American Football League playoffs

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).

"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 the Australian league's list of champions, see List of VFL/AFL premiers.

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 than 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 U.S. major professional football league allowed teams other than the first place teams (including ties) 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 was not held until January 2, 1966; 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.

Championship summary

Eastern Division

Western Division

Super Bowl Appearance

Super Bowl Victory

AFL Championship Games

Season	Date	Winning team	Score	Losing team	MVP	Venue	City	Attendance
1960	January 1, 1961	Houston Oilers	24–16	Los Angeles Chargers	Billy Cannon	Jeppesen Stadium	Houston, Texas	32,183
1961	December 24, 1961	Houston Oilers (2)	10–3	San Diego Chargers	Billy Cannon	Balboa Stadium	San Diego, California	29,556
1962	December 23, 1962	Dallas Texans	20–17 (2OT)	Houston Oilers	Jack Spikes	Jeppesen Stadium (2)	Houston, Texas (2)	37,981
1963	January 5, 1964	San Diego Chargers	51–10	Boston Patriots	Keith Lincoln	Balboa Stadium (2)	San Diego, California (2)	30,127
1964	December 26, 1964	Buffalo Bills	20–7	San Diego Chargers	Jack Kemp	War Memorial Stadium	Buffalo, New York	40,242
1965	December 26, 1965	Buffalo Bills (2)	23–0	San Diego Chargers	Jack Kemp	Balboa Stadium (3)	San Diego, California (3)	30,361
1966	January 1, 1967	Kansas City Chiefs (2)	31–7	Buffalo Bills	Len Dawson	War Memorial Stadium (2)	Buffalo, New York (2)	42,080
1967	December 31, 1967	Oakland Raiders	40–7	Houston Oilers	Daryle Lamonica	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	Oakland, California	53,330
1968	December 29, 1968	New York Jets	27–23	Oakland Raiders	Joe Namath	Shea Stadium	Flushing, New York	62,627
1969	January 4, 1970	Kansas City Chiefs (3)	17–7	Oakland Raiders	Otis Taylor	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum (2)	Oakland, California (2)	53,564

• Eastern Division hosted in even-numbered seasons, Western in odd.

1960 Championship

Main article: 1960 American Football League Championship Game

Further information: 1960 American Football League season

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

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

Houston Oilers 24, Los Angeles Chargers 16

at Jeppesen Stadium, Houston, Texas

• Date: January 1, 1961
• Referee: John McDonough

1961 Championship

Main article: 1961 American Football League Championship Game

Further information: 1961 American Football League season

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

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

Houston Oilers 10, San Diego Chargers 3

at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California

• Date: December 24, 1961

1962 Championship

Main article: 1962 American Football League Championship Game

Further information: 1962 American Football League season

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

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

Dallas Texans 20, Houston Oilers 17 (2OT)

at Jeppesen Stadium, Houston, Texas

• Date: December 23, 1962

1963 Playoffs

Further information: 1963 American Football League season

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

Eastern Division Playoff

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

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

Boston Patriots 26, Buffalo Bills 8

at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York

• Date: December 28, 1963

1963 Championship

Main article: 1963 American Football League Championship Game

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

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)

San Diego Chargers 51, Boston Patriots 10

at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California

• Date: January 5, 1964

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 2020 (57 years). This is also the only time that the Chargers have beaten the Patriots in a postseason game.

1964 Championship

Main article: 1964 American Football League Championship Game

Further information: 1964 American Football League season

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

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)

Buffalo Bills 20, San Diego Chargers 7

at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York

• Date: December 26, 1964

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

Main article: 1965 American Football League Championship Game

Further information: 1965 American Football League season

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

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

Buffalo Bills 23, San Diego Chargers 0

at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California

• Date: December 26, 1965

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

Main article: 1966 American Football League Championship Game

Further information: 1966 American Football League season

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

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)

Kansas City Chiefs 31, Buffalo Bills 7

at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York

• Date: January 1, 1967

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. Kemp completed just 12/25 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions. Burnett caught 6 passes for 127 yards.

1967 Championship

Main article: 1967 American Football League Championship Game

Further information: 1967 American Football League season

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

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)

Oakland Raiders 40, Houston Oilers 7

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

• Date: December 31, 1967
• Referee: John McDonough

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

Main article: 1968–69 American Football League playoffs

Further information: 1968 American Football League season

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

Western Division Playoff

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

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

Oakland Raiders 41, Kansas City Chiefs 6

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

• Date: December 22, 1968

1968 Championship

Main article: 1968 American Football League Championship Game

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

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)

New York Jets 27, Oakland Raiders 23

at Shea Stadium, New York City

• Date: December 29, 1968
• Referee: Walt Fitzgerald

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

1969 Playoffs

Main article: 1969–70 American Football League playoffs

Further information: 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

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

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)

Kansas City Chiefs 13, New York Jets 6

at Shea Stadium, New York City

• Date: December 20, 1969
• Referee: Jack Reader

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

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)

Oakland Raiders 56, Houston Oilers 7

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

• Date: December 21, 1969
• Referee: Ben Dreith

1969 Championship

Main article: 1969 American Football League Championship Game

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

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

Kansas City Chiefs 17, Oakland Raiders 7

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

• Date: January 4, 1970
• Referee: Jack Vest

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.

Championship Game MVPs

Key for the below tables

Symbol	Description
Year	Each year is linked to an article about that particular AFL season
Winner (#)	Denotes number of times the player won the award
*	Player elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Team (#)	Denotes number of times the team won the award
Position (#)	Denotes number of times the position has the award

AFL Championship Game Most Valuable Players

Year	Game	Winner	Team	Position	College
1960	1960	Billy Cannon	Houston Oilers	HB	LSU
1961	1961	Billy Cannon (2)	Houston Oilers (2)	HB (2)	LSU
1962	1962	Jack Spikes	Dallas Texans	HB (3)	TCU
1963	1963	Keith Lincoln	San Diego Chargers	HB (4)	Washington State
1964	1964	Jack Kemp	Buffalo Bills	QB	Occidental
1965	1965	Jack Kemp (2)	Buffalo Bills (2)	QB (2)	Occidental
1966	1966	Len Dawson	Kansas City Chiefs (2)	QB (3)	Purdue
1967	1967	Daryle Lamonica	Oakland Raiders	QB (4)	Notre Dame
1968	1968	Joe Namath	New York Jets	QB (5)	Alabama
1969	1969	Otis Taylor	Kansas City Chiefs (3)	WR	Prairie View A&M

AFL Championship Game appearances 1960–1969

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	1.000
3	Buffalo Bills	2	1	.667
3	Oakland Raiders	1	2	.333
1	New York Jets	1	0	1.000
1	Boston Patriots	0	1	.000

See also

• AFC Championship Game

References

1. "Archived copy" (PDF). media.kcchiefs.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 January 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
2. "Historical Newspapers". Chicago Tribune. 27 July 2023.

• 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

• '64 Title Game article from Billzone.com
• Images from '62 Title Game at Wireimage.com