Jim Plunkett: Right Place, Right Time To Win

When I was doing some research on another homework assignment, I came across something interesting. Jim Plunkett, for what it was worth, had some great timing.

If you went down through the passing leaders for the 1983 season when Plunkett got the Raiders to the Super Bowl, he wasn't the leader for Passing yards.

Or touchdowns.

Or Passing Rating.

Or passing yards per game.

In fact, of the stats measured, he only appeared near the top in yards lost on sacks, interceptions, Sacks, yards per pass attempt, and longest pass for the season.

So, how did this fellow manage to win up playing in, and winning, Super Bowl XVIII?

Well, he had several things going for him. One, was the league's third ranked defense. Across the board, the Raiders didn't play nice, or gave up without a fight. They only allowed 338 points all year, good for 13th in the league. And a differential of 104 points, an average of over six points a game difference, fifth best.

For an offense, it wasn't exactly easy to figure out how the Raiders were going to come at you. They could run at you with Marcus Allen, Frank Hawkins, or Kenny King, they could throw at guys like Cliff Branch, Todd Christensen, Malcom Barnwell, Dokie Williams, Calvin Muhammed, or even Don Hasselbeck on a whim (yes, that's Matt's Dad).

It doesn't really show how unique this team was until you realize what Plunkett did.

For the regular season, he had 20 TDs, 18 Interceptions, and only 2,935 yards. The leading passer, for yardage, was Lynn Dickey of the Packers with 4458 yards. The AFC leader was Bill Kenney, 4348. How did these two QBs do?

Dickey's Packers went 8-8 and never made the playoffs.

Bill Kenney's Chiefs went 6-10. No playoffs either.

Do you think the stats helped either of these two QBs? Bill's Stats got him into the Pro Bowl. Lynn Dickey meanwhile had the league lead in TDs, INTs, and yardage.

The second aspect that makes it even more unique was that it was Plunkett's second Super Bowl trip. On his first season with leading the Raiders, came after not starting a game since 1977. Taking over after Dan Pastorini went down in the Week Five game, Jim went 9-2, and on a four-game trip in the postseason.

Again, you didn't see Plunkett's name appear a lot. It helped the fact that he didn't play in five of the games, went 18 TD and 16 INTs, and again, charted on Sacks, yards lost, and a long pass of 86 yards.

The season leaders for yardage? Dan Fouts, whom the Raiders went through. Brian Sipe, again, through to the Super Bowl. And Archie Manning, who's Saints went 1-15.

What? Yes, the stat line for Archie actually reads, 3716 yards, most in the NFC. 23 TDs, 20 Interceptions.

One win, and 15 losses.

So, figure this out for the statistics people.

How can a guy with only 18 TDs for the season, win the Super Bowl, and the League Leader for yardage wind up going 1-15?

For Jim Plunkett, it was the right place, right time.

He retired with a 2-0 record in the Super Bowl, one MVP award, and a lot of Silver and Black fans are deeply thankful he showed in the nick of time.