Raiders Backups Jensen, Squirek Were Super
Running back Derrick Jensen and linebacker Jack Squirek never were full-time starters for the Los Angeles Raiders during their careers in the late 1970s and early 1980s, but they will be part of Silver and Black lore forever.
That’s because Jensen and Squirek scored touchdowns in the first half of Super Bowl XVIII and kicked-started the Raiders to a 38-9 trouncing of the Washington Redskins at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Fla., to cap the 1983 National Football League season.
The Raiders selected the 6-1 220-pound Jensen in the third round (No. 57 overall) of the 1978 NFL Draft out of the University of Texas-Arlington, where he rushed for 3,346 yards in his career. Also, they played tight end during his nine-year career with the Silver and Black.
While Jensen did play in 106 games for the Raiders, he started only 21, rushing for a total of 780 yards on 224 carries with five touchdowns, and adding 44 receptions for 384 yards and three touchdowns, in addition to returning an onside kick 33 yards for a score against the New York Giants in 1980.
However, Jensen was valuable to the Raiders on special teams and was captain of the specialty units for five seasons of his career.
During the first five minutes of Super Bowl XVIII, the Raiders forced the Redskins to punt from deep in their territory, and Jensen rushed in, bounced off blocking back Otis Wonsley, avoided tight end Clint Didier, and blocked the punt by Jeff Hayes.
The ball sailed backward into the end zone, and Jensen kept on going to recover it for a touchdown that gave the Raiders a 7-0 lead with 10:08 left in the first quarter.
"I think they forgot about me," Jensen said.
Said an exasperated Hayes: “Where did he come from?”
The Raiders chose the 6-4 230-pound Squirek in the second round (No. 95 overall) of the 1982 NFL Draft out of Illinois. He started only eight games in his four seasons with the team, making three sacks, a pass interception, and two fumble recoveries.
But like Jensen, Squirek was there when the Raiders needed him in Super Bowl XVIII.
The Raiders built a 14-3 with 12 seconds left in the first half when they again had the Redskins backed up at their 12-yard-line, and everyone expected quarterback Joe Theismann to take a knee to run out the clock.
However, Raiders Defensive Coordinator Charlie Sumner remembered that when the Redskins were in a similar situation during a 37-35 victory over the Raiders during the season, Theismann faked a screen pass to the left before throwing a screen to running back Joe Washington on the right side and the play went for 67 yards.
So, Sumner sent backup linebacker Squirek into the game for starter Matt Millen and told him to “follow Washington wherever he goes.”
This time, Theismann faked the screen to the right, spun around, and threw it toward Washington on the left.
However, Squirek was waiting and leaped into the air to intercept the pass, which he turned into a five-yard touchdown that gave the Raiders a 21-3 halftime head, and the competitive phase of the game was over.
“I was surprised when they threw it,” said Squirek, covering Washington man-to-man on the play while the rest of the Raiders' defense was in a prevent zone defense. “I was even more surprised when I caught it.”
What people seem to remember most about Super Bowl XVIII is that running back Marcus Allen rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns, including a 74-yard touchdown, on his way to being named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
However, Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs said that Jensen’s blocked punt and Squirek’s interception pass interception were “the two biggest plays of the game.”
Long-time members of Raider Nation will agree.
The NFL Scouting Combine is scheduled for Feb. 28-March 6, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. March 7, 2023, before 4 p.m. EST, is the club's deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Players.
March 13-15 is the free agent negotiation period. From 12 p.m. EDT on March 13 and ending at 3:59:59 p.m. EDT on March 15, clubs are permitted to contact and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become Unrestricted Free Agents upon the expiration of their 2022 Player Contracts at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15.
The 2023 NFL Year and Free Agency period begins at 4 p.m. EDT on March 15. The Raiders are expected to be significant players in the free-agent market this season.
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