A Slice of AFL History

The 1964 AFL Championship – A Christmas Trip to Buffalo

The 1964 AFL Championship game between the San Diego Chargers and the Buffalo Bills was held on Saturday December 26th at Buffalo’s War Memorial Stadium. The Chargers repeated as Western Division champs with an 8-5-1 record. The Bills won the Eastern Division with a 12-2 record, with two wins over the Chargers (including an exciting victory on Thanksgiving day).

The game was scheduled for Saturday, the day after Christmas; the Chargers traveled to Buffalo on Thursday evening, Christmas Eve. Team photographer Charles AquaViva joined the team on this road trip.

  • The flight to Buffalo.
  • Minority owner George Pernicano and Sid Gilman relax with a game of gin rummy on the flight.
  • Head coach Sid Gilman hands out Christmas presents on the team bus.
  • After a long season and winter storms, the area surrounding the field was in rough shape.
  • Tarps kept the playing field from even more damage.
  • The Chargers coaches inspect the field.
  • The sellout crowd of 40,242.
  • The Chargers’ coaches and players as kickoff approached.

The game started well for the Chargers:

  • On the first play from scrimmage, Keith Lincoln took a handoff…
  • …broke open into the Bills secondary…
  • …and picked up 38 yards before being tackled by George Saimes.
  • Another angle of Lincoln’s run.
  • (taken by another photographer?)
  • Three plays later, Tobin Rote completed a pass to Dave Kocourek for 26-yard touchdown and the Chargers had a quick 7-0 lead.

The Chargers forced a Buffalo punt and started their next drive.

Paul Lowe ran for 16 yards.
Later in the drive, Lincoln picked up a first down with gain of four yards.

Then disaster struck the Chargers: Keith Lincoln was knocked out of the game with a broken rib, from a tough hit by Bills linebacker Mike Stratton. Already without an injured Lance Alworth, the Chargers offence sputtered the rest of the game.

  • Lincon helped off the field.
  • In pain on the sidelines.
After the Bills cut the lead to 7-3, Speedy Duncan returned the following kickoff 72 yards.
Another view of Duncan’s kickoff return. The Chargers ensuing drive ended with an interception.
In the second quarter, Wray Carlton dove over from four yards out to give the Bills a 10-7 lead.
Just before halftime Don Norton caught at 13-yard pass to give the Chargers a first down at the Buffalo 15 yard line. But on the next play quarterback Tobin Rote, attempting to throw the ball away to stop the clock, was intercepted by Mike Stratton of the Bills. At the half, it was Bills 13, Chargers 7.
Cookie Gilchrist rushed for 122 yards on the day.
Tobin Rote aims one deep downfield.

A slideshow of action shots:

  • Future United States Senator Jack Kemp quarterbacked the Bills.
  • The Chargers defense swarms a Bills runner.
  • Wray Carlton of the Bills had no where to go.
  • Cookie Gilchrist (34) brought down by George Gross (79).
  • Gilchrist with another carry.
  • Quarterback John Hadl punted five times on the day. Back when kicking specialists were the exception.
  • Backup Keith Kinderman came in for Lincoln and got a few carries.
  • Mike Stratton of the Bills breaks up this pass to Paul Lowe.
  • Chargers’ gang tackle on a kickoff return by Ed Rutowski.
  • Paul Lowe with the ball.
  • Charley Warner returns a kick for Buffalo.
  • More Chargers defense.
  • Jack Kemp under pressure.
  • The Chargers on defense. Note that Kenny Graham (33 on jersey) is wearing Charlie McNeil’s helmet (27)

Some shots from the Chargers slide line as the game slipped away:

An ABC camera focuses on John Hadl.

The game ended Bills 20, Chargers 7. San Diego was dethroned and Buffalo had their first AFL Championship.