That game has a really personal significance for me because it was the first football game I had ever seen. Even more so because my Dad and I bonded over that game when I was little. It's kind of a long story, but it's the reason I don't use the word step when I talk about my Dad.
Branch has the regular season numbers and the clutch playoff moments, I would say he merits the NFL HOF more than Raider WRs like Tim Brown and even Fred Biletnikoff. "Speed kills," indeed. Let's not forget that Branch is one of only 13 players in NFL history to have a 99-yard TD catch, and he was 35 years old when he did it!
Cliff Branch: 183 games; 501 rec.; 8,685 yds; 67 TDs; 3 SB rings Lynn Swann: 118 games; 336 rec.; 5,462 yds; 51 TDs; 4 SB rings Swann only beats Branch in one category. Why is Cliff Branch not in the Hall of Fame? IMHO, Lynn Swann is the least deserving player in Canton. The fact he's in and L.C. Greenwood is not is a joke. Raiders fans whine about Jim Plunkett not being in the HOF, who's not deserving; yet not a peep about the very worthy Cliff Branch.
I remember this game. Monday night game and the Saints had a chance to win the NFC West. The Saints had a 28-7 lead and the Superdome was loud. I stopped watching the game and was preparing for school the next day(was 11 at the time). The game was on in my mom's room and when i saw the game was tied, i stopped what i was doing to watch the rest of the game.
I remember at one point Howard Cosell gave the score while going into a station break then said, "But Stable is hot!". He saw the Raider's comeback coming.
So the Saints losing was all YOUR fault for jinxing them 😋 j/k But sometimes I feel the same way about a team winning or losing because I watch or don't watch.
It probably helped that Branch's best friend was Marc Davis, son of Al Davis and current owner of the Raiders. Marc actually represented Branch against his dad in a contact dispute.
I was at that game on a Monday night. Another point is that The Saints would have clinched their first playoff appearance in team history, so.....it was excruciatingly crushing for Saints fans.
Just wait until 1980--the Saints had a 28-point lead going into the half and looked like they were going to win their first game at Candlestick against the 49ers (the 1980 Saints were AWFUL). Then, the 49ers scored 31 unanswered points and came back to beat the Saints in OT, 38-35. And the QB for the 49ers was none other than Joe Montana, who would be a nightmare for Saints fans in the 1980s...
Double the stats of Lynn Swann, 3 rings, and still #4 all time in Post Season receiving yards. Only Irvin, Edelman and Rice are ahead of him. Why not in the HOF.
That's easy, Al Davis. The league still hasn't forgiven Davis and now that he is dead, they punish his players Under any other owner, Cliff Branch would already be in the HOF.
Swann was phenomenal on a team that had some bad qb play until Bradshaw finally got it together later in his career. With that said, Branch was great too.
@@ronsmac Dude, that isn’t even close to being accurate. In Swann’s 2nd, 5th and 6th seasons Terry Bradshaw made the Pro Bowl and the 3rd & 4th he led them to the AFC Title and division round respectively. He didn’t have any bad quarterback play.
@@neneshubby Bradshaw wasn’t accurate and was getting benched and hurt. With the exception of 75. He found himself in 78 when the rules changed but a better qb and swann would have been even more amazing
Credit to Coach Flores who kept it “in house”, didn’t say anything detrimental to the press, and still had firm control of the team. Flores’ induction into the HOF is well deserved - hopefully Cliff Branch will follow him into The Hall soon. It would be awesome for him to finally make it, albeit, posthumously.
If we're being real here, Flores got inducted for not being white. Literally nobody thought he was worthy for decades, and then all of a sudden last year he was because SJWs. BTW I could never figure out why a coach with two rings was regarded as "no freaking way are we putting HIM in!" for 30 years or so, but sometimes the right choice is made for the wrong reasons.
Of all the games I remember from my childhood, this game is the most vivid. Ask any Saints fan who was alive in 1979 about the hype going into this Monday Night matchup and you will hear the same thing, it was huge. Then Cliff Branch broke that 66 yard touchdown and the tears welled up in my eyes. Sadly, the Saints were not to make the playoffs. Oh the early promise of that ill fated season.
Dr. Z tried to keep Stabler out of the HOF. Cliff Should be in, Art Powell, Jack Tatum. Basically they are keeping Tatum out because of what happened to Stingley. Branch was helped out a lot in his Career by Tom Flores especially because Flores was the Receivers coach and under Flores Branch developed into a HOF Receiver. the only three guys you really can compare him to are Stallworth, Swann and Pearson all in the HOF. Cliff has 3 SB Rings. Cliff is still 11th in playoff Receptions. In Todays game where it is far too pass happy back then a lot of teams ran it 60 to 70% of the the time. plus they played less playoff games. many of those years Branch played there was one wild card team. They look at all the inflated Receiving numbers of the players today and Branch gets forgotten. There are other players such as Gary Collins of the Browns and Art Powell of the Raiders that deserve to be in. How is Lester Hayes not in.
@@championsofados4717 Then Swann, Stallworth, and Pearson should not be in. They let Waterfield, Layne, Namath, Bradshaw, Stabler was better then all of them. Ask Larry Csonka, The only reason it took so long for Stabler was because of Degenerate HOF Voters like Dr. Z. Cliff Branch vs 3 HOF Receivers who played in his Era REC Yards Tds Avg PS Rec yards Tds PB AP Cliff Branch 501 8685 67 17.3 73 1289 5 4 3 Post Season Rec still 11th All Time Lynn Swann 336 5462 51 16.3 48 907 9 3 1 John Stallworth 537 8723 63 16.2 57 1054 12 3 1 Drew Pearson 489 7822 48 16.0 67 1105 8 3 3 Branch has less Regular Season Catches then just Stallworth How are these 3 guys in and he is not.
@@MerensWorld I have this sick, sad feeling that in the very near future Dr. Z will be seen as a bigot and his opinions on everything will be declared completely invalid because of it. Rewriting history to suit their narrative is what SJWs do.
I remember watching that game live. It was such a train wreck at the beginning. The Saints made the mistake of getting a bit too rough with The Snake, and pissed him off. Suddenly, his terrible quarterbacking was gone and he was realigned. Branch definitely helped a lot, but my memory of the comeback was that it had more to do with Stabler than Cliff. Not taking anything away from Branch, he was the greatest deep threat in football but could make the tough grab underneath and hang on when needed.
That game against the Saints was part of Raiders' legend. I was attending UCLA at that time and gave up on the game at 28-7. I came home to find that they had won. Great report!
I called into Ask the Raiders. A radio show on the Raiders station KGO. The show was hosted by Joe Starkey and he would have Al LoCasale in studio. It was Wednesday night just days before the Saints game. I asked what was wrong with Cliff Branch? LoCasale replied that Cliff was being double covered on every play because of the double tight end offense. I don't know what changes were made but Cliff just went nuts when he finally got into the Monday night game.
I got to meet Cliff Branch in August of 2018 when he was at a local Wal Mart signing autographs. Real awesome guy, I asked him when was it going to be his turn to be in the hall of fame? He told me 2020 was supposed to be his year. Sadly a year later in August of 2019 just a few days shy of the 1 year to the day I met him, he passed away. Here we are in 2021, still not in the Hall of Fame.
I saw him at an autograph signing in 2003 myself, along with Jack Tatum and Hall of Famers Ray Guy and Dave Casper. I tried taking a picture of Branch, but it was blurry. Further proof of how fast he was.
I remember that game. The Raiders were getting blown out by halftime and Howard Cosell was going on about how they were finished. The Raiders came back and blew up the scoreboard. I was only in the 8th grade but it gave me gray hair.
Yeah, I think Branch should be in the Hall of Fame; he retired with the most catches and yardage in NFL postseason history, a testament to his ability & the franchise he played with (he lit it up in the regular season as well). That's enough for me. Too bad Branch is gone now, so even if he is elected, he won't be there for the induction. A real shame.
Cliff was my favorite player. I was a little too young to remember watching this game live, but my dad said I was going nuts. RIP Cliff. #CliffBranch2HoF
@@TheStapleGunKid , I might go for Henry Ellard, but not Irving Fryar. He strikes me as a guy who piled up statistics by hanging around a long time. Meanwhile, Harold Jackson led the NFL in receptions, yards, and touchdowns through the ENTIRE DECADE OF THE '70S. Where's the hue and cry for HIS enshrinement?
@@shannonrhett3304 I agree on Jackson, but I still think Fryar deserves to go in. 12,785 yards, 15 yards per catch, 84 touchdowns, plus another 2,055 yards and 3 touchdowns returning punts. Hard to make a case against that. Overall, the receiver position is pretty stacked with people who should go in. There's also Jimmy Smith, Steve Smith, and Torry Holt.
It's amazing that Cliff Branch isn't in the hall. All those great Raider teams that played in the AFC Championship. Who played in ALL 3 Super Bowls. That had 2 touchdowns. Sadly whenever Cliff gets in just like with the Snake it won't be when they are alive. I mean both Madden in Flores are in the hall and Cliff isn't.
Cliff Branch should definitely be in the Hall of Fame. His stats are excellent considering he played the early part of his career in a run oriented era with mostly two receiver sets and as it stated in the video at times a one receiver two tightend set. Plus the rules when he played was way tougher for receivers then in today's NFL. Today's rules way favor the receivers and offensive side of the ball. I mean 4 receiver sets and way more limited contact and teams throwing the ball 45 to 50 times a game, today's players are going to have way better stats. He Also played on 3 Super Bowl Championship teams and scored Touchdowns in some of those games. He was on 3 AFC Championship teams as well. He was in several Pro Bowls. He led the NFL in receiving one season and was in the top 10 in his prime. I mean I think some of these younger generation writers and fans only look at stats and try and compare it with today's elevated stats which is very unfair. The guy was a staple in that Radiers organization and a huge part of their success.
Yeah, it really is a disgrace. Ken Stabler only recently got in but it still took him an absurdly long time to get in (well after his death), which is still disgraceful. The Raiders aren't the only ones with players that should be in the HOF but aren't, but Branch not being there is one of the most obvious ones that are getting shafted.
Its a disgrace and the numbers prove it. Swann, Stallworth, and Pearson. All of Branch's stats are on par or better then those 3. Branch was more durable, was Faster, and was Tougher.
Meh. It's hard for me to get all worked up about it when there are now dozens of players in the same situation stuck in a massive backlog due to the HOF's absurdly small yearly limit and then wasting part of that limit on owners and now even team scouts. I've got my own personal table to bang (Zach Thomas).
@@MerensWorld There's NO " on par " Cliff Branch had better numbers than Pearson and Chuck Noll's ballerina ( Swann ), Stallworth caught 36 more passes than Branch yet he only had 38 more yards receiving so Branch's average yards per catch were better than Stallworth's and Branch caught more TD passes but Branch was selected to more Pro Bowls and Branch also had more 1st Team All-Pro selections. At the time of his retirement Branch held almost every postseason receiving record, Cliff Branch should have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 1990, in his first year of eligibility
@@davidcobb2693 I was trying to be nice. I know Swann is an untough ballerina. And that Branch is better then all three of them. I remember this old NFLs greatest moments segment on Branch showing Flores training him on the sidelines of a game. Speed Kills and Branch proved it. I think Branch gets overshadowed by the fact that he played with Two HOF receivers in TE Dave Casper and WR Fred Biletnikoff and gets overshadowed in his later years by the Presence of Marcus Allen and Todd Christensen on those teams. In 1980 he teamed with Bob Chandler, then the Raiders Traded Casper as they were so deep at TE at the time with Chester, Ramsey, and Christensen. Branch playing at a time when teams were not throwing 60% of the time. I have been doing research on that in the SB Era. Plus tracking the playoff and non playoff teams who had 60% or more pass plays in a season. It went from 1967 with 4 teams to 1980 when the Saints after finishing with a respectable record in 1979 with a Balanced offense went all pass happy, Traded Muncie and won 1 game. The 1st playoff team to have 60% pass plays was the Oilers in their Run and shoot era. another guy much like Branch who should be in the HOF is Harold Jackson. but some people my wrongly thing Desean or Vincent were better then him.
1. Official Jaguar Gator 9 made a video about a game that saved Roman Gabriel’s career. 2. Official Jaguar Gator 9 made a video about the playoff scenario in the other conference that season.
Branch was a solid receiver in an era where offenses were more balanced and was as good a possession receiver as he was a deep threat not to mention he played in an era when defensive backs didn't get flagged if they looked crosseyed at a receiver. He certainly belongs in the HOF. Personally I think it's anti-Raider bias that's keeping him out. It's this same bias that kept Flores and Stabler out for so long and is keeping Plunkett out now. And how is Jack Tatum not in the hall? Oh, I need to point out that I'm no Raider fan. I'm a football fan who can't stand how great players are kept out of the Hall because they didn't play in Dallas, NY, or SF.
Branch and Tatum in Canton; yes, absolutely. Jim Plunkett, absolutely not. Joe Theismann has better career numbers, save Super Bowls, and in no way is Joe a Hall of Famer.
That game got him out of the dog house but by no means did it save his career. He did way too much to be dismissed. Way that game did was open Flores eyes. Sometimes it takes separation to bring appreciation.
Yeah, anyone watching football in the 70s knew Branch was a top 10 receiver. You had Swann, Stallworth, Harold Jackson, Mel Gray, Branch, Drew Pearson, Isaac Curtis, Ken Burroughs. Speed wise it was Branch, Burroughs, Curtis, Jackson, Gray. I'm talking early to late 70s. Look at these highlights. He ran a 9.2 100. His trot was that of a track guy. Yet he could catch with best. The Raiders were so balanced that this dog's stats weren't greater. I'd venture to say he was Tyreek Hill before Hill. That fantastic sign Raider fans put in the end zone was perfect...Speed Kills. I know I didn't mention Roger Carr. He was lethal but for a very short while. Harold Carmichael suffered poor QB play until Jaworski got there but that was when the decade was more than 1/2/over. He also wasn't feared because they had no running game until Wilbert Montgomery. I do want to shout out to Billy "White Shoes" Johnson.
If Branch gets in, he should be the absolute last WR who played most of his career before 1980 to be inducted. 1970-77 was called the Dead Ball Era for a reason.
@@DolFan316 Got It! "Sea of Hands" catch by Clarence Davis in 1974 still hurts so Branch must not be allowed in. Stat wise, he has overall better stats than Lynn Swann yet no one questions whether Swann should be in. He and Swann are back forth amongst averages. I also get that the HOF still, IMO, votes stats and personna. No question Swann was more media savvy.
Another reason I want him in Canton. He'd be the 3rd Arena League vet in the Hall; joining Joe DeLamielleure, who played a couple of games with the Charlotte Rage; and Kurt Warner, who starred with the Iowa Barnstormers.
I kind of assumed he was in the Hall actually. Surprised he isn't in there considering how impressive he was throughout the 70's. He was "the" receiver of that decade along with Swann. Also being an Eagles fan I remember the Super Bowl very well.
He also spent time in the Arena league with the Arizona Rattlers. What many don't realize was that he was barely 5'6" (I've met him in real life and we were at eye level). Players height & weight were often bluffed for fan appeal
actually ive met him in 1984 at taft union high school when some of the raiders came to play the teachers in a charity basketball game, very cool guy,he went around 5-10 and still had sub 4.3 speed at 36, needs to be in the hof
A little over a year later Branch would catch a pair of touchdowns in the Super Bowl in that same venue....a side note the after leading 35-14 the Saints would allow 70 straight points. Getting shut out at home by the Chargers 35-0 and falling behind the Rams 7-0 in the season finale...
Cliff Branch should be in the HOF Period!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Compare his numbers to that of Lynn Swann, John Stallworth and now Drew Pearson who are now all in the HOF. Also Art Powell should be in the HOF.
79 was a pivotal year for the raiders. They had just come off a decade and a half of excellence. They lost Madden..... Barely eked out a winning season. Missed the playoffs two straight years. The 80 team wasn't expected to do much as well...... We all know how that went.
Cliff Branch was truly elite. No question he deserves to be in the HOF. But I don't think he's the most deserving of those not in. Henry Ellard and Irving Fryar deserve it more.
Go watch the catch he makes in Superbowl 15, better than Swann's catch. He comes across the field to take away an interception and turn it into a touch down.
With Branch in I'd love to see Stanley Morgan make it though it's unlikely even though he's one of the best when stacked against contemporaries with only Largent and Lofton ahead. But for deep threat Morgan is unprecedented
I don't care how bad he was playing. If the Raiders cut him, there would have been 31 teams waiting outside the door to snap him up. Also, don't sleep on Fred Belitnekoff's retirement (to Canada) adding pressure to Branch
I remember watching this game and the announcers talking about Chuck Muncie's issue with fumbling. in fact, right before Muncie's forth quarter critical fumble, as he was running, one of the Raiders from the sidelines, yelled out "fumble", maybe it was wishful thinking because of his history, but Muncie did fumble. As the network was going to commercial break, I believe it was Meredith that said,: "did you hear that? someone said fumble...intresting factoid; another is that Branch should be in the HOF.
Swann got into the Hall of Fame due to his incredible playoff games and guess what you know who was bad ass in the NFL Playoffs Cliff Fucking Branch. Hey NFL, Pete Rozelle is dead, so is Al Davis bury this hatchet
The writers are the problem. Need a veterans committee just like baseball. Have the hall of famers be the selectors after 15 years on the writers ballot
Cliff Branch vs 3 HOF Receivers who played in his Era REC Yards Tds Avg PS Rec yards Tds PB AP Cliff Branch 501 8685 67 17.3 73 1289 5 4 3 Post Season Rec still 11th All Time Lynn Swann 336 5462 51 16.3 48 907 9 3 1 John Stallworth 537 8723 63 16.2 57 1054 12 3 1 Drew Pearson 489 7822 48 16.0 67 1105 8 3 3 Branch has less Regular Season Catches then just Stallworth How are these 3 guys in and he is not.
Clifford Branch should be in the Hall of Fame! R.I.P SPEED KILLS #21 ☠☠☠
That game has a really personal significance for me because it was the first football game I had ever seen. Even more so because my Dad and I bonded over that game when I was little. It's kind of a long story, but it's the reason I don't use the word step when I talk about my Dad.
John Madden said "Most guys will tell you they can beat their guy during the game, Branch was saying it in team meetings, and he was right."
An absolute joke that Branch isn’t a Hall of Famer. He was quite simply the most feared wide receiver of the 70’s.
😂😂😂
There were several receivers that were just as good if not better than him dude John stallworth being one
Drew Pearson and Isaac Curtis were also pretty damn good
Branch has the regular season numbers and the clutch playoff moments, I would say he merits the NFL HOF more than Raider WRs like Tim Brown and even Fred Biletnikoff. "Speed kills," indeed. Let's not forget that Branch is one of only 13 players in NFL history to have a 99-yard TD catch, and he was 35 years old when he did it!
Brown yes, Biletnikoff no. And > than Stallworth & Swann
@@realCaptainSanta , in your wild, wet dreams. F🤬ck that Raider propaganda.
Cliff Branch forever #21!
Branch was absolutely awesome! So sad that he recently passed away. Definitely deserves to be in the HOF.
Cliff Branch: 183 games; 501 rec.; 8,685 yds; 67 TDs; 3 SB rings
Lynn Swann: 118 games; 336 rec.; 5,462 yds; 51 TDs; 4 SB rings
Swann only beats Branch in one category. Why is Cliff Branch not in the Hall of Fame? IMHO, Lynn Swann is the least deserving player in Canton. The fact he's in and L.C. Greenwood is not is a joke. Raiders fans whine about Jim Plunkett not being in the HOF, who's not deserving; yet not a peep about the very worthy Cliff Branch.
I remember this game. Monday night game and the Saints had a chance to win the NFC West. The Saints had a 28-7 lead and the Superdome was loud. I stopped watching the game and was preparing for school the next day(was 11 at the time). The game was on in my mom's room and when i saw the game was tied, i stopped what i was doing to watch the rest of the game.
I remember at one point Howard Cosell gave the score while going into a station break then said, "But Stable is hot!". He saw the Raider's comeback coming.
So the Saints losing was all YOUR fault for jinxing them 😋
j/k But sometimes I feel the same way about a team winning or losing because I watch or don't watch.
It probably helped that Branch's best friend was Marc Davis, son of Al Davis and current owner of the Raiders. Marc actually represented Branch against his dad in a contact dispute.
People are familiar with Mark Davis and Al Davis
@@Big_Chief38 Most people are not aware that Marc represented Cliff in a contract dispute with Al.
I was at that game on a Monday night. Another point is that The Saints would have clinched their first playoff appearance in team history, so.....it was excruciatingly crushing for Saints fans.
Just wait until 1980--the Saints had a 28-point lead going into the half and looked like they were going to win their first game at Candlestick against the 49ers (the 1980 Saints were AWFUL). Then, the 49ers scored 31 unanswered points and came back to beat the Saints in OT, 38-35. And the QB for the 49ers was none other than Joe Montana, who would be a nightmare for Saints fans in the 1980s...
The bench is the greatest motivator in the world.
His career was going off a Cliff and then he grabbed a Branch with this game, saving himself...lol
Que boboncio eres huevetz
Well done!
What a ironic yet, perfect description lol
*SMACKS*
R.I.P. Cliff Branch 🙏🏾 You should be in the Hall of Fame
Double the stats of Lynn Swann, 3 rings, and still #4 all time in Post Season receiving yards. Only Irvin, Edelman and Rice are ahead of him. Why not in the HOF.
That's easy, Al Davis. The league still hasn't forgiven Davis and now that he is dead, they punish his players
Under any other owner, Cliff Branch would already be in the HOF.
Swann was phenomenal on a team that had some bad qb play until Bradshaw finally got it together later in his career. With that said, Branch was great too.
@@ronsmac Dude, that isn’t even close to being accurate. In Swann’s 2nd, 5th and 6th seasons Terry Bradshaw made the Pro Bowl and the 3rd & 4th he led them to the AFC Title and division round respectively. He didn’t have any bad quarterback play.
@@neneshubby Bradshaw wasn’t accurate and was getting benched and hurt. With the exception of 75. He found himself in 78 when the rules changed but a better qb and swann would have been even more amazing
And all those guys had benefits of extra playoff round
Credit to Coach Flores who kept it “in house”, didn’t say anything detrimental to the press, and still had firm control of the team. Flores’ induction into the HOF is well deserved - hopefully Cliff Branch will follow him into The Hall soon. It would be awesome for him to finally make it, albeit, posthumously.
If we're being real here, Flores got inducted for not being white. Literally nobody thought he was worthy for decades, and then all of a sudden last year he was because SJWs.
BTW I could never figure out why a coach with two rings was regarded as "no freaking way are we putting HIM in!" for 30 years or so, but sometimes the right choice is made for the wrong reasons.
It is really a crying shame he is not in the HOF!!
Of all the games I remember from my childhood, this game is the most vivid. Ask any Saints fan who was alive in 1979 about the hype going into this Monday Night matchup and you will hear the same thing, it was huge. Then Cliff Branch broke that 66 yard touchdown and the tears welled up in my eyes. Sadly, the Saints were not to make the playoffs. Oh the early promise of that ill fated season.
You are right. He should be in the Hall of Fame.
branch not being in the HOF.....every voter for the HOF SHOULD BE ASHAMED
Dr. Z tried to keep Stabler out of the HOF. Cliff Should be in, Art Powell, Jack Tatum. Basically they are keeping Tatum out because of what happened to Stingley. Branch was helped out a lot in his Career by Tom Flores especially because Flores was the Receivers coach and under Flores Branch developed into a HOF Receiver. the only three guys you really can compare him to are Stallworth, Swann and Pearson all in the HOF. Cliff has 3 SB Rings. Cliff is still 11th in playoff Receptions. In Todays game where it is far too pass happy back then a lot of teams ran it 60 to 70% of the the time. plus they played less playoff games. many of those years Branch played there was one wild card team. They look at all the inflated Receiving numbers of the players today and Branch gets forgotten. There are other players such as Gary Collins of the Browns and Art Powell of the Raiders that deserve to be in. How is Lester Hayes not in.
no,, hall of VERRY GOOD had several great years but not lon enough,, sorry,, but then again they let ken stabler in wtf?????
@@championsofados4717 another raider hater
@@championsofados4717 Then Swann, Stallworth, and Pearson should not be in. They let Waterfield, Layne, Namath, Bradshaw, Stabler was better then all of them. Ask Larry Csonka, The only reason it took so long for Stabler was because of Degenerate HOF Voters like Dr. Z.
Cliff Branch vs 3 HOF Receivers who played in his Era
REC Yards Tds Avg PS Rec yards Tds PB AP
Cliff Branch 501 8685 67 17.3 73 1289 5 4 3
Post Season Rec still 11th All Time
Lynn Swann 336 5462 51 16.3 48 907 9 3 1
John Stallworth 537 8723 63 16.2 57 1054 12 3 1
Drew Pearson 489 7822 48 16.0 67 1105 8 3 3
Branch has less Regular Season Catches then just Stallworth
How are these 3 guys in and he is not.
@@MerensWorld I have this sick, sad feeling that in the very near future Dr. Z will be seen as a bigot and his opinions on everything will be declared completely invalid because of it. Rewriting history to suit their narrative is what SJWs do.
8:57 -- I agree; it's my favorite Cliff Branch TD (and there were certainly other good ones) because it shows his cyclone-like speed so dramatically.
I remember watching that game live. It was such a train wreck at the beginning. The Saints made the mistake of getting a bit too rough with The Snake, and pissed him off. Suddenly, his terrible quarterbacking was gone and he was realigned. Branch definitely helped a lot, but my memory of the comeback was that it had more to do with Stabler than Cliff.
Not taking anything away from Branch, he was the greatest deep threat in football but could make the tough grab underneath and hang on when needed.
Branch is finally in the HOF this year. Long overdue. It's a shame he is no longer with us to have received this honor in life.
Mark Davis lived with Cliff Branch after representing him in contract negotiations. Al Davis kicked him out of his house for that.
That game against the Saints was part of Raiders' legend. I was attending UCLA at that time and gave up on the game at 28-7. I came home to find that they had won.
Great report!
I called into Ask the Raiders. A radio show on the Raiders station KGO. The show was hosted by Joe Starkey and he would have Al LoCasale in studio. It was Wednesday night just days before the Saints game. I asked what was wrong with Cliff Branch? LoCasale replied that Cliff was being double covered on every play because of the double tight end offense.
I don't know what changes were made but Cliff just went nuts when he finally got into the Monday night game.
I got to meet Cliff Branch in August of 2018 when he was at a local Wal Mart signing autographs. Real awesome guy, I asked him when was it going to be his turn to be in the hall of fame? He told me 2020 was supposed to be his year. Sadly a year later in August of 2019 just a few days shy of the 1 year to the day I met him, he passed away. Here we are in 2021, still not in the Hall of Fame.
I saw him at an autograph signing in 2003 myself, along with Jack Tatum and Hall of Famers Ray Guy and Dave Casper. I tried taking a picture of Branch, but it was blurry. Further proof of how fast he was.
@@CTubeMan I wish I could've met Jack Tatum.
Cliff Branch was so good for so long, but most of his career was before my time.
This game was a classic comeback for the Raiders.
Let's spread the word and get this man some more subscribers on this channel. One of the best on RUclips
I remember that game. The Raiders were getting blown out by halftime and Howard Cosell was going on about how they were finished. The Raiders came back and blew up the scoreboard. I was only in the 8th grade but it gave me gray hair.
Sadly, as a Saints fan I remember this game well.
Yeah, I think Branch should be in the Hall of Fame; he retired with the most catches and yardage in NFL postseason history, a testament to his ability & the franchise he played with (he lit it up in the regular season as well). That's enough for me. Too bad Branch is gone now, so even if he is elected, he won't be there for the induction. A real shame.
Other than roger carr’s phenomenal 1976 season. Branch was probably the biggest deep threat of the 70s.
I love me some Cliff Branch.
Cliff was my favorite player. I was a little too young to remember watching this game live, but my dad said I was going nuts. RIP Cliff. #CliffBranch2HoF
I saw Cliff Branch play. He belongs in the Hall of Fame.
Great story--Never heard this one about Cliff Branch. Nice job doing the research on this one
And congrats on 17,000 subscribers--Every football fan who enjoys the history of the game should be subscribed to your channel. It's awesome
Actually it was perhaps Kenny Stabler's last GREAT comeback game. He had more than anyone I've seen and I've been watching football since 1974.
Cliff Branch and Isaac Curtis - best old-timer receives not in the HoF.
I'd put Henry Ellard above both. Irving Fryar too.
@@TheStapleGunKid , I might go for Henry Ellard, but not Irving Fryar. He strikes me as a guy who piled up statistics by hanging around a long time. Meanwhile, Harold Jackson led the NFL in receptions, yards, and touchdowns through the ENTIRE DECADE OF THE '70S. Where's the hue and cry for HIS enshrinement?
@@shannonrhett3304 I agree on Jackson, but I still think Fryar deserves to go in. 12,785 yards, 15 yards per catch, 84 touchdowns, plus another 2,055 yards and 3 touchdowns returning punts. Hard to make a case against that.
Overall, the receiver position is pretty stacked with people who should go in. There's also Jimmy Smith, Steve Smith, and Torry Holt.
Not a Raider Fan ! They beat my team in 80 Super Bowl ! Cliff Branch not in the hall is a Crime ! Hall of Shame !
It's amazing that Cliff Branch isn't in the hall. All those great Raider teams that played in the AFC Championship. Who played in ALL 3 Super Bowls. That had 2 touchdowns. Sadly whenever Cliff gets in just like with the Snake it won't be when they are alive. I mean both Madden in Flores are in the hall and Cliff isn't.
It's sad he is not in the Hall and if he does get in it's too late for him(RIP)but it would great for the family.
Cliff Branch should definitely be in the Hall of Fame. His stats are excellent considering he played the early part of his career in a run oriented era with mostly two receiver sets and as it stated in the video at times a one receiver two tightend set. Plus the rules when he played was way tougher for receivers then in today's NFL. Today's rules way favor the receivers and offensive side of the ball. I mean 4 receiver sets and way more limited contact and teams throwing the ball 45 to 50 times a game, today's players are going to have way better stats. He Also played on 3 Super Bowl Championship teams and scored Touchdowns in some of those games. He was on 3 AFC Championship teams as well. He was in several Pro Bowls. He led the NFL in receiving one season and was in the top 10 in his prime. I mean I think some of these younger generation writers and fans only look at stats and try and compare it with today's elevated stats which is very unfair. The guy was a staple in that Radiers organization and a huge part of their success.
Its laughable people talking Edelman in the hall when Branch destroys him in every category
Damn talk about being early today! And it's a good one about my Raiders this time! RN4L and JG9 forever!
It’s a disgrace that cliff branch isn’t in the HOF and it’s clearly anti raiders BS. I am not a raiders fan either
Yeah, it really is a disgrace. Ken Stabler only recently got in but it still took him an absurdly long time to get in (well after his death), which is still disgraceful. The Raiders aren't the only ones with players that should be in the HOF but aren't, but Branch not being there is one of the most obvious ones that are getting shafted.
Its a disgrace and the numbers prove it. Swann, Stallworth, and Pearson. All of Branch's stats are on par or better then those 3. Branch was more durable, was Faster, and was Tougher.
Meh. It's hard for me to get all worked up about it when there are now dozens of players in the same situation stuck in a massive backlog due to the HOF's absurdly small yearly limit and then wasting part of that limit on owners and now even team scouts. I've got my own personal table to bang (Zach Thomas).
@@MerensWorld There's NO " on par " Cliff Branch had better numbers than Pearson and Chuck Noll's ballerina ( Swann ), Stallworth caught 36 more passes than Branch yet he only had 38 more yards receiving so Branch's average yards per catch were better than Stallworth's and Branch caught more TD passes but Branch was selected to more Pro Bowls and Branch also had more 1st Team All-Pro selections. At the time of his retirement Branch held almost every postseason receiving record, Cliff Branch should have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame in 1990, in his first year of eligibility
@@davidcobb2693 I was trying to be nice. I know Swann is an untough ballerina. And that Branch is better then all three of them. I remember this old NFLs greatest moments segment on Branch showing Flores training him on the sidelines of a game. Speed Kills and Branch proved it. I think Branch gets overshadowed by the fact that he played with Two HOF receivers in TE Dave Casper and WR Fred Biletnikoff and gets overshadowed in his later years by the Presence of Marcus Allen and Todd Christensen on those teams. In 1980 he teamed with Bob Chandler, then the Raiders Traded Casper as they were so deep at TE at the time with Chester, Ramsey, and Christensen. Branch playing at a time when teams were not throwing 60% of the time. I have been doing research on that in the SB Era. Plus tracking the playoff and non playoff teams who had 60% or more pass plays in a season. It went from 1967 with 4 teams to 1980 when the Saints after finishing with a respectable record in 1979 with a Balanced offense went all pass happy, Traded Muncie and won 1 game. The 1st playoff team to have 60% pass plays was the Oilers in their Run and shoot era. another guy much like Branch who should be in the HOF is Harold Jackson. but some people my wrongly thing Desean or Vincent were better then him.
1. Official Jaguar Gator 9 made a video about a game that saved Roman Gabriel’s career.
2. Official Jaguar Gator 9 made a video about the playoff scenario in the other conference that season.
i have said it once and i have said it a million times , if lynn swann is in the hof , cliff branch is suppose to be in there
The speed on that 66 yard td was incredible
ya it showed what 4.1 speed looks like
Branch was a solid receiver in an era where offenses were more balanced and was as good a possession receiver as he was a deep threat not to mention he played in an era when defensive backs didn't get flagged if they looked crosseyed at a receiver. He certainly belongs in the HOF. Personally I think it's anti-Raider bias that's keeping him out. It's this same bias that kept Flores and Stabler out for so long and is keeping Plunkett out now. And how is Jack Tatum not in the hall? Oh, I need to point out that I'm no Raider fan. I'm a football fan who can't stand how great players are kept out of the Hall because they didn't play in Dallas, NY, or SF.
Branch and Tatum in Canton; yes, absolutely. Jim Plunkett, absolutely not. Joe Theismann has better career numbers, save Super Bowls, and in no way is Joe a Hall of Famer.
@@moonchild3130 I'd put Jack Kemp in before Lamonica.
Cliff Branch belongs in the HOF!
Saw that game, went crazy for the comeback, but felt bad for the Saints.
Great rehash! Brought back a lot of memories.
That game got him out of the dog house but by no means did it save his career. He did way too much to be dismissed. Way that game did was open Flores eyes. Sometimes it takes separation to bring appreciation.
Excellent video! Love the news paper clippings.
I'm not a Raiders fan. But he more than deserves to be in the HOF.
Yeah, anyone watching football in the 70s knew Branch was a top 10 receiver. You had Swann, Stallworth, Harold Jackson, Mel Gray, Branch, Drew Pearson, Isaac Curtis, Ken Burroughs. Speed wise it was Branch, Burroughs, Curtis, Jackson, Gray. I'm talking early to late 70s. Look at these highlights. He ran a 9.2 100. His trot was that of a track guy. Yet he could catch with best. The Raiders were so balanced that this dog's stats weren't greater. I'd venture to say he was Tyreek Hill before Hill. That fantastic sign Raider fans put in the end zone was perfect...Speed Kills. I know I didn't mention Roger Carr. He was lethal but for a very short while. Harold Carmichael suffered poor QB play until Jaworski got there but that was when the decade was more than 1/2/over. He also wasn't feared because they had no running game until Wilbert Montgomery. I do want to shout out to Billy "White Shoes" Johnson.
If Branch gets in, he should be the absolute last WR who played most of his career before 1980 to be inducted. 1970-77 was called the Dead Ball Era for a reason.
@@DolFan316 Got It! "Sea of Hands" catch by Clarence Davis in 1974 still hurts so Branch must not be allowed in. Stat wise, he has overall better stats than Lynn Swann yet no one questions whether Swann should be in. He and Swann are back forth amongst averages. I also get that the HOF still, IMO, votes stats and personna. No question Swann was more media savvy.
i think he was faster than tyrek hill he ran a 4.1 to tyreks 4.2
42 Years Ago
Would love to see a story about, easily, the most overlooked cog in those great Lombardi Packers teams; wide receiver, Carrolll Dale.
as would i
Fun fact: Cliff Branch ended his playing career as a member of tbe 1988 Los Angeles Cobras of the Arena Football League
Another reason I want him in Canton. He'd be the 3rd Arena League vet in the Hall; joining Joe DeLamielleure, who played a couple of games with the Charlotte Rage; and Kurt Warner, who starred with the Iowa Barnstormers.
@@tygrkhat4087 HUGE props for spelling Joe's last name correctly!!! And I was unaware that he'd played Arena football. Props for that, too!!!
@@Oliviacaptain Joe D's a former Bill, gotta get it right.
@@tygrkhat4087 Admit it, you copied and pasted 😋 It's okay, I'd have done the same thing.
@@DolFan316 No, but I did look it up to make sure I spelled it right.
The best receiver elIgible for the HOF that isn't currently in is Torry Holt. He dominated the 2000s.
I kind of assumed he was in the Hall actually. Surprised he isn't in there considering how impressive he was throughout the 70's. He was "the" receiver of that decade along with Swann. Also being an Eagles fan I remember the Super Bowl very well.
The greatest eligible receiver not in the NFL Hall of Fame is Sterling Sharpe
Do a video on the feud between Al Davis and Marcus Allen
The 70s Steelers all step up to get Branch in the Hall of Fame. Great video.
Wonderfully, this video is so two years ago. The HOF committee got its head straight. He’s in the Hall!
He also spent time in the Arena league with the Arizona Rattlers. What many don't realize was that he was barely 5'6" (I've met him in real life and we were at eye level). Players height & weight were often bluffed for fan appeal
He played for the LA Cobras, not the Rattlers.
actually ive met him in 1984 at taft union high school when some of the raiders came to play the teachers in a charity basketball game, very cool guy,he went around 5-10 and still had sub 4.3 speed at 36, needs to be in the hof
Music change up. Been a while.
Branch missed the Atlanta game in 79. He failed to show up to the stadium for the game. #21 was no where to be found that day.
A little over a year later Branch would catch a pair of touchdowns in the Super Bowl in that same venue....a side note the after leading 35-14 the Saints would allow 70 straight points. Getting shut out at home by the Chargers 35-0 and falling behind the Rams 7-0 in the season finale...
Speed kills #21! It's a tragedy ruggs made the choice he made. He was supposed to be our new cliff branch
My poor Saints
Weren't the saints doing blow at halftime during this tine.
Cliff Branch should be in the HOF Period!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Compare his numbers to that of Lynn Swann, John Stallworth and now Drew Pearson who are now all in the HOF. Also Art Powell should be in the HOF.
Wasn't he part of the Colorado team that led the Big 8 to a season of being ranked #1, #2 and #3 in the nation?
Cliff Branch after 13 games in '79: 36 catches, 528 yards, 3 TDs.
Cliff Branch's final 3 games in '79: 23 catches, 316 yards, 3 TDs.
So...yeah.
79 was a pivotal year for the raiders. They had just come off a decade and a half of excellence. They lost Madden..... Barely eked out a winning season. Missed the playoffs two straight years. The 80 team wasn't expected to do much as well...... We all know how that went.
Love Mr. Branch Mr. Raider
Cliff Branch was truly elite. No question he deserves to be in the HOF. But I don't think he's the most deserving of those not in. Henry Ellard and Irving Fryar deserve it more.
This would be the last time the Saints would blow a big lead to a Bay Area team in Week 14.
How is Cliff Branch not in the HOF?
Go watch the catch he makes in Superbowl 15, better than Swann's catch. He comes across the field to take away an interception and turn it into a touch down.
He was a major factor in SB 15
With Branch in I'd love to see Stanley Morgan make it though it's unlikely even though he's one of the best when stacked against contemporaries with only Largent and Lofton ahead. But for deep threat Morgan is unprecedented
Harold Jackson too!
Hello Jaguar gator big fan love the vids
I don't care how bad he was playing. If the Raiders cut him, there would have been 31 teams waiting outside the door to snap him up. Also, don't sleep on Fred Belitnekoff's retirement (to Canada) adding pressure to Branch
I remember watching this game and the announcers talking about Chuck Muncie's issue with fumbling. in fact, right before Muncie's forth quarter critical fumble, as he was running, one of the Raiders from the sidelines, yelled out "fumble", maybe it was wishful thinking because of his history, but Muncie did fumble. As the network was going to commercial break, I believe it was Meredith that said,: "did you hear that? someone said fumble...intresting factoid; another is that Branch should be in the HOF.
he also had a cool name: cliff branch
We're talking about practice!
The Saints never recovered from that MNF meltdown until Jim Mora and the Dome Patrol arrived
I that s right dam good dam great
He has better numbers than Lynn Swann and 3 Super Bowl trophies
Swann got into the Hall of Fame due to his incredible playoff games and guess what you know who was bad ass in the NFL Playoffs Cliff Fucking Branch. Hey NFL, Pete Rozelle is dead, so is Al Davis bury this hatchet
The writers are the problem. Need a veterans committee just like baseball. Have the hall of famers be the selectors after 15 years on the writers ballot
AMEN BROTHER !!
His quiet demeanor is probably why he isn't in the hall thats unfortunate if true.
Cliff Branch vs 3 HOF Receivers who played in his Era
REC Yards Tds Avg PS Rec yards Tds PB AP
Cliff Branch 501 8685 67 17.3 73 1289 5 4 3
Post Season Rec still 11th All Time
Lynn Swann 336 5462 51 16.3 48 907 9 3 1
John Stallworth 537 8723 63 16.2 57 1054 12 3 1
Drew Pearson 489 7822 48 16.0 67 1105 8 3 3
Branch has less Regular Season Catches then just Stallworth
How are these 3 guys in and he is not.
Branch an excellent RAIDER!
One of the greatest to wear the Silver and Black.
He was already established and besides Al Davis could piss off Santa clause.
Cliff Branch was Michael Irvin before Michael Irvin
Only smaller and much faster
Cliff branch was nothing like Michael Irvin. It’s like comparing Barry sanders to John Riggins two completely different type players.
Is Jaguar Gator a Raiders fan? Lol
No one game ever saved his career he was too solid for far too long so he had some issues with some teammates so damn what!