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American Football League playoffs - Wikipedia

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"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.

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 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

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

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

Eastern Division Playoff

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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
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 major professional sports teams has a championship drought as long, as of 2024 (61 years). This is also the only time that the Chargers have beaten the Patriots in a postseason game.

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.

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 major professional sports team.

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 lost Super Bowl I to the NFL champion Green Bay Packers.

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

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

Western Division Playoff

[edit]

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

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.

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

[edit]

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)
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 – 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.

Championship Game MVPs

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AFL Championship Game appearances 1960–1969

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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