Above is the famous "Hit heard around
the football world," courtesy of right outside linebacker Mike Stratton.
This hit was instrumental in delivering the Bills their 1st. AFL Championship
in 1964. The Bills were playing against the heavily favored San Diego Chargers,
the defending AFL Champs. The Chargers had scored just 3:11 into the game
and then forced Buffalo to punt. They were marching toward another score,
which would have put the game out of hand, when Stratton laid this monster
hit on star running back, Keith Lincoln, breaking his ribs and putting
him out of the game for good. The San Diego offense was never the same
as the Bills shut them out the rest of the game, winning 20-7. Stratton
went on to star for the Bills and appeared in 6 Pro Bowls. He was ironically traded to the Chargers
in 1973. Mike now resides in Knoxville, Tenn. where he is the owner of Financial Solutions of Knoxville, Tn.
Back to: The AFL Years