55th Anniv. (1-3-71) of the 1st-Ever AFC Championship Game Colts beat Raiders 27-17, says CTMB-1.3

55th Anniv. (1-3-71) of the 1st-Ever AFC Championship Game Colts beat Raiders 27-17, says CTMB-1.3

January 3, 2026 - The "Charm'tastic Mile" of Baltimore (CTMB-1.3) www.thecharmtasticmile.com. The chic & famed 1.3 mile corridor located in the heart of Charm City (Est.1975) that connects Dwtn-West, the Inner Harbor & Harbor East (S. Greene & W. Pratt Street to S. President & Fleet Street) that is now listed on Google search as one of the Top 10-15 Most Famous Streets in America is reporting today is the 55th Anniversary of the 1st-ever AFC Championship Game in NFL history. It's also the start of Week 18, the end of the regular-season. 

The Oakland Raiders led by legendary head-coach John Madden came to town on January 3, 1971 to face the Baltimore Colts who were guided by Icon legend QB Johnny Unitas. The NFL in 1970 was creating the modern-version of the league that America and now around the world is experiencing. 

Two-years earlier the Mighty Colts lost Super Bowl III to Joe "I Guarantee It" Namath and his NY Jets 16-7. 1970 was the first-season of the AFL/NFL merger that made the NFL a 26-team league. The 10 AFL teams were joined by the Colts, Steelers and Browns to form the AFC (American Football Conference). The other 13 of the 16 NFL teams formed the NFC (National Football Conference). 

The winner of the AFC & NFC Championship would face one-another in the Super Bowl. Baltimore beating Oakland 27-17 made them the AFC representative. The Dallas Cowboys defeated the San Francisco 49ers 17-10 in the NFC Championship Game 17-10. The Cowboys would represent the NFC.

Super Bowl V (January 17, 1971) was set in Miami at the old Orange Bowl Stadium. It was AFC vs NFC, Baltimore beat Dallas 16-13. It was bit of redemption for the Colts losing Super Bowl III in the same stadium. Super Bowl LX (60) will be played at Levi Stadium, home of the 49ers on February 8, 2026.  

The Colts and the City of Baltimore made NFL history winning Super Bowl V (5). AFC & NFC Championship Sunday will be on January 25, 2026. January 25th will also be the launch of Charm City 50+1 (51), the 51st Anniversary-year of the Charm City nickname that was coined in 1975. That same-day will be the pre-launch of the 10th Anniversary of The "Charm'tastic Mile" being introduced to Baltimore.

The official launch of the 10th Anniversary (4-25-2016) for The "Charm'tastic Mile" will be on April 25, 2026. That day will also be the 75th Anniversary of the Iconic & Majestic Domino Sugars neon sign (4-25-1951) being introduced to Charm City. The "Charm'tastic Mile" & Domino Sugars neon sign were both introduced on the same-day, 65-years apart. 

Today marks the 55th Anniversary of the 1st-ever AFC & NFC Championship Sunday played on January 3, 1971. 

For more information or news media interview requests on the 55th Anniversary of the 1st-ever AFC Championship Game played in Baltimore, Colts beat Raiders 27-17 please contact Derrick E Vaughan of The "Charm'tastic Mile" at 443-851-5244 or email: thecharmtasticmile@gmail.com.