Fansided
Fansided

The Greatest Villain In the History of All 32 NFL Teams

By Erik Lambert

of the New York Jets of the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on November 22, 2007 in Irving, Texas
of the New York Jets of the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on November 22, 2007 in Irving, Texas /
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Al Davis (July 4, 1929 “u2013 October 8, 2011) principal owner and general manager of the Oakland Raiders during the American Football Conference West game against the Denver Broncos on 3 December 1989 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, United States. The Raiders won the game 16 – 13. (Photo by Ken Levine/Allsport/Getty Images)
Al Davis (July 4, 1929 “u2013 October 8, 2011) principal owner and general manager of the Oakland Raiders during the American Football Conference West game against the Denver Broncos on 3 December 1989 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California, United States. The Raiders won the game 16 – 13. (Photo by Ken Levine/Allsport/Getty Images) /

Los Angeles Chargers

Al Davis . 17. player. 13. . OWN. Oakland Raiders

The Chargers were one of the early elite teams of the old AFL in the 1960s, winning a championship in 1963. That began to change in 1966 when Al Davis stepped down as commissioner of the league and took over the Oakland Raiders as part owner and general manager. From that point on, he became the bane of their existence in San Diego.

From 1966 through 1978, the Chargers failed to make the playoffs once. During that same span, the Raiders made it 10 times, reached two Super Bowls and won a Lombardi trophy. They also held a record of 20-4-2 against San Deigo in that span. Amazing as it may sound, the worst was still to come.

The Chargers finally turned things around in 1979, led by head coach Don Coryell and quarterback Dan Fouts. These days most people say the best chance for that great team to win a championship was 1981 with that electric, record-breaking offense. The truth is their best chance was the year before. San Diego was in the AFC championship and at home.

That was their best opportunity, and the Raiders stole it from them in a 34-27 heartbreaker. It remains the only time the two teams have met in the playoffs. Oakland holds a decisive 63-52-2 edge in the all-time series with three Super Bowls to none. All of that can be attributed to what Al Davis built.

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