1967 AFL Championship Game

Lore & Background

Quarterback Daryle Lamonica, traded from the Buffalo Bills in the offseason, led the Raiders to a 13–1 record, throwing 30 touchdown passes. The Oilers went from last place in the East in 1966 (3–11) to first in 1967, beating out the New York Jets by a game. Most of the Oilers' offense centered on big fullback Hoyle Granger, and a midseason quarterback trade for Pete Beathard (sending Jacky Lee to the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs) proved to be the spark that turned Houston's season around.

The teams had met once in the regular season, three weeks earlier in Houston, with Oakland winning 19–7 to clinch the Western division title. This was Houston's fourth and final appearance (1960, 1961, 1962) in the title game and Oakland's first. In contrast to the frigid conditions earlier in the day at the NFL championship game in Green Bay, the temperature for the AFL title game in northern California was 47 °F (8 °C). The host Raiders were ten-point favorites.

Oakland won 40–7 and shredded the Oilers with 364 yards of offense, including 263 yards rushing, while allowing just 146 total yards and 38 yards on the ground. The Raiders also forced three turnovers and lost none themselves. The attendance of 53,330 was a new record for the AFL title game, passing the 42,080 of the previous year at Buffalo.

Reader's Guide

The game began shortly after 2 pm PST. Oakland's Dave Grayson returned the opening kickoff 47 yards, but the drive ended with no points when George Blanda missed a 38-yard field goal. Houston then drove into Raiders territory but fumbled (forced and recovered by Dan Conners). After a three-and-out for each team, Rodger Bird returned a punt 9 yards to the Raiders 43, leading to Blanda's 37-yard field goal with 3:06 left in the first quarter.

Houston outgained Oakland 93-52 in the first quarter despite trailing 3–0. In the second quarter, Hewritt Dixon ran 69 yards for a touchdown (AFL championship record). Willie Brown intercepted Pete Beathard, but Blanda missed a 44-yard field goal. After a punt, Oakland failed on 4th and 1.

Later, with 12 seconds left in the half, Lamonica threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Dave Kocourek on a fake field goal, making it 17–0. In the second half, Houston's Zeke Moore fumbled the opening kickoff (forced by Duane Benson, recovered by Ken Herock), leading to Lamonica's 1-yard touchdown run. Blanda added a 40-yard field goal. After a three-and-out and a punt pinning Houston at their own 2, Blanda kicked a 40-yard field goal for a 30–0 lead.

Houston responded with a 78-yard drive ending in Beathard's 5-yard touchdown pass to Charley Frazier (30–7). Oakland added a 36-yard field goal and a 12-yard touchdown pass from Lamonica to Bill Miller. Beathard completed 15 of 35 passes for 142 yards, a touchdown, and 1 interception. Frazier had 7 receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown.

Bobby Jancik returned 4 kickoffs for 100 yards. Lamonica completed 10 of 24 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 22 yards and a score. Dixon rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown, and caught a pass for 8 yards. Banaszak rushed for 116 yards on 15 carries and caught a 4-yard pass. Blanda set an AFL championship record with four field goals on six attempts. Norton punted 11 times for 423 yards.

Did You Know?

• The winning Raiders earned about $6,500 each, while the Oilers received about $5,000 each.
• The AFL added a sixth game official, the side linesman, in the previous season; the NFL added its sixth official, the line judge, in 1965. The seventh official, the side judge, was added in 1978.
• The upcoming Super Bowl II awarded an additional $15,000 per player for the winners and $7,500 each for the losing team.