Raiders v Saints '79 ( Friday Night Football@Raiders247 preview)

[Runner688]

BoB Hayes was the only one faster than Cliff Branch, never forget that, he was the World's Fastest Human, though Branch did beat an old Bob Hayes in a 40 yard dash in 1973 after Hayed had weightlifted the day before and was slightly sore still.

[theguyisme1979]

I'm a Saints fan(card carrying member of the Who Dat Nation), But I must say ,WE SUCKED BACK THEN. Somebody told me Cliff Branch isn't in the HOF, if this is true, WHY??????????

[socalsocal88]

:53 awesome move by C Branch.

[quietriotfan1976]

I still want to know how the hell Branch is not in the hall. He's the greatest receiver not enough people know about.

[vitoduval]

Its also a travesty Ray Guy is not in, it would be cool if Ray Guy and Brett Favre would be inducted together as the first Southern Mississippi alums in the HOF.

[Yankee4Life]

I watched this game when it was first on and I have not seen a film clip of it until now. It was a wonderful game, probably the highlight of that year because Oakland was 9-7 in '79.

[Baltimorehop]

9.3 Sprinter. THAT IS BLAZING SPEED. The only wide receiver in that era that was in the same room with Branch was NY Jets Wide Receiver Wesley Walker. After that came guys like St. Louis Cardinals Mel Gray, N.E. Patriots Stanley Morgan, Denver Broncos Rick Upchurch.

[halovandal1]

if you look, Cliff stepped out of bounds

[MoondogMayne]

@halovandal1 Yeah, about three times. I have a tape of this game and the announcers mentioned it before the next kickoff.

[oldredbarnman]

@halovandal1 It does appear that he stepped out at about the 30 yard line, but he was so fast, the officials missed it.........))))

[raiders1967]

Guy, Branch and Stabler all belong in the Hall of Fame.

[raiders1967]

Great stuff raiders247online. You're my hero.

[tjstevens74]

Damn, I knew Branch was fast, but THAT WAS LIGHTNING! I wouldn't argue if someone said Branch is still the fastest dude to play in the NFL.

And yes, it is a travesty Cliff isn't in the Hall of Fame... besides his gaudy 24+ yards per catch average and 3 Super Bowl rings (and he was integral to winning those SBs), NO ONE kept a defense more honest than Cliff! You didn't try to cheat up and stack the box, or Cliff would burn you. Damn, I miss that dude.

[bigbabyjp]

The Cliff Branch clip w/ Bruce Springteens " cover me" is not available on you tube. Another travesty for Branch and Raider fans.

[hersheybarblues]

A postscript. The Raiders missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record in 1979. The following season, however, they captured the second of three Superbowl championships when they beat philadelphia 27-10.

[hersheybarblues]

This was actually a Monday Night tilt. I was living in the dorms at Chico State, and I had a three dollar bet on the Saints. It looked good for me when New orleans built a 35-14 lead in front of the bayou fans. But Oakland launched one of its classic comebacks to win 42-35.

[joboots007]

@hersheybarblues The Rams that year could thank the Raiders for this one since

they were in a big dogfight with the Saints for the NFC West............this Raider win

allowed the Rams to begin their road to SB 14 while this loss seem to deflate the

Saints to begin their downward spiral the next year with the legend of the Aints!!!!!!

[SaskRider2]

If Arthur Whittington didn't make that block, then Branch wouldn't make it to the house.

[ErikS1975FreeState]

Cliff Branch Great WR who should be in the HF.

[neneshubby]

I think he stepped out of bounds.

[raiders1967]

Wow, I hadn't thought about that Jim Breech miss that Howard mentioned in nearly 30 years. I remember seeing it on tv.  It broke my heart.

[raiders1967]

Thanks for posting!

Raiders were down 35-14 in this game at one point.

[DtchMastr]

Most people don't know this but when he retired after the 1985 season he was the NFL's postseason leader in receptions and yardage. Only Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin have surpassed his yardage total. This included 3 touchdowns in Oaklands three Super Bowl victories. Also in a era when bump and run was more like a mugging and went well beyond the 5 yard chuck zone. Add to that he was like 5'5'' and 155 lbs and he played 14 years. He's not in the hall of fame because....?

[cbaldwinjr]

Swann and Stallworth are in the HOF...that means Branch should be in the HOF. Has better numbers than Swann...comparable numbers to Stallworth and had the playoff pedigree to match. It's a travesty he's not in

[Oaklandgirlpitlover1]

I agree. And Ken Stabler should be there as well. The fact that John Madden is in the hall of fame, ( and deservedly so ) should be also attributed to the many great players he coached that in essence "GOT HIM THERE"! Therefor Stabler and Branch should be in there to.

[SFFOOL76]

Don't forget Ray Guy!

[TommyC503]

@cbaldwinjr Cliff Branch was not a HOF by any means - Raiders suck dicks.

[amd77j]

@cbaldwinjr Amen!!!!

[fatcatsathat]

@cbaldwinjr I agree that Cliff Branch should be in the Hall of Fame. He was a speed demon in cleats. This was Stabler's last season with the Raiders.

[Runner688]

@fatcatsathat Cliff Branch actually was a 9.2 Speedster and the only Man who made it in Pro Football who can claim he beat the former World's Fastest Human BoB Hayes 1 time in a sprint. Though Hayes made the mistake of weight lifting on the same day and older BoB Hayes, Branch still beat him by 1 yard I saw the photo back in the New York Post in 1973.

[Bitburgslim]

Your right

If the Raiders were the New York Raiders half the 76' Championship team would be in the hall of fame.

Misplaced sports writers for the loss

[cbaldwinjr]

Same thing people have been saying about the A's of the mid-70s. How does a team win three straight World Series and not get the recognition that team did? But any time New York wins, it's over saturated, over inflated news. Reggie Jackson was already Mr. October in OAKLAND...hitting a monsterous HR off of Jon Matlack in Game 7 of the '73 Series. Same idea in play...the Raiders played in Oakland and most of the world hated them, so guys have been slighted. But you can't take away the results

[thundrwagn]

Nobody was faster than Cliff Branch. No one. :)

[SFFOOL76]

This clip proves it.

[Runner688]

@thundrwagn Bullet BoB Hayes was, he was thee World's Fastest Human, Branch never was, rememberr that.