The 1965 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 8–5–1 record in 1964. Head Coach Sid Gillman led the Chargers to their fifth AFL West title, with a 9–2–3 record, before losing the AFL Championship Game to the Buffalo Bills for the second consecutive season. After that season, the Chargers would never make another post-season appearance until nearly a decade after the AFL–NFL merger took place (1979).
Season schedule
Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Attendance |
1 |
September 11, 1965 |
Denver Broncos |
W 34–31 |
27,022
|
2 |
September 19, 1965 |
at Oakland Raiders |
W 17–6 |
21,406
|
3 |
September 26, 1965 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
T 10–10 |
28,126
|
4 |
October 3, 1965 |
Houston Oilers |
W 31–14 |
28,190
|
5 |
October 10, 1965 |
at Buffalo Bills |
W 34–3 |
45,260
|
6 |
October 17, 1965 |
at Boston Patriots |
T 13–13 |
20,924
|
7 |
October 23, 1965 |
at New York Jets |
W 34–9 |
60,679
|
8 |
October 31, 1965 |
Boston Patriots |
L 22–6 |
33,366
|
9 |
November 7, 1965 |
at Denver Broncos |
W 35–21 |
33,073
|
10 |
November 14, 1965 |
at Kansas City Chiefs |
L 31–7 |
21,968
|
11 |
November 25, 1965 |
Buffalo Bills |
T 20–20 |
27,473
|
12 |
December 4, 1965 |
New York Jets |
W 38–7 |
32,169
|
13 |
December 12, 1965 |
at Houston Oilers |
W 37–26 |
24,120
|
14 |
December 19, 1965 |
Oakland Raiders |
W 24–14 |
26,056
|
Season summary
Week 9
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
• Chargers |
0 |
14 |
7 |
14 |
35 |
Broncos |
0 |
14 |
7 |
0 |
21 |
- Date: November 7
- Location: Bears Stadium
- Game weather: 46°F • Wind 4
|
|
Scoring summary |
|
2 |
|
DEN |
Nemiah Wilson 65 yard interception return (Gary Kroner kick) |
Broncos 7–0 |
|
2 |
|
SD |
Keith Lincoln 6 yard pass from John Hadl (Herb Travenio kick) |
Tie 7–7 |
|
2 |
|
SD |
Keith Lincoln 66 yard pass from John Hadl (Herb Travenio kick) |
Chargers 14–7 |
|
2 |
|
DEN |
Abner Haynes 1 yard run (Gary Kroner kick) |
Tie 14–14 |
|
3 |
|
SD |
Lance Alworth 34 yard pass from John Hadl (Herb Travenio kick) |
Chargers 21–14 |
|
3 |
|
DEN |
Cookie Gilchrist 1 yard run (Gary Kroner kick) |
Tie 21–21 |
|
4 |
|
SD |
Paul Lowe 45 yard pass from John Hadl (Herb Travenio kick) |
Chargers 28–21 |
|
4 |
|
SD |
Keith Lincoln 1 yard run (Herb Travenio kick) |
Chargers 35–21 |
|
[1]
Standings
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Playoffs
Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Attendance |
Championship |
December 26, 1965 |
Buffalo Bills |
L 23–0 |
30,361
|
References
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Franchise |
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Stadiums |
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Culture |
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Rivalries |
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Lore |
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Division championships (15) |
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Conference championships (1) |
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League championships (1) |
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Current league affiliations |
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Former league affiliation |
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Seasons (56) |
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Championship seasons in bold
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Early era
(1920–1969) |
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Modern era
(1970–present) |
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Italics indicate future seasons
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