1961 American Football League season
Encyclopedia
The 1961 American Football League
season was the second regular season
of the American Football League. The Los Angeles Chargers
moved to San Diego, California
following the 1960 season, retaining the Chargers name.
The season ended when the Houston Oilers
defeated the San Diego Chargers in the AFL Championship game.
Relocated from Los Angeles, the San Diego Chargers won their first eleven games, clinching the Western Division on November 12, with four games left. When San Diego reached 10-0, it had twice the wins of any other team in the AFL. In the Eastern Division, the New York Titans lost 27-10 to Denver, while Boston beat Buffalo 52-21, in Week Seven, for a tie in the race, with the Pats at 3-3-1 and the Titans at 3-3-0. The Titans lost, 48-13 to San Diego, in Week Nine. The following week, though (November 12), Houston beat Boston, 27-15, to take a half-game lead, and won the division by a full game.
* — Qualified for Championship Game.
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...
season was the second regular season
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
of the American Football League. The Los Angeles 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...
moved to 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...
following the 1960 season, retaining the Chargers name.
The season ended when the Houston Oilers
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
defeated the San Diego Chargers in the AFL Championship game.
Division Races
The AFL had 8 teams, grouped into two divisions. Each team would play a home-and-away game against the other 7 teams in the league for a total of 14 games, and the best team in the Eastern Division would play against the best in the Western Division in a championship game. If there was tie in the standings, a playoff would be held to determine the division winner.Relocated from Los Angeles, the San Diego Chargers won their first eleven games, clinching the Western Division on November 12, with four games left. When San Diego reached 10-0, it had twice the wins of any other team in the AFL. In the Eastern Division, the New York Titans lost 27-10 to Denver, while Boston beat Buffalo 52-21, in Week Seven, for a tie in the race, with the Pats at 3-3-1 and the Titans at 3-3-0. The Titans lost, 48-13 to San Diego, in Week Nine. The following week, though (November 12), Houston beat Boston, 27-15, to take a half-game lead, and won the division by a full game.
| Week | EASTERN | WESTERN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tie (Hou, NYT) | 1-0-0 | Tie (Den, SD) | 1-0-0 |
| 2 | HOUSTON | 1-0-0 | SAN DIEGO | 2-0-0 |
| 3 | Tie (Bos, NYT) | 2-1-0 | SAN DIEGO | 3-0-0 |
| 4 | N.Y. TITANS | 3-1-0 | SAN DIEGO | 4-0-0 |
| 5 | N.Y. TITANS | 3-1-0 | SAN DIEGO | 5-0-0 |
| 6 | N.Y. TITANS | 3-2-0 | SAN DIEGO | 6-0-0 |
| 7 | Tie (Bos, NYT) | 3-3-1 | SAN DIEGO | 7-0-0 |
| 8 | Tie (Bos, NYT) | 4-3-1 | SAN DIEGO | 8-0-0 |
| 9 | BOSTON | 5-3-1 | SAN DIEGO | 9-0-0 |
| 10 | HOUSTON | 5-3-1 | SAN DIEGO | 10-0-0 |
| 11 | HOUSTON | 6-3-1 | SAN DIEGO | 11-0-0 |
| 12 | HOUSTON | 7-3-1 | SAN DIEGO | 11-0-0 |
| 13 | HOUSTON | 8-3-1 | SAN DIEGO | 11-1-0 |
| 14 | HOUSTON | 9-3-1 | SAN DIEGO | 12-1-0 |
| 15 | HOUSTON | 10-3-1 | SAN DIEGO | 12-2-0 |
Standings http://nflhistory.net/linescores/pdf/1961a.pdf
Playoffs
- AFL Championship Game
- Houston OilersTennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
10, San Diego ChargersSan Diego ChargersThe 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...
3, December 24, 1961, Balboa StadiumBalboa StadiumBalboa 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...
, San Diego, CaliforniaSan Diego, CaliforniaSan 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...
- Houston Oilers