Dec. 24, 1964 - The San Diego Chargers ran through a brisk workout this morning before leaving for Buffalo for Saturday’s AFL title game with the Bills.
The selection of Tobin Rote (right) to start at quarterback eliminated a major question mark.
John Hadl, who directed the Chargers most of the season, will stand by to relieve if necessary.
Rote said he would close a 15‐year pro football career with this game.
The former Rice star put the Charger offensive unit through a vigorous drill and had high praise for Keith Lincoln at fullback and Paul Lowe at halfback.
“That’s money‐running,” Rote shouted again and again as the Chargers’ one-two ground punch alternated at carrying the ball.
The big question mark remaining for the Chargers was whether their injured flanker, Lance Alworth, would be able to play. He is nursing a knee injury that he suffered last Sunday against Oakland.
Otherwise, the Chargers’ trainer, Jim Van Deusen, said the club would be in good physical condition for the game.
The Bills, meanwhile, are expected to gear their strategy to messy weather for the game at War Memorial Stadium.
Rain mixed with snow and a temperature of 30 to 32 degrees is the forecast.
Coach Lou Saban of the Bills is expected to do as he did last week in the snow at Boston. He will use his 251‐pound fullback, Cookie Gilchrist, and his 220‐pound halfback, Wray Carlton, at key stages to pull in San Diego’s defense and enable Jack Kemp to unleash long passes to Elbert Dubenion and Glenn Bass.
Gillman also might decide to take advantage of Jacque MacKinnon’s 250 pounds and run him in place of Paul Lowe, a 205‐pound speedster.
In addition to Dubenion and Bass, Kemp has good receivers in Ernie Warlick and Gilchrist.
The Bills missed a chance a year ago to play the Chargers for the crown when they lost, 26-28, to Boston in an Eastern Division playoff game.
This year, the Bills ended regular season play with 12 victories and two losses. They won their first nine games before losing to Boston.
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