1961 American Football League Championship Game
Encyclopedia
The 1961 American Football League
Championship Game
was a repeat the first AFL title game, between the Houston Oilers and the San Diego Chargers
(formerly the Los Angeles Chargers). The game was played on Christmas Eve 1961 at Balboa Stadium
in San Diego, California
.
(12-2), two of only three AFL teams with winning records in the 1961 season (the other winning team was the Boston Patriots (9-4-1).
Championship Game
was the sixth game that the two teams had played during the calendar year 1961. The 1960 AFL Championship game, won by Houston 24-16, had actually been played in January 1961, on New Year's Day. The Chargers had won two exhibition contests with the Oilers, and the two teams had split during the 1961 regular season.
Scoring in the second AFL Championship Game was held down by sloppy play and turnovers: Houston had seven and San Diego six. The only score of the first half came on a 46-yard George Blanda
field goal, coming after a nine-yard San Diego punt. In the third quarter, the Oilers had the only sustained drive of the game, and went 80 yards. With a third-and-five at the San Diego 35, Blanda rolled to his right and found Billy Cannon
open at the 17. Cannon jumped to make the catch, shrugged off a would-be tackler, and scampered into the end zone for a touchdown, his second in two straight low-scoring championship games. Blanda's extra point put Houston up 10-0. The Chargers scored early in the fourth quarter on a 12-yard field goal by George Blair
, but they could not score again, and the Oilers won 10-3.
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
Championship Game
Professional American football championship games
Below is a list of professional football championship games in the United States, involving:* the informal Pittsburgh circuit of professional football teams ;...
was a repeat the first AFL title game, between the Houston Oilers and the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(formerly the Los Angeles Chargers). The game was played on Christmas Eve 1961 at Balboa Stadium
Balboa Stadium
Balboa Stadium is a football and soccer stadium located in San Diego, California. The original stadium was built in 1914 as part of the many buildings erected for the 1915 Panama-California Exposition located in Balboa Park. Originally called City Stadium, and designed by the Quayle Brothers...
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
Background
The game matched the Eastern Division champion Houston Oilers (10-3-1), against the Western Division champion San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
(12-2), two of only three AFL teams with winning records in the 1961 season (the other winning team was the Boston Patriots (9-4-1).
Game summary
The 1961 American Football LeagueAmerican Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
Championship Game
Professional American football championship games
Below is a list of professional football championship games in the United States, involving:* the informal Pittsburgh circuit of professional football teams ;...
was the sixth game that the two teams had played during the calendar year 1961. The 1960 AFL Championship game, won by Houston 24-16, had actually been played in January 1961, on New Year's Day. The Chargers had won two exhibition contests with the Oilers, and the two teams had split during the 1961 regular season.
Scoring in the second AFL Championship Game was held down by sloppy play and turnovers: Houston had seven and San Diego six. The only score of the first half came on a 46-yard George Blanda
George Blanda
George Frederick Blanda was a collegiate and professional football quarterback and placekicker...
field goal, coming after a nine-yard San Diego punt. In the third quarter, the Oilers had the only sustained drive of the game, and went 80 yards. With a third-and-five at the San Diego 35, Blanda rolled to his right and found Billy Cannon
Billy Cannon
William Abb "Billy" Cannon is an All-American, 1959 Heisman Trophy winner and 2008 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and one of the American Football League's most celebrated players.He was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and moved...
open at the 17. Cannon jumped to make the catch, shrugged off a would-be tackler, and scampered into the end zone for a touchdown, his second in two straight low-scoring championship games. Blanda's extra point put Houston up 10-0. The Chargers scored early in the fourth quarter on a 12-yard field goal by George Blair
George Blair
George Blair is a former halfback for the University of Mississippi football Rebels , playing in the 1958 Gator Bowl , and the 1959 Sugar Bowl , and the 1960 Sugar Bowl...
, but they could not score again, and the Oilers won 10-3.
- First Quarter
- No scoring
- Second Quarter
- Hou-George BlandaGeorge BlandaGeorge Frederick Blanda was a collegiate and professional football quarterback and placekicker...
46-yard FG
- Hou-George Blanda
- Third Quarter
- Hou-Billy CannonBilly CannonWilliam Abb "Billy" Cannon is an All-American, 1959 Heisman Trophy winner and 2008 inductee into the College Football Hall of Fame from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, and one of the American Football League's most celebrated players.He was born in Philadelphia, Mississippi, and moved...
35-yard pass from BlandaGeorge BlandaGeorge Frederick Blanda was a collegiate and professional football quarterback and placekicker...
(Blanda kick)
- Hou-Billy Cannon
- Fourth Quarter
- SD-George BlairGeorge BlairGeorge Blair is a former halfback for the University of Mississippi football Rebels , playing in the 1958 Gator Bowl , and the 1959 Sugar Bowl , and the 1960 Sugar Bowl...
12-yard FG
- SD-George Blair