1980 Oakland Raiders season The 1980 Oakland Raiders season began with the team trying to improve on their 9 – 7 record from 1979 . The 1980 season is the 20th anniversary of the Oakland Raiders franchise and the season where they win their second Super Bowl . Staff . HC : Tom Flores Ast : Ray Willsey ( RB ) , Lew Erber ( WR ) , Sam Boghosian ( OL ) , Earl Leggett ( DL ) , Charlie Sumner ( LB ) , Chet Franklin ( DB ) , Steve Ortmayer ( ST ) , Bob Mischak ( OfA , pro sct ) , Joe Madro ( OfA , sct ) , Willie Brown ( DfA ) Regular season . Five weeks into the Raiders season , starting QB Dan Pastorini broke his leg in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs . 33 - year - old Jim Plunkett came off the bench to relieve Pastorini and had a terrible performance , throwing 5 interceptions in a 31 - 17 loss . The Raiders , thinking that Marc Wilson did not have the experience they wanted , called on Plunkett to start for the remainder of the year . In his first game as a starter , he completed eleven of fourteen passes with a touchdown and no interceptions , beginning one of the greatest comeback stories in the history of the sport . Plunkett guided Oakland to nine victories in eleven games and a playoff berth as a wild - card . Then , even more remarkably , rather than suffering an early defeat which marks the typical fate of NFL wild card teams , Plunkett led the Raiders to four playoff victories , including the Super Bowl , where they defeated the Philadelphia Eagles , 27 – 10 , in Super Bowl XV . Throwing for 261 yards and three touchdowns , Plunkett was named the game ' s MVP . At wide receiver , Cliff Branch re - emerged again as one of the games deep threats and had his best season since 1977 . Bob Chandler , the other WR , had one of his best seasons , leading the team in receptions ( 49 ) and TDs ( 10 ) . All - Pro veteran Raymond Chester at tight end also contributed with timely big plays throughout the year and in the post season . On defense , the Raiders were led by Lester Hayes who arguably had the best season for a cornerback in NFL history – 18 interceptions , 2 TDs in 19 games played . Oakland led the NFL in interceptions ( 35 ) and takeaways ( 52 ) and 2nd in sacks with 54 . Hayes was known for using " stickum " and would have stickem all over his upper body . After the season , the NFL prohibited its use . The Raiders ' Super Bowl win was the first by an NFL wild card team and the second by a non - division champion . The Kansas City Chiefs won Super Bowl IV after finishing second to the Raiders in the AFL West Division during the 1969 season . Game summaries . Week 14 : vs . Dallas Cowboys . Dallas cornerback Aaron Mitchell intercepted Jim Plunkett in the end zone with 1 : 44 remaining to seal the victory . Week 16 : at New York Giants . The Raiders clinched a wild card spot and a home playoff game with the win over the Giants . Oakland was now 9 - 2 since Jim Plunkett had taken over as the team ' s starting quarterback . " I ' m not really amazed , " Plunkett said . " I felt that this team had a chance to make it into the playoffs . I ' m just thankful I had these opportunities to play . I just kept plugging away and I think it turned out OK . " Chris Bahr opened scoring midway through the first quarter with a 41 - yard field goal . Ted Hendricks blocked Dave Jennings ' punt and Jeff Barnes fell on the ball at the New York 11 on the ensuing possession . Two plays later , Arthur Whittington swept around right end for Oakland ' s first score . Three plays into the Giants ' next drive , Gary Shirk caught a Scott Brunner pass but fumbled it away . Luckily , the Raiders couldn ' t capitalize as Bahr ' s 52 - yard field goal attempt was short . A Joe Danelo field goal put New York on the scoreboard but Plunkett completed passes of 12 and 11 yards to Bob Chandler before finding Cliff Branch caught a pass between Eric Felton and Steve Henry at the Giants ' 10 and strode in to give Oakland a 17 - 3 lead with 6 : 29 left in the first half . Three plays following the kickoff , Lester Hayes picked off Brunner and returned it 50 yards to the New York 19 . The Raiders failed to move and Bahr kicked a 38 - yard field goal to increase the lead to 20 - 3 with 2 : 52 left . New York scored their first touchdown on a touchdown pass from Scott Brunner to Leon Perry before halftime but Oakland took control on a 37 - yard bomb from Plunkett to Raymond Chester late in the third quarter . Billy Taylor scored in the closing seconds following a pass interference penalty by Hayes in the end zone but an onside kick attempt by Joe Danelo went right to Derrick Jensen , who sprinted into the end zone .