Super Bowl II
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| Super Bowl II | |
|---|---|
| Game name | Super Bowl II |
| Date | January 14, 1968 |
| Stadium | Miami Orange Bowl |
| City | Miami |
| Attendance | 75,546 |
| Visitor | Green Bay Packers |
| Home | Oakland Raiders |
| Visitor conf | National Football League |
| Home conf | American Football League |
| Visitor score | 33 |
| Home score | 14 |
| Mvp | Bart Starr |
Super Bowl II was the second championship game between the champions of the National Football League and the American Football League following the announcement of the NFL–AFL merger. Played on January 14, 1968, at the Miami Orange Bowl, the contest matched the three-time defending NFL champion Green Bay Packers against the 1967 AFL champion Oakland Raiders. The Packers, coached by Vince Lombardi, won 33–14 in a game that reinforced Green Bay's dominance and accelerated merger-era narratives involving key figures such as Bart Starr, Don Chandler, and Daryle Lamonica.
Background
The 1967 postseason occurred within the larger context of negotiations surrounding the NFL–AFL merger and the expansion of professional football in United States sports culture. The Packers entered after winning the 1966 NFL Championship Game and the 1965 NFL Championship Game, while the Raiders advanced following victories in the AFL Championship Game under head coach John Rauch and general manager Al Davis. The game was organized by the National Football League in partnership with the American Football League amid television contracts held by CBS and NBC, and it took place in Miami, a recurring host city that had staged Super Bowl III and other league events in subsequent years.
Teams
Green Bay's roster featured future Pro Football Hall of Fame members and stars such as quarterback Bart Starr, coach Vince Lombardi, running back Jim Taylor, wide receiver Max McGee, and linebacker Ray Nitschke. The Packers' strategy emphasized the Packers sweep run play developed by Lombardi, and their personnel included kick specialist Don Chandler and offensive linemen like Forrest Gregg and Jerry Kramer.
The Raiders' lineup included quarterback Daryle Lamonica, wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff, running back Ben Davidson, and defensive back Willie Brown. Oakland's personnel also featured coach John Rauch and owner/executive Al Davis, who had reshaped the franchise with personnel moves and a vertical passing attack influenced by offensive assistants such as Tom Flores. The Raiders relied on an aggressive aerial offense and a physical defense featuring linemen like Ben Davidson and secondary playmakers like George Atkinson.
Game summary
Green Bay opened the game with a balanced attack that combined the Lombardi sweep with play-action passing from Starr to receivers like Max McGee. The Packers established field position using kicks handled by Don Chandler and systematic clock management that limited opportunities for Lamonica and the Raiders' passing game. Oakland responded with drives orchestrated by Lamonica and supported by targets including Fred Biletnikoff and Willie Brown, but turnovers and special teams miscues hampered sustained momentum.
Key moments included multiple successful Green Bay touchdown drives culminating with runs by Jim Taylor and passes to Max McGee, while Oakland's scoring came in part from Lamonica connections and ground yards by running backs such as Pete Banaszak. The Packers' defense featured tackles by Henry Jordan and coverage by Herb Adderley, forcing punts and turnovers that shifted field position. Coaching decisions by Lombardi and Rauch illustrated contrasting philosophies: Lombardi's conservative clock control and power running versus Rauch's inclination toward vertical passing and aggressive fourth-down choices.
Bart Starr's leadership at quarterback, including precise throws and situational reads, earned him the game's most valuable player recognition. Special teams and kicking contributed decisively, with Don Chandler's field goals and extra points consolidating Green Bay's scoring margin. The final quarter saw the Packers maintain possession and prevent a Raiders comeback; key defensive plays by Ray Nitschke and Willie Davis stopped Oakland drives.
Scoring summary
First Quarter - GB: Field goal by Don Chandler
Second Quarter - GB: Touchdown pass from Bart Starr to Max McGee - OAK: Field goal by George Blanda (note: Blanda was retired from Raiders roster by 1968 but had historic AFL kicking; the Raiders' 1967 kicking duties featured other specialists)
Third Quarter - GB: Rushing touchdown by Jim Taylor - OAK: Touchdown pass from Daryle Lamonica to Fred Biletnikoff
Fourth Quarter - GB: Field goal by Don Chandler - GB: Additional scoring drive sealed by Packers' offense and defense
(Note: Scoring sequence reflects major drives and contributors including Starr, Taylor, McGee, Lamonica, Biletnikoff, Chandler, and defensive stops by Ray Nitschke and Willie Davis.)
Aftermath and legacy
The Packers' victory reinforced Vince Lombardi's status, contributing to his legacy commemorated by the later Vince Lombardi Trophy and his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Bart Starr's MVP performance elevated his reputation alongside contemporaries such as Johnny Unitas and Len Dawson. The game influenced perceptions during negotiations for the NFL–AFL merger and shaped coaching and roster-building trends embraced by franchises including the Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Jets.
For the Raiders, the loss prompted personnel and strategic adjustments overseen by Al Davis and John Rauch, eventually influencing the franchise's future playoff and Super Bowl appearances under coaches like John Madden and executives such as Tom Flores. The contest also contributed to the cultural ascent of professional football in North America media markets, aided by television partners CBS and NBC, and set precedents in broadcasting and event staging adopted for later league championships including Super Bowl III and beyond.