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.
Eastern Division | Western Division | Super Bowl Appearance | Super Bowl Victory |
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 |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 6 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
Oilers | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
at Jeppesen Stadium, Houston, Texas
Game information |
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|
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 |
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|
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
Game information |
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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 |
---|
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 |
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|
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.
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 |
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Mike Stratton's hit on San Diego Chargers running back Keith Lincoln set the stage for the Buffalo Bills and their first AFL 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 |
---|
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.
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 |
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|
Kansas City lost Super Bowl I to the NFL champion Green Bay Packers.
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
Game information |
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|
Oakland lost Super Bowl II to the NFL champion Green Bay Packers.
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
Game information |
---|
|
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 0 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 23 |
Jets | 10 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 27 |
at Shea Stadium, New York City
Game information |
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|
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 |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
Jets | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
at Shea Stadium, New York City
Game information |
---|
|
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
Game information |
---|
|
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
Game information |
---|
|
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.
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 |
Year | Game | Winner | Team | Position | College |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1960 | 1960 | Billy Cannon | Houston Oilers | HB | LSU |
1961 | 1961 | Billy Cannon (2) | Houston Oilers (2) | HB (2) | LSU |
1962 | 1962 | Jack Spikes | Dallas Texans | HB (3) | TCU |
1963 | 1963 | Keith Lincoln | San Diego Chargers | HB (4) | Washington State |
1964 | 1964 | Jack Kemp | Buffalo Bills | QB | Occidental |
1965 | 1965 | Jack Kemp (2) | Buffalo Bills (2) | QB (2) | Occidental |
1966 | 1966 | Len Dawson | Kansas City Chiefs (2) | QB (3) | Purdue |
1967 | 1967 | Daryle Lamonica | Oakland Raiders | QB (4) | Notre Dame |
1968 | 1968 | Joe Namath | New York Jets | QB (5) | Alabama |
1969 | 1969 | Otis Taylor | Kansas City Chiefs (3) | WR | Prairie View A&M |
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 |
0 | Cincinnati Bengals | 0 | 0 | – |
0 | Denver Broncos | 0 | 0 | – |
0 | Miami Dolphins | 0 | 0 | – |
The American Football Conference – Western Division or AFC West is one of the four divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division comprises the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Chargers.
The 1969 Kansas City Chiefs season was the team's tenth, their seventh in Kansas City, and the final season of the American Football League (AFL). It resulted in an 11–3 regular season record and three postseason road victories, including a 23–7 victory in Super Bowl IV over the NFL's heavily favored Minnesota Vikings.
The 1967 Oakland Raiders season was the team's eighth in Oakland. Under the command of second-year head coach John Rauch, the Raiders went 13–1 (.929), an American Football League (AFL) record, and captured their first Western Division title, four games ahead of runner-up Kansas City, the defending league champion.
The 1968 New York Jets season was the ninth season for the team in the American Football League (AFL). The team had the most successful season in franchise history. Trying to improve upon their 8–5–1 record of 1967, they won the AFL Eastern Division with an 11–3 record. They defeated the defending champion Oakland Raiders, 27–23 in the AFL championship game and earned the right to play in Super Bowl III against the NFL champion Baltimore Colts. In a stunning upset, marked by fourth-year quarterback Joe Namath's famous "guarantee" of victory, the Jets defeated the heavily favored Colts 16–7. The Jets have yet to return to the Super Bowl, making them and the New Orleans Saints the only teams to have won their only championship game, also holding the longest appearance drought in NFL history, having not appeared in the 53 complete seasons since this game; they did not appear in a semi-final playoff round again until 1983.
The San Diego Chargers were a professional American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The Chargers played in San Diego from 1961 until the end of the 2016 season, before relocating back to the Greater Los Angeles area, where the franchise played its inaugural 1960 season. The team is now known as the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team that played in Oakland, California from its founding in 1960 to 1981 and again from 1995 to 2019 before relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan area where they now play as the Las Vegas Raiders. Between 1982 and 1994, the team played in Los Angeles as the Los Angeles Raiders.
The 1967 AFL season was the eighth regular season of the American Football League.
The 1966 AFL season was the seventh regular season of the American Football League. The league began its merger process with the National Football League (NFL) in June, which took effect fully in 1970.
The 1963 AFL season was the fourth regular season of the American Football League.
The 1961 AFL season was the second regular season of the American Football League. It consisted of 8 franchises split into two divisions: the East Division and the West Division.
The 1971 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's second season in the National Football League (NFL), ninth as the Kansas City Chiefs, and twelfth overall. They improved from a 7–5–2 campaign in 1970 to record a 10–3–1 mark and win the AFC West division championship, the Chiefs' first division title since 1966 and last until 1993. The Chiefs tied with the Miami Dolphins for the best record in the AFC and were tied for the third-best record overall in the NFL, trailing only the 11–3 marks of the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.
The 1980 season was the Oakland Raiders' 21st since they were founded, their 11th in the National Football League (NFL) and their second under head coach Tom Flores.
The 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the team's 44th in the National Football League. The team attempted to win their third consecutive Super Bowl championship, but ultimately lost to their bitter rivals, the Oakland Raiders, in the AFC Championship Game. Despite failing to reach the Super Bowl, the 1976 Steelers are fondly remembered as one of the franchise's most dominant teams, thanks to a record-setting defense and running game. The Steelers' strong defense finished the season with just 9.9 points allowed per game, the fewest in the NFL, and a franchise record that still stands.
The 1972 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's third season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 13th overall. The team failed to improve on their 6–8 record in 1971. The Chargers would get off to a poor start, as they were devoured 34-3 in their season opener at San Francisco. After their week 2 win against the Denver Broncos, the Chargers would play to a 17-17 draw with another cross-state rival, the Oakland Raiders. It was San Diego's fourth tie in 3 seasons. Even after they defeated the Baltimore Colts in the week following the tie, the Bolts would stumble the rest of the year, winning only 2 more games en route to a 4-9-1 season. This squad featured several players like Duane Thomas, Tim Rossovich, Dave Costa and John Mackey who were unwanted by most of the other NFL teams.
The 1969 San Diego Chargers season was the team's tenth as a franchise and their ninth in San Diego. It began with the team trying to improve on their 9–5 record in 1968, as this would be the last season for the team with a winning record until 1978. It was the last American Football League season before the AFL–NFL merger. It was also Sid Gillman's final season as the team's head coach, as he resigned due to poor health in the middle of the season, and Charlie Waller took over for the last five games.
The 1967 Season was the 8th season for the San Diego Chargers as a professional AFL franchise; the team improved on their 7–6–1 record in 1966 and finishing at 8–5–1. It was the team's first season at San Diego Stadium. The Chargers finished in third place in the AFL West Division with a record of 8–5–1.
The 2000 Oakland Raiders season was the franchise's 31st season in the National Football League (NFL), the 41st overall, their sixth season of their second stint in Oakland, and the third season under head coach Jon Gruden. The Raiders finished the season 12–4, winning the AFC West for the first time since 1990. They returned to the playoffs for the first time since 1993, when the team was still in Los Angeles. The Divisional Round playoff game versus the Miami Dolphins would be their first home playoff game in Oakland since defeating the Houston Oilers in the 1980 AFC Wild Card Playoffs.
The 1973 Oakland Raiders season was the team's 14th season, and fourth in the National Football League.
The 2009 Oakland Raiders season was the 50th season for the original American Football League (AFL) team, and its 40th in the National Football League (NFL). On September 6, 2009, The Raiders traded a 2011 draft pick to the New England Patriots for 5× Pro Bowl Defensive Lineman Richard Seymour. With their loss to Dallas on November 26, 2009, The Raiders sealed their seventh consecutive losing season. After beating the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 6, 2009, the Raiders moved to 4–0 when playing Pittsburgh the year they won the Super Bowl, or are the defending Champions, winning in 1974, 1980, 2006, and now 2009. However, they missed the playoffs for a new team record 7th season.