Chiefs & Bills: Founding Bros, Longtime Foes – These two teams share a deep and storied history: the Kansas City Chiefs and the Buffalo Bills. It was their owners, Lamar Hunt and Ralph Wilson, who along with others, dared usurp the well-established, respectable National Football League with their upstart, rag-tag group of misfits masquerading as a professional football league. This group of nonconforming maverick owners, the self-titled “Foolish Club,” would forever change professional football, and America, on their journey to merging with the NFL and superseding baseball as, America’s Game. Along the way, they beat the hell out of one another. Once merged with the NFL in 1970, they continued to beat the hell out of each other, and have in the over fifty years since. Tomorrow’s AFC Championship Game is but more of the same, albeit on a much larger, grander stage, with the eyes of an entire football-crazed nation upon them, including Chiefs Kingdom and Bills Mafia.
Tomorrow night’s game is but another in a host of matchups between these founding bros and longtime foes. The AFC Championship Game marks the fiftieth time they’ve faced each other. They’ve met 46 times in the regular season since 1960, with the Bills having the edge with a 24-21-1 record. In the postseason, the AFL veterans have met thrice. Buffalo also holds the high ground there, winning two of the three matchups. As we, Chiefs Kingdom, along with Bills Mafia, pump ourselves up and prep for tomorrow’s game, take a moment and let’s stroll down Memory Lane.
1966 AFL Championship Game
War Memorial Stadium, Buffalo, NY
On a chilly, drizzly New Year Day, 1967, the Kansas City Chiefs, fresh off a 11-2-1 season visited Buffalo, NY, to take on the 9-4-1 Buffalo Bills. Although oddsmakers favored the Chiefs by three, the Bills were the two-time defending AFL Champions. This year’s AFL Championship differed than the past six, as the winner would battle the 1966 NFL Champions thanks to the AFL-NFL merger agreement reached earlier that year which stipulated a World Championship Game between the respective AFL and NFL champions.
The Chiefs struck first with a 29-yard touchdown strike from quarterback Len Dawson to tight end Fred Arbanas. The Bills answered back in short-order with a 69-yard Jack Kemp bomb to Elbert “Golden Wheels” Dubenion. PATs on both of the touchdowns were good.
Tied 7-7, the two AFL rivals started the second quarter. Chiefs wide receiver Otis Taylor (who belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Period!) caught a beauty from Dawson and ‘bison’d’ his way through a herd of Bills for six. Chiefs punter/kicker Mike Mercer was true for the extra point. Mercer would later add a 22-yard field goal to end the half. Score: Chiefs – 17, Bills – 7.
The third quarter ended with both teams failing to score. Enter Chiefs running back Mike Garrett. The wily running back would drive the fatal arrow through the hearts of the Bills on back-to-back touchdown runs of 1-yard and 18-yard touchdown runs, respectively. As he was all day, Mercer was true on both PATs and except for their six points in the first quarter, the Bills never saw the end zone again.
Final Score: Kansas City Chiefs – 31, Buffalo Bills – 7
1991 AFC Divisional Playoffs
Rich Stadium Buffalo, NY
The Chiefs, winners of a 10-to-6 AFC Wild Card Game against the Los Angeles Raiders (10-6), the prior week, entered the game confident and a bit star-struck, as this was their first playoff appearance in twenty-two years (Curses: Garo Yepremian!).
The game started out poorly for the Chiefs, with the Bills jumping to a 17-0 lead in the first half. The game-ending injury to Chiefs starting quarterback Steve DeBerg was not a good omen, either.
Sadly, Chiefs backup quarterback, Mark Vlasic, was not the answer to DeBerg’s departure, as evidenced by his four interceptions, 124 passing yards, one sack, and 42.5 passer rating. The Bills defense decimated the Chiefs, recipients of two garbage-time touchdowns. In spite of the Chiefs late-game heroics, the Bills avenged their 1966 AFL Championship loss.
Final Score: Buffalo Bills – 37, Kansas City Chiefs – 14
1993 AFC Championship Game
Rich Stadium Buffalo, NY
Of all the Chiefs postseason losses, this one pains me the most. It was my first season as a Chiefs fan and my first time tasting those oh-so-bitter Arrowhead tears. After almost thirty years of Chiefs fandom, I can assure you, after buckets of them, it’s an acquired taste. Like their previous playoff appearance, the game started rough for our Chiefs, the half ending 20-6 in favor of the Bills. It concerned me little. After all, we had Joe Montana, who I’d followed from San Francisco to Kansas City that year. Despite his advanced years, Joe “Cool” was the Comeback Kid.
However, early in the third quarter, Bills defensive end Bruce Smith ended my fantasy, and effectively Montana’s career, with a hit so vicious, I sometimes still have night terrors. As Joe wobbled off the field with help, I thought, “Joe’s down, games over!” I was right.
Chiefs backup quarterback Dave Krieg and his teammates heroically tried to come back. Alas, it was not to be. Even with a late-game touchdown from the great Marcus Allen, it was no use. The moment Smith penetrated the Chiefs offensive line with Montana in his sights, the fat lady began her singing.
Final Score: Buffalo Bills – 30, Kansas City Chiefs – 13
2020 AFC Championship Game
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
Our apologies, Chiefs Kingdom, due to circumstances beyond our control, this content is not yet available. However, I have it on good authority that the likes of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, safety Tyrann Mathieu, and a host of other Red & Gold-clad players are hard at work on it … and will be, until the end of the fourth quarter late Sunday evening.
Rest assured, however, ArrowheadOne will bring you the news as soon as we hear it. Better yet, join us tomorrow for our AFC Championship Game Preview and OPEN THREAD during the game. GO CHIEFS!
Final Score: TBD
One Last Thing
As you get set this weekend for tomorrow night’s game, might I suggest you fill your free time with further tales of AFL gridiron glory. Full Color Football is a five-part series freely available on YouTube, comprising five hour-long episodes covering AFL history, which are sure to bring you back to the days of Lamar, Lenny, and Lanier lore.
Michael Travis Rose — ArrowheadOne
Come back at noon today to read a piece by John Lovelace called:
“Chiefs: AFC Championship Swagger
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