KRC Posted January 28, 2009 Share Posted January 28, 2009 Best thing about the ole AFL was the 1965 Topps football Cards. I have the complete set. They were nice, weren't they. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trader Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I would have to go through and try to rank the defenses, but I think I can come up with more than three that were better. They may be top ten, but I am not sure about top five. Don't get me wrong. The Chiefs defense that year was pretty good. Except in the AFL Championship Game, the Buffalo Bills still had a decent defense that year (not to the 1964 or 1965 level, but still pretty good). I think what helped the Chiefs' defense that year was a potent offense. It is much easier to play better when you know the opponent needs to throw the ball to catch up. It was the Chiefs offense that was strong I was at the championship game. "In the American Football League, a predominantly offensive league, the Buffalo Bills were a great defensive team. With a linebacking corps of Harry Jacobs, Mike Stratton, and John Tracey; and defensive line stalwarts like Tom Day, Tom Sestak, Jim Dunaway, and Ron McDole, the Bills defense did not allow a rushing touchdown for seventeen straight games over a period of the 1964 and 1965 seasons. Their pass defense was just as good as their run defense, registering fifty quarterback sacks in 1964, still a team record, although it was established in a 14-game season. The Bills won AFL championships in both of those seasons. They were the first American Football League team to win 13 games in a season (1964); were one of only three teams to appear in an AFL championship game for three successive years; and the only AFL team to apear in the playoffs four straight years, 1963 through 1966. Balancing their defensive prowess, the Bills had offensive muscle as well, in stars such as running backs Cookie Gilchrist and Wray Carlton, quarterbacks Jack Kemp and Daryle Lamonica, and receivers Elbert Dubenion and Ernie Warlick." The best part was that these were truly our guys. They were Bills. It was nothing like today with every man out for the highest dollar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trader Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 I view the offense as rather pedestrian when compared to the raiders and jets. Dawson was great, but lots of posters today would complain about his "arm strength." They had a huge array of backs, but none were stars. Fred Arbanas was primarily a blocker as a TE. At wideout, Otis Taylor was a true superstar. Of course, their OL was superb. Defense was another story. The DL consisted of Aaron Brown, Curley Culp, Buck Buchannon, and Jerry Mays. Four very talented players. The LBs were as good as any. Jim Lynch and Bobby Bell on the outside; Willie Lanier in the middle. The secondary, while less star studded, did boast of Emmit Thomas and John Robinson, who I think belongs in the HOF. Either way, Lanier, Buchannon and Bell are in the HOF, and this was one fierce defense, and they were even big for their time. Btw, thanks. it is great talking about this stuff. I believe that Arbanas was blind in one eye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim in Anchorage Posted January 29, 2009 Share Posted January 29, 2009 It was the Chiefs offense that was strong I was at the championship game. "In the American Football League, a predominantly offensive league, the Buffalo Bills were a great defensive team. With a linebacking corps of Harry Jacobs, Mike Stratton, and John Tracey; and defensive line stalwarts like Tom Day, Tom Sestak, Jim Dunaway, and Ron McDole, the Bills defense did not allow a rushing touchdown for seventeen straight games over a period of the 1964 and 1965 seasons. Their pass defense was just as good as their run defense, registering fifty quarterback sacks in 1964, still a team record, although it was established in a 14-game season. The Bills won AFL championships in both of those seasons. They were the first American Football League team to win 13 games in a season (1964); were one of only three teams to appear in an AFL championship game for three successive years; and the only AFL team to apear in the playoffs four straight years, 1963 through 1966. Balancing their defensive prowess, the Bills had offensive muscle as well, in stars such as running backs Cookie Gilchrist and Wray Carlton, quarterbacks Jack Kemp and Daryle Lamonica, and receivers Elbert Dubenion and Ernie Warlick." The best part was that these were truly our guys. They were Bills. It was nothing like today with every man out for the highest dollar. Yeah I don't think to many of those hardcases worryed much about "not enough night clubs in Buffalo" Just reading those names makes me pissed about the party punks I see today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haven Moses Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 We ought to go back to the 1962 Uni's. I've always wondered why Jack Kemp didn't get more traction for the HOF. His numbers are comparable to several other QB's of that era, including Namath. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdelma Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 I believe that Arbanas was blind in one eye. He did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdelma Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 Kemp fumbled all the time. He wasn't that flashy like Joe Willie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manateefan Posted January 30, 2009 Share Posted January 30, 2009 http://www.remembertheafl.com/AFL.htm It's a great stroll through Buffalo Bills memory lane. Been on this site before. Also won a bet using info from this site with a guy who thought he knew everything about the AFL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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