Editor’s Note: The games for the Legends of the American Football League simulation are played on computer with Action! PC Football. The contests are played with the “coaching” by a human as well as computer simulation. One season per franchise was selected for league play with the 10 teams that merged with the National Football League competing for the championship. Stories from the action will appear on Press Room Pass each Sunday until the completion of the 14-week regular season and playoffs.
The San Diego Chargers punched their ticket to the championship game in the American Football League with a 24-20 comeback win over the Oakland Raiders.
With the victory, the Chargers are set to face the New York Jets for the AFL title at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Trailing 20-14 heading into the final quarter at Balboa Stadium, the Chargers rallied with 10 points to get the win.
George Blair booted a 19-yard field goal early in the fourth period as the Chargers were able to cut their deficit to 20-17 with 10:53 remaining in the contest.
What turned out to be the most important moment of the affair was next as Blair kicked off to the Raiders.
Dave Grayson received the kick at the 9-yard line and as he smashed at the 29 by Bud Whitehead the ball came loose. The opportunistic Blair finished what he started as he fell on the ball.
San Diego needed just three plays to take the lead as Keith Lincoln raced 17 yards for the go-ahead score with 8:51 left to play.
At that point, the Chargers stopped the Raiders on their next two possessions to put the game away.
The Raiders led for most of the first half as Hewritt Dixon got the scoring underway with a 48-yard run in the opening period.
Oakland led 13-7 at the intermission as George Blanda kicked field goals of 39 and 38 yards for the Raiders in the second period, while Paul Lowe scored on a 16-yard run for San Diego.
The Chargers grabbed a 14-13 lead in the third quarter as Tobin Rote hit Lowe with a 26-yard scoring pass at 6:24.
Dixon added a 7-yard touchdown run late in the third to give the Raiders a 20-14 lead and set the stage for San Diego’s comeback.
Rote finished the day completing 10-of-22 passing for 158 yards, but it was the ground attack that helped the Chargers the most.
Lowe led the way with 140 yards, while Lincoln added 120 yards. Lincoln was also top receiver for the Chargers with three grabs for 43 yards.
Oakland quarterback Daryle Lamonica was 11-of-29 for 190 yards.
Pete Banaszak led the Raiders with 73 yards on the ground. Dixon finished with 69 yards rushing to go with a team-high five receptions for 64 yards.
63 San Diego 24, 67 Oakland 20
Scoring Summary
1 5:40 67 Oakland TD Dixon 48 run (Blanda) (5-98-2:54) 7-0
2 10:07 67 Oakland FG Blanda 39 (4-5-1:32) 10-0
2 6:35 63 San Diego TD Lowe 16 run (Blair) (5-63-3:24) 10-7
2 2:02 67 Oakland FG Blanda 38 (8-44-4:15) 13-7
3 6:24 63 San Diego TD Rote 26 pass to Lowe (Blair) (3-29-1:49) 13-14
3 1:34 67 Oakland TD Dixon 7 run (Blanda) (5-24-3:11) 20-14
4 10:53 63 San Diego FG Blair 19 (9-61-5:26) 20-17
4 8:51 63 San Diego TD Lincoln 17 run (Blair) (3-29-1:49) 20-24
AFL Playoff Results and Schedule
Wild Card Round
68 New York 31, 64 Buffalo 21
67 Oakland 24, 69 Kansas City 0
Division Round
68 New York 20, 60 Houston 16
63 San Diego 24, 67 Oakland 20
Championship
63 San Diego vs. 68 New York at Cotton Bowl in Dallas