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1964 American Football League Championship Game

January 01, 1970

The 1964 AFL Championship Game was the American Football League's fifth championship game, played at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, New York, on Saturday, December 26.[2][3][4][5][6]

1964 American Football League Championship Game
San Diego Chargers
(Western)
(8–5–1)		 Buffalo Bills
(Eastern)
(12–2)
7 20
Head coach:
Sid Gillman		 Head coach:
Lou Saban
1234 Total
SD 7000 7
BUF 31007 20
DateDecember 26, 1964
StadiumWar Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York
RefereeBob Finley
Attendance40,242
Hall of Famers
Chargers: Sid Gillman (coach), Lance Alworth, Ron Mix
Bills: Ralph Wilson (owner), Billy Shaw
TV in the United States
NetworkABC
AnnouncersCurt Gowdy, Paul Christman[1]
Buffalo
class=notpageimage|
Location in the United States

The Buffalo Bills (12–2) of the Eastern Division hosted the defending AFL champion San Diego Chargers (8–5–1) of the Western Division. The two had met twice in the regular season and the Bills won both, most recently by three points in San Diego a month earlier on Thanksgiving Day. Hall of fame wide receiver Lance Alworth of the Chargers was injured in the final regular season game (left knee hyperextension) and did not play.[7][8] The Chargers had lost three of their last four games to end the regular season, and the Bills were slight favorites to win the title at home;[9] with Alworth out they became strong favorites.[10][7]

Game summary edit

San Diego opened the game with an 80-yard drive in four plays, but it was their only score as the Bills won 20–7 for their first league championship.[3][4] Combined with the next season, the Bills' consecutive AFL titles are the only two championships ever won by a major league team based in Buffalo.

One of the game's most iconic plays was one known as the "hit heard 'round the world," when Bills linebacker Mike Stratton laid a particularly hard hit on Chargers running back Keith Lincoln that broke a rib and forced him out of the game midway through the first quarter.[2][3][4] Lincoln had over 330 yards of offense in the previous year's title game and had already rushed for 47 yards, caught a pass for 11 yards, and kicked an extra point (as the reserve placekicker) in the first 6½ minutes.[11] Without Lincoln and Alworth, the San Diego offensive attack was severely hindered.

Bills' fullback Cookie Gilchrist rushed for 122 yards on sixteen carries, while quarterback Jack Kemp completed ten of twenty passes for 188 yards and scored a fourth quarter touchdown on a sneak. Rookie kicker Pete Gogolak added two field goals in the first half. War Memorial Stadium was filled with a sellout attendance of 40,242.[3][4]

Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 7 0 007
Bills 3 10 0720

at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York

Game information
Scoring

Aftermath edit

It was the final game for Chargers quarterback Tobin Rote, who had led the Detroit Lions to the NFL title seven years earlier in 1957 and the Chargers to the AFL crown in 1963. He was replaced in the game by John Hadl, who had played most of the regular season.

The 1964 AFL championship game was the penultimate pro football championship game played in Buffalo (the Bills hosted again in 1966, but lost in their attempt for a third consecutive AFL crown). Held six days after the completion of the 1964 regular season, it was the only AFL title game not played on Sunday, as well as the final one televised in black-and-white. The NFL's championship game was played the following day on Sunday, December 27.

This was the last AFL game on ABC television; rights were sold in January 1964 to NBC for $36 million over five years, beginning with the 1965 season.[12][13] This infusion of cash helped spur a bidding war for talent with the NFL, which led to the AFL–NFL merger agreement in June 1966. With the exception of the 1966 Continental Football League championship, ABC did not carry pro football again until after the completion of the merger and the subsequent creation of Monday Night Football for the 1970 season.

Players' shares edit

The winning Bills split their players' shares for the title game 43 ways for $2,668 each, while the Chargers split theirs into 44 shares for $1,738 each.[3][11][14] These shares were about one-third of those for the NFL title game in 1964, at $8,000 and $5,000 each.[15] With the new television deal with NBC, the players' shares for the AFL title game nearly doubled in 1965.[16]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b 1964 NFL-AFL Commentator Crews January 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b "Bills bruise Chargers; win A.F.L. title, 20-7". Chicago Sunday Tribune. December 27, 1964. p. 1, section 2.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Buffalo's Bills bull past San Diego for title, 20-7". Milwaukee Journal. UPI. December 27, 1964. p. 1, sports.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b c d Rathet, Mike (December 27, 1964). "Buffalo gains AFL championship". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 1B.
  5. ^ "Buffalo Bills out-charge Charger 20-7 in finale". The Bulletin. (Bend, Oregon). UPI. December 28, 1964. p. 9.
  6. ^ Shrake, Edwin (January 4, 1965). "Foggy feast for Buffalo's faithful". Sports Illustrated. p. 14.
  7. ^ a b "Alworth is out of AFL title game". Chicago Daily Tribune. UPI. December 26, 1964. p. 1, section 2.
  8. ^ a b "Chargers lose star for AFL title game". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. December 26, 1964. p. 12.
  9. ^ "Weather factor in pro finales". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 24, 1964. p. 10.
  10. ^ "Bills rated as strong favorites to win AFL title". Schenectady Gazette. (New York). Associated Press. December 26, 1964. p. 18.
  11. ^ a b "Linebacker key in Buffalo win". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 28, 1964. p. 10.
  12. ^ "AFL, NBC ink pact". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI reports. January 29, 1964. p. 3B.
  13. ^ "American Football League may be expanded in 1966". Nashua Telegraph. (New Hampshire). Associated Press. May 23, 1964. p. 8.
  14. ^ "Bills get $2,668". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. December 27, 1964. p. 1, section 2.
  15. ^ "Facts and figures". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. December 28, 1964. p. 13, part 2.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Bills turn solid gold with $100 quarterback". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. December 27, 1965. p. 31.

42°54′18″N 78°51′22″W / 42.905°N 78.856°W / 42.905; -78.856

January 01, 1970
1964, american, football, league, championship, game, 1964, championship, game, american, football, league, fifth, championship, game, played, memorial, stadium, buffalo, york, saturday, december, diego, chargers, western, buffalo, bills, eastern, 20head, coac. The 1964 AFL Championship Game was the American Football League s fifth championship game played at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo New York on Saturday December 26 2 3 4 5 6 1964 American Football League Championship GameSan Diego Chargers Western 8 5 1 Buffalo Bills Eastern 12 2 7 20Head coach Sid Gillman Head coach Lou Saban1234 TotalSD 7000 7BUF 31007 20DateDecember 26 1964StadiumWar Memorial Stadium Buffalo New YorkRefereeBob FinleyAttendance40 242Hall of FamersChargers Sid Gillman coach Lance Alworth Ron Mix Bills Ralph Wilson owner Billy ShawTV in the United StatesNetworkABCAnnouncersCurt Gowdy Paul Christman 1 1963AFL Championship Game1965 Buffaloclass notpageimage Location in the United States The Buffalo Bills 12 2 of the Eastern Division hosted the defending AFL champion San Diego Chargers 8 5 1 of the Western Division The two had met twice in the regular season and the Bills won both most recently by three points in San Diego a month earlier on Thanksgiving Day Hall of fame wide receiver Lance Alworth of the Chargers was injured in the final regular season game left knee hyperextension and did not play 7 8 The Chargers had lost three of their last four games to end the regular season and the Bills were slight favorites to win the title at home 9 with Alworth out they became strong favorites 10 7 Contents 1 Game summary 2 Aftermath 3 Players shares 4 See also 5 ReferencesGame summary editSan Diego opened the game with an 80 yard drive in four plays but it was their only score as the Bills won 20 7 for their first league championship 3 4 Combined with the next season the Bills consecutive AFL titles are the only two championships ever won by a major league team based in Buffalo One of the game s most iconic plays was one known as the hit heard round the world when Bills linebacker Mike Stratton laid a particularly hard hit on Chargers running back Keith Lincoln that broke a rib and forced him out of the game midway through the first quarter 2 3 4 Lincoln had over 330 yards of offense in the previous year s title game and had already rushed for 47 yards caught a pass for 11 yards and kicked an extra point as the reserve placekicker in the first 6 minutes 11 Without Lincoln and Alworth the San Diego offensive attack was severely hindered Bills fullback Cookie Gilchrist rushed for 122 yards on sixteen carries while quarterback Jack Kemp completed ten of twenty passes for 188 yards and scored a fourth quarter touchdown on a sneak Rookie kicker Pete Gogolak added two field goals in the first half War Memorial Stadium was filled with a sellout attendance of 40 242 3 4 Buffalo Bills 20 San Diego Chargers 7 Period 1 2 34TotalChargers 7 0 007Bills 3 10 0720 at War Memorial Stadium Buffalo New York Date December 26 1964Game time 2 00 p m EST 8 Game attendance 40 242Referee Bob FinleyTV announcers ABC Curt Gowdy Paul Christman 1 Game information Scoring First quarter SD Dave Kocourek 26 pass from Tobin Rote Keith Lincoln kick 7 0 SD BUF Field goal Pete Gogolak 12 7 3 SD Second quarter BUF Wray Carlton 4 run Gogolak kick 10 7 BUF BUF Field goal Gogolak 17 13 7 BUF Third quarter Fourth quarter BUF Jack Kemp 1 run Gogolak kick 20 7 BUFAftermath editIt was the final game for Chargers quarterback Tobin Rote who had led the Detroit Lions to the NFL title seven years earlier in 1957 and the Chargers to the AFL crown in 1963 He was replaced in the game by John Hadl who had played most of the regular season The 1964 AFL championship game was the penultimate pro football championship game played in Buffalo the Bills hosted again in 1966 but lost in their attempt for a third consecutive AFL crown Held six days after the completion of the 1964 regular season it was the only AFL title game not played on Sunday as well as the final one televised in black and white The NFL s championship game was played the following day on Sunday December 27 This was the last AFL game on ABC television rights were sold in January 1964 to NBC for 36 million over five years beginning with the 1965 season 12 13 This infusion of cash helped spur a bidding war for talent with the NFL which led to the AFL NFL merger agreement in June 1966 With the exception of the 1966 Continental Football League championship ABC did not carry pro football again until after the completion of the merger and the subsequent creation of Monday Night Football for the 1970 season Players shares editThe winning Bills split their players shares for the title game 43 ways for 2 668 each while the Chargers split theirs into 44 shares for 1 738 each 3 11 14 These shares were about one third of those for the NFL title game in 1964 at 8 000 and 5 000 each 15 With the new television deal with NBC the players shares for the AFL title game nearly doubled in 1965 16 See also edit1964 AFL season AFL Championship Games 1964 NFL Championship GameReferences edit a b 1964 NFL AFL Commentator Crews Archived January 29 2009 at the Wayback Machine a b Bills bruise Chargers win A F L title 20 7 Chicago Sunday Tribune December 27 1964 p 1 section 2 a b c d e Buffalo s Bills bull past San Diego for title 20 7 Milwaukee Journal UPI December 27 1964 p 1 sports permanent dead link a b c d Rathet Mike December 27 1964 Buffalo gains AFL championship Eugene Register Guard Oregon Associated Press p 1B Buffalo Bills out charge Charger 20 7 in finale The Bulletin Bend Oregon UPI December 28 1964 p 9 Shrake Edwin January 4 1965 Foggy feast for Buffalo s faithful Sports Illustrated p 14 a b Alworth is out of AFL title game Chicago Daily Tribune UPI December 26 1964 p 1 section 2 a b Chargers lose star for AFL title game Spokesman Review Spokane Washington Associated Press December 26 1964 p 12 Weather factor in pro finales Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Associated Press December 24 1964 p 10 Bills rated as strong favorites to win AFL title Schenectady Gazette New York Associated Press December 26 1964 p 18 a b Linebacker key in Buffalo win Spokane Daily Chronicle Washington Associated Press December 28 1964 p 10 AFL NBC ink pact Eugene Register Guard Oregon UPI reports January 29 1964 p 3B American Football League may be expanded in 1966 Nashua Telegraph New Hampshire Associated Press May 23 1964 p 8 Bills get 2 668 Chicago Tribune Associated Press December 27 1964 p 1 section 2 Facts and figures Milwaukee Journal Associated Press December 28 1964 p 13 part 2 permanent dead link Bills turn solid gold with 100 quarterback Toledo Blade Ohio Associated Press December 27 1965 p 31 42 54 18 N 78 51 22 W 42 905 N 78 856 W 42 905 78 856 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1964 American Football League Championship Game amp oldid 1221379602, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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