Editing Super Bowl XI (section)

==Background==
===Host selection process===
The NFL awarded Super Bowl XI to [[Pasadena, California]] on March 19, 1975, at the owners' meetings held in [[Honolulu]]. After awarding two consecutive Super Bowl host sites during both the 1972 and 1973 owners' meetings, respectively, the league went back to awarding only one host site at this meeting. However, the winner was still provided with nearly two years of preparation time. A total of six cities submitted bids: Pasadena ([[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]]), [[Los Angeles]] ([[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum|Coliseum]]), [[Dallas]], [[Houston]], [[New Orleans]], and [[Montreal]]. Pasadena won on the sixth ballot, with the stadium's capacity (104,701) the leading factor.<ref name="EPT03-20-1975pg52">{{cite news|title=Super Bowl To West|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117313689/|newspaper=El Paso Times|page=52|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 20, 1975|accessdate=January 26, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref>

The selection of Pasadena was mildly controversial. For the first time, the Super Bowl would be played in a stadium that never housed an NFL franchise. The city of Pasadena entered the bidding last-minute, in an effort to address rising maintenance costs of the stadium. At the time, the Rose Bowl had no permanent major football tenant ([[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA]] did not move in until [[1982 UCLA Bruins football team|1982]]) outside of single neutral site games such as the [[Rose Bowl Game]] and [[Pasadena Bowl]]. Super Bowl XI would take place only eight days after the [[1977 Rose Bowl]] on the same field. Stadium officials expressed confidence that the turf would be in good condition. [[Pac-12 Conference|Pac-8]] executive director Wiles Hallock, along with some individual members of the [[Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association|Tournament of Roses Committee]] opposed the city's bid.<ref name="TT03-20-1975pg9">{{cite news|title=Pac-8 unhappy with Super Bowl site|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117313748/|newspaper=The tribune|page=9|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 20, 1975|accessdate=January 26, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref><ref name="TPTT03-20-1975pg33">{{cite news|title=Ruetz sees no drawback in bowl site|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117313890/|newspaper=The Peninsula Times Tribune|page=33|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 20, 1975|accessdate=January 26, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref> However, former [[List of mayors of Pasadena, California|Pasadena mayor]] Don Yokaitis, who made the presentation, successfully touted the stadium's prestige, tradition, and capacity.<ref name="TBG03-20-1975pg27">{{cite news|title=Pasadena a surprise as Super Bowl host|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117313472/|newspaper=The Billings Gazette|page=27|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|date=March 20, 1975|accessdate=January 26, 2023}}{{Open access}}</ref>

===Oakland Raiders===
{{Main|1976 Oakland Raiders season}}

This game marked the second Super Bowl appearance for [[List of Oakland Raiders seasons|the Oakland Raiders]], who lost [[Super Bowl II]]. Two years after their Super Bowl loss, former head coach [[John Rauch]] left for [[1969 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo]] and the Raiders made Rauch's assistant, linebackers coach [[John Madden]] a first time head coach. In Madden's first 8 seasons the Raiders had posted an 83–22–7 record (for a .772 winning percentage counting ties, second only to the Vikings' .781 in the NFL). Super Bowl XI was Oakland's first NFL championship, culminating seven playoff appearances since [[1968 Oakland Raiders season|1968]], including six losses in the AFL/AFC Championship Game. With the exception of the [[1972 Pittsburgh Steelers season|1972 Steelers]], all of the Raiders' opponents would end up winning the Super Bowl.

The Raiders offense was led by quarterback [[Ken Stabler]], who finished as the top [[pass rating|rated passer]] in the [[American Football Conference|AFC]], passing for 2,737 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. His 66.7 completion percentage (194 completions out of 291 attempts) was the second highest in the league. Stabler's main passing weapon was wide receiver [[Cliff Branch]], who caught 46 passes for 1,111 yards (24.2 yards per catch average) and 12 touchdowns. [[Fred Biletnikoff]] was also a reliable deep threat, with 43 receptions for 551 yards and 7 touchdowns, while tight end [[Dave Casper]] recorded 53 receptions for 691 yards and 10 touchdowns.

In addition to their great passing attack the Raiders also had a powerful running game, led by fullback [[Mark van Eeghen]] (1,012 rushing yards, 17 receptions) and halfback [[Clarence Davis]] (516 rushing yards, 27 receptions). Another reason for the Raiders' success on offense was their offensive line, led by left tackle [[Art Shell]] and left guard [[Gene Upshaw]]. 

Injuries early in the season forced the Raiders to switch from a [[American football defensive schemes|4–3]] to a [[American football defensive schemes|3–4 defense]]. The switch benefited the team, as they won their last 10 games and finished the regular season with the best record in the league, 13–1. The Raiders' defense was anchored by great linebackers, such as [[Phil Villapiano]] and [[Ted Hendricks]], while defensive end [[Otis Sistrunk]] anchored the defensive line. Their defensive secondary was extremely hard-hitting and talented, led by safeties [[Jack Tatum]] and [[George Atkinson (safety)|George Atkinson]], and cornerbacks [[Skip Thomas]] and [[Willie Brown (American football)|Willie Brown]].

Brown, Upshaw, Biletnikoff and running back [[Pete Banaszak]] were the only holdovers from the Oakland team that was defeated nine years earlier in [[Super Bowl II]].<ref name="Raiders Super 32-14">{{cite web|title=Raiders Super, 32-14|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/super-bowl-xi-raiders-super-32-14-article-1.1552989|work=New York Daily News|date=December 28, 2013 }}</ref>

Many accused the Raiders defense of being overly aggressive, especially Atkinson, who inflicted a severe concussion on [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] wide receiver [[Lynn Swann]] in the previous season's AFC Championship Game. Atkinson added to that reputation as the Raiders advanced through the playoffs to Super Bowl XI, as Atkinson inflicted another concussion to Swann in the Raiders' 1976 season opener. In the Raiders' 24–21 playoff win over [[1976 New England Patriots season|the New England Patriots]], Atkinson broke the nose of Patriots tight end [[Russ Francis]]. In reaction, Pittsburgh head coach [[Chuck Noll]] complained of a "criminal element" in Atkinson's play. Atkinson himself denied deliberately trying to injure anyone and pointed out that at 6′0″ and 185 pounds, he was one of the smallest players on the field. The Raiders and their fans were often known to counter these accusations against Atkinson and Jack Tatum by pointing out the physical way that Pittsburgh cornerback [[Mel Blount]] covered Oakland's speedy split end Cliff Branch.

Two of the Raiders' players (whose names were not revealed) bought [[marijuana]] from [[Red Hot Chili Peppers]] singer [[Anthony Kiedis]]' father, Blackie Dammett, smoked it before the game, and played the game under the effects of the drug. This was revealed on Kiedis' biography from 2004, ''[[Scar Tissue (autobiography)|Scar Tissue]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |author=Kiedis, Anthony |url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1159899297 |title=Scar tissue |date=August 26, 2019 |publisher=Capitán Swing Libros |isbn=978-84-120426-9-6 |oclc=1159899297}}</ref>

===Minnesota Vikings===
{{Main|1976 Minnesota Vikings season}}

The Vikings, coached by [[Bud Grant]], won the [[NFC Central]] for the eighth time in the last nine seasons with an 11–2–1 record, and advanced to their fourth Super Bowl in eight years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1976 Minnesota Vikings Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/min/1976.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> They were the only team who had lost three Super Bowls (they had previously lost Super Bowls [[Super Bowl IV|IV]], [[Super Bowl VIII|VIII]] and [[Super Bowl IX|IX]]), and did not want to be the first one to lose four. They were the first team to appear in a fourth Super Bowl.

Once again, the Vikings had a powerful offense led by 36-year-old quarterback [[Fran Tarkenton]] and running back [[Chuck Foreman]]. In his 16th NFL season, Tarkenton was already the league's all-time leader in pass completions (3,186), passing yards (41,802), and touchdown passes (308). He had another fine season in 1976, completing 61.9 percent of his passes for 2,961 yards, 17 touchdowns, and only 8 interceptions. Foreman had the best season of his career, rushing for 1,155 yards and 13 touchdowns, while also catching 55 passes for 567 yards and another touchdown. Fullback [[Brent McClanahan]] also contributed 634 combined rushing and receiving yards. The Vikings also added two new weapons to their offense: veteran wide receiver [[Ahmad Rashad]] and rookie wide receiver [[Sammy White (American football)|Sammy White]] combined for 104 receptions, 1,577 receiving yards, and 13 touchdowns, while tackle [[Ron Yary]] once again anchored the offensive line.

The Vikings' "[[Purple People Eaters]]" defense, anchored by [[Carl Eller]], [[Jim Marshall (defensive end)|Jim Marshall]], and [[Alan Page]], were also dominating teams again. During this regular season, they led the [[National Football Conference|NFC]] in fewest points allowed (176). Also, defensive back [[Nate Wright]] led the team with 7 interceptions for 47 yards, while safety [[Paul Krause]] had 2 interceptions for 21 yards. Pro Bowl linebacker [[Matt Blair]] intercepted two passes and recovered five fumbles.

Tarkenton became the second quarterback to start three Super Bowls, following his [[Super Bowl VIII]] counterpart [[Bob Griese]]. Eleven players were on the roster for Super Bowl IV, VIII, IX, and XI for the Vikings: Bobby Bryant, Fred Cox, Carl Eller, Wally Hilgenberg, Paul Krause, Jim Marshall, Alan Page, Mick Tingelhoff, Ed White, Roy Winston and Ron Yary.

===Playoffs===
{{Further|1976–77 NFL playoffs}}

The Vikings went on to dominate [[1976 Washington Redskins season|the Washington Redskins]], 35–20, and then defeated [[1976 Los Angeles Rams season|the Los Angeles Rams]], 24–13, in the playoffs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - Washington Redskins at Minnesota Vikings - December 18th, 1976 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612180min.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=NFC Championship - Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings - December 26th, 1976 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612260min.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Ten of the Vikings' points in the NFC Championship Game came from blocked kicks.

The Raiders overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat [[1976 New England Patriots season|the New England Patriots]], the only team to beat the Raiders all season, 24–21, with the aid of a penalty call against the Patriots. New England's [[Ray Hamilton (defensive tackle)|Ray Hamilton]] was tagged for roughing the passer in the fourth quarter, turning an incomplete pass on 3rd and 18 into a first down, and the Raiders went on to score on Stabler's 1-yard touchdown run with 14 seconds left in the contest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Divisional Round - New England Patriots at Oakland Raiders - December 18th, 1976 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612180rai.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In the AFC Championship Game Oakland then faced [[1976 Pittsburgh Steelers season|the Pittsburgh Steelers]], a team that had won the two previous Super Bowls and defeated the Raiders in the playoffs in three out of the last four seasons. However, coming into this game without injured starting running backs [[Franco Harris]] and [[Rocky Bleier]], the Steelers were soundly thrashed this time around, losing to Oakland, 24–7.<ref>{{Cite web |title=AFC Championship - Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders - December 26th, 1976 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197612260rai.htm |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

This was the first Super Bowl game to match both conferences' No. 1 seeds, the first one held in the Rose Bowl, the last Super Bowl to finish under daylight and the last where both teams' placekickers (Minnesota's [[Fred Cox]] and Oakland's [[Errol Mann]]) used the straight-on style.

Scheduled on the 9th day of January, the game marks the earliest Super Bowl played during the calendar year. The regular season started one week earlier than usual in order to avoid having playoff games on Christmas Day, which fell on a Saturday in 1976. By moving the season up, the divisional playoffs were held December 18 and 19, and the conference championship games Sunday, December 26. The local starting time for this Super Bowl, 12:47 pm Pacific Time, also was the earliest in history, two minutes earlier than [[Super Bowl VII]] at the nearby [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]] in 1973.

The Raiders became the first West Division team from either conference to reach a post-merger Super Bowl. They also became the first team to play in a Super Bowl in their home state; the [[2002 Oakland Raiders season|Raiders]] later played another in-state Super Bowl, [[Super Bowl XXXVII]] in [[San Diego Stadium|San Diego]], during the [[2002 NFL season|2002 season]].