The American Football League Championship game on December 26, 1965 featured a rematch of the previous year’s participants. This time it was the Buffalo Bills, now defending champs, going on the road to face the San Diego Chargers.
The Bills easily topped the Eastern Division with a
10-3-1 record. They were still coached by Lou Saban and QB Jack Kemp (pictured at right), a former
Charger, was again lining up behind center and coming off of a season in which
he received AFL Player of the Year recognition. But temperamental star FB
Cookie Gilchrist had been dealt to Denver and not adequately replaced and
injuries cost the offense the services of flanker Elbert Dubenion and split end
Glenn Bass for most of the season. Flanker Bo Roberson and rookie TE Paul Costa
helped to fill the void, but it was once again the rugged defense that allowed
Buffalo to dominate its division. The unit that contained AFL All-Stars in DT
Tom Sestak, LB Mike Stratton, CB Butch Byrd, and safety George Saimes was solid
throughout. In addition, pioneering soccer-style PK Pete Gogolak led the AFL
with 28 field goals.
San Diego won the Western Division for a third
consecutive season by going 9-2-3. Under the direction of Head Coach Sid
Gillman, the Chargers had the league’s highest-scoring offense. QB John Hadl
was developing into a top passer and flanker Lance Alworth was the premier
player at his position, possibly in either league. HB Paul Lowe led the AFL in
rushing and versatile FB Keith Lincoln was formidable when healthy, which had
not been the case through much of ‘65. The defense was strongest on the line,
featuring DE Earl Faison and DT Ernie Ladd, and linebackers Chuck Allen and
Frank Buncom led a capable group. Moreover, the Chargers had beaten and tied
the Bills during the regular season and, playing for the championship at home,
were 6.5-point favorites to win.
There were 30,361 fans in attendance on a pleasant day at
Balboa Stadium. The game settled into a defensive battle with no scoring in the
first quarter. CB Speedy Duncan of the Chargers intercepted a Jack Kemp pass at
the San Diego 33, but San Diego had to punt from midfield. On their next
series, starting from deep in their own territory, Paul Lowe took off on a
47-yard run, but the Bills tossed John Hadl for consecutive losses and the home
team had to punt again. Coach Gillman chose to have rookie FB Jim Allison
handle the punting rather than Hadl, in order to keep the quarterback rested,
but when the first two kicks went just 19 and nine yards, respectively, Hadl
took over that chore.
Early in the second quarter, a promising series for the
Chargers reached the Buffalo 28 but Herb Travenio missed a 35-yard field goal
attempt that was partially deflected. The teams exchanged punts until late in
the period when the Bills put together a six-play, 80-yard drive. FB Wray
Carlton had two eight-yard carries and Kemp passed to Paul Costa, who made an
outstanding catch for a 22-yard gain. Following two short running plays, Kemp
then threw down the middle to TE Ernie Warlick in the end zone for an 18-yard
touchdown. Pete Gogolak kicked the extra point.
Following a short possession, the Chargers punted and Butch
Byrd gathered in the 40-yard kick at his 26, evaded two tackles, and sped down
the right sideline for a 74-yard touchdown. Gogolak converted again and the visitors
were staked to a 14-0 lead.
On San Diego’s next offensive play, Hadl’s pass was
intercepted by LB Harry Jacobs, who returned it to the Chargers’ 20, but the
Bills were unable to pad their lead when Gogolak missed on a 24-yard try for a
field goal. The Chargers advanced to the Buffalo 24 in the waning seconds of
the first half as Hadl threw to Lance Alworth for 22 yards, ran for another 13,
and completed two more short passes. But Travenio was wide on a 31-yard field
goal attempt to close out the half.
The Chargers had the first possession in the third
quarter and punted. The Bills went right to the air and a Kemp pass to Bo
Roberson gained 49 yards to the San Diego 24, and while the Bills didn’t reach
the end zone, they came away with an 11-yard field goal by Gogolak (pictured at left) that
expanded Buffalo’s margin to 17-0.
Duncan returned the ensuing kickoff 49 yards to the
Buffalo 48 and Keith Lincoln ran for 10 yards on first down. But after
advancing to the 29, the Chargers tried to convert a fourth-and-one situation
and a mix-up in the backfield caused them to lose five yards and turn the ball
over on downs. It proved to be their last opportunity to get back into the
game.
Following a punt by Buffalo’s Paul Maguire that pinned
the Chargers back at their one yard line, the Bills blitzed Hadl, who hurried a
long pass from his end zone that Byrd intercepted and returned to the San Diego
23. The Chargers continued to play tough on defense, but the Bills further added
to their lead with a 39-yard Gogolak field goal.
Down by 20-0 as the game headed into the fourth quarter,
the Chargers again turned the ball over on downs in their own territory and
Buffalo capped the scoring with a Gogolak field goal from 32 yards. San Diego
never again threatened in the remaining time and Buffalo won by a final score
of 23-0.
The Bills led in total yards (260 to 223) and first downs
(23 to 12). They also recorded five sacks, at a loss of 45 yards, to two by San
Diego. The Chargers turned the ball over twice, to one by Buffalo, and were
unable to take advantage of scoring opportunities.
Jack Kemp was not especially efficient with his passing,
completing 8 of 19 throws, but they were good for 155 yards and a touchdown
against one interception. Bo Roberson had three catches for 88 yards and Ernie
Warlick contributed three receptions for 35 yards and a TD. Wray Carlton led
the Bills with 63 rushing yards on 16 carries. Butch Byrd (pictured below) made significant
contributions with an interception that he returned 24 yards and the touchdown
on the punt return. Pete Gogolak was successful on three of his five field goal
attempts.
For the Chargers, John Hadl, harried by the fierce pass
rush, was successful on 11 of 23 throws for 140 yards and gave up two
interceptions. Lance Alworth, who was double-teamed throughout the contest,
caught four passes for 82 yards and Paul Lowe gained 57 yards on 12 carries,
although most of that total came on one play.
“I can’t believe it,” said Jack Kemp regarding the final
score. “Nobody expects to shut out the Chargers.”
“We just got beat,” stated a disappointed Coach Gillman
of the Chargers. “We lost to a fine football team. The Bills have excellent
personnel and coaching. What else is there to say?”
The AFL Championship game triumph proved to be the end
for Coach Saban, who resigned to become head coach at the University of
Maryland. Joel Collier, the assistant coach who had been in charge of the
defense, was elevated to the top job. The Bills once again finished first in
the Eastern Division but lost the title game to Kansas City and went into
decline, not posting another winning record until 1973. The defeat for the AFL
Championship also marked a transition for the Chargers. After having appeared
in five of the league’s first six title contests, they did not appear in
another. San Diego remained a respectable team but was blocked by the Chiefs
and Raiders in the Western Division even while posting records above .500 for
the remaining four AFL seasons before the merger with the NFL in 1970. The Chargers
did not reach the postseason again until 1979.
