1966 American Football League season


The 1966 American Football League season was the seventh regular season of the American Football League. The league entered talks with the National Football League regarding an NFL-AFL merger, which took effect fully in 1970.
The season also saw the debut of the Miami Dolphins. This gave the AFL 9 teams. A sixth official, the Line Judge, is added to the officiating crew.
The season ended when the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Buffalo Bills in the AFL Championship game, and were defeated by the National Football League's Green Bay Packers in the first ever AFL-NFL World Championship Game which is now known as the Super Bowl.

Division Races

The AFL had 9 teams, grouped into two divisions, and still played a 14-game schedule. With 8 clubs, each one had played a home-and-away game against the other 7 teams. All nine teams faced each other at least once, and each team would play six others twice. Though Boston and Miami were both in the Eastern Division, they met only once that season, on November 27. The best team in the Eastern Division would play against the best in the Western Division in a championship game. If there was tie in the standings, a playoff would be held to determine the division winner.
WeekEasternWestern
1Houston1–0–0Tie 1–0–0
2Houston2–0–0Tie 2–0–0
3N.Y. Jets2–0–0Tie 2–0–0
4N.Y. Jets3–0–0Tie 3–0–0
5N.Y. Jets3–0–1San Diego4–0–0
6N.Y. Jets4–0–1Tie 4–1–0
7N.Y. Jets4–1–1San Diego4–1–1
8N.Y. Jets4–2–1Kansas City5–2–0
9Boston4–2–1Kansas City6–2–0
10Buffalo5–3–1Kansas City7–2–0
11Buffalo6–3–1Kansas City8–2–0
12Buffalo7–3–1Kansas City8–2–1
13Buffalo8–3–1Kansas City9–2–1
14Boston7–3–2Kansas City9–2–1
15Boston8–3–2Kansas City10–2–1
16Buffalo9–4–1Kansas City11–2–1

Regular season

Prior to the season, the AFL-NFL Merger was announced, including both leagues agreeing to play an annual AFL-NFL World Championship Game beginning in January 1967.
Also, the Miami Dolphins joined the AFL as the expansion team.

Results

Standings

Playoffs

Offseason