View source for 1966 American Football League Championship Game

{{Short description|American football championship}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox AFLChamp
| type = aflc
| name = 1966
| visitor = [[1966 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]]
| visitor_record = 11–2–1
| visitor_abbr = KC
| home = [[1966 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]
| home_record = 9–4–1
| home_abbr = BUF
| visitor_conf = Western
| home_conf = Eastern
| visitor_coach = [[Hank Stram]]
| home_coach = [[Joe Collier]]
| visitor_qtr1 = 7
| visitor_qtr2 = 10
| visitor_qtr3 = 0
| visitor_qtr4 = 14
| visitor_qtr5 =
| visitor_total = 31
| home_qtr1 = 7
| home_qtr2 = 0
| home_qtr3 = 0
| home_qtr4 = 0
| home_qtr5 =
| home_total = 7
| date = January 1, 1967
| stadium = [[War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo)|War Memorial Stadium]]
| city = <br />[[Buffalo, New York]]
| odds = Kansas City <!-- by 3 points--><ref name=yvapkcfv>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UFZcAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ilYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=3797%2C236445 |newspaper=Youngstown Vindicator |location=(Ohio) |agency=Associated Press |last=Rathet |first=Mike |title=Kansas City is favored to halt Bills today |date=January 1, 1967 |page=D1}}</ref>
<!-- https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LMgtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=GZwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3321%2C309440 --><!--{{cn|date=January 2021}}-->
| referee =
| attendance = 42,080
| network = [[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
| announcers = [[Curt Gowdy]], [[Paul Christman]],<br />and Pat Hernon<ref name="1966 NFL-AFL Commentator Crews"/>
| HOFers = '''Chiefs:''' [[Lamar Hunt]] (owner), [[Hank Stram]] (head coach), [[Bobby Beathard]] (personnel administrator), [[Bobby Bell]], [[Buck Buchanan]], [[Len Dawson]], [[Johnny Robinson (safety)|Johnny Robinson]],<br>[[Emmitt Thomas]] <br> '''Bills:''' [[Ralph Wilson]] (owner), [[Billy Shaw]]
|}}
{{Location map
|USA
|relief     = 1
|label      = <small>Buffalo</small>
|lat        = 42.905
|long       = -78.856
|caption    = Location in the [[United States]]
|position   = bottom
|marksize   = 5
|float      = 
|background = 
|width      = 290
}}
{{Location map
|USA New York
|relief     = 1
|label      = <small>Buffalo</small>
|lat        = 42.905
|long       = -78.856
|caption    = Location in [[New York (state)|New York]]
|position   = 
|marksize   = 5
|float      = 
|background = 
|width      = 180
}}
The '''1966 AFL Championship Game''' was  the seventh [[American Football League]]'s championship game, played at [[War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo)|War Memorial Stadium]] in [[Buffalo, New York]], on January 1, 1967.<ref name=sifire>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.si.com/vault/1967/01/09/542904/firewater-for-some-firedup-chiefs |magazine=Sports Illustrated |last=Shrake |first=Edwin |title=Firewater for some fired-up Chiefs |date=January 9, 1967 |page=14}}</ref><ref name=crbtots>{{cite news |url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1967/01/02/page/97/article/chiefs-rout-buffalo-31-to-7 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |last=Rollow |first=Cooper |title=Chiefs rout Buffalo, 31 to 7 |date=January 2, 1967 |page=1, section 3}}</ref>

It matched the Western Division champion [[1966 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] (11–2–1) and the Eastern Division champion [[1966 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] (9–4–1) to decide the [[American Football League]] (AFL) champion for the [[1966 American Football League season|1966]] season.

The host Bills entered as two-time [[1965 American Football League Championship Game|defending champions]], but the visiting Chiefs were three-point favorites, mainly because of their explosive and innovative offense led by head coach [[Hank Stram]].<ref name=yvapkcfv/><ref name=slteg>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8QIqAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3ycEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5186%2C201527 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |title=Potent Chiefs have slim edge on Bills |date=January 1, 1967 |page=3, sports}}</ref> The Bills were a more conventional team with a solid defensive line and a running mindset on offense. The two teams had split their season series, played early in the schedule without weather as a factor, with the road team winning each.

The Chiefs defeated the Bills by a score of 31–7,<ref name=crbtots/><ref name="ldjwaprdy">{{Cite news |date=January 2, 1967 |title=Chiefs ready for Packers |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jNFTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=szgNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7205%2C79036 |work=Lawrence Daily Journal-World |location=(Kansas) |page=14 |agency=Associated Press|via=Google News}}</ref><ref name=miwendrn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CnMxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DxEEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3982%2C202260 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=Kansas City romps over Buffalo to end Bills' AFL reign, 31-7 |date=January 2, 1967 |page=1, part 2}}</ref> and advanced to [[Super Bowl I]] to play against the [[National Football League]] (NFL) champion [[1966 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]].

== Background ==
The game was originally scheduled for Monday, December 26, the week after the conclusion of the regular season.  The [[AFL–NFL merger]] agreement of June 1966 called for a "world championship game" between the league champions. When a date of January 15, 1967, was established, the AFL title game was moved to January 1, same as the [[1966 NFL Championship Game|NFL championship game]] in [[Cotton Bowl (stadium)|Dallas]]. The AFL game was at 1 p.m. EST, televised by [[NFL on NBC|NBC]], and the NFL game followed at 4 p.m. <!--EST-->on [[NFL on CBS|CBS]].<ref name=yvapkcfv/>

Like the NFL, the host team for the title game was alternated between the divisions, regardless of record. In the AFL, the Eastern division hosted in even-numbered years and the Western in odd; home-field advantage was not adopted until {{nfly|1975}}.

=== Kansas City Chiefs ===
{{main|1966 Kansas City Chiefs season}}
The Kansas City Chiefs finished the 1966 regular season with an 11–2–1 record and clinched the Western Division title five weeks earlier, on November 27.<ref name=ccfpgt>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YMxYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=AekDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7129%2C4216591 |newspaper=Spokesman-Review |location=(Spokane, Washington) |agency=Associated Press |title=Chiefs clinch first pro grid title |date=November 28, 1966 |page=10 }}</ref><ref name=cwfwc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aKVRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=zRAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2602%2C7267569 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=wire services |title=Chiefs win, 32-24, for 'West' crown |date=November 28, 1966 |page=1, part 2}}</ref> Quarterback [[Len Dawson]] finished the season with 2,527 passing yards and 26 [[touchdown]]s, with only 10 [[interception]]s, giving him a 101.7 [[passer rating]]. The team's top wide receiver was [[Otis Taylor (American football)|Otis Taylor]] who caught 58 passes for 1,297 yards and 8 touchdowns; [[Chris Burford]] also contributed by catching 58 passes for 758 yards and 8 touchdowns. [[Mike Garrett]] was the team's leading rusher, gaining 801 yards and 6 touchdowns. Other reliable options included [[Curtis McClinton]] (540 yards, 4 touchdowns) and [[Bert Coan]] (521 yards, 7 touchdowns). The Chiefs' offense consisted of five [[AFL All-Star games|All-Stars]]: Len Dawson, Curtis McClinton, Otis Taylor, [[Jim Tyrer]], and [[Ed Budde]].<ref name="1966aflallstars">{{cite web | url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1966_AFL/probowl.htm | title=1966 AFL Pro Bowlers | publisher=Sports Reference | website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]] | access-date=July 16, 2011}}</ref>

Their defense featured six All-Stars: [[Johnny Robinson (safety)|Johnny Robinson]], [[E.J. Holub]], [[Sherrill Headrick]], [[Bobby Bell]], [[Buck Buchanan]], and [[Jerry Mays (defensive lineman)|Jerry Mays]].<ref name="1966aflallstars" />

=== Buffalo Bills ===
{{main|1966 Buffalo Bills season}}

== Game summary ==
In a chilly [[drizzle]], Kansas City broke open a tied fierce 7–7 battle and dominated the rest of the contest from there on, forcing four turnovers (without losing any themselves) and outscoring host Buffalo 24-0 over the last three quarters.

On the opening kickoff, [[Fletcher Smith (American football)|Fletcher Smith]]'s short kick was fielded by defensive end [[Dudley Meredith]], who promptly fumbled the ball, and KC punter [[Jerrel Wilson]], who also played on the kick coverage team, recovered it for the Chiefs on the Bills 31-yard line.  This led to the first score of the game, a 29-yard touchdown pass from [[Len Dawson]] to tight end  [[Fred Arbanas]].  After an exchange of punts, Buffalo tied the game when receiver [[Elbert Dubenion]] raced ahead of defensive back [[Fred Williamson]], "the Hammer", caught a pass from [[Jack Kemp]] at the Chiefs 45, and raced all the way to the end zone for a 69-yard touchdown reception.

Later on, [[Mike Garrett]]'s 27-yard punt return gave the Chiefs a first down on the Bills 45-yard line.  After a few plays, Dawson made a key 15-yard completion to Arbanas advancing to the Buffalo 29.  It was the last catch of the day for Arbanas, who ended up leaving the game with a separated shoulder; however, it paid off big time as Dawson threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to [[Otis Taylor (American football)|Otis Taylor]] on the next play, giving the Chiefs a 14–7 second quarter lead. Buffalo responded with a drive deep into Chiefs territory, featuring Kemp's 30-yard completion to rookie receiver [[Rob Burnett (wide receiver)|Rob Burnett]] to the Kansas City 12-yard line.  But in what turned out to be one of the most crucial plays of the game, Kemp's next pass resulted in a costly interception in the end zone by safety [[Johnny Robinson (safety)|Johnny Robinson]], who returned the football 72 yards to the Bills 28.  [[Mike Mercer (American football)|Mike Mercer]] eventually cashed in the turnover with a 32-yard field goal that gave the Chiefs a 17–7 halftime lead.<ref name=miwendrn/>

The third quarter was a defensive struggle with each team punting the football twice.  Near the end, Kansas City got possession of the football on the Bills 42-yard line, but failed to score when Mercer missed a 49-yard field goal attempt.

The Chiefs put the game away with consecutive touchdown drives in the fourth quarter.  First, Dawson's 45-yard completion to [[Chris Burford]] gave the team a first down at the Buffalo 4-yard line.  Garrett then ran the ball on the next four plays, concluding with a 1-yard touchdown run.  On the first play of Buffalo's next drive, receiver [[Glenn Bass]] lost a fumble that [[Bobby Hunt (American football)|Bobby Hunt]] returned 21 yards to the Bills 20-yard line, which led to another Garrett touchdown run, the final score of the game from 18 yards. Footage of the play shows that Garrett was about to throw a halfback option pass but a heavy rush from Buffalo's defense prevented it, forcing Garrett to run. <ref name=miwendrn/> Buffalo could do nothing with their next drive, and on their final one of the day, Kemp was intercepted by [[Emmitt Thomas]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://media.kcchiefs.com/media/143725/playoff_history_and_summaries.pdf |title=Archived copy |website=media.kcchiefs.com |access-date=30 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113200735/http://media.kcchiefs.com/media/143725/playoff_history_and_summaries.pdf |archive-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1967/01/02/page/97/article/chiefs-rout-buffalo-31-to-7 Historical Newspapers from 1700s-2000s - Newspapers.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Dawson completed 16 of 24 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 28 yards.  Garrett rushed for 39 yards and two touchdowns, caught 4 passes for 16 yards, returned a kickoff for 3 yards, and added another 37 yards on 3 punt returns.  Kemp completed 12 of 25 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown, coupled with two costly interceptions.  Burnett caught six passes for 127 yards.<ref name="pfrchamp">{{Cite web |title=Championship - Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills - January 1st, 1967 |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196701010buf.htm |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>

== Box score ==
{{Americanfootballbox | titlestyle=text-align:center; background:#eee
|title=[[1966 Kansas City Chiefs season|Kansas City Chiefs]] 31, [[1966 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]] 7
|Road='''Chiefs'''
|R1=7
|R2=10
|R3=0
|R4=14
|Home=Bills
|H1=7
|H2=0
|H3=0
|H4=0
|stadium=[[War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo)|War Memorial Stadium]], [[Buffalo, New York]]
|date=January 1, 1967
|attendance=42,080
|weather= {{convert|32|F}}, [[drizzle]], relative humidity 82%, wind {{convert|12|mph|abbr=on}}, [[wind chill]] {{convert|22|F}}
|time= 1:00 p.m. [[Eastern Time Zone|EST]]<ref name=yvapkcfv/>
|referee=
|TV=[[NFL on NBC|NBC]]
|TVAnnouncers=[[Curt Gowdy]], [[Paul Christman]], and Pat Hernon<ref name="1966 NFL-AFL Commentator Crews">[http://the506.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1221529501 1966 NFL-AFL Commentator Crews] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211144637/http://the506.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1221529501 |date=December 11, 2008 }}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=January 2021|reason=Forums are self-published and inherently not reliable, verifiable sources.}}
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196701010buf.htm Box Score]
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart |VisitorName=KC |HomeName=BUF |state=expanded}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=1 |Team=KC |Type=RecTD |Receiver=[[Fred Arbanas|Arbanas]] |QB=[[Len Dawson|Dawson]] |yards=29 |kickresult=good |Kicker=[[Mike Mercer (American football)|Mercer]] |Visitor=7 |Home=0}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=1 |Team=BUF |Type=RecTD |Receiver=[[Elbert Dubenion|Dubenion]] |QB=[[Jack Kemp|Kemp]] |yards=69 |kickresult=good |Kicker=[[Booth Lusteg|Lusteg]] |Visitor=7 |Home=7}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=2 |Team=KC |Type=RecTD |Receiver=[[Otis Taylor (American football)|Taylor]] |QB=Dawson |yards=29 |kickresult=good |Kicker=Mercer |Visitor=14 |Home=7}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=2 |Team=KC |Type=FG |yards=22 |Kicker=Mercer |Visitor=17 |Home=7
}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=4 |Team=KC |Type=RushTD |Runner=[[Mike Garrett|Garrett]] |yards=1 |kickresult=good |Kicker=Mercer |Visitor=24 |Home=7}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry |Quarter=4 |Team=KC |Type=RushTD |Runner=Garrett |yards=18 |kickresult=good |Kicker=Mercer |Visitor=31 |Home=7}}
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd |Visitor=31 |Home=7}}

== Starting lineups ==
:''Source: ''<ref name="pfrchamp" />

{{hilite|Hall of Fame inductee|#FFCC00}} 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:160px;" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1966}};" | Kansas City !! Position !! style="width:150px;" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Buffalo Bills|year=1966}};" | Buffalo
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|'''Offense'''
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00;"|[[Len Dawson]] || style="text-align:center;" | QB || [[Jack Kemp]]
|-
| [[Mike Garrett]] || style="text-align:center;" | RB || [[Bobby Burnett]]
|-
| [[Curtis McClinton]] || style="text-align:center;" | FB || [[Wray Carlton]]
|-
| [[Otis Taylor (American football)|Otis Taylor]] || style="text-align:center;" | FL || [[Elbert Dubenion]]
|-
| [[Chris Burford]] || style="text-align:center;" | SE || [[Bobby Crockett]]
|-
| [[Fred Arbanas]] || style="text-align:center;" | TE || [[Paul Costa (American football)|Paul Costa]]
|-
| [[Jim Tyrer]] || style="text-align:center;" | LT || [[Stew Barber]]
|-
| [[Ed Budde]] || style="text-align:center;" | LG || bgcolor="#FFCC00;"|[[Billy Shaw]]
|-
| [[Wayne Frazier]] || style="text-align:center;" | C || [[Al Bemiller]]
|-
| [[Curt Merz]] || style="text-align:center;" | RG || [[Joe O'Donnell (American football)|Joe O'Donnell]]
|-
| [[Dave Hill (American football)|Dave Hill]] || style="text-align:center;" | RT || [[Dick Hudson (American football, born 1940)|Dick Hudson]]
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|'''Defense'''
|-
| [[Jerry Mays (defensive lineman)|Jerry Mays]] || style="text-align:center;" | LDE || [[Ron McDole]]
|-
| [[Andy Rice]] || style="text-align:center;" | LDT || [[Jim Dunaway]]
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00;"|[[Buck Buchanan]] || style="text-align:center;" | RDT || [[Tom Sestak]]
|-
| [[Chuck Hurston]] || style="text-align:center;" | RDE || [[Tom Day (American football)|Tom Day]]
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00;"|[[Bobby Bell]] || style="text-align:center;" | LLB || [[John Tracey]]
|-
| [[Sherrill Headrick]] || style="text-align:center;" | MLB || [[Harry Jacobs (American football)|Harry Jacobs]]
|-
| [[E.J. Holub]] || style="text-align:center;" | RLB || [[Mike Stratton]]
|-
| [[Fred Williamson]] || style="text-align:center;" | LCB || [[Tom Janik]]
|-
| [[Willie Mitchell (American football)|Willie Mitchell]] || style="text-align:center;" | RCB || [[Butch Byrd]]
|-
| [[Bobby Hunt (American football)|Bobby Hunt]] || style="text-align:center;" | SS || [[Hagood Clarke]]
|-
| bgcolor="#FFCC00;"|[[Johnny Robinson (safety)|Johnny Robinson]] || style="text-align:center;" | FS || [[George Saimes]]
|}

==Officials==
*'''Referee:''' Walt Fitzgerald
*'''Umpire:''' Walt Parker
*'''Head Linesman:''' Tony Veteri
*'''Side Linesman:''' [[Cal Lepore]]
*'''Back Judge:''' [[Sonny Gamber|Hugh Gamber]]
*'''Field Judge:''' Bob Bauer <ref name=crbtots/>

The AFL added a sixth [[Official (American football)|game official]], the side linesman, in [[1966 American Football League season|1966]]; the NFL added its sixth official, the line judge, during the [[1965 NFL season|previous season]]. The seventh official, the side judge, was added in {{nfly|1978}}.

==Players' shares==
The winning Chiefs split their players' shares for the title game 51 ways for $5,308 each, while the Bills split theirs into 47 shares for about $3,800 each.<ref name=ldjwaprdy/><ref name=splfow>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jNFTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=szgNAAAAIBAJ&pg=2513%2C79297 |newspaper=Lawrence Daily Journal-World |location=Kansas |title=K.C. splits pot 51 ways |date=January 2, 1967 |page=14}}</ref>

The upcoming [[Super Bowl|Super Bowl I]] awarded an additional $15,000 per player for the winners and $7,500 each for the losing team.<ref name=ldjwaprdy/>

==See also==
* [[1966 American Football League season|1966 AFL season]]
* [[American Football League#AFL Championship Games|AFL Championship Games]]
* [[Super Bowl I]]
* [[1966 NFL Championship Game]]
* [[Bills–Chiefs rivalry]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1692475/ 1966 AFL Championship Game] on [[IMDb]]
* [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196701010buf.htm Box score] on [[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]

{{coord|42.905|-78.856|type:event|display=title}}

{{s-start}}
{{succession box 
 | title = Kansas City Chiefs<br />American Football League Champions 
 | years = [[1966 AFL season|1966]] 
 | before = [[Buffalo Bills]]<br />[[1965 American Football League Championship Game|1965 AFL Champions]]
 | after = [[Oakland Raiders]]<br />[[1967 American Football League Championship Game|1967 AFL Champions]]
}}
{{s-end}}
{{1966 AFL season by team}}
{{1966 Kansas City Chiefs}}
{{Kansas City Chiefs}}
{{Buffalo Bills}}
{{NFLC-SuperBowl}}
{{NFL on NBC}}

[[Category:American Football League Championship Game|1966]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bills postseason]]
[[Category:Jack Kemp]]
[[Category:Kansas City Chiefs postseason]]
[[Category:1966 American Football League season|Championship Game]]
[[Category:1967 in sports in New York (state)|American Football League Championship]]
[[Category:American football in Buffalo, New York]]
[[Category:January 1967 sports events in the United States]]
[[Category:American football competitions in New York (state)]]