A Slice of AFL History

Chiefs at Chargers – October 1967

The first big game of the 1967 season for San Diego was the October 15th matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs won the AFL Western division the previous year; the Chargers had won it the three seasons before that. San Diego started the season with three wins and a tie and sat atop the standings going into the game:

(Back then, ties were not counted toward win/loss percentage. Starting in 1972 they counted as half a win and half a loss.)

The Chiefs, defending AFL champions, were favored by five points.

Team photographer Charles Aquaviva typically took single shots of the action – one photo per play. But for some reason during this game there were several plays where he took multiple shots in quick succession. Perhaps he had a new camera with automatic film advancement? Anyway, it’s good for us because Aquaviva captured some of the best plays of the game with multiple shots.

  • Early in the game John Hadl completes a pass to tight end Willie Frazier…
  • …who is brought down at the one yard line.
  • Two plays later, John Hadl sneaks over to give the Chargers a 7-0 lead.
  • Later in the first quarter, Garry Garrison picks up 50 yards on this long pass from Hadl.
  • The Chargers failed to score on this drive.

  • On the Chiefs next drive, running back Mike Garret fumbles and cornerback Speedy Duncan recovers.
  • Duncan gets up and runs 35 yards for a 14-0 lead.

  • Late in the second quarter, the Chiefs drove to the Chargers’ six yard line. On second and goal, Speedy Duncan picks off a Len Dawson pass…
  • …sprints down the sideline…
  • …past the Chiefs bench…
  • …and goes 100 yards for a touchdown to make it 24-7.
  • In the third quarter, Dick Post sweeps right…
  • …cuts back across field…
  • …and goes 67 yards for a touchdown.
  • The next time San Diego had the ball, Hadl hit Lance Alworth on a 60-yard bomb.
  • At this point it was 38-17.

The Chargers went on to win, 45-31, to remain atop the AFL Western division. Eventually the Oakland Raiders caught up and passed the Chargers, and the season ended with a disappointing four-game losing streak. But for one bright shining moment during the 1967 season, the Chargers were the AFL’s best.