Editing Super Bowl II (section)

==Background==
===Host selection process===
The NFL awarded Super Bowl II to [[Miami]] on May 25, 1967, at the owners meetings in [[New York City]].<ref name=mgspblgm>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ym8eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oMkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=920%2C5604351 |work=Daytona Beach Morning Journal |location=(Florida) |agency=Associated Press |title=Miami gets Super Bowl game |date=May 26, 1967 |page=19}}</ref><ref name=susgatend>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mOBOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=hAEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7132%2C3259997 |work=Toledo Blade |location=(Ohio) |agency=Associated Press |title=Super saga at end! |date=May 26, 1967 |page=33}}</ref><ref name=bbselst>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mj0VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xAgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3821%2C722017 |work=The Bulletin |location=(Bend, Oregon) |agency=UPI |title=Pro football selects site for Super Bowl game |date=May 26, 1967 |page=10}}</ref> It&nbsp;marked the first of eleven Super Bowls in [[Miami metropolitan area|the Miami area]] (as of [[2022 NFL season|2022]]), and the first of two consecutive (II and [[Super Bowl III|III]]). A total of five cities were considered to host the second edition: Miami, [[Los Angeles]] ([[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum|Coliseum]]), [[Houston]] ([[Astrodome]]), [[Dallas]] ([[Cotton Bowl (stadium)|Cotton Bowl]]), and [[New Orleans]] ([[Tulane Stadium]]).<ref name="TCG5-6-1967pg5">{{cite news|title=Super Bowl To Miami|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117800125/|newspaper=The Courier-Gazette|page=5|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 26, 1967|accessdate=February 2, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref> After lackluster attendance for [[Super Bowl I]] at the Coliseum, Los Angeles was eliminated by the owners. The [[Miami Orange Bowl]] was selected for the game, based on weather, hotel accommodations, capacity, and the stadium's previous experience in hosting the [[Playoff Bowl]]. The local [[Orange Bowl]] committee had even once (unsuccessfully) lobbied to host the [[List of NFL champions (1920–1969)|NFL Championship Game]], which was not normally a neutral field contest.<ref name="TMH03-17-1976pg103">{{cite news|title=Want to See Super Bowl? Watch Dolphins|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117799924/|newspaper=The Miami Herald|first1=Edwin|last1=Pope|page=103|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 26, 1967|accessdate=February 2, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref> Furthermore, [[National Football League Commissioner|NFL Commissioner]] [[Pete Rozelle]] opined that it was "helpful to move the game around a little", and not play it in the same city every year. Playing the game in an [[American Football League|AFL]] town also established a precedent for maintaining competitive balance between the two leagues.<ref name="TMH05-26-1967pg119">{{cite news|title=Miami Gets Pro Football's Super Bowl - Champs To Clash Jan. 14 (Part 1)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117799148/|newspaper=The Miami Herald|first1=Neil|last1=Amdur|page=119|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 26, 1967|accessdate=February 2, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="TMH05-26-1967pg120">{{cite news|title=Miami Gets Pro Football's Super Bowl - Champs To Clash Jan. 14 (Part 2)|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117799255/|newspaper=The Miami Herald|first1=Neil|last1=Amdur|page=120|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=May 26, 1967|accessdate=February 2, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref> The city's contingent, led by [[List of mayors of Miami|mayor]] [[Robert King High]], [[Joe Robbie]], and others, would have just under eight months to prepare for the event.

===Green Bay Packers===
{{Main article|1967 Green Bay Packers season}}
{{See also|1967 NFL Championship Game}}

The Packers advanced to their second straight AFL–NFL World Championship Game, but had a much more difficult time than in the previous season. Both of their starting running backs from the previous year, future [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]]rs [[Paul Hornung]] and [[Jim Taylor (fullback)|Jim Taylor]], had left the team. Their replacements, [[Elijah Pitts]] and [[Jim Grabowski]], both went down with season-ending injuries, forcing Green Bay coach [[Vince Lombardi]] to use second-year reserve running back [[Donny Anderson]] and rookie [[Travis Williams (running back)|Travis Williams]]. Fullbacks [[Chuck Mercein]] and [[Ben Wilson (fullback)|Ben Wilson]], who were signed as free agents after being discarded by many other teams, were also used to help compensate for the loss of Hornung and Taylor. Meanwhile, the team's 33-year-old veteran quarterback [[Bart Starr]] had missed 4 games during the season with injuries, and finished the season with nearly twice as many interceptions (17) as touchdown passes (9).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bart Starr 1967 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StarBa00/gamelog/1967/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=June 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615011635/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StarBa00/gamelog/1967/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The team's deep threat was provided by veteran receivers [[Carroll Dale]], who recorded 35 receptions for 738 yards (a 21.1 average), and 5 touchdowns; and [[Pro Bowl]]er [[Boyd Dowler]], who had 54 catches for 846 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Packers still had the superb blocking of guard [[Jerry Kramer]], [[Fred Thurston]] and [[Forrest Gregg]].  Grabowski was the team's leading rusher with 466 yards, while Wilson had 453.  Anderson had 733 yards from scrimmage and 9 total touchdowns, while also gaining another 324 yards returning kicks.  On special teams, Williams returned 18 kickoffs for 749 yards and an NFL record 4 touchdowns, giving him a whopping 41.1 yards per return average. The team ranked just 9th out of 16 NFL teams in scoring with 332 points.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1967 Green Bay Packers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/1967.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=May 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514233558/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/gnb/1967.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Packers defense, however, allowed only 209 points, the 3rd best in the NFL.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1967 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967/opp.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Even this figure was misleading, since Green Bay had yielded only 131 points in the first 11 games (when they clinched their division), the lowest total in professional football. Three members of Green Bay's secondary, the strongest aspect of their defense, were named to the Pro Bowl: [[Willie Wood (American football)|Willie Wood]], [[Herb Adderley]], and [[Bob Jeter]]. The Packers also had a superb defensive line led by [[Henry Jordan]] and [[Willie Davis (defensive end)|Willie Davis]]. Behind them, the Packers linebacking corps was led by [[Ray Nitschke]].

The Packers won the NFL's Central Division with a 9–4–1 regular season record, clinching the division in the 11th week of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1967 NFL Standings & Team Stats |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967/index.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=December 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203073542/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> During the last three weeks, the Packers gave up an uncharacteristic total of 78 points, after having yielded only about a dozen points per game in their first 11 contests. In the playoffs, Green Bay returned to its dominant form, blowing away their first playoff opponent, the [[Los Angeles Rams]], in the Western Conference Championship Game, 28–7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers - December 23rd, 1967 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196712230gnb.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=March 1, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240301152610/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196712230gnb.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The next week, Green Bay then came from behind to defeat the [[Dallas Cowboys]] in the NFL championship game for the second year in a row, in one of the most famous games in NFL lore: The [[NFL Championship Game, 1967|Ice Bowl]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Championship - Dallas Cowboys at Green Bay Packers - December 31st, 1967 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196712310gnb.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=February 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203195323/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196712310gnb.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Branch |first=John |date=2008-01-20 |title=Games Hardened by Winter Stay Deeply Etched in Memory |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/sports/football/20game.html |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=The New York Times |language=en-US |archive-date=June 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615011834/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/20/sports/football/20game.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Oakland Raiders===
{{Main article|1967 Oakland Raiders season}}
{{See also|1967 American Football League Championship Game}}

The Raiders, led by head coach [[John Rauch]], had stormed to the top of the AFL with a 13–1 regular season record, the best record in AFL history (their only defeat was an October 7 loss to the [[New York Jets]], 27–14), and went on to crush the [[Houston Oilers]], 40–7, in the AFL Championship game.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Championship - Houston Oilers at Oakland Raiders - December 31st, 1967 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196712310rai.htm |access-date=2024-06-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=May 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514195052/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196712310rai.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=John Rauch Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/RaucJo0.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=April 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408161323/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/RaucJo0.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> They had led all AFL and NFL teams in scoring with 468 points. Starting quarterback [[Daryle Lamonica]] had thrown for 3,228 yards and an AFL-best 30 touchdown passes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Daryle Lamonica 1967 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LamoDa00/gamelog/1967/ |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=June 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615011251/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LamoDa00/gamelog/1967/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1967 AFL Passing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967_AFL/passing.htm |access-date=2024-06-15 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=June 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240615011312/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1967_AFL/passing.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The offensive line was anchored by center [[Jim Otto]] and rookie guard [[Gene Upshaw]], along with AFL All-Stars [[Harry Schuh]] and [[Wayne Hawkins]]. Wide receiver [[Fred Biletnikoff]] led the team with 40 receptions for 876 yards, an average of 21.3 yards per catch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1967 Oakland Raiders Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rai/1967.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=December 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222050255/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/rai/1967.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> On the other side of the field, tight end [[Billy Cannon]] caught 32 passes for 629 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. In the backfield, the Raiders had three running backs, [[Clem Daniels]], [[Hewritt Dixon]], and [[Pete Banaszak]], who carried the ball equally and combined for 1,510 yards and 10 touchdowns. On special teams, defensive back [[Rodger Bird]] led the AFL with 612 punt return yards and added another 148 yards returning kickoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rodger Bird 1967 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BirdRo20/gamelog/1967/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=July 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708183746/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BirdRo20/gamelog/1967/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The main strength of the Raiders was their defense, nicknamed "The 11 Angry Men". The defensive line was anchored by AFL All-Stars [[Tom Keating (American football)|Tom Keating]] and [[Ben Davidson]], a former Packer who played on Green Bay's 1961 championship team. Davidson was an extremely effective pass rusher who had demonstrated his aggressiveness in a regular season game against the [[New York Jets]] by breaking the jaw of Jets quarterback [[Joe Namath]] while sacking him. Behind them, All AFL linebacker [[Dan Conners]] excelled at blitzing and pass coverage, recording 3 interceptions. The Raiders also had two All AFL defensive backs: [[Willie Brown (American football, born 1940)|Willie Brown]], who led the team with 7 interceptions, and [[Kent McCloughan]], who had 2 interceptions. Safety [[Warren Powers]] recorded 6 interceptions, returning them for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warren Powers 1967 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PoweWa20/gamelog/1967/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |archive-date=July 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240708184446/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PoweWa20/gamelog/1967/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Super Bowl pregame news and notes===
Despite Oakland's accomplishments, and expert consensus that this was the weakest of all the Packer NFL championship teams, Green Bay was a 14-point favorite to win the Super Bowl. Like the previous year, most fans and sports writers believed that the top NFL teams were superior to the best AFL teams.

Thus, most of the drama and discussions surrounding the game focused not on which team would win, but on the rumors that Lombardi might retire from coaching after the game. The game also proved to be the final one for Packers [[wide receiver]] [[Max McGee]], one of the heroes of [[Super Bowl I]], and place kicker [[Don Chandler]].

This was the first Super Bowl to use the "tuning fork" or "slingshot" goalposts (with one supporting post instead of two) invented by [[Jim Trimble]] and Joel Rottman; they had made their debut at the start of the season for both the AFL and NFL, and first appeared at the pro level in [[Canadian Football League|Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vum8Q7qG1CQ/VrUjHP2fDFI/AAAAAAAAa4k/IihICZ_23Ig/s1600/11-AP%2BSuper%2BBowl%2BII.png |title=Archived copy |access-date=May 19, 2017 |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502040029/https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vum8Q7qG1CQ/VrUjHP2fDFI/AAAAAAAAa4k/IihICZ_23Ig/s1600/11-AP%2BSuper%2BBowl%2BII.png |url-status=live }}</ref>