AFL Championship 1966 Title

Lore & Background

The host Bills entered the AFL title game as two-time defending champions, but the visiting Chiefs were three-point favorites, mainly because of their explosive and innovative offense led by head coach Hank Stram. 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. Played on a sunny day, a Bills fumble on the opening kickoff gave the Chiefs a short field to work with. Quarterback Len Dawson immediately took advantage of it, hitting Fred Arbanas for the game's first score. Buffalo quarterback Jack Kemp's first pass for the Bills was a 69-yard score to Elbert Dubenion. Late in the second quarter and trailing 14–7, Kemp led the Bills to the Kansas City 10. Bobby Crockett was open in the end zone, but Kemp's pass was intercepted by Johnny Robinson, who returned it 72 yards. That set up a Mike Mercer field goal to close out the first half with a ten-point lead. Buffalo found no offensive rhythm in the second half, and the third quarter was scoreless. The Chiefs closed the game out in the fourth quarter with Dawson finding Chris Burford for a 45-yard gain, setting up a one-foot touchdown run by rookie running back Mike Garrett, extending the lead to 24–7. Garrett scored his second touchdown less than two minutes later, following another Bills fumble.

In Their Own Story

The wind sliced through Flushing Meadows, biting at exposed skin beneath leather helmets and wool socks, turning the New York afternoon into a frozen battleground. Inside the huddle, Len Dawson's voice cut through the chill—calm, steady, and terrifyingly precise as he called the play that would seal the deal. The Shea Stadium crowd was a sea of blue, yet the Chiefs moved with a singular, predatory purpose. As Dawson dropped back, the Buffalo defense surged forward, only to be met by a perfect spiral sailing effortlessly over their reach. It wasn't merely a touchdown; it was an execution of destiny, transforming the biting cold air into the warm embrace of history as the final whistle confirmed what everyone already knew: the AFL had arrived.

Reader's Guide

The game was played on January 1, 1967, at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, New York, with an attendance of 42,080. The Chiefs won 31–7. Scoring summary: First quarter: KC – Arbanas 29 pass from Dawson (Mercer kick), KC 7–0; BUF – Dubenion 69 pass from Kemp (Lusteg kick), 7–7 Tie. Second quarter: KC – Taylor 29 pass from Dawson (Mercer kick), KC 14–7; KC – Field goal Mercer 32, KC 17–7. Third quarter: no scoring. Fourth quarter: KC – Garrett 1 run (Mercer kick), KC 24–7; KC – Garrett 18 run (Mercer kick), KC 31–7. No official MVP award was given for this game.

Did You Know?

• The Chiefs split their players' shares for the title game 51 ways, or $5,308 each.
• Upon their return to Kansas City, the Chiefs were greeted by 12,000 fans at the airport.
• The Chiefs went on to Super Bowl I but lost to the NFL Champion Packers 35–10.