1969 American Football League Championship Game

none November 2013 aflc 1969 1986 Jeno's Pizza - 49 - Robert Holmes.jpg 230 Chiefs running back Robert Holmes (center) rushing against the Raiders in the championship game. Kansas City Chiefs 11–3 Oakland Raiders 12–1–1 Western runner-up Western Champion KC OAK Hank Stram John Madden 0 7 7 3 17 7 0 0 0 7 Oakland by 4 to 5½ pointshttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IKhVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9OADAAAAIBAJ&pg=1497%2C481156 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon UPI AFL title game facts and figures January 3, 1970 1Bhttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=QtoxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_eQFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3141%2C1771720 Reading Eagle Pennsylvania Associated Press Rapoport Ron Raiders picked over Chiefs for AFL crown January 4, 1970 58https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=__NYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cOsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3589%2C1409666 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Raiders slight favorites January 4, 1970 1, sports January 4, 1970 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Oakland, California 54,544 NBC Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote Last title game Chiefs: Lamar Hunt (owner), Hank Stram (head coach), Bobby Bell, Buck Buchanan, Curley Culp, Len Dawson, Willie Lanier, Johnny Robinson, Jan Stenerud,Emmitt Thomas Raiders: Al Davis (owner/general manager), John Madden (head coach), Fred Biletnikoff, George Blanda, Willie Brown, Jim Otto, Art Shell, Gene Upshaw USA 1 Oakland 37.752 -122.201 Location in the United States 5 290 The 1969 AFL Championship Game was the tenth and final championship game of the American Football League, and the league's final game prior to its merger with the National Football League on February 1, 1970. The game was held on January 4, 1970, at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum between the Western Division champion Oakland Raiders (12–1–1) and the division's second-place team, the Kansas City Chiefs (11–3). The two teams had the best records in the AFL regular season and both had won divisional playoff games two weeks earlier to advance to the championship. Oakland had swept the two hard-fought regular season games between the two teams,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4vBVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=O-EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1912%2C6007101 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Raiders recapture first place November 24, 1969 1Chttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=USxUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=JzoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=7372%2C2914154 Lawrence Daily Journal-World Kansas Bob Kearney Oakland thievery chills KC, 27-24 20https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_uYRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aOsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3885%2C4745596 Spokesman-Review Spokane, Washington Associated Press Oakland wins West title December 14, 1969 1, sports were favored by 4 to 5½ points, and had taken seven of the last eight meetings.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IKhVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9OADAAAAIBAJ&pg=4820%2C481088 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press AFL soon to be history January 3, 1970 1B Tied at halftime, the Chiefs won 17–7 on the strength of seventeen unanswered points in the last three quarters and represented the AFL in Super Bowl IV the following week.http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1970/01/05/page/93/article/chiefs-vikings-roll-into-super-bowl Chicago Tribune Markus Robert Chiefs, Vikings roll into Super Bowl January 5, 1970 1, section 3A https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bgMkAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xxAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3888%2C1005799 Milwaukee Sentinel UPI Vikings, Chiefs gain Super Bowl January 5, 1970 1, part 2https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IqhVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=9OADAAAAIBAJ&pg=6105%2C1052437 Eugene Register-Guard Oregon Associated Press Rathet Mike Viks, Chiefs storm to Super Bowl showdown January 5, 1970 3B https://www.si.com/vault/1970/01/12/552449/lamonicas-moveable-feast-he-was-the-main-dish Sports Illustrated Jones Robert F. Lamonica's moveable feast: he was the main dish January 12, 1970 17 This was the 616th and final AFL game. Background 1969 American Football League playoffs In the one-time four-team system (held on December 20 and December 21), the Western Division champion hosted the second-place team of the Eastern Division, and the Eastern Division champion hosted the second-place Western team. The Western runner-up Chiefs upset the Jets 13–6 while the Western champion Raiders defeated the Oilers 56–7 to set up the final AFL Championship Game. Game summary The Chiefs edged out Oakland 17–7 in a hard fought defensive struggle in which both teams combined for just 440 yards (233 for Oakland, 207 for KC) and each lost four turnovers. It was a very satisfying win for Kansas City, who had been swept by the Raiders during the season and lost 7 of their last 8 meetings, including a crushing 41–6 loss in the previous year's postseason.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1MVeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DjIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5611%2C4866960 Lewiston Morning Tribune Idaho Associated Press Raiders use passing game to crush Kansas City 41-6 December 23, 1968 14https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CswbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EFAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7341%2C2609054 Pittsburgh Press UPI Raiders 'perfect' in playoff victory December 23, 1968 18 The Raiders opened up the scoring with a 66-yard drive, featuring Daryle Lamonica's 24-yard completion to Warren Wells on the Chiefs' 3-yard line. Running back Charlie Smith ran the ball across the goal line on the next play, giving Oakland a 7-0 lead. Both defenses would take over the majority of the rest of the half, but with 3:24 remaining in the second quarter, Kansas City, who had only gained two first downs up to now, drove 75 yards to tie the game. Quarterback Len Dawson started off the drive with a 14-yard completion to Otis Taylor, while Robert Holmes' 8-yard run moved the ball into Raiders territory on their 42 for the first time in the game as the clock ran down to the 2-minute warning. On the next play, Dawson threw a 41-yard completion to receiver Frank Pitts. Then Wendell Hayes scored a 1-yard touchdown run to tie the game at seven at halftime. Oakland seemed primed to respond in the third quarter with a drive to the Chiefs' 33-yard line, but in what turned out to be a crucial play, Lamonica jammed his thumb and fingers when his throwing hand struck the helmet of Chiefs defensive end Aaron Brown, and he had to miss the rest of the drive. Backup George Blanda took over and tried to take the team the rest of the way to the end zone, but a few players later, defensive back Emmitt Thomas made a clutch interception on the Chiefs' 5-yard line. Kansas City then drove 95 yards for a go-ahead score. The key play on the drive with a 35-yard reception by Taylor through triple coverage with the team facing 3rd and 13 from their own 2-yard line. Dawson later completed a 23-yard pass to Holmes on the drive, and defensive back Nemiah Wilson's pass interference penalty eventually gave Kansas City a first down on the Raiders' 7-yard line. Holmes carried the ball three straight times after that, the last a 5-yard touchdown run to put the Chiefs up 14–7. Lamonica returned to the game in the 4th quarter, but was unable to lead the Raiders to any points, despite numerous opportunities. A promising drive into Kansas City territory was eliminated when Jim Kearney intercepted Lamonica's pass on the Chiefs 18-yard line. Two plays later, defensive end Carlton Oats recovered a fumble from Holmes on the Chiefs' 24. But on the next play, Oakland gave the ball right back with an interception to rookie cornerback Jim Marsalis. Amazingly, Oakland got the ball back on another Holmes fumble, this one recovered by linebacker Dan Conners on the Chiefs' 31. Still, the only result would be another Lamonica interception, this one to Thomas, who returned it 62 yards to the Raiders' 18-yard line, setting up Jan Stenerud's 22-yard field goal that increased Kansas City's lead to 17–7. Oakland had one last chance to get back in the game when defensive end Ike Lassiter recovered a fumble from Dawson on the Kansas City 13 with two minutes left. But Lamonica threw four straight incompletions and the Chiefs ran out the rest of the clock.http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1970/01/05/page/93/article/minnesotans-beat-browns-27-7-1st-title Chicago Tribune: Chicago news, sports, weather, entertainment July 7, 2023 https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1653179-two-championships-in-one-season-1969-kansas-city-chiefs The 1969 Kansas City Chiefs: Two Championships in One Season Bleacher Report Neither quarterback had a particularly good day. Dawson completed only 7 of 17 passes for 129 yards, while Lamonica finished 15/39 for 167 yards and three interceptions. Charlie Smith was the sole offensive star of the game, with 31 rushing yards and a touchdown, along with 8 receptions for 86 yards. text-align:center; background:#eee Kansas City Chiefs 17, Oakland Raiders 7 Chiefs 0 7 7 3 Raiders 7 0 0 0 Sunday, January 4, 1970 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California 54,544 1:00 p.m. PST Jack Vest 45 F, wind 9 mph on, relative humidity 78% NBC Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote1969 NFL-AFL Commentator Crews https://web.archive.org/web/20081211144621/http://the506.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1220449486 December 11, 2008 Pro-Football-Reference.com Scoring First quarter OAK– Charlie Smith 3-yard rush (George Blanda kick), Raiders 7–0 Second quarter KC – Wendell Hayes 1-yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick), Tied 7–7 Third quarter KC – Robert Holmes 5-yard rush (Stenerud kick), Chiefs 14–7 Fourth quarter KC – Jan Stenerud 22-yard field goal, Chiefs 17–7 Top passers KC – Len Dawson – 7/17, 129 yards OAK – Daryle Lamonica – 15/39, 167 yards, 3 INT Top rushers KC – Wendell Hayes – 8 rushes, 35 yards, 1 TD OAK – Hewritt Dixon – 12 rushes, 36 yards Top receivers KC – Otis Taylor – 3 receptions, 62 yards OAK – Charlie Smith – 8 receptions, 86 yards Source: Starting lineups Hall of Fame inductee #FFCC00 Oakland Position Kansas City Offense Daryle Lamonica QB Len Dawson Charlie Smith HB Mike Garrett Hewritt Dixon FB Robert Holmes Rod Sherman WR Otis TaylorFred Biletnikoff FL Frank Pitts Billy Cannon TE Fred Arbanas Bob Svihus LT Jim TyrerGene Upshaw LG Ed BuddeJim Otto C E. J. Holub Jim Harvey RG Mo Moorman Harry Schuh RT Dave HillDefense Ike Lassiter LDE Jerry Mays Carleton Oats LDT Curley Culp Tom Keating RDT Buck Buchanan Chuck Hurston RDE Aaron Brown Chip Oliver LLB Bobby Bell Dan Conners MLB Willie Lanier Gus Otto RLB Jim Lynch Nemiah Wilson LCB Jim MarsalisWillie Brown RCB Emmitt Thomas George Atkinson SS Jim Kearney Dave Grayson FS Johnny Robinson Statistics Statistics Chiefs RaidersFirst downs 13 18Rushing yards 86 79 Yards per carry 2.2 2.8 Passing yards 129 191Sacked-Yards 1–8 4–37 Total yards 215 270Fumbles-Lost 5–4 1–0Turnovers 4 4Penalties-Yards 5–43 5–45 Officials Referee: Jack Vest (#15) Umpire: Paul Trepinski (#22) Head linesman: Cal Lepore (#32) Line judge: Aaron Wade (#65) Back judge: Hugh Gamber (#70) Field judge: Bob Baur (#58) The AFL (and NFL) had six game officials in 1969; the seventh official, the side judge, was added in 1978. Players' shares The Chiefs players each received $7,000 and the Raiders players about $5,000 each.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iJtRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2mwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4681%2C876098 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Associated Press Chiefs 'intercept' ticket to Super Bowl January 5, 1970 24 With the win, the Chiefs were guaranteed an additional $7,500 each, the loser's share in the Super Bowl; the Super Bowl winners earned $15,000 each. Aftermath The Chiefs went on to win the Super Bowl against the Minnesota Vikings, in a final showing of the AFL and its strength. Kansas City is the only team in the Super Bowl era to win the title without allowing as much as ten points in any postseason game. The two leagues merged into one after this game, with the ten AFL teams and three NFL teams (Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Colts, and Cleveland Browns) forming the American Football Conference. Super Bowl V was the first game for that conference, which the Colts won. After losing their first two appearances in 1993 and 2018, The Chiefs won the AFC Championship in 2019 and 2020. Conversely, the Raiders have appeared in eleven, winning four and losing seven; their last appearance (and win) was in 2002. See also Chiefs–Raiders rivalry 1969 AFL season 1969 AFL playoffs AFL Championship Games Super Bowl IV 1969 NFL Championship Game References 2 37.752 -122.201 type:event title Kansas City ChiefsAmerican Football League Champions 1969 New York Jets1968 AFL Champions League's last season was 1969 Category:American Football League Championship Game Category:Kansas City Chiefs postseason Category:Oakland Raiders postseason Championship Game Category:American football competitions in Oakland American Football League Championship Game American Football League Championship Game Category:1970s in Oakland, California