John Rauch and his staff were already at work breaking down game film of the Packers in advance of their Super Bowl meeting on the 14th.

The team held a meeting and participated in a “light loosening-up practice” as they did a slow roll-out of their prep for the Super Bowl.

Daryle Lamonica was named UPI's AFL Player of the Year.

UPI named John Rauch their AFL Coach of the Year.

Daryle Lamonica, deep in his prep for the Super Bowl, was laid low by the flu virus, but was expected to be fine within a day or so.

The Raiders ticket office reported they had sold 4,000 of the 5,000 tickets allotted to the team out of the roughly 80,000 available seats in the Orange Bowl in Miami. The tickets were priced at $12.00 each.

The team flew to Miami with one week to go until the Super Bowl.

The team held their first practice in Miami. It was open to the public, but all subsequent practices would be held in private.

Packers head coach Vince Lombardi voiced respect for the Raiders, calling them an “excellent football team” and saying they were “as good as anybody we've played all season.” He contrasted the two teams' defenses by saying Green Bay had “four quick linemen and “three big linebackers”, while Oakland had “four big linemen” and “three quick linebackers.”

Al Davis said “there's a case to be made for the premise that we got here too soon,” suggesting his team could use another year's seasoning before hitting their peak. But he wasn't conceding the game, adding, “little old Oakland has showed up for every game this season. They'll be there.”

Rainy weather in Miami was playing havoc with the team's Super Bowl preparations. In addition to disrupting practices, the game day forecast was uncertain and John Rauch was concerned that if the weather turned hot his players might not be properly acclimated.

Most observers expected Green Bay to the Super Bowl by a comfortable margin. They reckoned the Raiders to be better than last year's Chiefs, but that Oakland's lack of speed at wide receiver would be their doom.

Defensive tackle Tom Keating was ruled out for the Super Bowl because of a foot injury he suffered in the AFC Championship. In his place, Carleton Oats would be making his first-ever professional start.

The Raiders fell to the Packers, 33-14, in Super Bowl II in Miami. Green Bay players had good things to say about their opponents' skill and performance, but Packers quarterback Bart Starr was simply too good to stop and the Raiders offense just couldn't keep up.

The day after the Super Bowl, consensus was that the Raiders were better than last year's Chiefs and gave the Packers a good fight, but they made too many mistakes and Green Bay didn't hesitate to take advantage.

Raiders players who didn't play in the Super Bowl got the headlines. Cotton Davidson who missed the season with an injury, but spent the season as a de facto offensive coach in the press box didn't get a share of the winnings. Unlike in the AFL championship, the players weren't allowed to vote on Super Bowl shares and players who didn't play got a pro-rated amount based on the number of games they played in the regular season. Meanwhile, Clem Daniels, who also didn't play in the game, panned his team's performance saying “any team would have beaten us the way we played.”

In the AFL expansion draft, the Bengals selected five Raiders, most notably wide receiver Rod Sherman and defensive lineman Richard Sligh.

Bengals head coach Paul Brown had nice things to say about the players he received from the Raiders in the expansion draft saying Rod Sherman and Dan Archer were “outstanding football players” and added that Richard Sligh and Estes Banks had “excellent potential.” As it turned out, Sligh had already played his last AFL or NFL game, while Archer and Banks would appear with Cincinnati in 1968 before calling it quits. Only Sherman had significant pro football left to play, appearing in 33 games over the next six seasons with the Bengals, a return engagement with the Raiders, the Broncos, and the Rams.

Daryle Lamonica threw two first-half touchdown passes for the Western Division in the AFL All-Star Game, but George Blanda missed a 35-yard field goal with less than ten seconds to play in a 25-24 win for the East.

The Tribune reported that guard Gene Upshaw and linebacker Duane Benson were due to begin training for a six-month stint with the California National Guard, starting within a week. They would be back with the team in time for training camp.

The Raiders announced the dates for two of their 1968 preseason games: August 24 against the Chiefs in Kansas City, and a September 1 contest with the 49ers in San Francisco.

Bob Valli of the Tribune reported that the Raiders were looking for a speedy receiver in the combined pro draft on the 30th.

With the 26th-overall pick in the first round of the combined AFL/NFL draft, the Raiders took Tennessee State quarterback Eldridge Dickey. Much was made of the fact that Dickey was Black and there had yet to be a full-time Black quarterback in either of the leagues. Upon his selection, Dickey said he was “thrilled” to be picked by the Raiders and said, “personally, I don't care where the Raiders play me. I just want to help the club win.” He added that he had played at receiver as well as quarterback in college and had returned both kickoffs and punts.

His route to a quarterbacking job was complicated when the team took Alabama quarterback Ken Stabler in the second round. Stabler had been thought to go in the first round, but he had been selected by the Astros in the baseball draft, too, and teams apparently didn't want to waste a first-round pick on a player who might not sign. The Raiders went on to pick Maryland State tackle Art Shell in the third round and Utah running back Charlie Smith in the fourth.

The Raiders picked up a couple more useful players on the second day of the combined NFL/AFL draft including Morris Brown defensive back George Atkinson in the seventh round, and USC linebacker Chip Oliver in the 11th.

Defensive tackle Tom Keating underwent what was termed “minor” ankle surgery. The operation was successful and he was expected to be ready to go for the start of training camp.

Valli says Raiders wanted home run threat receiver, big offensive and defensive lineman, kick returner, and outside linebacker in draft. Dickey's role on team uncertain. Dickey says he'll play anywhere. Valli says he'll be tried at receiver first and maybe quarterback later. Team happy to get Stabler in second round. Shell likely to back up Svihus and Schuh. Smith to replace Estes Banks in backfield. Naponick a Sligh clone. Oliver a sleeper pick at linebacker. Blackstone a possible cornerback. Banaszak receives $500 gift, asks that it be used for lights at his old high school field. Valley given a celebratory dinner. Raider players among attendees at charity banquet in Santa Rosa. Lamonica, Daniels, and Rauch to play in golf tournament in La Costa.

Oakland Tribune

“Raiders Filled Their Needs,” Bob Valli, 39
“Crivitz High-Light,” UPI, 39
“The Oakland Coliseum Is Rapidly Being Transformed from a Football Field to a Baseball Diamond,” photo, 39
“Wayne Valley,” photo, 40
“Dinner Tomorrow for Raider Owner,” 40
“Raider Draftees Rick Owens (Left) and Marv Hubbard,” photo, 41
“Late Rounds of Pro Draft,” 41
“Raider Draft List,” 41
“Lonborg, Mike at Sports Fete,” 44
“Raiders Play Golf,” Ed Schoenfeld, 44

At a dinner given in his honor in Oakland, Wayne Valley said “the Oakland Raiders will keep striving until we bring you the super championship from the Super Bowl, but we couldn't become any more proud than we are of this team that brought the American Football League championship to Oakland and the East Bay in 1967.”

Lamonica, Birdwell, Lassiter, Dixon, and Rauch to be among sports celebs at Santa Rosa fete.

Oakland Tribune

“Santa Rosa Honors the Top Athletes,” 52

Valley honored at dinner. Also in attendance: McGah and Davis along with about 500 others, including emcee Scotty Stirling.

Oakland Tribune

“Valley Proud of Raider Success,” 16
“Wayne Valley (Center) Was Honored at Testimonial,” photo, 16

Oakland Tribune

“Big Santa Rosa Fete for Athletics,” Bob Valli, 48

New member of the Dan Birdwell family.

Oakland Tribune

“A Daughter for Birdwells,” 40

Oakland Tribune

“Another Honor for Lamonica,” Bob Valli, 55

Scotty Stirling resigned as general manager, citing “personal reasons.”

Oakland Tribune

“Stirling Quits Raider Post,” George Ross, 51

Earliest mention I could find of Roy Schleicher as chief scout.

Oakland Tribune

“Raiders Play Bills Twice, Jets Once,” Bob Valli, 41
“Daryle, Orlando Up for Emmys,” 47

The Raiders signed their 13th-round draft pick, Fairmont State fullback Larry Blackstone.

Art Powell offers opinion on Raiders' Super Bowl effort.

Oakland Tribune

“Given Bum Rap?,” Ed Schoenfeld, 42
“Daryle Lamonica of the Oakland Raiders Gets Academy Award,” photo, 46
“Yaz Named Sportsman of the Year,” AP, 46

Oakland Tribune

“New Fullback Is Signed by Raiders,” 40

Lamonica spending the off-season golfing.

Oakland Tribune

“Daryle, Rigney Two Back,” Ed Schoenfeld, 14