1970 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1970 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's debut season in the National Football League, the 8th as the Kansas City Chiefs, and the 11th overall. It began with the Chiefs attempting to defend their Super Bowl IV championship title but ended with a 7–5–2 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1967.
1970 Kansas City Chiefs season | |
---|---|
Owner | Lamar Hunt |
General manager | Jack Steadman |
Head coach | Hank Stram |
Home field | Municipal Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 7–5–2 |
Division place | 2nd AFC West |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | G Ed Budde OT Jim Tyrer DE Jerry Mays DT Buck Buchanan LB Bobby Bell LB Willie Lanier CB Jim Marsalis S Johnny Robinson K Jan Stenerud P Jerrel Wilson |
Following their championship success, the Chiefs traded running back Mike Garrett, who was the club's all-time leading rusher at the time, to San Diego after a week 3 loss in Denver, and replaced him in the lineup with Ed Podolak.[1] Despite a 44–24 win against soon to be Super Bowl V Champion Baltimore on September 28 in just the second-ever telecast of ABC's Monday Night Football, the Chiefs owned a 3–3–1 record at the season's midpoint.[1]
One of the season's pivotal junctures came in a 17–17 tie against Oakland on November 1.[1] The Chiefs were ahead 17–14 when Len Dawson apparently sealed the win, running for a first down which would have allowed Kansas City to run out the clock. While on the ground, Dawson was speared by Raiders defensive end Ben Davidson in an infamous incident that cost the Chiefs a victory and further inflamed the already heated Chiefs–Raiders rivalry.[1] Wide receiver Otis Taylor retaliated and a bench-clearing brawl ensued. Offsetting penalties were called, nullifying Dawson's first down. The Chiefs were forced to punt and Raiders kicker George Blanda eventually booted a game-tying field goal with eight seconds remaining. Following the tie with Oakland the Chiefs' defense would permit only 43 points over the next 5 weeks, which included 4 wins and 6–6 tie with the St. Louis Cardinals at Municipal Stadium. The Cardinals had come into that game with a streak of three straight shutout wins. The Chiefs' D held St. Louis to a late FG as the game ended 6–6. After a 16–0 shutout of Denver the Chiefs had played to a 6–1–2 record over the past nine weeks to stand 7–3–2 with two weeks to play and very much looked like a team with a chance to defend its championship.
Then came the big one at Oakland, the game that decided pro football's toughest division. The Saturday game on December 12 was a stand-alone NBC national telecast. The Chiefs led early 3–0, and the game was tied 6–6 at the half. But the Raiders, behind the angry running of fullback Marv Hubbard, dominated the second half in a 20–6 division-clinching win for Oakland.
The Chiefs had a slim hope for the AFC wild card, but needed a win by a poor Buffalo team in Miami and a win in San Diego to make the playoffs. Miami jumped to a 28–0 first quarter lead and rolled to a 45–7 win. The Chiefs, warming up to play the Chargers, saw the Miami blowout and knew their reign as champions was over. Eliminated, the Chiefs played an uninspired sleep walk game and lost 31–13. In the end, it was that tie in November with Oakland that ultimately cost the Chiefs the AFC West division title; Kansas City finished at 7–5–2, while the Raiders were a game ahead at 8–4–2.[1] The rules were changed several years later to assess such penalties as the Davidson-Taylor incident as dead-ball fouls after the play counted.
Offseason
NFL Draft
Round | Pick | Player | Position | School/Club Team |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 26 | Sid Smith | Offensive tackle | USC |
2 | 52 | Clyde Werner | Linebacker | Washington |
3 | 61 | Billy Bob Barnett | Defensive end | Texas A&M |
3 | 78 | David Hadley | Defensive back | Alcorn A&M |
5 | 130 | Mike Oriard | Center | Notre Dame |
6 | 156 | Robert Hews | Tackle | Princeton |
7 | 182 | Clyde Glosson | Wide receiver | Texas-El Paso |
8 | 193 | Fred Barry | Defensive back | Boston University |
9 | 234 | Charley Evans | Tackle | Texas Tech |
10 | 260 | Bob Stankovich | Guard | Arkansas |
11 | 285 | Bill O'Neal | Running back | Grambling |
12 | 312 | Rodney Fedorchak | Guard | Pittsburgh |
13 | 338 | Troy Patridge | Defensive end | Texas-Arlington |
14 | 364 | Glenn Dumont | Running back | American International |
15 | 390 | Bob Liggett | Defensive tackle | Nebraska |
16 | 416 | Randy Ross | Linebacker | Kansas State |
17 | 442 | Rayford Jenkins | Defensive back | Alcorn A&M |
Roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
Reserve lists
Practice squad
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Preseason
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | July 31 | vs. College All-Stars | W 24–3 | 1–0 | Soldier Field (Chicago, IL) | 55,032 | Recap |
2 | August 8 | at Detroit Lions | W 30–17 | 2–0 | Tiger Stadium | 55,032 | Recap |
3 | August 14 | Baltimore Colts | L 3–17 | 2–1 | Municipal Stadium | 34,341 | Recap |
4 | August 22 | vs. Cleveland Browns | W 16–13 | 3–1 | Liberty Bowl (Memphis, TN) | 31,532 | Recap |
5 | August 29 | at Atlanta Falcons | L 17–22 | 3–2 | Atlanta Stadium | 56,990 | Recap |
6 | September 5 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 13–0 | 4–2 | Cotton Bowl | 69,055 | Recap |
7 | September 12 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 24–34 | 4–3 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 50,661 | Recap |
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 20 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 10–27 | 0–1 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,900 | Recap |
2 | September 28 | at Baltimore Colts | W 44–24 | 1–1 | Memorial Stadium | 53,911 | Recap |
3 | October 4 | at Denver Broncos | L 13–26 | 1–2 | Mile High Stadium | 50,705 | Recap |
4 | October 11 | Boston Patriots | W 23–10 | 2–2 | Municipal Stadium | 50,698 | Recap |
5 | October 18 | at Cincinnati Bengals | W 27–19 | 3–2 | Riverfront Stadium | 57,265 | Recap |
6 | October 25 | Dallas Cowboys | L 16–27 | 3–3 | Municipal Stadium | 51,158 | Recap |
7 | November 1 | Oakland Raiders | T 17–17 | 3–3–1 | Municipal Stadium | 51,334 | Recap |
8 | November 8 | Houston Oilers | W 24–9 | 4–3–1 | Municipal Stadium | 49,810 | Recap |
9 | November 15 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | W 31–14 | 5–3–1 | Three Rivers Stadium | 50,081 | Recap |
10 | November 22 | St. Louis Cardinals | T 6–6 | 5–3–2 | Municipal Stadium | 50,711 | Recap |
11 | November 29 | San Diego Chargers | W 26–14 | 6–3–2 | Municipal Stadium | 50,315 | Recap |
12 | December 6 | Denver Broncos | W 16–0 | 7–3–2 | Municipal Stadium | 50,454 | Recap |
13 | December 12 | at Oakland Raiders | L 6–20 | 7–4–2 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 54,596 | Recap |
14 | December 20 | at San Diego Chargers | L 13–31 | 7–5–2 | San Diego Stadium | 41,379 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Vikings | 0 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Date: September 20
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 47,900
- Referee: Tommy Bell
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote
- Recap
Game information | ||
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|
Week 2: at Baltimore Colts
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 10 | 21 | 3 | 10 | 44 |
Colts | 0 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 24 |
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: September 28
- Game time: 9:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 53,911
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell
- Recap
Game information | ||
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|
Week 3: at Denver Broncos
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 13 |
Broncos | 10 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 26 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
- Date: October 4
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MDT
- Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,705
- Referee: Norm Schachter
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Johnny Morris
- Recap
Game information | ||
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Week 4: vs. Boston Patriots
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Patriots | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
Chiefs | 0 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 23 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 11
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,698
- Referee: Walt Fitzgerald
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Kyle Rote
- Recap
Game information | ||
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|
Week 5: at Cincinnati Bengals
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
Bengals | 3 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 19 |
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Date: October 18
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 57,265
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and George Ratterman
- Recap
Game information | ||
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|
Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 3 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 27 |
Chiefs | 7 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 25
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 51,158
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (CBS): Ray Scott, Pat Summerall and Frank Clarke
- Box score
Game information | ||
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|
Week 7: vs. Oakland Raiders
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 17 |
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 17 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 1
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C)
- Game attendance: 51,334
- Referee: Bob Finley
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote
- Box score
Game information | ||
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|
Week 8: vs. Houston Oilers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oilers | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 8
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C)
- Game attendance: 49,810
- Referee: Bernie Ulman
- TV announcers (NBC): Bill Enis and George Ratterman
- Box score
Game information | ||
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|
Week 9: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
Steelers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: November 15
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,081
- Referee: John McDonough
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Al DeRogatis
- Recap
Game information | ||
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|
Week 10: vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
Chiefs | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 22
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,711
- Referee: Fred Swearingen
- TV announcers (CBS): Ray Scott, Pat Summerall and Bruce Roberts
- Box score
Game information | ||
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|
Week 11: vs. San Diego Chargers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Chiefs | 10 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 26 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 29
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,315
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Al DeRogatis
- Box score
Game information | ||
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|
Week 12: vs. Denver Broncos
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chiefs | 10 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 6
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 32 °F (0 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,454
- Referee: Jack Vest
- TV announcers (NBC): Ross Porter and Dave Kocourek
- Box score
Game information | ||
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Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
Raiders | 0 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: December 12
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C)
- Game attendance: 54,596
- Referee: Tommy Bell
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Kyle Rote
- Recap
Game information | ||
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Week 14: at San Diego Chargers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
Chargers | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: December 20
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C)
- Game attendance: 41,379
- Referee: Norm Schachter
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Gordy Soltau
- Recap
Game information | ||
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Standings
AFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Oakland Raiders | 8 | 4 | 2 | .667 | 4–0–2 | 7–2–2 | 300 | 293 | L1 |
Kansas City Chiefs | 7 | 5 | 2 | .583 | 2–3–1 | 7–3–1 | 272 | 244 | L2 |
San Diego Chargers | 5 | 6 | 3 | .455 | 2–2–2 | 4–4–3 | 282 | 278 | W1 |
Denver Broncos | 5 | 8 | 1 | .385 | 1–4–1 | 3–6–1 | 253 | 264 | L1 |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
References
- "Kansas City Chiefs History 1970s". Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved July 30, 2007.
- 1970 NFL Draft on databaseFootball.com Archived March 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine