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.

[edit] Background

The game matched the Eastern Division champion Houston Oilers (10-3-1), against the Western Division champion San Diego Chargers (12-2), two of only three AFL teams with winning records in 1962 (the other winning team was the Boston Patriots (9-4-1).

[edit] Game summary

The 1961 American Football League Championship Game was the sixth game that the two teams had played during the year. 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 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.

• First Quarter
  • No scoring
• Second Quarter
  • Hou-George Blanda 46-yard FG
• Third Quarter
  • Hou-Billy Cannon 35-yard pass from Blanda (Blanda kick)
• Fourth Quarter
  • SD-George Blair 12-yard FG