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The 1970s began the Raiders' ascent towards their current status as the winningest franchise in NFL history, starting with their 1977 Super Bowl XI win over the Minnesota Vikings. In spite of success, head coach John Madden left to pursue a career as a television football commentator.
In 1982, the Oakland Raiders moved to Los Angeles, California to play their home games at the Los Angeles Coliseum[?]. In 1987, the Raiders drafted two-sport athlete Bo Jackson[?] after he originally decided not to play pro football in 1986 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted him in the first round. Al Davis's perceived infatuation with Jackson caused a major rift between Davis and star running back Marcus Allen[?], who eventually left to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. This also marked a somewhat down period in Raider franchise history, both on the field and, more importantly, off the field. This period was marked by the failure of troubled quarterback Todd Marinovich[?], the departure of Marcus Allen in 1993, and the career-ending injury of Bo Jackson in 1994. In the same year, the Raiders moved back to Oakland.
By 2000, the Raiders began to reclaim their position among the NFL elite teams, highlighted by the emergence of veteran quarterback Rich Gannon[?] as one of the best all-around quarterbacks in Oakland Raiders history.
The Raiders acquired all-time leading receiver Jerry Rice[?] prior to the 2001 season. They finished 10-6, but lost their divisional playoff game to the eventual Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in the controversial "tuck" game, in which an apparent fumble by the Patriots, that was recovered by the Raiders, was ruled to be an incomplete pass.
The Raiders finished the 2002 season with an 11-5 record and clinched the 1st seed for the playoffs. Gannon was named MVP of the league. The Raiders made their fifth Super Bowl following the season, only to lose to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 48-21.
Oakland Raiders web site (http://www.raiders.com)
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