Oct. 19, 1964 - Who says you can’t win them all?
The Buffalo Bills appear to have no room in their 1964 program for losing. They won their sixth straight AFL game, 35-22, in Kansas City yesterday over the Chiefs to remain the only unbeaten team in pro football.
“If you can’t make a half a yard in a pro football game,” observed K.C. coach Hank Stram, “you deserve to lose.” The Chiefs couldn’t, and so they did.
The play to which Stram referred occurred with about 7 minutes left to play in the game. The Chiefs had a fourth down with just inches to go for a first down on their own 34.
Stram ordered his team to go for it. Quarterback Eddie Wilson — who replaced Len Dawson due to Dawson’s sore ribs — took the snap from center, pivoted, and when he found no one to take his handoff, rolled out to the right. Buffalo cornerback Gene Sykes and safety George Saimes tackled him shy of the first down.
“That one play was the ballgame,” said Stram. “That blew us right out of the tub.”
Had he ever considered punting?
“No,” Stram replied. “The play was supposed to be a sweep to the weak side. One of our backs blew the play.”
Several of the Chiefs said rookie fullback Mack Lee Hill, who earlier ran 53 yards for the first K.C. touchdown, was the one who missed the assignment. Stram denied it.
“I was surprised,” replied Bills’ coach Lou Saban when asked about Stram’s fourth-down decision.
After the Chiefs surrendered the ball on the 34, relief quarterback Daryle Lamonica steered his team to its fifth touchdown, with rookie Bob Smith sliding over from the 3.
“It really made me happy to see us come back strong, holding our poise, when they scored the 22 quick points in the third quarter,” said Saban. “I just hope we play as well against the teams in our own division as we have against the Western clubs.”
The Bills play Eastern foes in their next four games, facing the Jets in War Memorial Stadium next Saturday night, Houston the following Sunday at home, New York at Shea Stadium, and finally Boston in Buffalo.
“This club’s attitude reminds me of San Diego when we won 11 straight when I played there,” said Kemp afterward. “We got a feeling of invincibility. We thought we couldn’t lose after awhile, and that’s what helped us win. That’s happening here.”
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