1968 AFL Championship Game

Lore & Background

The game was a rematch of the notorious Heidi Game. The Raiders had hosted a tiebreaker playoff game the week before against the Kansas City Chiefs to determine the Western Division champion, while the Eastern champion Jets were idle. The Jets won the championship and the chance to play the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III.

In Their Own Story

The California sun hung low over the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, casting long shadows across the gridiron as the clock ticked down in the fourth quarter. Ken Stabler wiped sweat from his eyes, looking at the scoreboard: Raiders 40, Patriots 7. The roar of the crowd was a physical force, a mix of triumphant Oakland fans and stunned silence from the home contingent. As the final whistle blew, John Madden's fist pumped in the air, knowing this wasn't just a win; it was the birth of a dynasty.

Reader's Guide

The Jets took an early 10–0 lead. The Raiders rallied to lead 23–20, but the Jets retook the lead 27–23. Oakland had three more drives but failed to score. Joe Namath completed 19 of 49 passes for 266 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 1 interception. Daryle Lamonica completed 20 of 47 passes for 401 yards and a touchdown. Fred Biletnikoff had 7 receptions for 190 yards and a touchdown. Don Maynard caught 6 passes for 118 yards and a score. Matt Snell was the top rusher with 71 yards on 19 carries. Attendance was 62,627.

Did You Know?

• The Raiders outgained the Jets in total yards 443–400 but lost.
• This was the only AFL championship won by the Jets.
• No known copy of the broadcast of this game exists; only recaps of NFL Films footage have been located.
• The AFL (and NFL) had six game officials in 1968; the seventh official, the side judge, was added in 1978.