goal OAK 21–13 Q2 OAK Herock 38-yard pass from Davidson (Mercer kick) OAK 28–13 Q2 OAK Daniels 56-yard pass from Davidson (Mercer kick) OAK 35–13 Q3 OAK Miller 8-yard pass from Davidson (Mercer kick) OAK 42–13 Q4 OAK Daniels 74-yard run (Mercer kick) OAK 49–13 Q4 NYJ Smolinski 49-yard pass from Hall (Guesman kick) OAK 49–20 Q4 NYJ Hall 6-yard run OAK 49–26

Week 8

1 2 3 4 Total • Raiders 7 7 7 13 34 Chargers 10 7 9 7 33 Date: October 27 Location: Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California Game attendance: 30,182 Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C); wind 6 mph

Scoring summary Q1 OAK Powell 20-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) OAK 7–0 Q1 SD Blair 23-yard field goal OAK 7–3 Q1 SD Alworth 32-yard pass from Rote (Blair kick) SD 10–7 Q2 OAK Miller 5-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) OAK 14–10 Q2 SD MacKinnon 69-yard pass from Hadl (Blair kick) SD 17–14 Q3 SD Harris 23-yard interception return (kick failed) SD 23–14 Q3 OAK Craig 39-yard pass from Davidson (Mercer kick) SD 23–21 Q3 SD Blair 36-yard field goal SD 26–21 Q4 OAK Powell 46-yard pass from Davidson (Mercer kick) OAK 28–26 Q4 SD Lincoln 51-yard run (Blair kick) SD 33–28 Q4 OAK Shaw 9-yard pass from Davidson (run failed) OAK 34–33

• Clem Daniels 19 Rush, 125 Yds

Week 9

1 2 3 4 Total Chiefs 0 7 0 0 7 • Raiders 0 3 0 7 10 Date: November 3 Location: Frank Youell Field, Oakland, California Game attendance: 18,919 Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C); wind 12 mph

Scoring summary Q2 OAK Mercer 10-yard field goal OAK 3–0 Q2 KC Haynes 1-yard run (Brooker kick) KC 7–3 Q4 OAK Gibson 85-yard punt return (Mercer kick) OAK 10–7

Week 10

1 2 3 4 Total • Raiders 3 19 0 0 22 Chiefs 0 0 7 0 7 Date: November 8 Location: Kansas City Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri Game attendance: 24,879 Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C); wind 10 mph

Scoring summary Q1 OAK Mercer 14-yard field goal OAK 3–0 Q2 OAK Mercer 41-yard field goal OAK 6–0 Q2 OAK Powell 24-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) OAK 13–0 Q2 OAK Wilson tackled in end zone OAK 15–0 Q2 OAK Powell 34-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) OAK 22–0 Q3 KC McClinton 4-yard run (Spikes kick) OAK 22–7

• Clem Daniels 31 Rush, 122 Yds

Week 12

1 2 3 4 Total • Raiders 2 0 14 10 26 Broncos 0 3 0 7 10 Date: November 28 Location: Bears Stadium, Denver, Colorado Game attendance: 14,763 Game weather: 39 °F (4 °C); wind 9 mph

Scoring summary Q1 OAK Safety, Joe tackled in end zone OAK 2–0 Q2 DEN Mingo 52-yard field goal DEN 3–2 Q3 OAK Roberson 39-yard pass from Davidson (Mercer kick) OAK 9–3 Q3 OAK Jelacic 19-yard fumble return (Mercer kick) OAK 16–3 Q4 OAK Mercer 16-yard field goal OAK 19–3 Q4 OAK Shaw 1-yard run (Mercer kick) OAK 26–3 Q4 DEN Joe 34-yard pass from Breaux (Mingo kick) OAK 26–10

Week 13

1 2 3 4 Total Chargers 7 13 7 0 27 • Raiders 3 7 0 31 41 Date: December 8 Location: Frank Youell Field, Oakland, California Game attendance: 20,249 Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C); wind 6 mph

Scoring summary Q1 SD Norton 32-yard pass from Rote (Blair kick) SD 7–0 Q1 OAK Mercer 37-yard field goal SD 7–3 Q2 SD Jackson 14-yard run (Blair kick) SD 14–3 Q2 OAK Powell 44-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) SD 14–10 Q2 SD MacKinnon 5-yard pass from Rote (kick failed) SD 20–10 Q3 SD Alworth 15-yard pass from Rote (Blair kick) SD 27–10 Q4 OAK Powell 10-yard pass from Davidson (Mercer kick) SD 27–17 Q4 OAK Mercer 30-yard field goal SD 27–20 Q4 OAK Davidson 9-yard run (Mercer kick) Tie 27–27 Q4 OAK Powell 41-yard pass from Davidson (Mercer kick) OAK 34–27 Q4 OAK Miller 2-yard run (Mercer kick) OAK 41–27

• Art Powell 6 Rec, 132 Yds

Week 14

1 2 3 4 Total Broncos 7 3 14 7 31 • Raiders 14 7 7 7 35 Date: December 15 Location: Frank Youell Field, Oakland, California Game weather: 41 °F (5 °C); wind 5 mph

Scoring summary Q1 OAK Roberson 32-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) OAK 7–0 Q1 OAK Powell 18-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) OAK 14–0 Q1 DEN Joe 9-yard run (Mingo kick) OAK 14–7 Q2 OAK Daniels 26-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) OAK 21–7 Q2 DEN Mingo 35-yard field goal OAK 21–10 Q3 OAK Daniels 43-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) OAK 28–10 Q3 DEN Prebola 9-yard pass from Slaughter (Mingo kick) OAK 28–17 Q3 DEN Dixon 2-yard run (Mingo kick) OAK 28–24 Q4 OAK Powell 3-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) OAK 35–24 Q4 DEN Taylor 29-yard pass from Slaughter (Mingo kick) OAK 35–31

• Clem Daniels 5 Rec, 127 Yds

Week 15

1 2 3 4 Total Oilers 14 21 14 0 49 • Raiders 7 28 7 10 52 Date: December 22 Location: Frank Youell Field, Oakland, California Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C); wind 7 mph

Scoring summary Q1 OAK Gibson 69-yard punt return (Mercer kick) OAK 7–0 Q1 HOU Hennigan 4-yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) Tie 7–7 Q1 HOU Smith 2-yard run (Blanda kick) HOU 14–7 Q2 HOU Dewveall 12-yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) HOU 21–7 Q2 OAK Herock 7-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) HOU 21–14 Q2 OAK Daniels 56-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) Tie 21–21 Q2 HOU Smith 25-yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) HOU 28–21 Q2 OAK Powell 81-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) Tie 28–28 Q2 HOU Tolar 1-yard run (Blanda kick) HOU 35–28 Q2 OAK Powell 20-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) Tie 35–35 Q3 OAK Powell 45-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) OAK 42–35 Q3 HOU Dewveall 26-yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) Tie 42–42 Q3 HOU McLeod 21-yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) HOU 49–42 Q4 OAK Powell 23-yard pass from Flores (Mercer kick) Tie 49–49 Q4 4:37 OAK Mercer 39-yard field goal OAK 52–49

• Tom Flores 17/29, 407 Yds
• Clem Daniels 22 Rush, 158 Yds
• Art Powell 10 Rec, 247 Yds

Standings

AFL Western Division
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	PF	PA	STK
San Diego Chargers	11	3	0	.786	3–3	399	255	W2
Oakland Raiders	10	4	0	.714	6–0	363	282	W8
Kansas City Chiefs	5	7	2	.417	2–4	347	263	W3
Denver Broncos	2	11	1	.154	1–5	301	473	L7

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings in the AFL.

External links

• 1963 Oakland Raiders at Pro-Football-Reference.com