1967: Dawson Sets Passing Record as Chiefs Beat Oilers

The Kansas City Chiefs began the defense of their 1966 American Football League title on September 9, 1967 against the Houston Oilers. The Chiefs had won the Western Division with an 11-2-1 record in ’66, easily defeated Buffalo for the AFL Championship, and then lost the first Super Bowl to the NFL’s Green Bay Packers. Head Coach Hank Stram’s team boasted the league’s most efficient passer in QB Len Dawson (pictured at right), a fine running game with halfbacks Mike Garrett and Bert Coan and FB Curtis McClinton, an excellent deep receiver in flanker Otis Taylor, and a solid defense.

The Oilers, on the other hand, had lost their last eight games in 1966 and were in a rebuilding mode under GM Don Klosterman. Wally Lemm, who guided the club to the 1961 AFL title, had returned as head coach in 1966 and by the opening game of the ’67 season, many of Houston’s veteran stalwarts were gone, including QB George Blanda, FB Charlie Tolar, flanker Charley Hennigan, and safety Fred Glick. Jacky Lee, long-time backup to Blanda at quarterback (except when loaned out to the Denver Broncos in 1964 and ‘65), was promoted to the starting job. Second-year FB Hoyle Granger had moved into the starting lineup during the ’66 season. Garland Boyette was moved from defensive end to middle linebacker and was joined by promising rookie OLB George Webster. Another rookie, safety Ken Houston, joined a revamped and talented defensive backfield.

There were 28,203 fans in attendance for the Saturday night game at Rice Stadium. Following a scoreless opening period, Kansas City capped a seven-play, 85-yard drive early in the second quarter with Garrett’s two-yard touchdown run. The possession was helped along by Dawson passes to split end Chris Burford and Garrett.

With Lee starting at quarterback, the Oilers responded with an 80-yard drive in 10 plays that was highlighted by the running of the fullback Granger and HB Sid Blanks. Granger started it off with an 18-yard carry and ended it with a four-yard TD. Blanks had a 35-yard run along the way.

The Chiefs came back with another scoring possession, this one capped by a 54-yard field goal by rookie placekicker Jan Stenerud with just under four minutes left in the half. Houston again put together a scoring drive of its own, this time aided by a 39-yard pass interference call against the Chiefs. Granger and Blanks combined for 41 rushing yards, with Blanks going the final seven yards for the touchdown. Following the successful extra point, the fans gave the home team a standing ovation.

Dawson’s passing keyed the next Kansas City drive, which covered 82 yards, as he threw for 12 and 19 yards to Garrett and 16 yards to TE Fred Arbanas for a touchdown with just seconds left on the clock before halftime. The possession was helped along by a pass interference call on Houston CB W.K. Hicks and the score stood at 17-14 in favor of the Chiefs at the intermission.

In the second half, Kansas City LB Bobby Bell intercepted a Lee pass and returned it 32 yards for a TD. The Chiefs went for two points and were successful as Dawson threw to TE Reg Carolan.

Dawson completed 15 straight passes before finally throwing an incomplete sideline pass during the fourth quarter. He was also victimized when Houston’s rookie Ken Houston intercepted a pass in the end zone intended for Burford and returned it 77 yards, with Webster and CB Miller Farr throwing key blocks along the way. On the next play, Lee tossed a short pass to Granger who went the remaining 28 yards for a touchdown, but the two-point conversion attempt failed. The Chiefs held on to win by a final score of 25-20.

Houston actually had the most total yards (336 to 312) although Kansas City accumulated the most first downs (20 to 17). The Chiefs only turned the ball over once, while the Oilers suffered four turnovers. Kansas City was penalized 10 times, at the expense of 117 yards, while Houston was flagged on seven occasions and lost more yards (128).


With his high efficiency, Len Dawson completed 17 of 19 passes for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Mike Garrett (pictured at left) led the Chiefs in rushing with 80 yards on 19 carries, including one for a TD, and also had the most pass receptions with 6, for another 42 yards. Otis Taylor gained 60 yards on his four catches.

For Houston, Jacky Lee was successful on 16 of 25 throws for 158 yards with a TD and two interceptions. The running game was proficient as Hoyle Granger gained 101 yards on 13 carries, including a score, and Sid Blanks added 79 yards on 18 attempts with a TD. WR Charley Frazier caught 6 passes for 82 yards.

Dawson’s 15 consecutive completions were a then-pro football record (NFL as well as AFL). It broke the existing mark of 13 by the NFL’s Fran Tarkenton and the AFL record of 11 by Dick Wood of the Jets in 1964. Joe Namath of the Jets tied the mark several weeks later and it stood until 1974.

The Chiefs had another good season, but couldn’t beat the Raiders or Chargers and ended up second in the Western Division with a 9-5 record. Len Dawson again topped the AFL in completion percentage (57.7) and was among the leaders in passing (83.7 rating by the current system).

Houston’s rebuilding process was more successful than anticipated, although Jacky Lee was traded, ironically enough, to the Chiefs for Dawson’s backup, Pete Beathard. Beathard proved to be a good fit, the defense was outstanding, and the Oilers won the Eastern Division with a 9-4-1 tally, although they were routed by Oakland in the AFL Championship game. Hoyle Granger (pictured below) ranked second in the league with 1194 yards rushing (Mike Garrett ended up third with 1087) and first in yards from scrimmage (1494).

1946: 49ers Lose to Yankees in AAFC Debut

On September 8, 1946 two members of the new All-America Football Conference (AAFC) took the field for the first time in regular season action in San Francisco. The host 49ers had been founded by Tony Morabito, a partner in a lumber company. With John Blacklinger as general manager, the team drew heavily on Bay Area talent to stock the roster, starting with Head Coach Buck Shaw from Santa Clara. Two Stanford stars, left-handed QB Frankie Albert and FB Norm Standlee were signed, as was Santa Clara end Alyn Beals. Another Stanford product who had already established himself in the NFL, G Bruno Banducci, was snagged away from the Philadelphia Eagles.

The visiting Yankees were owned by Dan Topping, also an owner of the baseball Yankees (giving the new club a famous name as well as venue to play at), who had operated the NFL’s Brooklyn franchise until switching leagues. Ray Flaherty, a proven winner with the NFL Redskins, was hired as head coach and there were plenty of resources to sign talent that included ex-Dodgers tailback Ace Parker (a past MVP in the older league; pictured above), tackle Bruiser Kinard, and end Perry Schwartz, plus another ex-MVP with the Detroit Lions, tailback Frank Sinkwich. There were also promising rookies in tailback Orban “Spec” Sanders, FB Eddie Prokop, and ends Bruce Alford and Jack Russell.

There were some 35,000 fans present on a foggy day at Kezar Stadium. San Francisco scored first when Albert passed to HB John Strzykalski, who then lateraled to HB Len Eshmont at the New York 41, and Eshmont proceeded to run the rest of the way for a touchdown. Joe Vetrano kicked the extra point to make the score 7-0.

New York’s Coach Flaherty, taking advantage of his team’s depth, revamped the lineup in the second quarter and the Yankees got on the board thanks to a deflected punt. With the 49ers backed up deep in their own territory, Vetrano punted and tackle Derrell Palmer got a hand on the kick. Wingback Lowell Wagner grabbed the ball on the run at the San Francisco 40 and returned it for a touchdown. Harvey Johnson’s extra point tied the score.

Shortly into the third quarter, the Yankees drove 52 yards to score. Asserting their strong running game, only one pass was thrown, by Parker to HB Bob Sweiger for 13 yards. Parker, FB Pug Manders (another ex-Dodger), and QB Bob Morrow alternated carries until Parker ran seven yards off tackle for the go-ahead TD.

In the fourth quarter, New York drove 72 yards to put more points on the board. Spec Sanders operated at tailback and passed effectively while FB Dewey Proctor handled the bulk of the running, including going three yards for the final touchdown. Wearing the 49ers down with their ball-controlling single-wing attack, the Yankees won by a convincing score of 21-7.

New York outgained the 49ers (194 yards to 180), with 132 yards coming on the ground. The Yankees also had the edge in first downs, with 13 to San Francisco’s 6.

Not surprisingly, New York went on to dominate the Eastern Division, finishing well ahead of the pack at 10-3-1. The Yankees lost a closely-fought AAFC Championship game to the Cleveland Browns. Ace Parker, in the final season of his Hall of Fame career, ranked second in passing while Spec Sanders led the new league in rushing (709 yards).


The 49ers recovered from the opening defeat to put together a 9-5 record, second to the Browns in the Western Division. While they had difficulty scoring against the Yankees, they were runners-up to Cleveland in points scored (307). Frankie Albert proved to be a proficient passer and the team led the league in rushing yards (2175) with Norm Standlee pacing the club with 651.

It would be the story throughout the remainder of the AAFC’s four-year existence – overshadowed by the powerful Browns, the 49ers ended up being the league’s second-best team and very successful at the gate as well. Ultimately, San Francisco joined Cleveland in the NFL.

1962: New-Look Broncos Upset Chargers

Coming into the 1962 American Football League season, the Denver Broncos had undergone a transformation – at least in terms of leadership and appearance. In 1960 and ’61, the club had a decidedly austere air about it. Coached by Frank Filchock, a former NFL quarterback and CFL coach, the team had little money to work with (especially during the inaugural season, when owned by the Howsam family), epitomized by the uniforms of gold (more accurately mustard yellow) jerseys and brown pants with vertically-striped brown-and-yellow socks that had been purchased cheaply from the organizers of a defunct college all-star game (the Copper Bowl).

Frank Tripucka, who last played in the NFL with the ill-fated Dallas Texans in 1952 before heading north to Canada, originally came to the Broncos in ’60 to be a coach but ended up becoming the starting quarterback for Filchock’s pass-oriented attack. There was talent on the club in split end Lionel Taylor, the AFL’s leading receiver in each of its first two seasons (including an even 100 catches in ’61); HB/PK Gene Mingo, the league’s leading scorer in 1960; All-League DT Bud McFadin; and safety Austin “Goose” Gonsoulin, who intercepted 17 passes in two years. Still, the team lost far more than it won, going a combined 7-20-1.

For 1962, there was a new head coach/GM in Jack Faulkner (pictured above), who had been an assistant with the Chargers under Sid Gillman. The team’s offices were revamped, and so were the uniforms. The new outfits were orange, blue, and white with a cartoon bucking bronco on the helmet, and the hated vertically-striped socks were publicly burned amid great ceremony prior to an intrasquad scrimmage before a cheering crowd (at least one pair survived to eventually reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame).


The team that took the field on September 7 for the season-opening game at Bears Stadium against San Diego still contained most of the same key personnel, including Tripucka, Taylor, Mingo, McFadin, and Gonsoulin. But there was a new enthusiasm present as a crowd of 28,000 turned out for the Friday night contest, a new high for the franchise.

The team the Broncos were hosting, the Chargers, had won the Western Division in each of the previous two seasons and was expected to provide an ample test for the refurbished club. However, San Diego’s potent offense had already been crippled by the loss of star HB Paul Lowe, who was gone for the year due to a fractured wrist suffered in training camp.

The Broncos started off the scoring with a first quarter drive that covered 56 yards, capped by Mingo’s five-yard touchdown carry. Mingo added the extra point and then, later in the opening period, kicked a 12-yard field goal to put Denver ahead by 10-0 after a quarter of play.

San Diego responded with a seven-yard TD pass from QB Jack Kemp to split end Don Norton to narrow the score to 10-7 in the second quarter. But the Broncos came back with another drive that concluded with a long pass play of 49 yards (17 in the air) from Tripucka to flanker Bob Scarpitto, a newcomer to the club.

On Denver’s next possession, Tripucka completed eight passes, the last for a two-yard TD to FB Bo Dickinson. The 34-year-old quarterback completed 20 of 33 passes for 252 yards in the first half as the Broncos raced out to a 24-7 lead. His protection was excellent, as well as his accuracy.

Mingo padded the lead to 30-7 in the third quarter with field goals of 41 and 53 yards. The Chargers, who made it into Denver territory just twice more after scoring their first touchdown, finally got on the board again on the last play of the third quarter when CB Claude Gibson returned a pass interception 35 yards for a touchdown.

San Diego’s rookie QB John Hadl led the Chargers on a 55-yard drive in the fourth quarter that ended with a 15-yard scoring pass to FB Bobby Jackson, but the result was not in doubt. The Broncos came away with a convincing 30-21 win.

Denver’s offensive output of 505 yards was impressive and easily outdistanced the Chargers, who gained 208. The Broncos not only dominated through the air (384 yards to 123), but on the ground also (121 to 96) and had twice as many first downs (28 to 14). It was Denver’s first-ever win over the Chargers following four defeats.


Frank Tripucka had an outstanding day as he completed 28 of 47 passes for 376 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Lionel Taylor and TE Gene Prebola each caught 7 passes, with Taylor gaining 79 yards to Prebola’s 69. Thanks to the long scoring reception, Bob Scarpitto was right behind with 68 yards on just two receptions. HB Al Frazier was the team’s leading rusher with 72 yards on 14 carries. Through both rushing and placekicking, Gene Mingo accounted for 18 points.

For the Chargers, the usually capable Jack Kemp went to the air 27 times and had only 8 completions for 108 yards, including one TD and one interception. TE Dave Kocurek caught 4 passes for 66 yards. Bobby Jackson ran for 51 yards on 9 carries.

The Broncos continued to play well under Faulkner as they won six of their first seven games to move into contention in the Western Division. They were 7-2 after beating the Chargers again in San Diego, but the roof fell in on the overachieving club after that – the Broncos didn’t win another game the rest of the way and finished in second place with a 7-7 record. Still, it was progress and Faulkner received AFL Coach of the Year honors.

San Diego recovered to win handily the next week, but lost Jack Kemp to a hand injury and when the club waived him in an administrative move, he was lost to the Buffalo Bills. The loss of Lowe and Kemp was just the beginning as many starters fell to injury along the way. The Chargers advanced as far as 3-2 with rookie John Hadl at quarterback, but proceeded to lose eight of the last nine games to finish far out of the running in third place with a 4-10 record.

1981: Schonert Comes Off Bench to Lead Bengals to Win Over Seahawks

The Cincinnati Bengals had endured three straight losing seasons from 1978 to ’80 and, while the team had a new look with their tiger-striped uniforms being worn for the first time in regular season play, things did not look promising after one quarter of action in the 1981 season-opening game on September 6 against the Seattle Seahawks. Already, many of the 41,177 fans in attendance at Riverfront Stadium were booing the home team.

Ken Anderson, a talented quarterback who had suffered along with the rest of the club during the down period and had lost his job briefly in 1980, had a dreadful opening period. He completed just 5 of 15 passes for 39 yards, and two of his passes had been intercepted. The first led directly to a score when FS John Harris returned it 29 yards for a touchdown. Benefiting from the inept play of the Bengals offense, Seattle scored on a 36-yard pass play from QB Jim Zorn to WR Steve Largent and a one-yard rush by FB Jim Jodat to lead by 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.

With the fans voicing their frustration, second-year Head Coach Forrest Gregg pulled Anderson for Turk Schonert (pictured above), the third-string quarterback and second-year player out of Stanford, who was appearing in his first regular season game. The regular backup, Jack Thompson, aka “the Throwin’ Samoan”, was unavailable due to injury.

Things started inauspiciously when Schonert fumbled the ball away on his first snap, but the game completely turned around from that point on. Cincinnati’s defense shut down the Seahawks for the remaining three quarters while the young backup directed the offense on five scoring drives.

In the second quarter, Jim Breech got the Bengals on the board with a 25-yard field goal. Shortly before the end of the half, FB Pete Johnson bulled over from three yards out to cut Seattle’s lead to 21-10 at the intermission.

Following another Breech field goal of 40 yards in the third quarter, the Seahawks missed an opportunity to extend their lead when Efren Herrera failed on a 37-yard field goal attempt. Cincinnati capitalized, driving 80 yards to a three-yard touchdown carry by RB Archie Griffin. It was the former two-time Heisman Trophy winner’s first rushing TD since his rookie year in 1976 and, with the successful PAT, put the Bengals behind by just a point with three minutes remaining in the period.

Cincinnati’s game-winning drive came in the fourth quarter and covered 84 yards, capped by Johnson’s two-yard touchdown with just over five minutes to play. With the Seahawks unable to respond, the Bengals came away with a 27-21 come-from-behind victory.

Cincinnati ended up outgaining the Seahawks (375 yards to 290) and had more first downs (24 to 17). But while the visitors had more passing yards (230 to 169), they gained just 60 yards on 23 rushing attempts, to Cincinnati’s 210. Both teams turned the ball over four times.

Turk Schonert completed 9 of 18 passes for 130 yards, and while he threw for no touchdowns, he also gave up no interceptions and ran for 41 yards on 7 carries. Pete Johnson led the running attack with 84 yards on 20 attempts and two touchdowns. Rookie WR Cris Collinsworth caught 4 passes for 65 yards.

For the Seahawks, Jim Zorn was successful on 21 of 41 passes for 230 yards with a TD and an interception. Steve Largent caught 8 passes for 114 yards and a touchdown. But Jim Jodat was the leading rusher with just 21 yards on 8 attempts and the short TD.


“When you hear fans booing, it gets you charged up,” said Pete Johnson (pictured at left). “We showed that we can come back, but I hope we don't have to do it that way again.”

While Coach Gregg considered starting Schonert or Thompson the following week, he stayed with Anderson. The Bengals came from behind once again, this time with the veteran quarterback going the distance, to beat the Jets. Cincinnati went on to win the AFC Central with a 12-4 record, including seven victories in the last eight games, and advanced to the Super Bowl before succumbing to another upstart team, the San Francisco 49ers. Anderson recovered from the humiliating start to put together an MVP season, leading the league in passing while throwing for 3754 yards with 29 touchdowns against 10 interceptions – just eight in the 15 games following the abysmal first quarter against Seattle.

The rookie Cris Collinsworth, who led the Bengals in receiving in the opener, went on to be a key component of the offense as he caught 67 passes for 1009 yards and eight TDs. Pete Johnson continued to lead the running attack, gaining 1077 yards on 274 carries (3.9 avg.) while scoring 12 touchdowns.

For the Seahawks, coached by Jack Patera, the failure to hold the lead in Cincinnati not only resulted in the sixth straight opening-game loss for the franchise, but proved to be a portent of things to come. They lost five of their next six games and ended up with a 6-10 record that put them in last place in the AFC West. The acquisition of RB Theotis Brown from the Cardinals during the season helped bolster the running game, a weak area as evidenced in the opening loss.

Turk Schonert returned to the bench and threw just one more pass in 1981. He remained a backup with the Bengals for eight of his nine seasons and saw his most significant action in 1983 and ’84, when injuries put him back in the starting lineup for three games apiece (he had his most starts – five – in his one year with Atlanta in 1986). The opening-day win in 1981 remained the most memorable performance of his career.

Past Venue: Pontiac Silverdome

Pontiac, MI



Year opened: 1975
Capacity: 80,311

Names:
Pontiac Metropolitan Stadium, 1975
Pontiac Silverdome, 1975 to date

Pro football tenants:
Detroit Lions (NFL), 1975-2001
Michigan Panthers (USFL), 1983-84

Postseason games hosted:
Super Bowl XVI, 49ers 26 Bengals 21, Jan. 24, 1982
USFL Semifinal playoff, Panthers 37 Invaders 21, July 10, 1983
NFC Divisional playoff, Lions 38 Cowboys 6, Jan. 5, 1992
NFC Wild Card playoff, Packers 28 Lions 24, Jan. 8, 1994

Other tenants of note:
Detroit Pistons (NBA), 1978-88
Detroit Express (NASL), 1978-80

Notes: Hosted Cherry Bowl, 1984-85. Hosted annual Motor City Bowl, 1997-2001. Used as venue for FIFA World Cup, 1994. Original teflon-coated roof was supported by air pressure inside the stadium. Was replaced by a canvas fabric following 1985 storm damage. Original AstroTurf surface replaced by FieldTurf in 2005. Temporary grass surface utilized for FIFA World Cup. Originally owned by City of Pontiac, venue was closed in 2006 and auctioned off to private ownership in 2009 (at a substantial loss), reopening in 2010. However, it has since fallen into serious decay.

Fate: Still standing,but no longer in use.



[Updated 5/17/14]

1983: Dickey Throws 5 TD Passes as Packers Defeat Oilers in Overtime

On the morning of September 4, 1983 it seemed doubtful that Lynn Dickey would start at quarterback for the Green Bay Packers later that day in the season-opening game against the Houston Oilers. During the preseason, he had suffered from back spasms and, more recently, missed practice the preceding Friday due to severe headaches as well as the effects of a virus.

“He looked terrible at breakfast,” said seventeenth-year veteran PK Jan Stenerud. “I didn't think there was any way he could play.”

But when the game started before 44,073 at the Astrodome, the eleventh-year veteran and ex-Oiler was behind center for the Packers. Dickey not only played, but excelled as he completed 18 straight passes to start the game. His first incompletion came on an overthrown pass intended for WR John Jefferson with 1:12 left in the half, but by then he had tossed four touchdown passes.

The first had been a 25-yard completion to TE Paul Coffman in the first quarter. Houston responded with a 49-yard field goal by Florian Kempf and then took the lead with a 47-yard TD pass from QB Archie Manning to WR Tim Smith.

Green Bay dominated the second quarter, though, as Dickey connected with Jefferson twice on scoring passes of five and 13 yards and then with RB Gerry Ellis for an 11-yard touchdown. The Packers were ahead by 28-10, but the lead would prove to not be secure in the second half.

Star RB Earl Campbell scored three touchdowns of his own for the Oilers in the third and fourth quarters. The first came in the third period from seven yards out and was countered by a 46-yard Stenerud field goal. Campbell ran for an eight-yard TD in the fourth quarter, and the home team was now only a touchdown behind at 31-24.

After Dickey threw his only interception of the game, in which LB Robert Abraham gave Houston possession at its own 36, the Oilers tied the score at 31-31 when Campbell scored his third touchdown, from one yard out. Green Bay responded with a 74-yard scoring bomb from Dickey to WR James Lofton to go ahead 38-31 with 3:13 to go in regulation.

With 48 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, RB Larry Moriarty dove into the end zone from two yards away to cap an 81-yard drive and, with the successful extra point, the contest was again tied at 38-38 and remained so at the end of regulation.

Green Bay’s backup QB David Whitehurst took over for the first overtime possession as Dickey was again suffering from headaches so severe that he needed to leave the field. Starting at the 17, Whitehurst completed a key 10-yard pass to WR Phillip Epps in a third down situation, RB Eddie Lee Ivery had runs of 9, 12, and 8 yards, and the Packers drove to the Houston 24, from where the 40-year-old Stenerud booted the game-winning 42-yard field goal at just under six minutes into the extra period. The high-scoring contest ended with Green Bay on top, 41-38.

The Oilers, playing catchup throughout the second half, outgained the Packers (498 yards to 479) and led in first downs (28 to 22). Overall, the statistics were as close as the final score, with Houston holding a 15-yard edge in rushing (150 to 135) and gaining just four more passing yards (348 to 344). Each team turned the ball over twice.

Lynn Dickey was successful on 27 of 31 passes for 333 yards with five touchdowns and the one interception – the TD passes tied the club record, while the consecutive completions streak of 18 broke the existing standard. James Lofton caught 8 passes for 154 yards and the one long TD, while John Jefferson contributed 6 receptions for 60 yards and two scores. Eddie Lee Ivery paced the running attack with 71 yards on 12 carries.

For the Oilers, Archie Manning went to the air 34 times and completed 22 for 348 yards with a TD and two picked off. Lost in the defeat was Tim Smith’s 8 catches for 197 yards and a touchdown, as well as Earl Campbell’s 123 yards on 27 attempts that included three TDs before he had to leave the game late in the fourth quarter with a bruised knee.

“I'm glad it's over. In the first quarter I was wishing it was over,” said Dickey. “I really don't remember half of it. I never knew anything about a streak. When your line gives you time and your receivers don't drop the ball, you are going to have a good day.”

“It was a great game, gentlemen,” Oilers Coach Ed Biles said to his defeated team. “It's unfortunate we didn't win it but we can't give a better effort. We grew up in the second half.”

For the Packers, it was an encouraging beginning to a season of great expectations following a 5-3-1 record in the strike-shortened ’82 campaign that had the team in the postseason for the first time under Head Coach Bart Starr. Dickey and the passing game had been a big part of that, especially following the arrival of John Jefferson, disgruntled in San Diego, in ’81 to combine with fleet James Lofton and the productive tight end, Paul Coffman.

Alas, any visions of a return to the glory years of the Lombardi era were dashed in what ended up being a disappointing 8-8 season in 1983. Dickey was certainly productive, throwing for a league-leading 4458 yards and 32 touchdowns - however, he also led the NFL with 29 interceptions. Lofton (58 receptions, 1300 yards) and Coffman (54 catches, 814 yards, 11 TDs) were again highly successful, and so was Jefferson (57 receptions, 830 yards) who chafed at being used more as a possession receiver. The defense played poorly, however, and overall the club was as inconsistent as the record indicated. It spelled the end for Starr as head coach after nine years at the helm.

For Houston, the opening-game loss was the team’s eighth consecutive regular season defeat. The Oilers, one of the AFC’s strongest teams under Head Coach Bum Phillips in the late 70s, suffered through a dreadful 1-8 year in 1982 under Biles. With poor play by the offensive line combined with the effects of wear-and-tear from carrying a heavy workload since his rookie season in 1978, Earl Campbell’s production dropped off significantly. His performance against the Packers was heartening, and he went on to rush for 1301 yards and 12 touchdowns in ‘83. But 34-year-old Archie Manning, obtained from New Orleans during the ’82 season, started just three games for the Oilers as the club lost another nine straight contests and finished at a miserable 2-14. By that point, Ed Biles was gone as head coach and Chuck Studley guided the club the rest of the way in the interim.

MVP Profile: Tobin Rote, 1963

Quarterback, San Diego Chargers



Age: 35
14th season in pro football, 1st in AFL & with Chargers
College: Rice
Height: 6’3” Weight: 222

Prelude:
Rote was chosen in the second round of the 1950 NFL draft by the Green Bay Packers and took over as the starting quarterback as a rookie. Playing for a poor team, he led the league by tossing 24 interceptions. Over the course of seven seasons with the Packers, he established himself as the league’s best running quarterback, gaining a high of 523 yards in ’51 that was the NFL record for a QB until 1971; Rote also scored 11 TDs in 1956. As a passer, he was inconsistent but led the league in both attempts and completions twice, in passing yards once (2203 in 1956), and TD passes twice (17 in 1955, 18 in ’56). He was selected for the Pro Bowl in ‘56. Traded to Detroit prior to the 1957 season, Rote split time with veteran Bobby Layne, and when Layne went down with a broken leg, guided the Lions the rest of the way to an NFL Championship. Layne was traded away in ’58 and Rote started for the next two years, but after a poor season in 1959 and a contract dispute with the Lions, he jumped to Toronto of the CFL. He led the league with 38 TD passes as the Argonauts won a division title in 1960 and played two more seasons for them before signing with the AFL Chargers for 1963, a team searching for a veteran QB to lead the high-powered attack.

1963 Season Summary
Appeared and started in all 14 games
[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Passing
Attempts – 286 [6]
Most attempts, game – 29 vs. Buffalo 9/8, at NY Jets 11/2, at Boston 11/10
Completions – 170 [4]
Most completions, game – 21 at NY Jets 11/2
Yards – 2510 [3]
Most yards, game – 369 at NY Jets 11/2
Completion percentage – 59.4 [1]
Yards per attempt – 8.8 [1]
TD passes – 20 [3, tied with Tom Flores]
Most TD passes, game – 3 vs. Kansas City 9/29, at Denver 10/6, at NY Jets 11/2, at Oakland 12/8
Interceptions – 17 [6]
Most interceptions, game – 4 vs. Oakland 10/27
Passer rating – 86.7 [1]
300-yard passing games – 1
200-yard passing games – 6

Rushing
Attempts – 24
Most attempts, game - 5 (for 7 yds.) at Oakland 12/8
Yards – 62
Most yards, game – 12 yards (on 2 carries) at Buffalo 11/17
Yards per attempt – 2.6
TDs – 2

Points
TDs – 2
Points – 12

Postseason: 1 G (AFL Championship vs. Boston)
Pass attempts – 15
Pass completions – 10
Passing yards – 173
TD passes – 2
Interceptions – 0

Rushing attempts – 4
Rushing yards – 15
Average gain rushing – 3.8
Rushing TDs – 1

Awards & Honors:
AFL Player of the Year: AP
1st team All-AFL: League, AP, UPI, NEA, NY Daily News
AFL All-Star Game

Chargers went 11-3 to win AFL Western Division while leading league in points scored (399), touchdowns (50), and total yardage (5145). Defeated Boston Patriots (51-10) for AFL Championship.

Aftermath:
Rote had a lesser season with the Chargers in 1964 and split time with young QB John Hadl. San Diego again won the Western Division, but lost to Buffalo in the title game with Rote at quarterback most of the way. He played briefly for Denver in 1966, his last season. Overall, in the NFL and AFL he passed for 18,850 yards, throwing for 148 TDs while being intercepted 191 times. He also ran for 3128 yards and scored 37 touchdowns, although his mobility was much diminished by the time he joined the Chargers. Rote’s CFL passing totals were 9872 yards with 66 touchdowns and 58 interceptions, and he ran for 238 yards.

--

MVP Profiles feature players who were named MVP or Player of the Year in the NFL, AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, Maxwell Club – Bert Bell Award, or the league itself).

[Updated 4/12/12]
[Updated 2/14/14]