American Football League playoffs

"AFL Championship" redirects here. For the championship game of the Arena Football League, see ArenaBowl. For the championship game of the Australian Football League, see AFL Grand Final.

For its first nine seasons, 1960 through 1968, the American Football League determined its champion via a single playoff game between the winners of its two divisions (although ties in the standings in 1963 (Eastern) and 1968 (Western) necessitated a tiebreaker divisional playoff game the week before).

In 1969, the tenth and final year of the independent ten-team AFL, a four-team playoff was held, with the second-place teams in each division traveling to play the winner of the other division in what were called the "Interdivisional" playoffs. These playoffs were not, and are not considered to have been, "wildcard" playoffs since the runners-up in both divisions qualified, rather the two best non-division winners. (Had the 1969 playoffs been true wildcard playoffs, the Western's third-place team, San Diego (8–6–0), would have qualified while the Eastern's runner-up, Houston (6–6–2), would not have.) The 1969 AFL playoffs were only the second time a major professional football league allowed teams other than the first place teams to compete in post-season playoffs (the first was the seven-team All-America Football Conference's 1949 four-team playoff).

Prior to the advent of the Super Bowl for the 1966 season, the AFL went to great lengths to avoid scheduling its playoffs head-to-head with the NFL. In 1960, the NFL's game was held on Monday, December 26; the AFL had that week off, and played its title contest on Sunday, January 1, as the college bowl games were played on Monday. In 1961 and 1962, the AFL played its game during the off-week between the end of the NFL's regular season and its title game (thus resulting in the AFL holding championship games on December 24, 1961, and December 23, 1962, a week before the NFL's games of December 31, 1961, and December 30, 1962). In 1963, the AFL held its Eastern Division tiebreaker playoff on Saturday, December 28, 1963, thereby avoiding the NFL championship game that Sunday (the AFL championship game was held on January 5). In 1964, pro football had a championship weekend, with the AFL's title game held on Saturday, December 26, and the NFL championship on Sunday. For 1965, the AFL tried to return to the practice of playing its game on a Sunday during the off-week between the NFL playoff, slating its championship contest for December 26, while the NFL's game wasn't held until January 2, 1966; unfortunately, the Colts and Packers required a Western Conference tiebreaker on the December 26, date --- and since that game went to overtime, the TV audience for the Bills–Chargers title game in San Diego was diminished considerably. Even in 1966, the AFL originally scheduled its championship game for the off-week, planning to hold its playoff on Monday, December 26, six days before the NFL title game on January 1.

Negotiations prior to the first Super Bowl, in early December 1966, resulted in the two leagues agreeing to have championship doubleheaders for the next four years, with each holding its title game on the same day but staggered, so that television audiences could view both. Thus the final four AFL championship games were held on the same day as the NFL championship game: January 1, 1967; December 31, 1967; December 29, 1968; and January 4, 1970.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame and the National Football League include AFL playoffs in their statistics for the NFL playoffs.

1960 Championship

For more details on this topic, see 1960 American Football League season.

Houston Oilers 24, Los Angeles Chargers 16

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chargers	6	3	7	0	16
Oilers	0	10	7	7	24

at Jeppesen Stadium, Houston, Texas

Date: January 1, 1961
Referee: John McDonough

Game information
LA – Field goal Agajanian 38 LA 3-0 LA – Field goal Agajanian 22 LA 6-0 HOU – Smith 17 pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) HOU 7-6 HOU – Field goal Blanda 18 HOU 10-6 LA – Field goal Agajanian 27 HOU 10-9 HOU – Groman 7 pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) HOU 17-9 LA – Lowe 2 run (Agajanian kick) HOU 17-16 HOU – Cannon 88 pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) HOU 24-16

1961 Championship

For more details on this topic, see 1961 American Football League season.

Houston Oilers 10, San Diego Chargers 3

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oilers	0	3	7	0	10
Chargers	0	0	0	3	3

at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California

Date: December 24, 1961

Game information
HOU – Field goal Blanda 46 HOU – Cannon 35 pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) SD – Field goal Blair 12

1962 Championship

For more details on this topic, see 1962 American Football League season.

Dallas Texans 20, Houston Oilers 17 (2OT)

	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	Total
Texans	3	14	0	0	0	3	20
Oilers	0	0	7	10	0	0	17

at Jeppesen Stadium, Houston, Texas

Date: December 23, 1962

Game information
DAL – Field goal Brooker 16 DAL – Haynes 28 pass from Dawson (Brooker kick) DAL – Haynes 2 run (Brooker kick) HOU – Dewveall 15 pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) HOU – Field goal Blanda 31 HOU – Tolar 1 run (Blanda kick) DAL – Field goal Brooker 25

1963 Playoffs

For more details on this topic, see 1963 American Football League season.

A tie in the Eastern Division standings necessitated an Eastern Division playoff game

Eastern Division Playoff

Boston Patriots 26, Buffalo Bills 8

	1	2	3	4	Total
Patriots	10	6	0	10	26
Bills	0	0	8	0	8

at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York

Date: December 28, 1963

Game information
BOS – Field goal Cappelletti 28 BOS – Garron 59 pass from Parilli (Cappelletti kick) BOS – Field goal Cappelletti 12 BOS – Field goal Cappelletti 33 BUF – Dubenion 93 pass from Lamonica (Tracey pass from Lamonica) BOS – Garron 17 pass from Parilli (Cappelletti kick) BOS – Field goal Cappelletti 36

1963 Championship

San Diego Chargers 51, Boston Patriots 10

	1	2	3	4	Total
Patriots	7	3	0	0	10
Chargers	21	10	7	13	51

at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California

Date: January 5, 1964

Game information
SD – Rote 2 run (Blair kick) SD – Lincoln 67 run (Blair kick) BOS – Garron 7 run (Cappelletti kick) SD – Lowe 58 run (Blair kick) SD – Field goal Blair 11 BOS – Field goal Cappelletti 15 SD – Norton 14 pass from Rote (Blair kick) SD – Alworth 48 pass from Rote (Blair kick) SD – Lincoln 25 pass from Hadl (Pass failed) SD – Hadl 1 run (Blair kick)

The Chargers championship win is noted for being the only and most recent major sports championship won for the city of San Diego. No other city with at least two professional sports teams has a championship drought as long, as of 2013 (50 years). This is also the only time that the Chargers have beaten the Patriots in a postseason game.

1964 Championship

For more details on this topic, see 1964 American Football League season.

Buffalo Bills 20, San Diego Chargers 7

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chargers	7	0	0	0	7
Bills	3	10	0	7	20

at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York

Date: December 26, 1964

Game information
SD – Kocourek 26 pass from Rote (Lincoln kick) BUF – Field goal Gogolak 12 BUF – Carlton 4 run (Gogolak kick) BUF – Field goal Gogolak 17 BUF – Kemp 1 run (Gogolak kick)

Mike Stratton's hit on San Diego Chargers Running Back Keith Lincoln set the stage for the Buffalo Bills and their first AFL championship.

1965 Championship

For more details on this topic, see 1965 American Football League season.

Buffalo Bills 23, San Diego Chargers 0

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bills	0	14	6	3	23
Chargers	0	0	0	0	0

at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California

Date: December 26, 1965

Game information
BUF – Warlick 18 pass from Kemp (Gogolak kick) BUF – Byrd 74 punt return (Gogolak kick) BUF – Field goal Gogolak 11 BUF – Field goal Gogolak 39 BUF – Field goal Gogolak 32

This was the last AFL Championship Game before the Super Bowl era began the following season and the last time a final pro football championship game was played in December. It was also the most recent championship won by a Buffalo-based professional sports team.

1966 Championship

For more details on this topic, see 1966 American Football League season.

Kansas City Chiefs 31, Buffalo Bills 7

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chiefs	7	10	0	14	31
Bills	7	0	0	0	7

at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York

Date: January 1, 1967

Game information
KC – Arbanas 29 pass from Dawson (Mercer kick) BUF – Dubenion 69 pass from Kemp (Lusteg kick) KC – Taylor 29 pass from Dawson (Mercer kick) KC – Field goal Mercer 32 KC – Garrett 1 run (Mercer kick) KC – Garrett 18 run (Mercer kick)

The Bills went into the 1966 AFL Championship having already won the game the previous two years. Though the game was to be played in Buffalo, the visiting Kansas City Chiefs were three-point favorites, mainly because of their explosive and innovative offense led by Head Coach Hank Stram. The Bills were a more conventional team with a solid defensive line and a running mindset on offense.

Kansas City dominated the game from start to finish, forcing four turnovers (without losing any themselves) and outscoring Buffalo 24-0 over the last three quarters.

On the opening kickoff, Fletcher Smith's short kick was fielded by defensive end Dudley Meredith, who promptly fumbled the ball, and KC punter Jerrel Wilson, who also played on the kick coverage team, recovered it for the Chiefs on the Bills 31-yard line. This led to the first score of the game, a 29-yard touchdown pass from Len Dawson to tight end Fred Arbanas . After an exchange of punts, Buffalo tied the game when receiver Elbert Dubenion raced ahead of defensive back Fred Williamson, caught a pass from Jack Kemp at the Chiefs 45, and raced all the way to the end zone for a 69-yard touchdown reception.

Later on, Mike Garrett's 27-yard punt return gave the Chiefs a first down on the Bills 45-yard line. After a few plays, Dawson made a key 15-yard completion to Arbanas on the Buffalo 29. It was the last catch of the day for Arbanas, who ended up leaving the game with a separated shoulder, but it paid off big time as Dawson threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Otis Taylor on the next play, giving the Chiefs a 14-7 second quarter lead. Buffalo responded with a drive deep into Chiefs territory, featuring Kemp's 30-yard completion to rookie receiver Rob Burnett on the Kansas City 12-yard line. But in what turned out to be one of the most crucial plays of the game, Kemp's next pass was intercepted in the end zone by safety Johnny Robinson, who returned it 72 yards to the Bills 28. Mike Mercer eventually cashed in the turnover with a 32-yard field goal that gave the Chiefs a 17-7 halftime lead.

The third quarter was a defensive struggle with each team punting twice. Near the end, Kansas City got the ball on the Bills 42-yard line, but failed to score when Mercer missed a 49-yard field goal attempt.

In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs put the game away with consecutive touchdown drives. First, Dawson's 45-yard completion to Chris Burford gave the team a first down on the Buffalo 4-yard line. Garrett then ran the ball on the next four plays, his last carry a 1-yard touchdown run. Then on the first play of Buffalo's next drive, receiver Glenn Bass lost a fumble that was recovered by Bobby Hunt and returned 21 yards to the Bills 20-yard line, leading to the final score of the game on Garrett's 18-yard touchdown burst. Buffalo could do nothing with their next drive, and on their final one of the day, Kemp was intercepted by Emmitt Thomas.^[1]^[2]

Dawson was near perfect, completing 16/24 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns, while also rushing for 28 yards. Garrett rushed for 39 yards and two touchdowns, caught 4 passes for 16 yards, returned a kickoff for 3 yards, and added another 37 yards on 3 punt returns. Kempt completed just 12/25 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions. Burnett caught 6 passes for 127 yards.

1967 Championship

For more details on this topic, see 1967 American Football League season.

Oakland Raiders 40, Houston Oilers 7

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oilers	0	0	0	7	7
Raiders	3	14	10	13	40

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

Date: December 31, 1967
Referee: John McDonough

Game information
OAK – Field goal Blanda 37 OAK – Dixon 69 run (Blanda kick) OAK – Kocourek 17 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick) OAK – Lamonica 1 run (Blanda kick) OAK – Field goal Blanda 40 OAK – Field goal Blanda 42 HOU – Frazier 5 pass from Beathard (Wittenborn kick) OAK – Field goal Blanda 36 OAK – Miller 12 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)

The Oakland Raiders were ten and a half point favorites over the Houston Oilers in the 1967 AFL Championship Game. Quarterback Daryle Lamonica, acquired in a trade from the Buffalo Bills in the offseason, led the Raiders to a 13-1 record, throwing 30 touchdown passes in the process. The Oilers went from last place in the Eastern Conference in 1966 to first in '67, beating out the New York Jets by a game. Most of the Oilers' offense centered on big fullback Hoyle Granger, and a midseason quarterback trade for the shifty Pete Beathard (sending their own starter, Jacky Lee, to the Kansas City Chiefs) proved to be the spark that turned Houston's season around.

The previous meeting between the two teams had been a close game won 19-7 by the Raiders, with Lamonica struggling offensively. This was not the case in the rematch. Oakland took a 10-0 lead in the second quarter on a 69-yard run down the left sidelines by Hewritt Dixon, and on a fake field goal attempt Lamonica passed to Dave Kocourek for the 17-0 halftime margin. Former Oilers quarterback George Blanda, who had led Houston to the AFL's first two championships, kicked four field goals for the Raiders. Houston did not score until the fourth quarter, when they already trailed 30-0.

Oakland lost Super Bowl II to the NFL champion Green Bay Packers.

1968 Playoffs

For more details on this topic, see 1968 American Football League season.

A tie in the Western Division standings necessitated a Western Division playoff game

Western Division Playoff

Oakland Raiders 41, Kansas City Chiefs 6

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chiefs	0	6	0	0	6
Raiders	21	7	0	13	41

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

Date: December 22, 1968

Game information
OAK – Biletnikoff 24 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick) OAK – Wells 23 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick) OAK – Biletnikoff 44 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick) KC – Field goal Stenerud 10 KC – Field goal Stenerud 8 OAK – Biletnikoff 54 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick) OAK – Wells 35 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick) OAK – Field goal Blanda 41 OAK – Field goal Blanda 40

1968 Championship

New York Jets 27, Oakland Raiders 23

	1	2	3	4	Total
Raiders	0	10	3	10	23
Jets	10	3	7	7	27

at Shea Stadium, New York City

Date: December 29, 1968
Referee: Walt Fitzgerald

Game information
NY – Maynard 14 pass from Namath (Turner kick) NY – Field goal Turner 33 OAK – Biletnikoff 29 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick) NY – Field goal Turner 36 OAK – Field goal Blanda 26 OAK – Field goal Blanda 9 NY – Lammons 20 pass from Namath (Turner kick) OAK – Field goal Blanda 20 OAK – Banaszak 4 run (Blanda kick) NY – Maynard 6 pass from Namath (Turner kick)

The Jets went on to win Super Bowl III to become the first AFL Super Bowl champion.

1969 Playoffs

For more details on this topic, see 1969 American Football League season.

Bracket

Interdivisional Playoffs			AFL Championship Game


W2	Kansas City Chiefs	13

E1	New York Jets	6
			W2	Kansas City Chiefs	17

			W1	Oakland Raiders	7
E2	Houston Oilers	7

W1	Oakland Raiders	56

Interdivisional Playoffs

Kansas City Chiefs 13, New York Jets 6

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chiefs	0	3	3	7	13
Jets	3	0	0	3	6

at Shea Stadium, New York City

Date: December 20, 1969
Referee: Jack Reader

Game information
NY – Field goal Turner 27 KC – Field goal Stenerud 23 KC – Field goal Stenerud 25 NY – Field goal Turner 7 KC – Richardson 19 pass from Dawson (Stenerud kick)

Oakland Raiders 56, Houston Oilers 7

	1	2	3	4	Total
Oilers	0	0	0	7	7
Raiders	28	7	14	7	56

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

Date: December 21, 1969
Referee: Ben Dreith

Game information
OAK – Biletnikoff 13 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick) OAK – Atkinson 57 interception return (Blanda kick) OAK – Sherman 24 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick) OAK – Biletnikoff 31 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick) OAK – Smith 60 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick) OAK – Sherman 23 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick) OAK – Cannon 3 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick) HOU – Reed 8 pass from Beathard (Gerela kick) OAK – Hubbard 4 run (Blanda kick)

Game information

OAK – Biletnikoff 13 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
OAK – Atkinson 57 interception return (Blanda kick)
OAK – Sherman 24 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
OAK – Biletnikoff 31 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
OAK – Smith 60 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
OAK – Sherman 23 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
OAK – Cannon 3 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
HOU – Reed 8 pass from Beathard (Gerela kick)
OAK – Hubbard 4 run (Blanda kick)

1969 Championship

Kansas City Chiefs 17, Oakland Raiders 7

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chiefs	0	7	7	3	17
Raiders	7	0	0	0	7

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

Date: January 4, 1970
Referee: Jack Vest

Game information
OAK – Smith 3 run (Blanda kick) KC – Hayes 1 run (Stenerud kick) KC – Holmes 5 run (Stenerud kick) KC – Field goal Stenerud 22

This was the final AFL Championship Game, as well as the final game played between two AFL teams before the merger with the National Football League. The Chiefs won Super Bowl IV as the last AFL champion.

AFL Championship Game appearances 1960–69

Num	Team	W	L	PCT
5	Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers	1	4	.200
4	Houston Oilers	2	2	.500
3	Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs	3	0	1.00
3	Buffalo Bills	2	1	.667
3	Oakland Raiders	1	2	.333
1	New York Jets	1	0	1.00
1	Boston Patriots	0	1	.000

References

NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)
Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)

External links

American Football League

Eastern Division	Boston Patriots Buffalo Bills Houston Oilers New York Titans/Jets Miami Dolphins

Western Division	Denver Broncos Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs Oakland Raiders Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers Cincinnati Bengals

General	Seasons Playoffs All-League Teams All-Star game AFL Draft All-Time Team AFL–NFL merger NFL Thanksgiving Day games Players

Broadcasters	ABC AFL All-Star Game AFL Championship Game Boston Patriots Buffalo Bills Cincinnati Bengals Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs Denver Broncos Houston Oilers NBC Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers Miami Dolphins New York Titans/Jets Oakland Raiders Super Bowl

Commissioners	Joe Foss Al Davis Milt Woodard (President)

National Football League Championship Games (1933–present)

NFL Championship Game (1933–1969)	1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

AFL Championship Game (1960–1969)	1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

AFL-NFL World Championship Games^[1] (1966–1969)	1966 (I) 1967 (II) 1968 (III) 1969 (IV)

Super Bowl^[2] (1970–present)	1970 (V) 1971 (VI) 1972 (VII) 1973 (VIII) 1974 (IX) (1975) X 1976 (XI) 1977 (XII) 1978 (XIII) 1979 (XIV) 1980 (XV) 1981 (XVI) 1982 (XVII) 1983 (XVIII) 1984 (XIX) 1985 (XX) 1986 (XXI) 1987 (XXII) 1988 (XXIII) 1989 (XXIV) 1990 (XXV) 1991 (XXVI) 1992 (XXVII) 1993 (XXVIII) 1994 (XXIX) 1995 (XXX) 1996 (XXXI) 1997 (XXXII) 1998 (XXXIII) 1999 (XXXIV) 2000 (XXXV) 2001 (XXXVI) 2002 (XXXVII) 2003 (XXXVIII) 2004 (XXXIX) 2005 (XL) 2006 (XLI) 2007 (XLII) 2008 (XLIII) 2009 (XLIV) 2010 (XLV) 2011 (XLVI) 2012 (XLVII) 2013 (XLVIII) 2014 (XLIX) 2015 (50)

1921 APFA de facto championship game 1925 NFL Championship controversy 1932 NFL Playoff Game NFL Championship broadcasters AFL Championship broadcasters Super Bowl champions Super Bowl Most Valuable Players Super Bowl records Super Bowl broadcasters Super Bowl officials Super Bowl halftime Super Bowl commercials Pre-Super Bowl NFL champions NFL playoffs (Results) AFL playoffs

1 – From 1966 to 1969, the first four Super Bowls were "World Championship" games played between two independent professional football leagues, AFL and NFL, and when the league merged in 1970 the Super Bowl became the NFL Championship Game. 2 – Dates in the list denote the season, not the calendar year in which the championship game was played. For instance, Super Bowl XLI was played in 2007, but was the championship for the 2006 season.

National Football League (2016)

AFC

NFC

Seasons	Seasons (by team) Preseason Hall of Fame Game American Bowl Regular season Kickoff game Monday Night Football International Series Thanksgiving games Christmas games Playoffs Streaks Droughts AFC Championship NFC Championship Super Bowl champions quarterbacks Pro Bowl

History	League history Executive history Championship history AFL Championship (1960–1969) NFL Championship (1920–1969) Playoff Bowl

Other	Owners Officials Properties Stadiums (chronology) Timeline Defunct franchises Franchise moves and mergers Los Angeles team history Records individual team Super Bowl All time win–loss Last undefeated All-Pro Numbers (retired) Hall of Fame Lore Nicknames AFL Merger International Foreign players London Toronto Bills Series List of games played outside the U.S. Media TV NFL Network Radio Management Council Competition Committee Collective bargaining agreement NFLPA Player conduct Suspensions Player misconduct Combine Draft Training camp Rivalries NFL Foundation Tied games Canceled games Lockouts Controversies Cheerleading Mascots Color Rush

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American Football League playoffs

1960 Championship

1961 Championship

1962 Championship

1963 Playoffs

Eastern Division Playoff

1963 Championship

1964 Championship

1965 Championship

1966 Championship

1967 Championship

1968 Playoffs

Western Division Playoff

1968 Championship

1969 Playoffs

Bracket

Interdivisional Playoffs

1969 Championship

AFL Championship Game appearances 1960–69

See also

References

External links