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) required 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.)
Before the first Super Bowl, in the 1966 season, the AFL went to great lengths to avoid scheduling its playoff games at the same time as the NFL's. 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 championship 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 December 26—and when that game went to overtime, it shrank the TV audience for the Bills–Chargers title game in San Diego. 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.
In 1966, the leagues agreed to hold championship doubleheaders for the next four years: both title games would take place on the same day but at different times so television audiences could watch both. These took place on 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
| Quarter | 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
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Oilers | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 |
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California
| Game information |
|---|
| HOU – Field goal Blanda 46 HOU – Cannon 35 pass from Blanda (Blanda kick) SD – Field goal Blair 12 |
1962 Championship
| Quarter | 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
- Referee: Harold Bourne
| 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
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 |
at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York
| 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
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Patriots | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Chargers | 21 | 10 | 7 | 13 | 51 |
at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California
| 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.
1964 Championship
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Chargers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Bills | 3 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York
| 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
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Bills | 0 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 23 |
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California
| 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.
1966 Championship
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|
| Chiefs | 7 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
| Bills | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, New York
| 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.
1967 Championship
| Quarter | 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) |
Oakland lost Super Bowl II to the NFL champion Green Bay Packers.
1968 Playoffs
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 |
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: December 22, 1968
- Referee: Ben Dreith
| 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
| Quarter | 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
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 |
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) |
| Quarter | 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) |
1969 Championship
| Quarter | 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.
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 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
- 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