One of my favorite memories took place 53 years ago when my oldest brother, Jack, took me up to Lake Tahoe and rented a room so we could watch the regular season finale between the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders. Our household was all 49ers fans, and football seasons had always ended with disappointments.
The 49ers hadn’t been to the playoffs since 1957, a game they memorably lost while surrendering a 24-7 halftime lead before losing to the Detroit Lions, 31-27. But, in December of 1970, the 49ers had a chance to return to the playoffs. They would outdistance the Los Angeles Rams for the Western Division title in the first year the National Football League had rearranged their divisions through the merger with the American Football League. The new alignment had three divisions in each the American and National conferences.
The 49ers, who had split their two regular season meetings against the Rams that year, would clinch their division title with either a Rams loss, they were playing against the Giants in New York that day, or a win over the playoff bound Oakland Raiders. In a hotel room on one of the top floors of Harvey’s casino we watched the Rams clobber the Giants, 31-3. Now it came down to one thing for Dick Nolan’s Niners, beat the Raiders or end another disappointing season without a playoff berth.
The game was played in Oakland and the point spread was a pick ‘em. The Raiders were bound for the playoffs having already wrapped up their division title and in those days home field advantage for the playoffs was determined before the season began with one of the three divisions already determined if they were to host or be on the road for a playoff game. The Raiders were going to open the postseason at home against the Miami Dolphins in Don Shula’s first year coaching in Florida.
Jack and I weren’t thinking about the Raiders having nothing to play for, we were interested in what the 49ers did have to play for. Win and advance; lose and go home.
It was a glorious day for us 49ers fans, on the Raiders home field San Francisco sliced, diced and mutilated Oakland in a playoff clinching 38 to 7 triumph. I recall driving home that night and when we went under the road sign that listed the distance to San Francisco and Oakland I suggested to Jack, “We ought to change those numbers to San Francisco 38, Oakland 7.
Three years later, I was employed by the Oakland Raiders and we were preparing to open the 1973 playoffs against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The previous season, the Steelers had eliminated the Raiders from the playoffs on the dramatic Immaculate Reception that saw Franco Harris make a miracle catch and score. Ollie Spencer, the Raiders offensive line coach, was sitting in the chair in front of my desk at the Raiders practice field when I mentioned that playoff game between the 49ers and Raiders in 1970.
“We didn’t even game plan for that game,” Spencer said. “We spent that week studying film on our likely postseason opponents. That was the only time I ever saw Al Davis not interested in winning, almost thinking that a win by the 49ers and a playoff berth would be good for Bay Area football fan interest.”
“Al Davis not intent on winning?” I said in disbelief. “I can’t picture that.”
“It was the only time I ever saw it,” Spencer concluded.
This week, no doubt, some teams are in the same posture the Raiders took in 1970. If a team is assured of their playoff seed and playing one last game, particularly against a team that needs a win, we might be able to expect a result like the one enjoyed by San Francisco in 1970.
While the motivation remains the same, the recognition of this edge for the team in need is much more known to the gambling world now. Even though the Raiders didn’t need it and the 49ers did in 1970, the spread on that game was a pick ‘em.
This week, the Baltimore Ravens host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday and are assured of the top seed in the American Football Conference playoffs. They have nothing to play for, like the Raiders in 1970, so how much game planning do you think they are doing for their contest on Saturday against the Pittsburgh Steelers?
Now, there is a significant difference between the Ravens meeting the Steelers without preparation and the Raiders hosting the 49ers in 1970. The Raiders had never played the 49ers, they were previously in different leagues and that year in different conferences. So a lack of preparation was more relevant than the Ravens versus the Steelers, squads that play each other at least twice every season and earlier this year found the Steelers winning in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers, unlike the 49ers of 53 years ago, are not assured of a postseason date even with a win. They would also have to couple their victory with a loss by either the Buffalo Bills or Jacksonville Jaguars.
Today, the bettors are much more aware of the motivational aspects based on playoff possibilities. Using 1970 point spreads as our guide, the Ravens would be favored this week over the Steelers based more on talent than situation. But, while they had the Giants favored over the Rams when Los Angeles needed the win plus help to crack the playoff field in 1970, Los Angeles rolled to an easy victory by four touchdowns in New York. This week, the Steelers are favored on the road against the team currently considered the best in football, the Ravens.
With history and motivation being our guide, this is a blowout victory for the Steelers while the Ravens rest key players and probably spent the week preparing for possible playoff opponents.
Qoxhi Picks: Pittsburgh Steelers (-3½) over Baltimore Ravens