American Football League playoffs

For its first nine seasons, 1960 through 1968, the American Football League determined its champion via a single playoff game between the winners of its two divisions (although ties in the standings in 1963 (Eastern) and 1968 (Western) required a tiebreaker divisional playoff game the week before).

In 1969, the tenth and final year of the independent ten-team AFL, a four-team playoff was held, with the second-place teams in each division traveling to play the winner of the other division in what were called the "Interdivisional" playoffs. These playoffs were not, and are not considered to have been, "wildcard" playoffs since the runners-up in both divisions qualified, rather than the two best non-division winners. (Had the 1969 playoffs been true wildcard playoffs, the Western's third-place team, San Diego (8–6–0), would have qualified while the Eastern's runner-up, Houston (6–6–2), would not have.) The 1969 AFL playoffs were only the second time a U.S. major professional football league allowed teams other than the first-place teams (including ties) to compete in post-season playoffs. (The first was the seven-team All-America Football Conference's 1949 four-team playoff.)

Before the first Super Bowl, in the 1966 season, the AFL went to great lengths to avoid scheduling its playoff games at the same time as the NFL's. In 1960, the NFL's game was held on Monday, December 26; the AFL had that week off, and played its title contest on Sunday, January 1, as the college bowl games were played on Monday. In 1961 and 1962, the AFL played its championship game during the off-week between the end of the NFL's regular season and its title game (thus resulting in the AFL holding championship games on December 24, 1961, and December 23, 1962, a week before the NFL's games of December 31, 1961, and December 30, 1962). In 1963, the AFL held its Eastern Division tiebreaker playoff on Saturday, December 28, 1963, thereby avoiding the NFL championship game that Sunday (the AFL championship game was held on January 5). In 1964, pro football had a championship weekend, with the AFL's title game held on Saturday, December 26, and the NFL championship on Sunday. For 1965, the AFL tried to return to the practice of playing its game on a Sunday during the off-week between the NFL playoff, slating its championship contest for December 26, while the NFL's game was not held until January 2, 1966; the Colts and Packers required a Western Conference tiebreaker on December 26—and when that game went to overtime, it shrank the TV audience for the Bills–Chargers title game in San Diego. Even in 1966, the AFL originally scheduled its championship game for the off-week, planning to hold its playoff on Monday, December 26, six days before the NFL title game on January 1.

In 1966, the leagues agreed to hold championship doubleheaders for the next four years: both title games would take place on the same day but at different times so television audiences could watch both. These took place on January 1, 1967; December 31, 1967; December 29, 1968; and January 4, 1970.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame and the National Football League include AFL playoffs in their statistics for the NFL playoffs.

Championship summary Eastern DivisionWestern Division Super Bowl Appearance Super Bowl Victory

+ AFL Championship GamesSeasonDateWinning teamScoreLosing teamMVPVenueCityAttendance1960Houston OilersLos Angeles Chargers Billy Cannon 32,1831961Houston Oilers (2)San Diego Chargers Billy Cannon 29,5561962Dallas TexansHouston Oilers Jack Spikes 37,9811963San Diego ChargersBoston Patriots Keith Lincoln 30,1271964Buffalo BillsSan Diego Chargers Jack Kemp 40,2421965Buffalo Bills (2)San Diego Chargers Jack Kemp 30,3611966Kansas City Chiefs (2)Buffalo Bills Len Dawson 42,0801967Oakland RaidersHouston Oilers Daryle Lamonica 53,3301968New York JetsOakland Raiders Joe Namath 62,6271969Kansas City Chiefs (3)Oakland Raiders Otis Taylor 53,564 Eastern Division hosted in even-numbered seasons, Western in odd.

1960 Championship

1961 Championship

1962 Championship

1963 Playoffs

A tie in the Eastern Division standings necessitated an Eastern Division playoff game

Eastern Division Playoff

1963 Championship

The Chargers championship win is noted for being the only and most recent major sports championship won for the city of San Diego. No other city with at least two major professional sports teams has a championship drought as long, as of 2024 (61 years). This is also the only time that the Chargers have beaten the Patriots in a postseason game.

1964 Championship

Mike Stratton's hit on San Diego Chargers running back Keith Lincoln set the stage for the Buffalo Bills and their first AFL championship.

1965 Championship

This was the last AFL Championship Game before the Super Bowl era began the following season and the last time a final pro football championship game was played in December. It was also the most recent championship won by a Buffalo-based major professional sports team.

1966 Championship

Kansas City lost Super Bowl I to the NFL champion Green Bay Packers.

1967 Championship

Oakland lost Super Bowl II to the NFL champion Green Bay Packers.

1968 Playoffs

A tie in the Western Division standings necessitated a Western Division playoff game

Western Division Playoff

1968 Championship

The Jets went on to win Super Bowl III to become the first AFL Super Bowl champion.

1969 Playoffs

Bracket

Interdivisional Playoffs

1969 Championship

This was the final AFL Championship Game, as well as the final game played between two AFL teams before the merger with the National Football League. The Chiefs won Super Bowl IV as the last AFL champion.

Championship Game MVPs + Key for the below tables Symbol DescriptionYear Each year is linked to an article about that particular AFL seasonWinner Denotes number of times the player won the award* Player elected to the Pro Football Hall of FameTeam Denotes number of times the team won the awardPosition Denotes number of times the position has the award + AFL Championship Game Most Valuable Players Year Game Winner Team Position College 1960 1960 Billy Cannon Houston Oilers HB LSU 1961 1961 Billy Cannon Houston Oilers HB LSU 1962 1962 Jack Spikes Dallas Texans HB TCU 1963 1963 Keith Lincoln San Diego Chargers HB Washington State 1964 1964 Jack Kemp Buffalo Bills QB Occidental 1965 1965 Jack Kemp Buffalo Bills QB Occidental 1966 1966 Len Dawson Kansas City Chiefs QB Purdue 1967 1967 Daryle Lamonica Oakland Raiders QB Notre Dame 1968 1968 Joe Namath New York Jets QB Alabama 1969 1969 Otis Taylor Kansas City Chiefs WR Prairie View A&M

AFL Championship Game appearances 1960–1969 Num Team W L Pct 5 Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers 1 4 4 Houston Oilers 2 2 3 Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs 3 0 3 Buffalo Bills 2 1 3 Oakland Raiders 1 2 1 New York Jets 1 0 1 Boston Patriots 0 1

American Football League playoffs

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