New AFL Book – The Uncrowned Champs!!

Am sure that I will read it. As an AFL fan, Chargers were, along my Chiefs & the Raiders, personal favorites, and definitely owners the (still to date) flashiest uniforms in sport, football or otherwise.

That said, for the sake discussion I compare the 1963 season ‘game that never was’ prowess teams SD vs CHIC with the one that was, KC vs GB in Superbowl 1 post 1966 season. All we can do is conjecture, unfortunately. Were similarities between the KC vs GB & SD vs CHIC match-ups.

Three years farther along case the latter’s, presumption?/inference mine: more experience/better material including defenses in the AFL. Both KC ’66 & SD ’63 were offensive powerhouses – likewise, both GB ’66 & CHIC ’63 were dominant defenses.

Case 1966 Chiefs, they averaged 32 points per game compared the ’63 Chargers 29 per game. The ’66 Packers allowed 12 points per game an average compared the ’63 Bears who allowed just 10 points per game.

While we don’t know how ‘Superbowl ’63’ would’ve ended, we do know how Superbowl 1 ended: 35-10 in favor of GB, though (and admit I’m biased) that game was not a rout unless only final score looked at.

14-10 (a missed KC fg would’ve given them a 10-7 lead 2nd quarter), 21-10 till nigh on 4th quarter, an late GB td less than one minute remaining 3rd quarter made it 28-10; only then was this game lost, reality.

Back to 1963, SD vs CHIC: a bit better CHIC defense than GB’s 1966, a bit lesser SD offense ’63 than KC’s ’66. All speculation as I’ve said before, but my supposition: while acknowledging every game is an separate entity, CHIC would’ve had the advantage perhaps by way the experience factor.

Overall, my opine: the Bears were more established, consistent and conservative compared the Chargers, but, on any given day… could it have gone the way AFL/SD? Of course. A measure other my emotion deciding SD vs CHIC, would have given the NFL team the betting nod.

I wanted my Chiefs to win Superbowl 1, but as KC players themselves (reportedly) were aware, ‘Packer/NFL’ mystique was in play, whether it was a factor or not the final analysis, debatable.

The old adage ‘that’s why they play the game on the field and not on paper’ comes to mind. As I said earlier post, whichever team did not implode of their own device (lose their poise like KC did after that big interception Superbowl 1) would’ve prevailed in a close game, SD vs CHIC, my opine.

Could it have been a blowout? That too is possible, just couldn’t see it having resulted, either team (which belies what transpired, KC vs GB; bets ranged from 14 points give or take in favor GB, to Packer fandom/NFL types predicting 50-60 points the Packer cause, little to nothing for KC. On the other side, KC’s local newspaper Sports Editor Joe McGuff predicted a 27-17 KC win on that day, so opinions, well.. everyone has one.

Could it have been a NYJ vs BALT result? Yes. Is it comparing apples and oranges AFL vs NFL those days, KC vs GB/SD vs CHIC? Only wish it didn’t have to be debate, that game SD vs CHIC would’ve been played.