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Post by NFL Historian on Dec 19, 2023 13:30:54 GMT 10
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Post by NFL Historian on Dec 19, 2023 13:31:50 GMT 10
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Post by NFL Historian on Dec 19, 2023 13:33:41 GMT 10
The 1963 AFL Championship Game was the fourth American Football League (AFL) title game. The Western Division champion San Diego Chargers won 51–10 over the Eastern Division champion Boston Patriots. The Chargers' Keith Lincoln was named the game's most valuable player (MVP).
At the end of the regular season, the Chargers (11–3) won the Western Division for the third time in the four-year existence of the AFL. In the Eastern Division, the Patriots and the Buffalo Bills had identical 7–6–1 records, which required a tiebreaker playoff game on December 28 in Buffalo.
Championship Game
Idle during the week of Eastern Division playoff, well-rested San Diego was a touchdown favorite at home to win the AFL. Fullback Keith Lincoln performed tremendously and led the Chargers to a 51–10 rout of Boston. Named the game's MVP, he rushed for 206 yards on 13 carries, led the team with 123 yards in receiving, and completed a pass for 20 yards.
The game was not a sellout; the attendance of 30,127 was several thousand under Balboa Stadium's capacity.
The Chargers' championship win 60 years ago is noted for being the only major sports title for the city of San Diego, the longest drought for a major American city. The Chargers played in San Diego through 2016, then returned to Los Angeles in 2017. The Patriots' first league championship came in the 2001 season in Super Bowl XXXVI.
Wikipedia
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Post by NFL Historian on Dec 19, 2023 13:37:21 GMT 10
 Keith Lincoln totalled 329 yards from scrimmage as San Diego embarrassed Boston in the 1963 title game. |
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Post by NFL Historian on Dec 19, 2023 13:46:00 GMT 10
 On the Chargers' first drive, Keith Lincoln breaks a trap play and gets all the way down to the five yard line, setting up the Chargers' first touchdown. This photo shows the end of the run, as Lincoln is brought down by Boston safety Dick Felt (arrow). The crowd in front of the photographer has risen in excitement. |
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Post by NFL Historian on Dec 19, 2023 13:50:53 GMT 10
 After the Chargers' touchdown, the Patriots take the field on offense. On first down following the kickoff, Boston quarterback Babe Parilli drops back to pass (it was incomplete). The Patriots went three-and-out and the Chargers got the ball back. Two plays later... |
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Post by NFL Historian on Dec 19, 2023 13:52:30 GMT 10
 ...Keith Lincoln takes a pitch left. When this photo was taken, he had just cut up field. |
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Post by NFL Historian on Dec 19, 2023 13:54:38 GMT 10
 Sixty-seven yards later he was in the end zone. The Patriots then drove for a touchdown to narrow the Chargers' lead to 14-7. One the ensuing drive... |
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Post by NFL Historian on Dec 19, 2023 14:11:31 GMT 10
 ...Paul Lowe takes a pitchout right, dances down the sidelines, then cuts back to the middle of the field to score on a 57-yard run. This photo shows the end of the run, as Lowe crosses the five yard line on his way to the end zone, with the crowd on their feet. |
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Post by NFL Historian on Dec 19, 2023 14:16:36 GMT 10
 No photos were taken in the third quarter; this is the first play of the fourth quarter. The Chargers now led 38-10. The Patriots are facing 3rd down and eight from their own four yard line. Babe Parilli is passing from his end zone, just releasing the ball for Art Graham (#84, on the 20 yard line). The pass was complete for a gain of 45 yards. Boston failed to score on this drive. The Chargers put John Hadl in at quarterback, and he drove them to the Patriots' 25 yard line. |
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Post by NFL Historian on Dec 19, 2023 14:18:29 GMT 10
 On fourth and two, Hadl fakes a handoff to Lowe and finds Lincoln wide open for the score. The photo is a little blurry but you can see Lincoln in the end zone and the ref signaling a touchdown. |
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Post by NFL Historian on Dec 19, 2023 14:20:16 GMT 10
 This final photo was taken during the Chargers' last drive. The exposure setting for this shot wasn't great, but with the help of the game log we can determine the situation. The is the end of a play where tight end Jacque McKinnon (38) has just caught a pass for a 33 yard gain, down to the Boston 15 yard line. You can see the two refs spotting the location. Several plays later, John Hadl dove over from the one yard line to make the final score 51-10, and the Chargers had their lone championship. |
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