In Baltimore on December 24, 1977, in a game that has gone down in the annals of NFL lore, the Oakland Raiders squared off against the Baltimore Colts in a playoff contest that would etch itself into the fabric of football history. The AFC Divisional Playoff game, played before a record crowd at Memorial Stadium, turned into a marathon of tactical prowess and sheer willpower, culminating in a thrilling 37-31 victory for the Raiders after a staggering 75 minutes and 43 seconds of play, marking it the longest game in Raider history.
From the onset, the Raiders’ execution under the leadership of quarterback Ken Stabler was nothing short of impressive, as the team orchestrated a meticulous assault that amassed a total of 345 yards passing. The Raiders’ Clarence Davis, with a crucial stiff arm at the 5, scored the first touchdown, showcasing an early indication of the Raiders’ unyielding resolve.
Yet, the game was far from one-sided. The Colts, not to be outdone, battled back fiercely. The turning point came midway through the third quarter, with the Raiders leading 21-7. It was then that Ted Hendricks’ pivotal play on special teams saw Jeff Barnes recover a blocked punt, a moment that reinvigorated the Colts. The Colts would eventually take a 31-28 lead, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
In the final 23 minutes of this historic game, the Raiders’ endurance was tested as the Colts’ defense stood tall, forcing the game into overtime. But it was the Raiders’ determination and one relentless, undeniable push that turned the tide. Stabler to Branch for 19. Then, on second-and-7, came the play that would forever be immortalized as “Ghost to the Post” — Stabler’s over-the-shoulder pass to tight end Dave Casper, nicknamed “The Ghost,” who made a miraculous catch that set up the decisive touchdown.
John Facenda of NFL Films and Bill King, the voice of the Raiders, immortalized the game with their vivid and exhilarating play-by-play narration. Facenda’s voice lent the game a gravitas that only heightened the drama unfolding on the field. King’s call of the game’s defining moment, “Stabler back to pass, throwing a deep bomb, he’s got Branch against Muncie, he makes a leaping, incredible catch! Gets up at the 20 and is run out of bounds at the 9,” captured the essence of the Raiders’ fighting spirit.
The “Ghost to the Post” remains a ghostly echo in the halls of NFL history, a testament to the game’s enduring allure. It’s a story of a game that transcended the ordinary, where every play was a brushstroke in a masterpiece of gridiron artistry, and every second ticked away was a step closer to legend. Dave Casper’s heroics and the sheer longevity of the game have afforded him a hallowed place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his name synonymous with one of the most electrifying moments in sports.
As we look back on that fateful day in Baltimore, the legacy of the game continues to haunt the imaginations of football fans everywhere, a spectral reminder of the magic and myth that is football. The “Ghost to the Post” will forever be remembered as one of the greatest plays in NFL history, a play that defined a game, a season, and for some, a lifetime of football memories.
