1965 AFL Title Game

[@The_Husband_of_Jane_Lane]

This was Buffalo's last world championship victory in team history. I hope someday they'll win another world championship.

[@robertperrella4194]

the bills will win a super bowl within the next 4 years !!!!!!!!!!!!!!111

[@TheBloggeroftheBall]

@@robertperrella4194 don’t be so sure!!

[@robertperrella4194]

@@TheBloggeroftheBall nothing is guaranteed in life!

[@TheLAGopher]

No disrespect to the Bills, but AFL championships are not recognized by the NFL or the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as World Championships of American Football. The NFL champs of 1960-1965 are still regarded as world champions. They are just what they are. American Football League titles.

[@bufnyfan1]

I really hope so too---the difference this time is that the Bills have excellent coaching and management--GM Brandon Beane is a genius--he managed the salary cap this offseason in such a way to resign almost every one of the team's free agents (Matt Milano etc)--also signing Treblinski as the new backup QB for Josh Allen is a great upgrade--I fear that teams are going to figure out a way to contain Allen and with his style of play an injury could be very likely

[@jgowin66]

This video of the '65 AFL Championship game is GOLD! Maybe even more valuable than that. I grew up watching these AFL teams, mainly because our family lived closer to the local ABC and later NBC affiliate's transmitting tower than we did to the CBS', so we got a much better TV picture for AFL games than NFL games. Younger "cable" people probably have no idea what I'm talking about. What an innovative league the AFL was! This league had the foresight to go in with a BIG presence in the growing West, in states like Texas, California and Colorado. In 6 short years, the AFL's popularity forced the merger with the NFL that would take place in 1970. Small wonder with creative leaders like Gillman of San Diego, Hank Stram of Dallas/KC, Al Davis in Oakland, etc. Those Buffalo teams of the mid 1960's put it all together with GREAT defense to go along with solid offense led by the great Jack Kemp, and the running game of Cookie Gilchrist (and Billie Joe, after the '64 trade), and bruiser-back Wray Carlton. Lou "Ya GOTTA get it done" Saban, in his first stint with the Bills, really had some awesome teams.

[@MusicalJeanAz]

I was at this game. Grew up in the SD area. Loved the AFL.

[@jeremythompson9122]

Bill Walsh always said if Bengals QB Greg Cook didn't injure his shoulder he wouldve been one of the greatest QB's who ever played

[@FULStaff]

Yes. I grew up in Buffalo in this era. The NFL was the other league.

[@martinleavitt6094]

Well said,great stories!!..enjoy other fans memories!! thank you👍

[@MusicalJeanAz]

@Brandon Ohara I was in high school. I have the program and ticket stub. I took a picture of the front of the program which has a picture of the new stadium that probably wasn't being built yet. Thought I could post a picture here but guess not.

[@1thepner]

This was a fascinating watch! Much appreciated, Balboa Park, classic uniforms, great announcers. Jan 31, 2020.

[@kevinjohnson4599]

I AGREE with you 1,000% because this was when football was football. The NFL is now GARBAGE & isn't worth watching anymore. LOVE YOUR COMMENT.

[@lonelybro77]

I was so young then, I forgot what a swift runner Hadl was. Had his card tho🏈

[@1thepner]

@@lonelybro77 In April, I took a family trip to SD. Found the old "Balboa Stadium" which is now used for the high school. Obviously, not the orig stadium, but each side of the field still had part of the orig concrete bleachers. I could feel the ghosts. Took a lot of photos.

[@jamilmccoy2994]

These NFL treasures were way before my time. I'm 47 years old and I didn't start watching football until 1978 but I must say that these old games are really interesting.

[@loyaldude10]

this was the old AFL

[@bigtexmacgonigle444]

This is broadcasting gold...the first game I watched was the Ice Bowl...December 31, 1967.

[@binkyxz3]

AFL was the bomb, literally: wide open offense, lots of passing. AFL first to get color TV. 😵

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@bigtexmacgonigle444 Dallas Cowboys vs Green Bay Packers.

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@binkyxz3 let's not forget the two point conversion.

[@MusicalJeanAz]

I was at this game. Too bad thevChargers lost but they did win the AFL championship in 1963 beating the Boston Patriots 51 - 10. Think I paid $6 to get in.

[@bigtexmacgonigle444]

omg!!...beautiful San Diego in 1965...Balboa Stadium....too good!!! I miss the Bolts in SD!!!!!

[@rockvilleraven]

bigtex macgonigle Except when the water closets, I mean toilets overflowed at Balboa.

[@MrAmedina00]

They belong in SD, LA fans are so plastic.

[@watchman3465]

@@MrAmedina00 PLASTIC???WHAT DO YOU MEAN ???

[@osaji922]

@@MrAmedina00 What LA fans? Nobody in LA supports the chargers. They want them to go back to SD.

[@jeremythompson9122]

@@MrAmedina00 Plus LA is the armpit of the Earth now. People shitting, pissing, and shooting up right on the streets but all the politicians care about is pandering to illegals for votes

[@BillMorganChannel]

Many thanks! I m lmost 61 years old, and this game was my first football memory as my family had people over to watch this game in Buffalo.

[@studiodemichel]

I was 8 yrs old watching it with Dad on Clio Ave in So Buffalo.

[@BillMorganChannel]

@@studiodemichel did ever you go to war memorial stadium? What are your memories of it? Two of mine is being three feet tall surrounded by 6 foot tall people, and once I went to hold my dads hand and instead my hand went right into the pocket of a stranger! He laughed and I was not arrested!

[@studiodemichel]

@@BillMorganChannel I have a very vague memory of possibly going to the old stadium (used in the 1984 movie THE NATURAL ), but, I can't say for sure.

[@BillMorganChannel]

@@studiodemichel Another memory as a 6 year old, was being verbally abused by the locals because of the color of my skin. I was 6!

[@studiodemichel]

@@BillMorganChannel I will be subscribing to your interesting channel! 👍

[@robertscholes8098]

The 60's and 90's were some good years for the Bills. Now if only they could win the Super Bowl it would be great.

[@michaelangileo2760]

Jack Kemp had a great arm. One of the best !!!

[@jerryashlock5519]

Lenny Dawson, great KC quarterback said Kemp "could throw the ball through a wall " ... an all time great quarterback and teammate

[@richardadams4928]

By my guess, that second half opening pass traveled about 53 yards in the air. Best arm of any cabinet secretary ever, I'm sure....

[@rickharris4513]

@@richardadams4928 the one he threw from the 17 to the receiver on the right sideline would have landed around the 25 if it hadn't been touched. With the angle included, I believe it went over 60 easily. Favre and Mahomes would be hard pressed to beat him in a throwing contest.

[@loydbruceleewouldbescary2637]

Really, wow was he a sentor. Congressman, something like that

[@jaysoper3974]

the QB is the punter, the best receiver is Bambi & there's not a 300 lb. lineman anywhere in sight - welcome to the AFL!

[@classicsports5057]

300 lb linemen were about 15-20 years away at least and still not regular thing till the mid 90s maybe.

[@DerrickMims]

When I was growing up in Dallas in the 80s, I recall our quarterback Danny White also doing some punting.

[@bemore1134]

@@DerrickMims Here on KZbin you can actually see footage of Terry Bradshaw punting as a Steelers'rookie.

[@DerrickMims]

Nice! I will check seek it out. @@bemore1134

[@1RAYGC]

I remember listening to this game on the radio with my brother. The 1964 AFL Championship game made me a Bills fan when Mike Stratton broke Keith Lincolns ribs with a tackle and watching Cookie Gilchrist run over people. I also remember the quarterback controversy between Daryl Lamonica and Jack Kemp.

[@larryloveless2967]

I likely watched this game even though I grew up in St. Louis a Cardinals football fan. I also watched AFL games. Great seeing the old video.

[@TheLAGopher]

You actually got an AFL/NFL doubleheader if you did watch it. The Packers beat the Baltimore Colts in an OT western conference playoff thriller before the Chargers/Bills played. The Next week, the Packers beat the Browns in the NFL championship game. So this game marked the last game of the AFL as a totally separate league.

[@larryloveless2967]

@@TheLAGopher I do remember watching the AFL title game as well. I did not realize it was the last year they were totally separate as I thought it may have begun after 1969. I was born in 1953 and from looking back on the annual Cardinal rosters I remember the first year I started watching football a lot was the 1963 season with the Bears beating the Giants 14-10. I remember the Bills had good teams but one of the players I really liked watching in the AFL was Lance Alworth with the Chargers. Thanks for the info.

[@RB01.10]

Knowing it’s been 75 years since the Cardinals’ last championship, they’re one team I would want to see win a Super Bowl in this lifetime.

[@larryloveless2967]

@@RB01.10 It almost happened. The highlight of following St. Louis NFL football was the Kurt Warner, Isaac Bruce, Tori Holt, and Marshall Faulk days of the Rams. The Rams were the number one team in St. Louis those days and not the Cardinals baseball team. Kurt Warner almost won the super bowl for the Cardinals. I remember at the end of the game a pass thrown in to the corner to get a touchdown intercepted by a Steelers lineman and returned something like 90 yards. What a swing. I was pulling for Kurt Warner. I also root for the teams that never won it like the Bengals recently. The Cardinals left because the city and county of St. Louis fought each other over the location of a new football stadium resulting in no stadium back in 1988. NFL stadium building is a sore subject in St. Louis.

[@RB01.10]

@@larryloveless2967 Yes, the Cardinals should’ve won that game, but those two flukey plays (the 100+ yard Harrison pick six, and the final drive and catch by Holmes are the two that come to mind) kept them from winning.

[@franksnyder1357]

Thanks. Balboa Stadium, what a beauty.

[@steven2212]

Absolutely stunning vid. Where did we go wrong? The NFL does not compare. Thank you!

[@JeanmarieRod]

Turned our backs on God and gave Him the middle finger

[@mikeforte7585]

@@JeanmarieRod exactly

[@written12]

Two words: Lance Alworth. What a swift, agile, elegant receiver.

[@stever1791]

One of the best ever

[@Buffalo_Bills_1964]

Why isn't Joe Foss in the "Pro football Hall of Fame"? as the Commisioner of the American Football League. He had a great impact on the modern NFL. Also the #NFL has admitted the impact the American Football League has had on the current NFL 2021. Also why isn't Pete Gogolak in the PFHOF for revolutioning the kicking game of the modern game of Pro-football?

[@effend446]

Oh yes! Daryle Lamonica finishing the game - the same Daryle Lamonica who would later get traded to the Raiders ('67) and flourish as The Mad Bomber

[@ricogarion]

Buffalo got fleeced in that deal.

[@bufnyfan1]

@@ricogarion this was the first of many moronic moves by the Bills late demented owner Ralph Wilson

[@jerryashlock5519]

Lamonica still coaches Raiders QB's ...at least he was while they were in Oakland

[@bufnyfan1]

@@ricogarion There are actually still people in Buffalo who remain bitter about that trade--interestingly when the Bills drafted QB Jim Kelly in 1983-Kelly refused to sign with Buffalo and went to the USFL (Houston Gamblers)--when the USFL folded-Buffalo still had Kelly's rights---The late Al Davis of Oakland offered the Bills a ton of draft picks for the right to sign him--in one of the only smart things Ralph Wilson ever did--he refused---so if he had that would have been the second time the Raiders literally stole a QB from Buffalo

[@6699230]

The 'Mad Bomber' from Clovis, Cali via Notre Dame!

[@harrycolburn5077]

I saw my first Bills game in 1949. My Dad took my brother and me to the game. I was six years old. Have been a Bills fan ever since. Bills were in the All American Conference. Game was against the 49ers. Bills wore silver and blue. 49ers wore same colors they do today - red, gold, khaki, white. Bills QB was George Ratterman, who later backed up Otto Graham with the Cleveland Browns. George is the co-announcer for this 1965 AFL Title Game. Probably was given this assignment because he had been Bills QB for several years.

[@kennethprice8710]

This is very rare great to see classic sports make this available.

[@BrotherApexx]

Thank you for this. Remember the AFL!

[@stewartberger7734]

Lamonica was Kemp"s backup. These teams were the dominant 2 in the early years. Love the footage of this. Analyst George Ratterman was far ahead of his time

[@jeremythompson9122]

The Oilers were the dominant team in the beginning really. They won the first 2 AFL Championships and appeared in the third but lost in OT to the Dallas Texans/KC Chiefs. The Chargers did appear in 5 of the first 6 AFL Championship Games but only won it in 63...51-10 over the Boston Patriots. I was glad because the Patriots knocked my Bills outta the playoffs the week before 26-8. I've always thought the Chargers had the best offense in all of pro football under Sid Gillman in the 60's...NFL included. Lance Alworth was possibly the best player in AFL history and the best WR in all of football in the 60's in my opinion

[@LPD15ponce]

George Ratterman was also the quarter back of the Buffalo Bisons/ Bills of the All America Conference in the 1940's.

[@TheLAGopher]

@@jeremythompson9122 Its also been said that had the Super Bowl started after the 1963 season instead of 1966, the Chargers would have defeated the Chicago Bears.

[@loydbruceleewouldbescary2637]

Lamoncia oakland raider quarterback

[@martinfelsenfeld6012]

This game is for a loyal football fan in California named Heather! She likes many NFL teams, and I think one of them is the Chargers! But I lived in New York State (Long Island to be precise) back in 1965 myself!

[@MrHalby]

TV broadcast was with Curt Gowdy and Paul Christman---Charlie Jones on sideline

[@erikthorsen240]

Always liked Gowdy. He seemed like an able and versatile broadcaster, as well as being steady and not prone to bombast.

[@markrocovich2234]

On the NBC network feeds, Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis did the play by play and commentary

[@jufro19]

Bills won a super bowl at least on the AFL..congrats!!..from a Dallas Cowboys Fan

[@Celluloidwatcher]

Thank you for the footage of the '65 AFL title game with radio play-by-play and commentary. The Bills successfully defending their AFL championship against those then-San Diego Chargers, 23-0. What a gem this is (the highlight film; the game was one-sided).

[@ricogarion]

I'm glad I've been a BILLS fan since early Seventies.

[@donaldschmidt2990]

As a further comment, BNIA's question of why Joe Foss isn't in the Hall of Fame is a query worth answering. Foss was a brilliant Commissioner who worked tirelessly to promote this colorful and innovative League. I love Foss's classic response when asked if he played or coached football. "I COACHED PILOTS," was his classic retort. IF THEY MADE A MISTAKE, THEY WERE KILLED." In the first two seasons the League struggled to get off the ground. Then Foss and the great Lamar Hunt slowly galvanized the League into a powerful entertainment force. From playing in Sandlots and High School Stadiums, the League evolved into a State of the Art presentation. More modern stadiums than the NFL. Better Television Coverage. And Ownership that didn't care what color a player was, or where he came from. The AFL was the most beautiful creation ever to arrive on the American sports scene. And at the forefront was Joe Foss. He belonged in the Hall of Fame during his lifetime. It's high time that grievous oversight is corrected. A posthumous induction would right this wrong for him and his family.

[@normanlinden5786]

Hard to believe that these superbly talented San Diego teams won only one AFL Championship.

[@steveosullivan5262]

I remember this game. My Uncle was a huge Bills fan in this era. Thank You for posting this. Bring me back to east side of Buffalo. That black and white TV and the house full of kids. Bob McDole was my favorite player. Jack Kemp was a childhood hero.

[@az-bx4qr]

You are a bit older than me; I was born in ‘65, but the games in ‘73 and on are for me the equivalent of this…similar family memories too

[@bemore1134]

McDole, Jim Dunaway, Tom Day & Tom Sestak. For a mid-sixties AFL team that was one heck of a defensive line.

[@bradoneil536]

It’s wild to me that of the six AFL championship games in the pre-Super Bowl era, five were won by teams that have not been able to win the final championship in the 57 years and counting of the Super Bowl era, i.e. Bills, Chargers, and Oilers/Titans. (Heck even the exception was won by the now-Chiefs as the Dallas Texans, who never played another game under that moniker afterward). …before anyone thinks I’m making fun, I’m a Bengals fan, we’ve never won a championship of any kind :(

[@aarondigby5054]

You've won several division titles and appeared in at least three SBs, that SB in LA recently was a circus, smdh. Too me, that was the cat's meeow for me, a bunch of old outta shape rapper's huffing and puffing for air and breath, took all the focus off of football.

[@cravatpo]

Local television channels broadcast all these games so they must be somewhere. And I was at that 66 championship game in Buffalo when we lost to the Chiefs and they went on to SuperBowl 1 although it wasn't called that at the time. Too bad it wasn't a year earlier, the 65 Bills would have given the Packers all they could handle.

[@davanmani556]

Philip Cravatta joe Collier was a defensive guru. Their best team was 1964.

[@davanmani556]

Did Pete Gogolak leave after the ‘66 season or before?

[@T1122w]

@@davanmani556 Before, his jumping leagues fueled the Merger to happen

[@davidbrandel1311]

Philip Cravatta It may not have been the official name but people did call it the Super Bowl. Sports Illustrated has every issue they’ve ever published available for viewing online, and if you look up the issue that covered SB 1 you will see that SI refers to the game as the Super Bowl.

[@isismccain915]

Not only would the Bills have given the Packers all they could handle in 1965, but they could have done the same to the Browns in 1964. Even more so, the 1963 Chargers, if they could have played the Bears in San Diego would have beaten the tar out of a Bears team that had absolutely no offense, so to speak!! Great, great video!!

[@jeremythompson9122]

I've been a Bills fan and an AFL fan since 1960 when I was 10 years old. The Bills 1964-65 AFL Championship Teams were really great...especially on defense. And Cookie Gilchrist was an awesome power running back. The defense had to be great to be able to shut down Sid Gillman's offense in back to back title games. I think the Chargers had the best offense in ALL of pro football during the 60's...NFL included. The 63 Chargers vs the 63 Bears would've been a really interesting match up for the world championship but the Bears declined the Chargers challenge even though the Chargers said they would play anytime and any place the Bears picked. Halas knew the best AFL teams were just as good as the best NFL teams but didn't want to embarrass himself and the NFL as a whole by losing to an "inferior" AFL team. His Bears ended up being the first NFL team to lose to an AFL team anyway after the eventual AFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs blew them out 66-24 in a 1966 exhibition game. I think the Denver Broncos beat the Detroit Lions in an exhibition game also either that year or the next. And the Broncos were the worst of all the AFL teams so that was really embarrassing to the Lions. Lions DT Alex Karras said he would walk home from Denver if the Lions lost LOL

[@chrisbacos]

Yes during the 1967 preseason the Broncos beat the Lions 13-7.

[@6699230]

I remember Joe Namath saying to a reporter during the run up to the 69 SB that he thought John Hadl was as good as any NFL QB.

[@mikeforte7585]

I seriously doubt that Halas had the authority to play the Chargers in 1963.. I would have needed the ok from commissioner Roselle which he never would have gotten..in 1963 the NFL viewed the AFL as a Mickey Mouse league and would never give them the satisfaction of any recognition...the NFL owners were waiting for the day the AFL would fold...and a far worst situation was the unthinkable..the Chargers actually winning the game.

[@bemore1134]

The Bills in the middle of the decade were really the first AFL team that could lean on their defense. McDole, Dunaway, Sestak & Tom Day were a great line, Jacobs & Tracy were good AFL linebackers & Butch Byrd & Saimes were playmakers in the secondary.

[@bemore1134]

@@chrisbacos Yep, the Denver victory over Detroit was the first AFL exhibition win over an NFL team. The Chiefs massacre of the Bears came in the same preseason, but later.

[@MrFootballfilms09]

TWO THINGS !! I HEARD THE CBC UP IN CANADA HAS THE ORIGINALD BROADCAST OF THIS GAME, SOMEONE NEEDS TO CHECK IT OUT ! WHY ARE WE HIDING THESE GREAT HISTORIC GAMES !! NO. 2 , WHERE THE HELL IS THE 1966 AFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME , CHIEFS vs BILLS AUDIO, VIDEO, BROADCAST ??? WHY ARE WE HOARDING THESE HISTORIC GAMES !! I'LL PAY FOR THE 1966 AFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 30 MINUTE HILITES REEL LIKE ALL THE OTHERS, THAT GAME LED TO SUPER BOWL 1 !!

[@T1122w]

I never got over not seeing the 1964 title game living in Buffalo or the 1966 game.. Neither were televised locally and though a ticket may have been 5 dollars that was plenty for a family barely rubbing 2 nickels together..At least this game was on TV which by the way was the first game I ever watched in color.

[@smitskee]

Believe it or not. Some of these games are gone. I couldn't say which ones for sure, but back in those days the networks actually used the tapes of sports telecasts, and taped over them. The idea of archiving things was not prevalent. It's probably one of the reasons the Sabol family saw the idea of NFL Films. Preserve history.

[@erikthorsen240]

@@T1122w That's ridiculous. Perhaps the NFL had some contractual weight to suppress the broadcast. I'm sure it would have made money and people happy if they'd had televised it in western New York.

[@T1122w]

@@erikthorsen240 what do you mean it's ridiculous? Not one single home game during the AFL years was ever televised locally in the Buffalo area.

[@erikthorsen240]

@@T1122w That's what I meant. It's ridiculous that they weren't televised.

[@bluestar9463]

Wish Joe Buck and today's band of "It's all about me" announcers would listen to real pros like these guys....

[@spider_hoss]

You think Joe would know better being the son of one of the great announcers of his day. I don't think he listened.

[@frankdenardo8684]

A few years before The Murph aka Jack Murphy Stadium. He was a sports reporter for the San Diego Tribune.

[@fourteengreen1213]

Great to see this, but I don't know if I needed to see a replay on EVERY single play!

[@studiodemichel]

Maybe you would rather watch the huddles?

[@gregorypollard5908]

This game took place just before the NFL-AFL merger was announced!! Thanks for the Joe Foss interview!!

[@Doors067]

damn ron mix was really good

[@DavidSmith-oh3re]

Ron Mix the Intellectual Assassin

[@mikeforte7585]

HOF class of 1979

[@tacey01]

I grew up a Steelers fan, but I loved to watch the AFL. I vividly remember the AFL game would kickoff at 4 o’clock eastern after the nfl game. Curt Gowdy calling the AFL games. Hadl, Speedy Duncan. I was in grade school. Outstanding memories!

[@mr.majestic3851]

Steelers were never AFL original , NFL team .

[@tacey01]

@@mr.majestic3851 yes I know that. You might have misread my comment. ✌🏼

[@kevinpoveromo6324]

this warms my heart .the first game that I can remember watching.

[@JJJBRICE]

At 19:02, Keith Lincoln was , a "golden boy " type of player similar to Frank Gifford / Paul Hornung in the AFL , at that time .

[@bemore1134]

The AFL had similar hopes for Billy Cannon at the beginning of the league.

[@Catquick1957]

I met Ton Sestak and talked to him. He was a great guy.

[@donaldschmidt2990]

I concur with James Gowin completely with his opinion of this footage. The Camera work and Commentary on this game are on a completely different level. Game coverage now isn't even close to this!! Look at how the Cameras pan in with close ups on every play. Particularly after the play has broken through the line of Scrimmage. The Camera work is fantastic! The referees aren't as close to the players as the fans are. The ingenuity and talent of the Producers and Camera Men is absurd. Replays on almost every play. Picture shots of the players that are like close ups of Football Cards. Pans to the sidelines so tight you can see the beads of sweat on the coaches and players faces. This literally makes current coverage look amateurish by comparison. Small wonder the AFL grew exponentially in popularity each season. There is an emotional and personal connection to the players and coaches impossible to duplicate today. As I understand the Announcers were Herb Carneal and George Ratterman. I've never seen coverage to equal this. For Production and Announcing quality this is absolutely untouchable. Carneal is as fine a Football Announcer as ever plied his trade. Ratterman played off him beautifully. On a scale of One to Ten this Television Coverage is a Twenty! This broadcast should be used as a template for how to Produce Football Coverage.

[@written12]

Great opening shots of the water and city.

[@jeffreyg4626]

The Chargers will always belong to San Diego. Everything today is about the money. No loyalty or dedication from the capitalist owners.

[@watchman3465]

THAT'S AMERICA....UNFORTUNATELY

[@martinleavitt6094]

Couldn't agree more,,well put!👍

[@MusicalJeanAz]

Always the San Diego Chargers to me!

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@MusicalJeanAz same here

[@danmullen3076]

Fair point but jibe against our economic system? Seriously? Find a better system that WORKS otherwise get a grip. Too many toying with failed systems because education and media are twisting facts to suit an agenda

[@normanlinden5786]

Buffalo wide receiver (or flanker as they called them back then) #46 Bo Roberson was the silver medalist in the long jump in the 1960 Olympics.

[@mikeacton2203]

This was a very good Bill's team that would have been competitive with any of the NFL teams. The defense especially good.

[@chadwickwhite6107]

Competitive? They would have kicked Vince Lombardi's Packers' ASSES!!!! I GUARANTEE IT!!!

[@MusicalJeanAz]

They beat us bad that day..

[@jimkallett2507]

@@chadwickwhite6107 I've always said if they stated the Super Bowl ONE YEAR EARLIER, they'd be calling it the Lou Saban Award, not the Vince Lombardi Award. The Chargers had a better offense than the Packers, the Bills would have shut them out.

[@6699230]

@@chadwickwhite6107 I don't think so. The Lombardi Packers were better than every team. It's a wonder that the Packers didn't go undefeated at least once!

[@howl_with_the_wolves]

Balboa stadium was beautiful and unique gorgeous grass field and outdoors.

[@coreylevine3856]

RIP Marty Schottenheimer

[@mikewalsh5668]

Chargers were a "90's Atlanta Brave type dynasty": 5 division titles in the first 6 years of the AFL but they don't get their just due because they only won it all just once (1963) !

[@smitskee]

In the 10 years of the AFL, before the 1970 merger, I believe the Chargers had only one losing season. The Chiefs/Texans, when it was all over, were the best AFL team, but the Chargers were in the top three of the original AFL eight. Buffalo, is probably around 4th. The Jets, finished strong at the end of the AFL, with the single biggest AFL accomplishment winning SB3. However, the Jets rank about 6th in overall AFL play, as they never had a winning season until 1967. Ironic, the two worst AFL teams, that almost went belly up, the Broncos, and the Patriots, as of 2019, are in the top ten of winning franchises in NFL history.

[@ricogarion]

@@smitskee : Buffalo was supreme with Lou Saban , somehow Ralph Wilson found a way to lose the man. Then he had Joe Collier take over and fired him as well.The only man (Wilson) who took architects of a great team and removed them. Bringing in guys like John Rauch and Harvey Johnson. Great man Mr.Wilson but meddled too much.

[@erikthorsen240]

@@ricogarion Case in point: Benching Doug Flutie when he was on his way to leading the Bill's to the SB in 1999 season.

[@kylehehl808]

The production quality and graphics are surprisingly amazing for this period. I honestly think either of these two teams could have given the Packers all they could handle in the year prior to Super Bowl I

[@ronleight9341]

Wow! Never saw game coverage before of the guys putting on their socks!!

[@JJJBRICE]

This core of Buffalo Bills players basically ended in the late 1960s . Many players in this AFL Championship game played their later years in the old grade NFL teams : Ron Dole and Leslie :' Speedy " Duncan in Washington, John Hadl in Green Bay , Lance Alworth in Dallas . At the end of the game Gilman and Saban respectfully shaking hands . And opposing QBs Hadl and Kemp taking their time talking . In other words : no run offs to dressing room !

[@kenross1634]

If you watch the 65 season, lamonica saved the bills a number of times

[@MrHalby]

Got news fro you. This is the audio call Herb Carneal -who did Minnesota Twins games and George Ratterman (longtime commentator on TV in early years) - also a practicing attorney

[@johnucarneyPh.D.]

This is terrific-thanks!

[@maggotsinthecrosshairs7632]

Only in '65 would some dude wear a sport coat and tie to a football game. Back in those days African-American athletes had nicknames like Spearchucker and Flip.

[@LPD15ponce]

Ernie "The Cat" Ladd

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@LPD15ponce here are some Pro Football Hall of Fame members with nicknames Johnny "Blood" McNally, Frank "Bruiser" Kinard, Clarance "Ace" Parker, Alphonse "Tuffy" Leamans, "Mean" Joe Greene, "Broadway' Joe Namath, O.J. "the juice" Simpson.

[@debbiehenson1096]

European Americans had some good nicknames as well, like Daryl Lamonica the mad bomber.

[@aarondigby5054]

​@@frankdenardo8684"Turkey" Joe Jones, Ted the Mad Stork Hendricks

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@aarondigby5054 Mad stork was a great name

[@berth8539]

Fantastic to see! Thanks for posting this

[@rpc717]

In either '65 or '66 Sports Illustrated had the Bills ranked as the best team in football, including the NFL. The AFL had definitely arrived.

[@fanboy2015]

Saw Jack Kemp give a speech in the 1990s.

[@bigtexmacgonigle444]

I think he lost to KC in the 1966 AFL championship...he woulda been the first AFL Super Bowl QB, not Lenny Dawson.

[@jaysoper3974]

he shoulda' stuck to football, terrible 'supply side' pol

[@1thepner]

I've posted here in 2020. Was able to visit what's left of Balboa Stadium in April 2023. It's still there, serves as a high school football field. Fake turf, not grass. Sadly, 90% of this stadium is gone. However, there are two concrete bleacher sections left from the orig, on opposite sides from each other.

[@Tommy-76]

Nice mixture of the NBC Radio broadcast and the Tel Ra film.

[@BlazeOfGlory742]

This is awesome. Thank you soooo much

[@Buffalo_Bills_1964]

Where is the 1964 AFL Championship game in Buffalo..

[@thomasdonlin5456]

The Chargers need to go back to San Diego.

[@bensonhurst7272]

Didn't know Herb Carneal did other events besides Minnesota Twins baseball.

[@charlierenfro2450]

Till this day I still think Butch Byrd was the hardest hitter for a DB that ever played the game #42

[@bruceking2068]

My cousin!

[@charlierenfro2450]

@@bruceking2068 My parents sat next to Butch at a dinner in honor of Butch - My father had know idea my mother asked this question to Butch she didn't know a thing about football - After the dinner Butch gets up to the podium and says " I don't know I must be doing something wrong I'm having best season of my career and Mrs.Renfro back there asked me if I'm a first stringer " - The whole place turned and laughed my father felt like ducking under the table - She never lived that one down 😂

[@Bob31415]

43:00 - A soccer style kicker in 1965? Never would have thought that.

[@classicsports5057]

Pete Gogolak

[@donnymas1405]

I was sitting here in the 4th quarter thinking how good the Bills were having Daryl Lamonica as a back- up and wishing he would of played, and there he is executing a perfect fake field goal. Even the chargers replaced Hadl who had a rough game. Lamonica would get to play in Oakland as 'the mad bomber'.

[@room1106]

41:35 Good grief Ernie Ladd was gigantic.

[@furnitureconsortium]

It’s why he went into Pro Wrestling and became a legend

[@rpc717]

They showed him dressing out before the game, and when they showed the SD O-line with one guy a foot taller than anyone else on the field I knew it was him.

[@kevinayers3755]

my all time favorite wrestler, When they showed him next to Jack Kemp OMG!@@rpc717

[@brucep9729]

That dome stadium in Boston talked about at halftime never happened

[@jaysoper3974]

nothing happened in Boston, obviously - that's why they're in Foxboro, 30 mi. away

[@Mark-xl1ze]

This would be the last pro football championship game to be played in the month of December.

[@bjdon99]

It's hard to remember, but once upon a time, before they played in LA, the Chargers played in San Diego

[@loyaldude10]

their first season was in LA

[@moss8448]

it WAS good to see the Rams come back to LA tho.....going to be hard saying the 'Las Vegas Raiders'....in my perfect world each city would have a color scheme and logo...that way you could tell at a glance which was what...

[@jaysoper3974]

hard to remember? are you 8 years old?

[@lesmoore3638]

Warwick's TD, just like I remembered it when I was 8.

[@jeffs3752]

I love these old videos, but it's comical now when watching the kicking game back then. Punts of 9 and 19 yards, missed field goals from 30 yards - kicking was just a crapshoot in those days.

[@tommythomason6187]

Hadl could really put some heat on that ball!

[@theredbaronlives9889]

What a colossal choke job by San Diego and Sid Gillman to not only lose the game @home but get shutout.+ Buffalo had both starting wr out and had to be big underdogs. San Diego had the clearly better and healthier team and still blew it. One of the worst losses in charger franchise history Sid Gilman never recovered from this!

[@T1122w]

As a Bills fan I can understand your feelings about such a loss...Buffalo would have perhaps their worst loss in the 1966 Title Game with KC and they never recovered from that

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

john hadl= loser his whole life

[@sugarbear8574]

TheRedBaron Lives! The Bills had a defense that was as good as any in the NFL at that time. SD had an outstanding offense and they were shut down cold.

[@sugarbear8574]

Talked to Harry Jacobs

[@DavidSmith-oh3re]

@@graciemaemarie11jones16 Wow you really hate John Hadl

[@JJJBRICE]

Old leather helmet , old time QB George Ratterman was a pretty good and concise analyst now called color man . I guess guys like him and fellow old time QB Paul Christman would lack the color needed in the NFL telecasts .

[@donpietruk1517]

It's funny how people think wide open offenses are a modern invention. Those old AFL teams sling it around a ton.

[@ricogarion]

Is the complete telecast available anywhere?

[@classicsports5057]

Very few full talacasts before 77 exist.

[@ricogarion]

@@classicsports5057 : Shows that forward thinking types were being over ruled by narrow minded in preserving these games as they were played. An entire series of games could have been compiled of a franchises history

[@classicsports5057]

VHS didn't exist so it all had to be big rolls of film that are expensive to maintain.

[@martinfelsenfeld6012]

Maybe that was the day Xerox (sometimes spelled as 'Zerox' as it would appear at a sign shop in Anaheim in the late 70's) was born! But is there really Xerox these days because we now do scanning more than we copy (lol)?

[@littlejohnny9439]

Hey, its "Half A Loaf" Lou Saban!

[@rrbuff1960]

Great except for every play a replay.....

[@stevec6455]

The great John Hadl. the original #21. LT should respect that, but does'nt no surprise with this generation.

[@PatrickNthedesert]

@2:50 now that was the uniform charger blue(charge of the light brigade) and @3:20 a athlete wearing to holy torn T-shirt do you think a Athlete of today would wear something like that today....heck no....back then it was for the love of the game

[@dietpepsivanilla3095]

The great Ernie Ladd! 3:25

[@aarondigby5054]

Ernie "the Big Cat" Ladd the greatest wrestling heel ever.

[@deanouellette1868]

Butch Byrd should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

[@alanstrong3295]

Looks like the final game for Ernie Ladd. Ernie Bernie. RIP.

[@RickSeraf]

Pause at 0:33 and see all of the empty seats. The actual game attendance for that day was between 29000 - 30000.

[@jeffs3752]

They were talking about a dome stadium in Boston, with a sliding roof, in 1965. It's never happened.

[@obhuicoksetyaetse1]

These old AFL games beat the heck out of today's NFL crap

[@aarondigby5054]

@41:35 and they talk about wasn't no big players in the lesgue, sshhyytt, "the Big Cat" Ernie Ladd, also remember Ernie as the biggest heel in wrestling, really could play the heel, had that loaded thumb anf foreign object hed keep in his trunks

[@hivicar]

Was this the game that Keith Lincoln got destroyed by Mike Stratton, or as that in 1964?

[@paulondra19]

29:12 I'm sure glad the Patriots got that sliding roof stadium Commissioner Joe Foss was talking about at halftime. LOL Why didn't the Chargers keep Allison in to punt? At least he wasn't giving up returns (albeit his punting average was like 10 yards). Hadl comes in to punt and gets creamed on that punt return for a touchdown. Hadl wasn't the same after that.

[@graciemaemarie11jones16]

hadl was a bum. a loser. an INT machine.

[@DavidSmith-oh3re]

@@graciemaemarie11jones16 John Hadl was a great quarterback with the Chargers and Rams

[@RB01.10]

Nearly 60 years later and the Bills haven’t won a championship since :(

[@KidsLearnHTML]

3:24 Bro! That's Big Cat Ernie Ladd!!

[@jobywills3619]

This looks like a movie.

[@loydbruceleewouldbescary2637]

❤️ oldie college & NFL football,,, today college football & NFL schedule are too longs, ,

[@moss8448]

remember those days, the big bad NFL thought the AFL couldn't play football, because they didn't run the ball all the time and for the first few super bowls that thought prevailed then `69 & `70 happened and now we have 'parity'.

[@Steve915]

What’s with replays on every play? This is very hard to watch.

[@thomasclendaniel520]

I’m not sure, but this is my guess based on other older games that I’ve watched. The TV broadcast probably does not exist anymore. Networks “wiped” films due to the cost of storage. I’ve seen a Steve Sabol/NFL Films video where he stated that the NFL was wealthier and more advanced with their filming. This is more than likely a team film or highlight film, laced together with a radio call. So to fill time visually when the camera would’ve stopped between plays, the presenter showed football cards, photos, and replays. There is, on KZbin, a complete broadcast video of the 1962 Dallas Texans at Houston Oilers AFL championship game. It’s the one where, on the OT coin flip, Abner Haynes for the Texans mistakenly said “We’ll kick to the clock,” but Dallas won anyway in the second overtime. But Curt Gowdy had the play-by-play, and he stumbled through the game, as usual. He kept calling the AFL the “American League.” I had to make sure I wasn’t watching the Yankees versus the Red Sox.