The Top 10 AFL Games of All Time

The Rival League That Changed Football Forever

Before the 1970 AFL–NFL merger reshaped professional football, the American Football League carved out a wild, unpredictable decade filled with offensive fireworks, bitter rivalries, and unforgettable finishes. From 1960 to 1969, the AFL proved it could match the old guard blow for blow — and often out-entertain them in the process. Here are the 10 greatest games in AFL history, ranked for drama, historical importance, and pure entertainment.

10. 1961 AFL Championship: Houston Oilers 10, San Diego Chargers 3

The Oilers became the AFL’s first dynasty by winning back-to-back titles, this one in a defensive slugfest. George Blanda, the league’s biggest star, outdueled Jack Kemp as the Oilers held the Chargers’ high-flying offense to just a field goal. In an era defined by passing, this title game was a war of attrition — and proof that the AFL could win ugly, too.

1961-01-01 – AFL Championship – LA Chargers at Houston Oilers

9. 1962 Western Division Playoff: Dallas Texans 20, Houston Oilers 17 (Double Overtime)

Still the longest pro football championship game ever played at the time, this epic saw Hank Stram’s Texans defeat Blanda’s Oilers in 77 minutes of football. Tommy Brooker’s 25-yard field goal in the second overtime gave Dallas its first and only AFL title before becoming the Kansas City Chiefs. It was a gritty, back-and-forth classic that defined early AFL toughness.

Dec. 23, 1962 – AFL Championship Game | Dallas Texans vs. Houston Oilers

8. 1963 AFL Championship: San Diego Chargers 51, Boston Patriots 10

The Chargers were the AFL’s most innovative offensive team, and Sid Gillman’s passing system was years ahead of its time. In this blowout, Keith Lincoln exploded for 329 total yards, including an 80-yard touchdown reception. It wasn’t close, but it was a masterclass in modern offense — the day the AFL proved it could produce NFL-caliber execution and talent.

1/5/1964 Boston Patriots at San Diego Chargers American Football League championship game highlights

7. 1960 Inaugural Game: Denver Broncos 13, Boston Patriots 10

It wasn’t a great game by quality, but by significance it belongs on the list. Played on September 9, 1960, in front of fewer than 22,000 fans, it marked the dawn of the AFL era. Frank Tripucka threw for 248 yards to lead Denver, but more importantly, it proved the league could put a professional product on the field — a risk that paid off enormously over the next decade.

9/9/1960 Denver Broncos at Boston Patriots highlights First American Football League game! Historic!

6. 1968 AFL Divisional Playoff: New York Jets 27, Oakland Raiders 23

In a battle of legends, Joe Namath and Daryle Lamonica traded haymakers all afternoon. Namath threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns, but it was the Jets’ defense that sealed it late to send them to the AFL title game. The victory avenged New York’s loss in the “Heidi Game” and set the stage for one of football’s greatest upsets two weeks later.

Jets beat the Raiders in the 1968 AFL Championship | NFL Films

5. 1964 AFL Championship: Buffalo Bills 20, San Diego Chargers 7

Buffalo’s rise to power was cemented on this December day at War Memorial Stadium. Behind quarterback Jack Kemp, fullback Cookie Gilchrist, and a ferocious defense, the Bills dominated the Chargers. The victory began a two-year AFL title reign that made Buffalo a force long before the NFL merger.

Buffalo Sports Museum – “In the Vault” – 1964 AFL Champions Buffalo Bills – Episode 25

4. 1968 “Heidi Game”: Oakland Raiders 43, New York Jets 32

For 58 minutes, NBC broadcast a thriller. Then, in one of the most infamous TV decisions in sports history, the network cut away to air the movie Heidi — just as Oakland scored two touchdowns in the final 42 seconds to win. Fans missed one of the most dramatic finishes ever, but the outcry cemented football’s grip on television forever.

Raider History: The Heidi Game

3. 1969 AFL Championship: Kansas City Chiefs 17, Oakland Raiders 7

The AFL’s final title game before the merger showcased everything the league had become — speed, passion, and innovation. Len Dawson and the Chiefs defense controlled the ball while Willie Lanier and Bobby Bell smothered Lamonica. Kansas City’s victory sent them to Super Bowl IV, where they would legitimize the AFL once and for all.

1969 AFL Championship Game-Chiefs at Raiders

2. 1963 Regular Season: New York Titans 42, Denver Broncos 33

While not a championship clash, this game represented the pure chaos of the AFL. The Titans (soon to be Jets) and Broncos combined for nearly 1,000 total yards, as quarterbacks Al Dorow and Frank Tripucka turned the game into a track meet. It was the essence of AFL football — high-scoring, unpredictable, and endlessly entertaining.

Frank Tripucka ESPN

1. Super Bowl III (1968 AFL Champion vs NFL Champion): New York Jets 16, Baltimore Colts 7

Technically the final AFL-NFL World Championship Game, this remains the defining moment of the AFL era. Joe Namath’s famous guarantee and the Jets’ stunning upset of the mighty Colts validated an entire league. It wasn’t just a football game — it was a cultural shift. When the Jets walked off the field victorious, the AFL had finally earned its respect, and the merger became a partnership of equals.

Super Bowl III Highlights

Conclusion

The AFL began as a rebel league but left behind a legacy of innovation, flair, and unforgettable moments. Its wide-open offenses, colorful personalities, and television-savvy presentation forever changed professional football. The ten games above weren’t just contests — they were statements that the American Football League belonged on the same stage as anyone.