# 1973 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1973 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 4th season in the National Football League, the 11th as the Kansas City Chiefs, and the 14th overall. they finished with a 7–5–2 record and missed the playoffs for the second straight year. This was their last winning season until 1981.
The defense kept the club in contention thanks to a nucleus that still included the bulk of the squad's Super Bowl IV starters. Quarterback Mike Livingston started in a 23–13 Opening Day loss against the Los Angeles Rams on September 16, but Len Dawson returned to rally the club for three consecutive wins to get the club off to a 3–1 start for a third consecutive year. The aging Len Dawson made his final start of the year in a 23–14 loss at Buffalo on October 29 and was replaced for the remainder of the year by Livingston, beginning a string of three straight seasons in which both players split time at the position.
Livingston led the club to another three straight wins, putting the team in first place in mid-November with a 6–3–1 record. A 1–2–1 ledger over the season's final month ended the club's post-season aspirations as the team finished the year in a second-place tie with Denver at 7–5–2. Len Dawson became the second Chiefs player in as many years to win the NFL Man of the Year Award. Following Super Bowl VIII, The AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was held at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20 with the AFC claiming a 15–13 win thanks to five field goals from Miami placekicker Garo Yepremian.

## Offseason
### NFL Draft

| Round | Pick | Player | Position | School/Club Team |

## Preseason

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | August 4 | New Orleans Saints | W 12–6 | 1–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | 67,216 | Recap |
| 2 | August 13 | Detroit Lions | L 16–17 | 1–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 67,624 | Recap |
| 3 | August 18 | Minnesota Vikings | L 10–13 | 1–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 72,676 | Recap |
| 4 | August 26 | Green Bay Packers | L 16–21 | 1–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 75,231 | Recap |
| 5 | September 1 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 16–27 | 1–4 | Texas Stadium | 57,468 | Recap |
| 6 | September 7 | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 16–7 | 2–4 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 49,486 | Recap |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | September 16 | Los Angeles Rams | L 13–23 | 0–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 62,315 | Recap |
| 2 | September 23 | at New England Patriots | W 10–7 | 1–1 | Schaefer Stadium | 57,918 | Recap |
| 3 | September 30 | Oakland Raiders | W 16–3 | 2–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 72,631 | Recap |
| 4 | October 7 | Denver Broncos | W 16–14 | 3–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 71,414 | Recap |
| 5 | October 14 | at Green Bay Packers | T 10–10 | 3–1–1 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 46,583 | Recap |
| 6 | October 21 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 6–14 | 3–2–1 | Riverfront Stadium | 56,397 | Recap |
| 7 | October 29 | at Buffalo Bills | L 14–23 | 3–3–1 | Rich Stadium | 76,071 | Recap |
| 8 | November 4 | at San Diego Chargers | W 19–0 | 4–3–1 | San Diego Stadium | 50,234 | Recap |
| 9 | November 12 | Chicago Bears | W 19–7 | 5–3–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 70,664 | Recap |
| 10 | November 18 | Houston Oilers | W 38–14 | 6–3–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 68,444 | Recap |
| 11 | November 25 | at Denver Broncos | L 10–14 | 6–4–1 | Mile High Stadium | 51,331 | Recap |
| 12 | December 2 | Cleveland Browns | T 20–20 | 6–4–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 70,296 | Recap |
| 13 | December 8 | at Oakland Raiders | L 7–37 | 6–5–2 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 53,945 | Recap |
| 14 | December 16 | San Diego Chargers | W 33–6 | 7–5–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 43,755 | Recap |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. ||||||||

### Game summaries
#### Week 1 vs. Los Angeles Rams

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 6 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 13 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: September 16
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C)
* Game attendance: 62,315
* Referee: Chuck Heberling
* TV announcers (CBS): Ray Scott, Tom Brookshier, and Gil Stratton
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
LA – Pat Curran 2-yard pass from John Hadl (kick failed). Rams 6–0.
Second quarter
LA – Lawrence McCutcheon 31-yard pass from John Hadl (David Ray kick). Rams 13–0.
LA – Steve Preece 11-yard run (David Ray kick). Rams 20–0.
Third quarter
LA – David Ray 27-yard field goal. Rams 23–0.
Fourth quarter
KC – Elmo Wright 16-yard pass from Pete Beathard (Jan Stenerud kick). Rams 23–7.
KC – Gary Butler 6-yard pass from Pete Beathard (kick failed). Rams 23–14.
Top passers
LA – John Hadl – 8/10, 99 yards, 2 TD
KC – Pete Beathard – 15/20, 198 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
LA – Jim Bertelsen – 28 rushes, 143 yards
KC – Wendell Hayes – 3 rushes, 12 yards
Top receivers
LA – Lawrence McCutcheon – 3 receptions, 53 yards, TD
KC – Otis Taylor – 4 receptions, 83 yards :

#### Week 2: at New England Patriots

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Patriots | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
* Date: September 23
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C)
* Game attendance: 57,918
* Referee: Bob Frederic
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Paul Maguire
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
No scoring plays.
Second quarter
KC – Willie Ellison 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 7–0.
KC – Jan Stenerud 33-yard field goal. Chiefs 10–0.
Third quarter
No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
NE – Sam Cunningham 1-yard run (Bill Bell kick). Chiefs 10–7.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 11/14, 180 yards
NE – Jim Plunkett – 16/29, 203 yards, INT
Top rushers
KC – Willie Ellison – 20 rushes, 90 yards, TD
NE – Sam Cunningham – 9 rushes, 22 yards, TD
Top receivers
KC – Otis Taylor – 5 receptions, 115 yards
NE – Reggie Rucker – 5 receptions, 97 yards :

#### Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Raiders | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: September 30
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C)
* Game attendance: 72,631
* Referee: Dick Jorgensen
* TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
No scoring plays.
Second quarter
OAK – George Blanda 21-yard field goal. Raiders 3–0.
KC – Jan Stenerud 47-yard field goal. Tie 3–3.
KC – Jan Stenerud 41-yard field goal. Chiefs 6–3.
Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 29-yard field goal. Chiefs 9–3.
Fourth quarter
KC – Willie Lanier 17-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 16–3.
Top passers
OAK – Daryle Lamonica – 4/12, 53 yards, INT
KC – Len Dawson – 10/13, 82 yards
Top rushers
OAK – Charlie Smith – 11 rushes, 30 yards
KC – Wendell Hayes – 21 rushes, 83 yards
Top receivers
OAK – Cliff Branch – 2 receptions, 29 yards
KC – Wendell Hayes – 3 receptions, 23 yards :

#### Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 16 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: October 7
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C)
* Game attendance: 71,414
* Referee: Jack Reader
* TV announcers (NBC): Bill Enis and Kyle Rote
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
No scoring plays.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 38-yard field goal. Chiefs 3–0.
DEN – Floyd Little 50-yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick). Broncos 7–3.
KC – Jan Stenerud 40-yard field goal. Broncos 7–6.
Third quarter
KC – Otis Taylor 20-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 13–7.
Fourth quarter
DEN – Joe Dawkins 72-yard run (Jim Turner kick). Broncos 14–13.
KC – Jan Stenerud 39-yard field goal. Chiefs 16–14.
Top passers
DEN – Charley Johnson – 10/19, 120 yards, TD, INT
KC – Len Dawson – 18/29, 170 yards, TD
Top rushers
DEN – Joe Dawkins – 9 rushes, 93 yards, TD
KC – Ed Podolak – 16 rushes, 72 yards
Top receivers
DEN – Floyd Little – 3 receptions, 64 yards, TD
KC – Ed Podolak – 12 receptions, 84 yards :

#### Week 5: at Green Bay Packers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Packers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Milwaukee County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
* Date: October 14
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 58 °F (14 °C)
* Game attendance: 46,583
* Referee: Ben Dreith
* TV announcers (NBC): Ross Porter and Willie Davis
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Morris Stroud 8-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 7–0.
Second quarter
GB – Chester Marcol 46-yard field goal. Chiefs 7–3.
GB – Jon Staggers 26-yard pass from Jim Del Gaizo (Chester Marcol kick). Packers 10–7.
Third quarter
No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 36-yard field goal. Tied 10–10.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 10/19, 67 yards, TD, INT
GB – Jim Del Gaizo – 6/12, 89 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
KC – Ed Podolak – 15 rushes, 49 yards
GB – John Brockington – 15 rushes, 106 yards
Top receivers
KC – Ed Podolak – 6 receptions, 30 yards
GB – MacArthur Lane – 4 receptions, 38 yards :

#### Week 6: at Cincinnati Bengals

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Bengals | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
* Date: October 21
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C)
* Game attendance: 56,397
* Referee: Tommy Bell
* TV announcers (KMBC-TV): Bill Enis and Kyle Rote
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
No scoring plays.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 42-yard field goal. Chiefs 3–0.
CIN – Bob Trumpy 30-yard pass from Ken Anderson (Horst Muhlmann kick). Bengals 7–3.
Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 17-yard field goal. Bengals 7–6.
Fourth quarter
CIN – Boobie Clark 3-yard run. (Horst Muhlmann kick). Bengals 14–6.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 15/20, 200 yards, 2 INT
CIN – Ken Anderson – 12/22, 155 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
KC – Ed Podolak – 14 rushes, 59 yards
CIN – Boobie Clark – 26 rushes, 104 yards
Top receivers
KC – Ed Podolak – 4 receptions, 43 yards
CIN – Isaac Curtis – 8 receptions, 106 yards :

#### Week 7: at Buffalo Bills

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Bills | 14 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 23 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
* Date: October 29
* Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C)
* Game attendance: 76,071
* Referee: Bernie Ulman
* TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
BUF – O. J. Simpson 1-yard run (John Leypoldt kick). Bills 7–0.
BUF – O. J. Simpson 4-yard run (Bob Chandler run). Bills 14–0.
Second quarter
KC – Wendell Hayes 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Bills 14–7.
Third quarter
BUF – John Leypoldt 31-yard field goal. Bills 17–7.
BUF – John Leypoldt 17-yard field goal. Bills 20–7.
BUF – John Leypoldt 8-yard field goal. Bills 23–7.
Fourth quarter
KC – Pete Beathard 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Bills 23–14.
Top passers
KC – Pete Beathard – 6/23, 73 yards
BUF – Joe Ferguson – 6/11, 63 yards, INT
Top rushers
KC – Ed Podolak – 7 rushes, 29 yards
BUF – O. J. Simpson – 39 rushes, 157 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
KC – Wendell Hayes – 2 receptions, 33 yards
BUF – Bob Chandler – 3 receptions, 35 yards :

#### Week 8: at San Diego Chargers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 6 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 19 |
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
* Date: November 4
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C)
* Game attendance: 50,234
* Referee: Fred Swearingen
* TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Kyle Rote
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Ed Podolak 5-yard run (kick failed). Chiefs 6–0.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 31-yard field goal. Chiefs 9–0.
Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 36-yard field goal. Chiefs 12–0.
Fourth quarter
KC – Morris Stroud 39-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 19–0.
Top passers
KC – Mike Livingston – 10/19, 169 yards, TD
SD – Dan Fouts – 11/29, 128 yards, 3 INT
Top rushers
KC – Wendell Hayes – 13 rushes, 90 yards
SD – Mike Garrett – 14 rushes, 51 yards
Top receivers
KC – Morris Stroud – 2 receptions, 61 yards, TD
SD – Pettis Norman – 3 receptions, 62 yards :

#### Week 9: vs. Chicago Bears

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bears | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Chiefs | 3 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 19 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: November 12
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C)
* Game attendance: 70,664
* Referee: Fred Silva
* TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, and Howard Cosell
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 47-yard field goal. Chiefs 3–0.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 17-yard field goal. Chiefs 6–0.
KC – Jan Stenerud 43-yard field goal. Chiefs 9–0.
KC – Jan Stenerud 42-yard field goal. Chiefs 12–0.
Third quarter
CHI – Carl Garrett 9-yard run (Mirro Roder kick). Chiefs 12–7.
KC – Otis Taylor 24-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 19–7.
Fourth quarter
No scoring plays.
Top passers
CHI – Bobby Douglass – 9/21, 130 yards, INT
KC – Mike Livingston – 11/22, 146 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
CHI – Carl Garrett – 13 rushes, 42 yards, TD
KC – Ed Podolak – 28 rushes, 134 yards
Top receivers
CHI – Carl Garrett – 2 receptions, 62 yards
KC – Otis Taylor – 3 receptions, 54 yards, TD :

#### Week 10: vs. Houston Oilers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oilers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 38 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: November 18
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C)
* Game attendance: 68,444
* Referee: John McDonough
* TV announcers (NBC): Bill Enis and Dave Kocourek
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Gary Butler 5-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick) Chiefs 7–0.
Second quarter
KC – Otis Taylor 24-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 14–0.
Third quarter
KC – Mike Livingston 3-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 21–0.
KC – Jan Stenerud 38-yard field goal. Chiefs 24–0.
HOU – Bob Gresham 62-yard pass from Lynn Dickey (Skip Butler kick). Chiefs 24–7.
Fourth quarter
HOU – Fred Willis 1-yard run (Skip Butler kick). Chiefs 24–14.
KC – Willie Ellison 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 31–14.
KC – John Lohmeyer 19-yard fumble return (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 38–14.
Top passers
HOU – Lynn Dickey – 12/23, 191 yards, TD, 2 INT
KC – Mike Livingston – 13/19, 149 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
HOU – Fred Willis – 11 rushes, 23 yards, TD
KC – Ed Podolak – 20 rushes, 82 yards
Top receivers
HOU – Billy Parks – 6 receptions, 91 yards
KC – Elmo Wright – 3 receptions, 53 yards :

#### Week 11 at Denver Broncos

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Broncos | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
* Date: November 25
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
* Game weather: 31 °F (−1 °C)
* Game attendance: 51,331
* Referee: Norm Schachter
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Sam DeLuca
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
No scoring plays.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 38-yard field goal. Chiefs 3–0.
DEN – Haven Moses 18-yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick). Broncos 7–3.
DEN – Haven Moses 40-yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner] kick). Broncos 14–3.
Third quarter
No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
KC – Otis Taylor 7-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick). Broncos 14–10.
Top passers
KC – Mike Livingston – 12/31, 129 yards, TD, 2 INT
DEN – Charley Johnson – 10/21, 144 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
KC – Willie Ellison – 19 rushes, 64 yards
DEN – Floyd Little – 18 rushes, 50 yards
Top receivers
KC – Otis Taylor – 3 receptions, 50 yards, TD
DEN – Haven Moses – 5 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD :

#### Week 12 vs Cleveland Browns

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Browns | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 20 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: December 2
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C)
* Game attendance: 70,296
* Referee: Jack Reader
* TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Elmo Wright 11-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 7–0.
Second quarter
CLE – Don Cockroft 44-yard field goal. Chiefs 7–3.
Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 15-yard field goal. Chiefs 10–3.
CLE – Don Cockroft 28-yard field goal. Chiefs 10–6.
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 13-yard field goal. Chiefs 13–6.
KC – Ed Podolak 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 20–6.
CLE – Greg Pruitt 65-yard run (Don Cockroft kick). Chiefs 20–13.
CLE – Milt Morin 51-yard pass from Mike Phipps (Don Cockroft kick). Tied 20–20.
Top passers
CLE – Mike Phipps – 13/27, 171 yards, TD, INT
KC – Mike Livingston – 7/11, 70 yards, TD
Top rushers
CLE – Greg Pruitt – 15 rushes, 110 yards, TD
KC – Willie Ellison – 20 rushes, 108 yards
Top receivers
CLE – Milt Morin – 3 receptions, 86 yards, TD
KC – Elmo Wright – 5 receptions, 70 yards, TD :

#### Week 13: at Oakland Raiders

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Raiders | 7 | 13 | 3 | 14 | 37 |
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
* Date: December 8
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C)
* Game attendance: 53,945
* Referee: Tommy Bell
* TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
OAK – Fred Biletnikoff 9-yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick). Raiders 7–0.
Second quarter
OAK – Marv Hubbard 31-yard run (George Blanda kick). Raiders 14–0.
OAK – George Blanda 20-yard field goal. Raiders 17–0.
OAK – George Blanda 28-yard field goal. Raiders 20–0.
Third quarter
OAK – George Blanda 27-yard field goal. Raiders 23–0.
KC – Mike Livingston 17-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Raiders 23–7.
Fourth quarter
OAK – Charlie Smith 10-yard run (George Blanda kick). Raiders 30–7.
OAK – Cliff Branch 3-yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick). Raiders 37–7.
Top passers
KC – Mike Livingston – 6/14, 66 yards, INT
OAK – Ken Stabler – 10/19, 88 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
KC – Mike Livingston – 1 rush, 17 yards, TD
OAK – Marv Hubbard – 25 rushes, 115 yards, TD
Top receivers
KC – Ed Podolak – 7 receptions, 65 yards
OAK – Mike Siani – 5 receptions, 43 yards :

#### Week 14: vs. San Diego Chargers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chargers | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
| Chiefs | 10 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 33 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: December 16
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 20 °F (−7 °C)
* Game attendance: 43,755
* Referee: Chuck Heberling
* TV announcers (NBC): Ross Porter and Willie Davis
* Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Ed Podolak 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 7–0.
SD – Ray Wersching 22-yard field goal. Chiefs 7–3.
KC – Jan Stenerud 45-yard field goal. Chiefs 10–3.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 36-yard field goal. Chiefs 13–3.
Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 20-yard field goal. Chiefs 16–3.
SD – Ray Wersching 26-yard field goal. Chiefs 16–6.
KC – Jeff Kinney 5-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 23–6.
Fourth quarter
KC – Wendell Hayes 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 30–6.
KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal. Chiefs 33–6.
Top passers
SD – Dan Fouts – 9/14, 97 yards
KC – Mike Livingston – 11/22, 123 yards
Top rushers
SD – Robert Holmes – 9 rushes, 27 yards
KC – Ed Podolak – 13 rushes, 50 yards, TD
Top receivers
SD – Robert Holmes – 5 receptions, 50 yards
KC – Jeff Kinney – 2 receptions, 42 yards :

## Standings

AFC West :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Oakland Raiders | 9 | 4 | 1 | .679 | 4–1–1 | 7–3–1 | 292 | 175 | W4 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 7 | 5 | 2 | .571 | 4–2 | 6–4–1 | 231 | 192 | W1 |
| Denver Broncos | 7 | 5 | 2 | .571 | 3–2–1 | 7–2–1 | 354 | 296 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 2 | 11 | 1 | .179 | 0–6 | 1–9–1 | 188 | 386 | L4 |