Fictitious match-up (obviously): 1976 Raiders vs. 1985 Bears

[saturdaysarebetter]

In this fictitious match-up (obviously), who wins: the 1976 Raiders vs. the 1985 Bears?

Things to ponder:
- Would the Raiders great offensive line provide an immobile Kenny Stabler enough time to throw against the Bears pass rush?

- Would the Bears be able to cover Dave Casper? Would Casper expose the open areas of the Bears defense when they sold out on rushing Stabler?

- Provided Stabler had time to throw, could the Bears cover Fred Biletnikoff and Cliff Branch?

- Would either team be able to sustain an offensive drive or would it be a game of big plays?

No doubt, a fierce hard-hitting game.

How do you break this one down and how do you see it turning out?

[Brian wolf]

Unlike many teams in 1985, the 1976 Raiders had RBs that could block and pick up the blitz. Branch would have been a handful, the same as Gault. Payton would be tough for the Raiders to stop. Tatum and Atkinson would have had to stop him before he got loose. I dont think the Bears linebackers can cover prime Casper.

[Retro Rider]

FWIW, NFL Films had the '76 Raiders beating the '85 Bears 28-17 during ESPN's NFL Dream Season back in 1989. Cliff Branch had 10 receptions for over 200 yards:

https://youtu.be/J1x81Lui81Y?is=tF3c_akecQWZRwEv

[saturdaysarebetter]

Thank you Retro. I knew the Raiders could do it!

[SeahawkFever]

Unlike many teams in 1985, the 1976 Raiders had RBs that could block and pick up the blitz. Branch would have been a handful, the same as Gault. Payton would be tough for the Raiders to stop. Tatum and Atkinson would have had to stop him before he got loose. I dont think the Bears linebackers can cover prime Casper.

How would Ken Stabler's release compare to Dan Marino's?

When people talk about the 85 Bears they note that their lone loss was to Miami and that they couldn't keep up with Dan Marino's release.

Also, in an NFL Top 10 episode (the one on linebacking corps), Mike Ditka said that Mike Singletary and Wilber Marshall weren't that good at coverage. How were the guys in the secondary at that?

[Brian wolf]

Snake could dissect any defense and a good release as well but not like Marino's. In that Bears game, the Dolphins killed them throwing over the middle to Nat Moore. Then it opened up the outside game where Duper and Clayton beat single coverage.

Many believe the 1983 Raiders-Bears game was the most savage game in NFL history. I say the 1975 Raiders-Steelers championship game in Pittsburgh.

[7DnBrnc53]

Also, in an NFL Top 10 episode (the one on linebacking corps), Mike Ditka said that Mike Singletary and Wilber Marshall weren't that good at coverage. How were the guys in the secondary at that?

I don't know if their secondary was that great, either. Fencik and Duerson were good safeties, but I don't know if they were good at coverage. Also, at CB, they had Leslie Frazier and Mike Richardson. They were solid, but not Pro Bowlers (didn't Frazier's career end early due to injury?).

The Raiders had a good offense, but a key would be calling roll out passes, which the 85 Bears struggled with. I am not sure if Stabler was mobile enough at that point to do that.