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1964
12–2
1st in AFL East, AFL Champions
In Week 1, the Bills raced to a 31–0 first-quarter lead over the Kansas City Chiefs and never looked back. Buffalo won its first nine games with a multi-score margin of victory in eight of them. The Bills suffered a loss in Week 10 to the Boston Patriots, but the team avenged the loss by defeating Boston, 24–14, in the final week to clinch the AFL East Division title and earn the opportunity to play the San Diego Chargers for the AFL Championship.
In the title matchup, the Bills rode their dominant offensive line to 219 yards rushing. Buffalo’s defense forced three takeaways courtesy of interceptions by Butch Byrd, Mike Stratton, and Charley Warner. The Bills defeated the Chargers, 20–7, to claim their first AFL Championship.
In a historic year for the franchise, the Bills were truly a dominant team on both sides of the football. Buffalo had the top defense in the AFL and led the league in sacks (50), takeaways (37), rushing yards allowed per game (65.2), and only four rushing touchdowns allowed. Meanwhile the offense was tops in the AFL in total yards (5,206), points scored (400), and rushing yards (2,040). Cookie Gilchrist led the league in rushing for a second time, while the Bills top three receivers all averaged over 20 yards per reception: Elbert Dubenion (27.1), Glenn Bass (20.9), and Ernie Warlick (20.8).
The season wasn’t without some controversy. Head coach Lou Saban continued to rotate quarterbacks Jack Kemp and Daryle Lamonica—and Gilchrist was waived at one point for being upset that he didn’t get enough carries in Buffalo’s first meeting with Boston. Kemp convinced Saban to pull Gilchrist off waivers, a season-saving decision.
Saban was named AFL Coach of the Year, and in his third season on the job, he led the Buffalo Bills to an AFL Championship.
1965
10–3–1
1st in AFL East, AFL Champions
The Buffalo Bills repeated as AFL Champions in 1965, but the journey to secure a second title was quite different from the prior year. While the Bills defense remained a top unit, the offense underwent notable changes.
Before the season, Buffalo sent superstar running back Cookie Gilchrist to the Denver Broncos in exchange for Billy Joe, the 1963 AFL Rookie of the Year. Head coach Lou Saban didn’t believe Gilchrist was a good teammate, so despite Gilchrist’s strong contributions to the team, Buffalo sent him packing. The Bills also lost top receivers Elbert Dubenion and Glenn Bass to season-ending injuries before Week 5.
Buffalo’s defense remained atop the league, limiting opponents to an AFL low 16.1 points per game, securing a league-high 32 interceptions, and conceding only four rushing touchdowns for the season.
The Bills raced to a 4–0 start to the season, which included a 30–15 win over the Broncos. The defense limited Gilchrist to just 26 yards on 12 carries. Buffalo’s first loss came to the San Diego Chargers in a 34–3 rout.
Unlike the previous two seasons, there was no late-season drama. Buffalo closed the year with a five-game lead over the second-place New York Jets.
For a second consecutive season, Buffalo faced the Chargers in the AFL Championship. Behind a stout defensive effort—which included interceptions by Butch Byrd and Harry Jacobs, and sacks from Tom Sestak, Jim Dunaway, George Saimes, and Mike Stratton—Buffalo shutout San Diego en route to a 23–0 win. An 18-yard touchdown catch by Ernie Warlick, a 74-yard punt return for a touchdown by Byrd, and three Pete Gogolak field goals helped secure the championship for Buffalo.
Quarterback Jack Kemp was named AFL MVP for his efforts leading Buffalo’s offense, despite missing so many key playmakers around him.
