Game Summary
The 1961 American Football League 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.
- First Quarter
- 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
Preceded by
Houston Oilers
1960 AFL Champions |
Houston Oilers
American Football League Champions
1961 |
Succeeded by
Dallas Texans
1962 AFL Champions |
Houston Oilers 1961 AFL Champions
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- Dalva Allen
- Tony Banfield
- Byron Beams
- George Belotti
- George Blanda
- Ron Botchan
- Billy Cannon
- Doug Cline
- Willard Dewveall
- Mike Dukes
- Don Floyd
- Dick Frey
- Fred Glick
- Bill Groman
- Buzz Guy
- John Guzik
- Ken Hall
- Charlie Hennigan
- Ed Husmann
- Al Jamison
- Mark Johnston
- Gene Jones
- Bob Kelly
- Claude King
- Jack Laraway
- Jacky Lee
- Bob McLeod
- Rich Michael
- Charlie Milstead
- Dennit Morris
- Jim Norton
- Willis Perkins
- Leo Reed
- Bob Schmidt
- George Shirkey
- Dave Smith
- Julian Spence
- Bob Talamini
- Charlie Tolar
- Orville Trask
- Hogan Wharton
- John White
- Gary Wisener
Head Coaches: Lou Rymkus
- Wally Lemm
Assistant Coaches: Walt Schlinkman
- Mac Speedie
- Joe Spencer
- Fred Wallner
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San Diego Chargers
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- Formerly the Los Angeles Chargers
- Founded in 1960
- Based in San Diego, California
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Franchise |
- Franchise
- History
- Seasons
- Retired numbers
- Chargers Hall of Fame
- Anniversary teams (40th · 50th)
- Starting Quarterbacks
- Players
- Coaches
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Stadiums |
- Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Balboa Stadium
- Qualcomm Stadium
- New Chargers Stadium
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Culture |
- Fearsome Foursome
- Air Coryell
- "San Diego Super Chargers"
- Marty Ball
- San Diego Sports Curse
- San Diego Charger Girls
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Lore |
- Holy Roller
- The Epic in Miami
- Freezer Bowl
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Division Championships (14) |
- 1960
- 1961
- 1963
- 1964
- 1965
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1992
- 1994
- 2004
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
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Super Bowl appearances (1) |
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League Championships (1) |
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Current league affiliations |
- League: National Football League
- Conference: American Football Conference
- Division: West
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Seasons (53)
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1960s |
1960 * 1961 * 1962 * 1963 * 1964 * 1965 * 1966 * 1967 * 1968 * 1969
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1970s |
1970 * 1971 * 1972 * 1973 * 1974 * 1975 * 1976 * 1977 * 1978 * 1979
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1980s |
1980 * 1981 * 1982 * 1983 * 1984 * 1985 * 1986 * 1987 * 1988 * 1989
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1990s |
1990 * 1991 * 1992 * 1993 * 1994 * 1995 * 1996 * 1997 * 1998 * 1999
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2000s |
2000 * 2001 * 2002 * 2003 * 2004 * 2005 * 2006 * 2007 * 2008 * 2009
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2010s |
2010 * 2011 * 2012
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NFL on ABC
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Related programs |
- Monday Night Football
- ESPN Sunday Night Football
- American Football League on ABC
- College Football on ABC
- USFL on ABC
- Pro Football Highlights
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Related articles |
- History of Monday Night Football
- NFL on television
- Monday Night Mayhem (film)
- ABC Monday Night Football (video game)
Chicago Bears (home games) |
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Chicago Cardinals (home games) |
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Los Angeles Rams (Pacific Time Zone affiliates) |
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San Francisco 49ers (Pacific Time Zone affiliates) |
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Washington Redskins (home games) |
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Commentators |
- AFC Wild Card Playoff Game
- AFL Championship Game
- AFL All-Star Game
- American Bowl
- Christmas games
- Hall of Fame Game
- Kickoff Game
- Monday Night Football
- NFC Wild Card Playoff Game
- NFL Championship Game
- Pro Bowl
- Super Bowl
- Thanksgiving Classic
- World Bowl
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Lore televised by ABC |
- "Body Bag Game"
- Death of John Lennon
- Brett Favre wins one for his father
- "Music City Miracle"
- "Monday Night Miracle"
- Montana outduels Elway
- Rivalries
- "Snowball Game"
- "One Yard Short"
- Joe Theismann's career-ending sack
- "Wide Right"
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Music |
- "All My Rowdy Friends Are Here on Monday Night"
- Charles Fox
- "Heavy Action"
- Edd Kalehoff
- "The Party's Over"
- Johnny Pearson
- Hank Williams, Jr.
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NFL Championship |
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Super Bowl |
- XIX
- XXII
- XXV
- XXIX
- XXXIV
- XXXVII
- XL
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Pro Bowl |
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
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AFL Championship |
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Results and standings |
- Monday Night Football all-team team standings
Yearly results |
- Monday night NFL games prior to 1970
- 1970-1989
- 1990-2009
- 2010-present
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