In May 1982, a verdict was handed down against the NFL in the lawsuit brought by the Raiders and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in 1980. The jury ruled that the NFL violated antitrust laws when it declined to approve the proposed move by the team from Oakland to Los Angeles. The Raiders promptly moved to Los Angeles although for the 1982 season the team continued to practice in Alameda.
Despite the Raiders' disappointing 7–9 record in their previous season — their last in Oakland until 1995 — the Raiders cruised to an 8–1 record in the strike-shortened 1982 season, winning all four of their home games, and clinching home-field advantage throughout the NFL's makeshift playoff tournament for 1982. However, in the second round of the playoffs, the Raiders blew a fourth-quarter lead to the 6th-seeded Jets, losing 17–14, ending the Raiders' season.
The last remaining active member of the 1982 Los Angeles Raiders was running back Marcus Allen, who retired after the 1997 season.
^ abMiami finished ahead of Cincinnati based on better conference record (6–1 to Cincinnati’s 6–2).
^ abPittsburgh finished ahead of San Diego based on better record against common opponents (3–1 to Chargers' 2–1). Conference tiebreak was initially used to eliminate New York Jets.
^ abc Pittsburgh and San Diego finished ahead of New York Jets based on conference record (Pittsburgh and San Diego 5–3 against Jets’ 2–3)
^ abcCleveland finished ahead of Buffalo and Buffalo ahead of Seattle based on conference record (4–3 to Buffalo’s 3–3 to Seattle’s 3–5).