For the final season of the AFL as a seperate league, four teams made the playoffs as the NFL's playoff structure was adopted in preparation for the merge, which will take place following Super Bowl IV.
AFL Divisional Playoffs
New York Jets (10-4) vs.
Kansas City Chiefs (11-3)
Shea Stadium, Flushing, NY
Last season, the Jets were humiliated by the Oakland Raiders in the AFL Championship game. This year, the now two time defending AFL Eastern Division champions looked more prepared, and again had the MVP of the league in Joe Namath. However, the Chiefs came in with the best defense in the AFL, and just like the Raiders proved last year, the Chiefs were able to push the Jets around with defense.
However, it was Kansas City's offense that did the talking in the first quarter, taking the opening kickoff and marching with the ball for the first nine minutes of the game. Although they had to settle for a Jan Stenerud field goal, the Chiefs were already forcing their style of play onto the brash New York team. Kansas City did the same thing on their first full possession of the second quarter, with quarterback Len Dawson and halfback Mike Garrett leading the charge, the Chiefs were able to put up another field goal and extend their lead to 6-0. On their next possession, Stenerud's kick sailed wide left, but the Chiefs were granted another chance with the ball when Namath's pass was intercepted by Jim Kearney and returned to New York's 43.
After a quarter and a half of pounding on New York's defensive line, Mike Garrett finally broke through it on that drive, taking a handoff and going 31 yards up the middle for a touchdown that put the Chiefs ahead 13-0. With only 45 seconds to go in the half, Namath's wild passing finally settled down, and he put New York in position to kick a field goal. Kicker Jim Turner's attempt was good, and New York was down only 10 heading into the half.
Defense was the name of the game in the second half, and Kansas City was more than happy to accomodate the Jets. Throughout the second half, the Chiefs would take the ball for long stretches of time before making it to the cusp of field goal range and punting it back to the Jets. While they were not scoring any points, they were keeping Joe Namath off the field. The only points in the third quarter came on another Stenerud field goal. On their very next possession to start the fourth quarter, the Chiefs took the ball 57 yards in eight plays and finished with a Dawson touchdown pass to Gloster Richardson that put the lead at 23-3. With New York's running game rendered useless by Kansas City's dominant defense, and Namath (9/21, 118, 1 INT) unable to find his stride, the Jets once again found themselves being embarassed at home by a superior opponent.
When the gun sounded, the Chiefs were headed to their second AFL Championship in four years, while the Jets were left to wonder exactly what went wrong this time around.
Final Score: Kansas City-23 New York Jets-3
Real Life Score: Kansas City-13 New York Jets-6
Oakland Raiders (12-1-1) vs.
Houston Oilers (6-6-2)
Oakland-Alameda Stadium, Oakland, CA
The biggest mismatch in AFL playoff history took place in Oakland in the divisional round of the AFL playoffs this year, as the mighty Raiders took on the seemingly overwhelmed Houston Oilers. Oakland was led by coach John Madden, quarterback Daryle Lamonica and a defense that took no prisoners. Houston was outscored by their opponents and their quarterback, Pete Beathard, threw 11 more interceptions than touchdowns on the season.
Throughout the game, Oakland had the advantage, but it seemed like they were almost toying with Houston, or not taking them seriously enough. Their defense continually stopped Houston's drives in the first quarter, but Oakland could not manage to score any points, as George Blanda missed a 41 yard field goal. The second quarter was a different story, however. Houston still could not move on Oakland's defense, but Oakland was able to get going against Houston's, scoring on three consecutive drives. Two Blanda field goals and a Herwitt Dixon 24 yard touchdown run put the Raiders up 13-0 at the half.
The second half was more of the same for both teams. Oakland's offense, sensing no need to attempt to do more than they already had, proceeded to hold onto the football for extended drives that resulted in no points, but exhausted Houston's defense. Houston's offense fared no better, scoring no points and only crossing midfield once before the fourth quarter. The lone points in the second half came on a Lamonica eight yard touchdown pass to Fred Biletnikoff midway through the third. Oakland's defense kept Houston off the board, and sent the Raiders to their third straight AFL Championship game.
Final Score: Oakland-20 Houston-0
Real Life Score: Oakland-56 Houston-7
AFL Championship Game
Oakland-Alameda Stadium, Oakland, CA
Oakland Raiders (12-1-1) vs.
Kansas City Chiefs (11-3)
The Oakland Raiders were full of confidence going into their AFL Championship game matchip with the Kansas City Chiefs. After all, they had won the previous two AFL titles, and they had also defeated the Chiefs twice during the 1969 season. However, if there was one thing that the Chiefs had in their favor, it was that they knew the Raiders' strengths and weaknesses, and in this title game, those factors would come into play as the AFL was sent off with one of its most exciting games.
In the first quarter, Oakland's defense seemed to have retained the ferocity it had against Houston, keeping the Chiefs from moving the ball into Raider territory, and giving their offense even better field position. The second time this happened, Oakland started with the ball in Kansas City territory, and it took just eight plays for Daryle Lamonica to find Charlie Smith just outside the end zone. He walked in untouched for the score, and Oakland was leading 7-0.
The Chiefs were finally able to cross midfield and respond to Oakland late in the second quarter, when Len Dawson finally found the level of play he had been at for most of the season. He marched the Chiefs down the field, completing passes to Otis Taylor and Mike Garrett, then, when that stalled, he sent Garrett running head first into Oakland's powerful defensive front. Eventually, that stalled as well, and the Chiefs settled for a Jan Stenerud field goal that dropped Oakland's lead to four points. On the Raiders' next possession, however, they would strike back. Daryle Lamonica passed the Raiders right back down the field, and with just 14 seconds left in the half, found Warren Wells in the corner of the end zone with a 24 yard rocket to put Oakland up 14-3 at halftime.
Oakland's intensity carried over to the second half, and they recorded an early safety when Dawson was sacked by Dan Conners in the end zone. The safety put the Raiders up by 13 points and seemingly closed the door on any hope that Kansas City had, especially when they could not score in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was another story for both teams. Kansas City started with the football, and finally started to make headway against Oakland's defense. When Dawson found Frank Pitts along the side of the end zone, the Chiefs were suddenly back in the game, 16-9, but they had suffered a possibly crushing blow. Dawson was hammered just as he released the ball by Oakland lineman Dan Birdwell and was injured. Although he was able to leave the field, it would be up to backup Mike Livingston to lead the Chiefs back. Though their chances looked grim, Livingston did what he had to do, completing his first pass of the game to Pitts for 24 yards on a third and 21. Just two plays later, he found Otis Taylor streaking behind the Raider secondary and hit him in stride. The 41 yard touchdown pass with only a 1:19 to play put the Chiefs up 17-16 and silenced the once rabid Oakland fans.
The now shellshocked Raiders were unable to even move the ball on their last drive. Lamonica's final pass was over the head of everybody, and Kansas City was able to run out the clock. With an incredible, unthinkable comeback, the Chiefs were headed to their first Super Bowl as the final champions of the AFL.
Final Score: Kansas City-17 Oakland-16
Real Life Score: Kansas City-17 Oakland-7