1965 Buffalo Bills season

The 1965 Buffalo Bills season was the team’s sixth season in the American Football League. Though not as statistically dominant as the previous season, the Bills won a second consecutive league championship.

1965 Buffalo Bills season
Head coachLou Saban
OwnerRalph Wilson
Home fieldWar Memorial Stadium
Results
Record10–3–1
Division place1st AFL Eastern
Playoff finishWon AFL Championship
(Chargers, 23–0)

Although Buffalo's offense was in the middle of the pack in 1965, it was their dominant team defense that kept them atop the league's standings. Buffalo gave up only 226 points (16.1 per game), fewest in the AFL, and one point fewer than AFL Championship runner-up San Diego.[1] The Bills' opportunistic defense led the league in interceptions, with 32, and gave up a league-low four rushing touchdowns all season. Between week 6 of the 1964 season, through week eight of the 1965 season, including two 1964 playoff games, the Bills' defense did not allow a touchdown by rushing, a Professional Football record that still stands.

The Bills, who had led the AFL in points, rushing yards and total yards the previous season, suffered significantly after losing star running back Cookie Gilchrist in the offseason. Statistically, the Bills dropped to 6th (out of 8) in rushing yards, and 7th in passing yards. Still, they managed to finish 3rd in the AFL in points scored, with 313 (22.3 per game).[2]

The Bills' turnover ratio was +18, best in the AFL, and fourth best in AFL history.[3] Buffalo's +87 point differential was second-best in the league in 1965.

Seven Bills made the 1965 AFL All-Star team: safety George Saimes, cornerback Butch Byrd, linebacker Mike Stratton, defensive tackle Tom Sestak, guard Billy Shaw, kicker Pete Gogolak, and quarterback Jack Kemp.[4]

Personnel

Coaches/Staff
1965 Buffalo Bills staff

Front Office

Head Coaches

Offensive Coaches

  • Running Backs/Wide Receivers – John Mazur
  • Offensive Line – Jerry Smith
  

Defensive Coaches

Final roster
1965 Buffalo Bills roster
Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Wide Receivers

Tight Ends

 Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive Backs

Special Teams

Note: Rookies in italics

Offseason

The Bills lost All-AFL running back Cookie Gilchrist to the Denver Broncos after the 1964 season. Bills running back Wray Carlton would take over as the Bills' lead back.

AFL Draft
Main article: 1965 American Football League draft

Regular season

Standings
AFL Eastern Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Buffalo Bills 1031.7694–2313226L1
New York Jets 581.3853–3285303W1
Boston Patriots 482.3332–4244302W3
Houston Oilers 4100.2863–3298429L7

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Season schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
1 September 11 Boston Patriots W 24–7
45,502
2 September 19 at Denver Broncos W 30–15
30,682
3 September 26 New York Jets W 33–21
45,056
4 October 3 Oakland Raiders W 17–12
41,256
5 October 10 San Diego Chargers L 34–3
45,260
6 October 17 at Kansas City Chiefs W 23–7
26,941
7 October 24 Denver Broncos W 31–13
45,046
8 October 31 Houston Oilers L 19–17
44,267
9 November 7 at Boston Patriots W 23–7
24,415
10 November 14 at Oakland Raiders W 17–14
19,352
11 November 21 Bye
12 November 25 at San Diego Chargers T 20–20
27,473
13 December 5 at Houston Oilers W 29–18
23,087
14 December 12 Kansas City Chiefs W 34–25
40,298
15 December 19 at New York Jets L 14–12
57,396

Player stats

Passing
PlayerCompAttYdsCompletion %TDINT
Jack Kemp179391236845.81018
Daryle Lamonica297037641.436

[5]

Rushing
PlayerAttYdsAverageLongTD
Wray Carlton1565923.8806

[5]

Postseason

AFL Championship Game
Main article: 1965 American Football League Championship Game
1 2 3 4 Total
Bills 0 14 6 3 23
Chargers 0 0 0 0 0

Buffalo Bills 23, San Diego Chargers 0

December 26, 1965, at Balboa Stadium, San Diego, California
Attendance: 30,361

Scoring

  • BUF – Warlick 18 pass from Kemp (Gogolak kick)
  • BUF – Byrd 74 punt return (Gogolak kick)
  • BUF – Field goal Gogolak 11
  • BUF – Field goal Gogolak 39
  • BUF – Field goal Gogolak 32

AFL All-Star Game
SeasonDateWinnerMost Valuable Player(s)Site
1965January 15, 1966
AFL All-Stars 30,
Buffalo Bills 19
Offense: Joe Namath, QB, Jets
Defense: Frank Buncom, LB, Chargers		Rice Stadium, Houston

Awards and Records
  • Lou Saban, Coach of the Year
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References
  1. Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1965 AFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics
  2. Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1965 AFL Standings, Team & Offensive Statistics
  3. Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1960 to 1969, in the AFL, in the regular season, sorted by descending Turnover Margin
  4. Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1965 AFL All-Pros
  5. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/buf/1965.htm
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