Saban's departure to accept a head coaching position at the University of Maryland paved the way for former defensive coach Joe Collier to be promoted to head coach. Collier was regarded as a superior strategist whose personal style contrasted with the oft-fiery Saban. And the New York Jets with their brash young signal-caller and steadily improving supporting cast, were emerging as legitimate challengers. The result was a down-to-the wire race between the Bills and Patriots for the division crown with the Jets nipping at their heels for an opportunity to play an AFL championship game whose winner would finally get a crack at the NFL's champion. The Jets played spoiler by defeating Boston on the last Saturday of the regular season. This opened the door for Buffalo's must-win, 38-21 triumph over the Denver Broncos on the very next day. This gave the Bills their third straight division crown and a championship game at home on January 1, 1967 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The teams had split their regular season meetings but the Chiefs dominated, 31-7 and went on to play the Green Bay Packers for the "World Championship;" since known as the very first Super Bowl. 1967-71: Lean Years with Few Bright Spots Buffalo's first general manager, Dick Gallagher had, in concert with Lou Saban, built the roster that allowed the Bills to rise to prominence in the AFL. Gallagher left the organization after the 1966 season, and subsequent GMs were did not successfully maintain a roster of championship caliber. The trade of backup quarterback Daryle Lamonica to the Oakland Raiders during the off-season leading up to 1967 was the first of many personnel decisions the team made over the next few years that left many Bills fans befuddled. And injuries caught up with the Bills in 1967, especially on the offensive line, and the team slid to a 4-9-1 record. Even tougher years were ahead for the team. The 1968 season was a tumultuous one. With starter Jack Kemp and backup Tom Flores both injured for most of the season, Buffalo resorted to converting wide receiver Ed Rutkowski to quarterback in a rotation with Rutkowski, Kay Stephenson and Dan Darragh. The result was disastrous, and the Bills dropped to last in the league. Their 1-12-1 final record gave the Bills the first overall draft pick in what was now the combined AFL-NFL draft. The Bills selected O. J.