Football Friday — The Bills and Raiders resume a long series

Football Friday at The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit

Week 2 of the 2011 NFL season sees the resumption of an old AFL rivalry, when the Oakland Raiders travel east to play the Buffalo Bills. These two charter AFL franchises first met in that old league’s inaugural 1960 season, and since then the Raiders have a slim 19-16 margin in regular season matchups.

Two of those wins came in the 1968 AFL campaign, and I have the highlights of both games for you. Up first is the week 1 matchup, in which Oakland obliterated Buffalo on their home turf, 48-6. Oakland QB Daryle Lamonica, playing in his second season since being traded by the Bills, amassed 167 passing yards and threw for once TD. 92 of those passing yards (and the touchdown) came courtesy three completions to Warren Wells, while RB Hewritt Dixon ran for 104 yards and a score.

The two teams squared off again on Thanksgiving day in Oakland, and fans of high-powered offense had little to be thankful for. The day was filled with field goals, and just one offensive touchdown (that by Buffalo’s Max Anderson). Oakland won 13-10 despite totaling a measly 186 offensive yards. The defense won the day for the Raiders —  especially George Atkinson, 33-yard interception return in the third period was the go-ahead score.