1965 San Diego Chargers season

1965 San Diego Chargers season
Owner	Barron Hilton
General manager	Sid Gillman
Head coach	Sid Gillman
Home field	Balboa Stadium
Results
Record	9–2–3
Division place	1st Western Division
Playoff finish	Lost AFL Championship (Buffalo Bills)

The 1965 Season was the 6th season for the San Diego Chargers as a professional AFL franchise; the team improved on their 8–5–1 record in 1964. Head Coach Sid Gillman led the Chargers to their fifth AFL West title, with a 9–2–3 record, before losing the AFL Championship Game to the Buffalo Bills for the second consecutive season. After that season, the Chargers would never make another post-season appearance until nearly a decade after the AFL–NFL merger took place (1979).

Roster

1965 San Diego Chargers final roster

	Quarterbacks 21 John Hadl Running backs 22 Keith Lincoln Wide receivers 19 Lance Alworth Tight ends 83 Dave Kocourek		Offensive linemen 74 Ron Mix 65 Sam Gruneisen 78 Walt Sweeney Defensive linemen 77 Ernie Ladd 86 Earl Faison		Linebackers Defensive backs 33 Kenny Graham S 45 Speedy Duncan CB Special teams		Practice squad 39 Dick Van Raaphorst K Rookies in italics

Season schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 11, 1965	Denver Broncos	W 34–31	27,022
2	September 19, 1965	at Oakland Raiders	W 17–6	21,406
3	September 26, 1965	Kansas City Chiefs	T 10–10	28,126
4	October 3, 1965	Houston Oilers	W 31–14	28,190
5	October 10, 1965	at Buffalo Bills	W 34–3	45,260
6	October 17, 1965	at Boston Patriots	T 13–13	20,924
7	October 23, 1965	at New York Jets	W 34–9	60,679
8	October 31, 1965	Boston Patriots	L 22–6	33,366
9	November 7, 1965	at Denver Broncos	W 35–21	33,073
10	November 14, 1965	at Kansas City Chiefs	L 31–7	21,968
11	November 25, 1965	Buffalo Bills	T 20–20	27,473
12	December 4, 1965	New York Jets	W 38–7	32,169
13	December 12, 1965	at Houston Oilers	W 37–26	24,120
14	December 19, 1965	Oakland Raiders	W 24–14	26,056

Season summary

Week 9

1 2 3 4 Total • Chargers 0 14 7 14 35 Broncos 0 14 7 0 21 Date: November 7 Location: Bears Stadium Game weather: 46°F • Wind 4

Scoring summary 2 DEN Nemiah Wilson 65 yard interception return (Gary Kroner kick) Broncos 7–0 2 SD Keith Lincoln 6 yard pass from John Hadl (Herb Travenio kick) Tie 7–7 2 SD Keith Lincoln 66 yard pass from John Hadl (Herb Travenio kick) Chargers 14–7 2 DEN Abner Haynes 1 yard run (Gary Kroner kick) Tie 14–14 3 SD Lance Alworth 34 yard pass from John Hadl (Herb Travenio kick) Chargers 21–14 3 DEN Cookie Gilchrist 1 yard run (Gary Kroner kick) Tie 21–21 4 SD Paul Lowe 45 yard pass from John Hadl (Herb Travenio kick) Chargers 28–21 4 SD Keith Lincoln 1 yard run (Herb Travenio kick) Chargers 35–21

Standings

AFL Western Division
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	PF	PA	STK
San Diego Chargers	9	2	3	.818	4–1–1	340	227	W3
Oakland Raiders	8	5	1	.615	3–3	298	239	L1
Kansas City Chiefs	7	5	2	.583	4–1–1	322	285	W1
Denver Broncos	4	10	0	.286	0–6	303	392	L4

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings in the AFL.

Playoffs

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
Championship	December 26, 1965	Buffalo Bills	L 23–0	30,361