Super Bowl XV

Super Bowl XV was the championship game of the National Football League (NFL) for the 1980 NFL season, played between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion Oakland Raiders and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Philadelphia Eagles. The game was held on January 25, 1981, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, with the Oakland Raiders winning 27-10. The Oakland Raiders were led by Jim Plunkett, who was named the Super Bowl MVP, and coached by Tom Flores. The Philadelphia Eagles were led by Ron Jaworski and coached by Dick Vermeil.

Game Summary

The game was a decisive victory for the Oakland Raiders, with Jim Plunkett throwing for 261 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Philadelphia Eagles were unable to mount a strong offense, with Ron Jaworski throwing 3 interceptions. The Oakland Raiders' defense was led by Ted Hendricks, Jack Tatum, and Lester Hayes, who all played key roles in shutting down the Philadelphia Eagles' offense. The game was also notable for the performance of Ray Guy, the Oakland Raiders' punter, who averaged 42.4 yards per punt. Other notable players who participated in the game included Wilbert Montgomery, Harold Carmichael, and Bill Bergey of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Cliff Branch, Bob Chandler, and Gene Upshaw of the Oakland Raiders.

Background

The Oakland Raiders finished the 1980 NFL season with a 11-5 record, winning the AFC West division title. They defeated the Houston Oilers in the AFC Divisional Playoff and the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship Game. The Philadelphia Eagles finished the season with a 12-4 record, winning the NFC East division title. They defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Divisional Playoff and the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Championship Game. The Oakland Raiders were coached by Tom Flores, who had previously played for the Oakland Raiders and the Buffalo Bills. The Philadelphia Eagles were coached by Dick Vermeil, who had previously coached at UCLA and Stanford University. Other notable coaches who contributed to the teams' success included Al Davis, the owner of the Oakland Raiders, and Leonard Tose, the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Box Score

The box score for the game is as follows: Oakland Raiders 14 0 10 3 - 27 Philadelphia Eagles 0 3 0 7 - 10 The Oakland Raiders' scoring plays included a 2-yard touchdown run by Pete Banaszak, a 80-yard touchdown pass from Jim Plunkett to Cliff Branch, a 46-yard field goal by Chris Bahr, and a 35-yard field goal by Chris Bahr. The Philadelphia Eagles' scoring plays included a 30-yard field goal by Tony Franklin and a 8-yard touchdown pass from Ron Jaworski to Charlie Smith. Other notable players who contributed to the scoring included Kenny King, Malcolm Barnwell, and Bob Chandler of the Oakland Raiders, and Wilbert Montgomery, Harold Carmichael, and Keith Krepfle of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Aftermath

The Oakland Raiders' victory in Super Bowl XV marked their second Super Bowl championship, with their first win coming in Super Bowl XI. The team was led by Jim Plunkett, who was named the Super Bowl MVP and went on to play for the Los Angeles Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers. The Philadelphia Eagles' loss marked their first Super Bowl appearance, and they would not appear in another Super Bowl until Super Bowl XXXIX. The game was watched by an estimated 76.5 million viewers, making it one of the most-watched television events in United States history. The Oakland Raiders' victory parade was held in Oakland, California, and was attended by thousands of fans, including California Governor Jerry Brown and Oakland Mayor Lionel Wilson. Other notable figures who congratulated the team on their victory included President Jimmy Carter, Vice President Walter Mondale, and NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle.

Game Statistics

The game statistics for Super Bowl XV are as follows: * Total offense: Oakland Raiders 346, Philadelphia Eagles 288 * Rushing yards: Oakland Raiders 92, Philadelphia Eagles 69 * Passing yards: Oakland Raiders 254, Philadelphia Eagles 219 * Turnovers: Oakland Raiders 2, Philadelphia Eagles 5 * Time of possession: Oakland Raiders 31:14, Philadelphia Eagles 28:46 The game was played in front of a crowd of 76,950 at the Louisiana Superdome, and was refereed by Ben Dreith. Other notable officials who worked the game included Tom Kelleher, Bill Reynolds, and Bob Boylston. The Oakland Raiders' victory was celebrated by fans across the United States, including those in California, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. The game was also notable for the performances of The Southern University marching band, who performed during the halftime show, and Jim Skinner, who sang the national anthem. Category:Super Bowl