1963 Boston Patriots season

Last updated

1963 Boston Patriots season
Owner Billy Sullivan
Head coach Mike Holovak
Home field Fenway Park
Results
Record7–6–1
Division place1st AFL Eastern (playoff)
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(at Bills) 26–8
Lost AFL Championship
(at Chargers) 10–51
AFL All-StarsLB Tom Addison
DT Houston Antwine
LB Nick Buoniconti
WR/K Gino Cappelletti
DE Bob Dee
DE Larry Eisenhauer
RB Larry Garron
DB Ron Hall
G Charlie Long
G Billy Neighbors
QB Babe Parilli
Uniform
AFC-1961-1964-Uniform-NE.PNG

The 1963 Boston Patriots season was the franchise's 4th season in the American Football League.

Contents

In their first season at Fenway Park, switching from Nickerson Field, the Patriots hovered around the .500 mark all season, and were in position to win the Eastern Division title outright with a victory on their final game. [1] The 35–3 road loss to the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs allowed the Buffalo Bills catch up and both finished at 7–6–1, which required a divisional playoff game, the AFL's first. [2] [3] Both teams had a bye the following week, postponed from the Sunday after the assassination of President Kennedy; the tiebreaker playoff was scheduled for Saturday, December 28, at Buffalo's War Memorial Stadium. The teams split their two games during the regular season, with the home team winning, and the host Bills were slight favorites. [3]

The visiting Patriots won the playoff game 26–8 on a snowy field, with quarterback Babe Parilli throwing two touchdown passes to fullback Larry Garron, and four field goals were added by end Gino Cappelletti. [4] [5] With the win, Boston became Eastern Division champions, while the Western champion San Diego Chargers (11–3) were idle. The AFL championship game was played the next week in southern California on January 5, where San Diego routed the Patriots 51–10 at Balboa Stadium. [6] [7] [8] [9]

This was Boston's only postseason appearance during the AFL's ten years; the Patriots' next playoff game was in 1976 (as a wild card) and the next division title came in 1978.

AFL draft

Staff

1963 Boston Patriots staff
Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches


Strength and conditioning

  • Trainer - William T “Billy” Bates

Roster

Boston Patriots 1963 roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
1September 8 New York Jets W 38–141–0 Alumni Stadium 24,120 Recap
2September 14at San Diego Chargers L 13–171–1 Balboa Stadium 26,097 Recap
3September 22at Oakland Raiders W 20–142–1 Frank Youell Field 17,131 Recap
4September 29at Denver Broncos L 10–142–2 Bears Stadium 18,636 Recap
5October 5at New York Jets L 24–312–3 Polo Grounds 16,769 Recap
6October 11 Oakland Raiders W 20–143–3 Fenway Park 26,494 Recap
7October 18 Denver Broncos W 40–214–3Fenway Park25,418 Recap
8October 26at Buffalo Bills L 21–284–4 War Memorial Stadium 29,243 Recap
9November 1 Houston Oilers W 45–35–4Fenway Park31,185 Recap
10November 10 San Diego Chargers L 6–75–5Fenway Park28,402 Recap
11November 17 Kansas City Chiefs T 24–245–5–1Fenway Park17,200 Recap
November 24AFL games postponed to December 22
12December 1 Buffalo Bills W 17–76–5–1Fenway Park16,981 Recap
13December 7at Houston Oilers W 46–287–5–1 Jeppesen Stadium 23,462 Recap
14December 14at Kansas City Chiefs L 3–357–6–1 Municipal Stadium 12,598 Recap
15December 22 Bye week, (originally December 1)
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

AFL Eastern Division
WLTPCTDIVPFPASTK
Boston Patriots 761.5384–2327257L1
Buffalo Bills 761.5383–3304291W2
Houston Oilers 680.4293–3302372L4
New York Jets 581.3852–4249399L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings in the AFL.

Postseason

RoundDateOpponentResultVenueAttendanceGame
recap
Division December 28at Buffalo Bills W 26–8 War Memorial Stadium 33,044 Recap
Championship January 5, 1964at San Diego Chargers L 10–51 Balboa Stadium 30,127 Recap

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References

  1. ↑ "Hopeful Packers, Patriots open pro grid weekend". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 14, 1963. p. 11.
  2. ↑ "AFL has title tie, may get another". Milwaukee Journal. UPI. December 16, 1963. p. 17, part 2.
  3. 1 2 "Bills, Patriots play for title". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. December 28, 1963. p. 7.
  4. ↑ "Boston beats Bills for division crown". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. December 29, 1963. p. 1, sports.
  5. ↑ "Parilli passes Patriots past Buffalo, 26-8". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. December 29, 1963. p. 1, section 4.
  6. ↑ "Chargers roll over Boston in AFL final". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 6, 1964. p. 27.
  7. ↑ "Chargers rout Boston, 51-10; compared with NFL teams". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. January 6, 1964. p. 11, part 2.
  8. ↑ "Are Chargers good enough for NFL opponents?". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 6, 1964. p. 3B.
  9. ↑ "Charger win Lincolnesque; Palouse Moose gains 349". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 6, 1964. p. 12.
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