1963 Boston Patriots season

The 1963 Boston Patriots season was the franchise's 4th season in the American Football League.

1963 Boston Patriots season
OwnerBilly Sullivan
Head coachMike Holovak
Home fieldFenway Park
Results
Record7–6–1
Division place1st AFL Eastern (playoff)
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoff
(Bills, 26–8)
Lost AFL Championship Game
(Chargers, 51–10)
AFL All-StarsLB Tom Addison
DT Houston Antwine
LB Nick Buoniconti
WR/K Gino Cappelletti
DE Bob Dee
DE Larry Eisenhauer
RB Larry Garron
DB Ron Hall
G Charlie Long
G Billy Neighbors
QB Babe Parilli
Uniform

In their first season at Fenway Park, switching from Nickerson Field, the Patriots hovered around the .500 mark all season, and were in position to win the Eastern Division title outright with a victory on their final game.[1] The 35–3 road loss to the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs allowed the Buffalo Bills catch up and both finished at 7–6–1, which required a divisional playoff game, the AFL's first.[2][3] Both teams had a bye the following week, postponed from the Sunday after the assassination of President Kennedy; the tiebreaker playoff was scheduled for Saturday, December 28, at Buffalo's War Memorial Stadium. The teams split their two games during the regular season, with the home team winning, and the host Bills were slight favorites.[3]

The visiting Patriots won the playoff game 26–8 on a snowy field, with quarterback Babe Parilli throwing two touchdown passes to fullback Larry Garron, and three field goals were added by end Gino Cappelletti.[4][5] With the win, Boston became Eastern Division champions, while the Western champion San Diego Chargers (11–3) were idle. The AFL championship game was played the next week in southern California on January 5, where San Diego routed the Patriots 51–10 at Balboa Stadium.[6][7][8][9]

This was Boston's only postseason appearance during the AFL's ten years; the Patriots' next playoff game was in 1976 (as a wild card) and the next division title came in 1978.

AFL draft
Main article: 1963 American Football League draft

Schedule
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 8 New York Jets W 38–14 1–0 Alumni Stadium 24,120 Recap
2 September 14 at San Diego Chargers L 13–17 1–1 Balboa Stadium 26,097 Recap
3 September 22 at Oakland Raiders W 20–14 2–1 Frank Youell Field 17,131 Recap
4 September 29 at Denver Broncos L 10–14 2–2 Bears Stadium 18,636 Recap
5 October 5 at New York Jets L 24–31 2–3 Polo Grounds 16,769 Recap
6 October 11 Oakland Raiders W 20–14 3–3 Fenway Park 26,494 Recap
7 October 18 Denver Broncos W 40–21 4–3 Fenway Park 25,418 Recap
8 October 26 at Buffalo Bills L 21–28 4–4 War Memorial Stadium 29,243 Recap
9 November 1 Houston Oilers W 45–3 5–4 Fenway Park 31,185 Recap
10 November 10 San Diego Chargers L 6–7 5–5 Fenway Park 28,402 Recap
11 November 17 Kansas City Chiefs T 24–24 5–5–1 Fenway Park 17,200 Recap
November 24
AFL games postponed to December 22
12 December 1 Buffalo Bills W 17–7 6–5–1 Fenway Park 16,981 Recap
13 December 7 at Houston Oilers W 46–28 7–5–1 Jeppesen Stadium 23,462 Recap
14 December 14 at Kansas City Chiefs L 3–35 7–6–1 Municipal Stadium 12,598 Recap
15 December 22
Bye week, (originally December 1)

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings
AFL Eastern Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Boston Patriots 761.5384–2327257L1
Buffalo Bills 761.5383–3304291W2
Houston Oilers 680.4293–3302372L4
New York Jets 581.3852–4249399L3

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

Postseason
Main article: 1963 American Football League playoffs
Round Date Opponent Result Venue Attendance Game
recap
Division December 28 at Buffalo Bills W 26–8 War Memorial Stadium 33,044 Recap
Championship January 5, 1964 at San Diego Chargers L 10–51 Balboa Stadium 30,127 Recap

Staff
Boston Patriots 1963 staff
Front Office

Head Coach

Offensive Coaches

  

Defensive Coaches

Trainer - William T “Billy” Bates

Roster
Boston Patriots 1963 roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive Linemen

Defensive Linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

References
  1. "Hopeful Packers, Patriots open pro grid weekend". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 14, 1963. p. 11.
  2. "AFL has title tie, may get another". Milwaukee Journal. UPI. December 16, 1963. p. 17, part 2.
  3. "Bills, Patriots play for title". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. December 28, 1963. p. 7.
  4. "Boston beats Bills for division crown". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. December 29, 1963. p. 1, sports.
  5. "Parilli passes Patriots past Buffalo, 26-8". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. December 29, 1963. p. 1, section 4.
  6. "Chargers roll over Boston in AFL final". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. January 6, 1964. p. 27.
  7. "Chargers rout Boston, 51-10; compared with NFL teams". Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. January 6, 1964. p. 11, part 2.
  8. "Are Chargers good enough for NFL opponents?". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 6, 1964. p. 3B.
  9. "Charger win Lincolnesque; Palouse Moose gains 349". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. January 6, 1964. p. 12.
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