# 1982 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1982 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's strike-shortened 13th season in the National Football League and the 23rd overall.
In May 1982, running back Joe Delaney underwent surgery to repair a detached retina in his eye, a radical procedure at the time. Optimism abounded at Arrowhead Stadium thanks to the club's promising 9–7 record from 1981, but swelling labor unrest from NFL players spelled doom for both the Chiefs and Levy in 1982. The Chiefs split their first two games of the year before a 57-day strike by the NFL Players Association began at midnight on September 20. The strike concluded on November 17 after seven games were canceled and one was rescheduled, but the Chiefs would never recover, losing four straight games after their return to the field.
Center Jack Rudnay, who had been one of the franchise's most durable and decorated offensive performers over the past decade-plus, announced on December 20 that he would retire after the season. Rudnay was the last remaining Chief who played for the team at Municipal Stadium, their home from 1963-71.
The Chiefs finished the strike-shortened season at 3–6. Following the season, head coach Marv Levy was fired after going 31–42 in five seasons with zero playoff appearances.

## Offseason
### NFL draft

1982 Kansas City Chiefs draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 11 | Anthony Hancock | Wide receiver | Tennessee |
| 2 | 46 | Calvin Daniels | Linebacker | North Carolina |
| 4 | 100 | Louis Haynes | Linebacker | North Texas State |
| 4 | 104 | Stuart Anderson | Linebacker | Virginia |
| 5 | 130 | Del Thompson | Running back | Texas–El Paso |
| 6 | 157 | Durwood Roquemore | Defensive back | Texas A&I |
| 7 | 184 | Greg Smith | Defensive end | Kansas |
| 8 | 214 | Case deBruijn | Punter | Idaho State |
| 9 | 241 | Lyndle Byford | Guard | Oklahoma |
| 10 | 268 | Larry Brodsky | Wide receiver | Miami (FL) |
| 11 | 297 | Bob Carter | Wide receiver | Arizona |
| 12 | 324 | Mike Miller | Defensive back | Southwest Texas State |
| Made roster ||||||

## Preseason

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | August 13 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 26–20 | 1–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | 31,985 | Recap |
| 2 | August 21 | at New Orleans Saints | L 3–6 | 1–1 | Louisiana Superdome | 46,585 | Recap |
| 3 | August 28 | Miami Dolphins | T 17–17 (OT) | 1–1–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 42,403 | Recap |
| 4 | September 4 | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 10–6 | 2–1–1 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 39,926 | Recap |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | September 12 | at Buffalo Bills | L 9–14 | 0–1 | Rich Stadium | 76,383 | Recap |
| 2 | September 19 | San Diego Chargers | W 19–12 | 1–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 60,514 | Recap |
| 3–10 | Players' strike | Players' strike | Players' strike | Players' strike | Players' strike | Players' strike | Players' strike |
| 11 | November 21 | at New Orleans Saints | L 17–27 | 1–2 | Louisiana Superdome | 39,341 | Recap |
| 12 | November 28 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 14–20 | 1–3 | Anaheim Stadium | 45,793 | Recap |
| 13 | December 5 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 14–35 | 1–4 | Three Rivers Stadium | 52,090 | Recap |
| 14 | December 12 | Los Angeles Raiders | L 16–21 | 1–5 | Arrowhead Stadium | 26,307 | Recap |
| 15 | December 19 | at Denver Broncos | W 37–16 | 2–5 | Mile High Stadium | 74,192 | Recap |
| 16 | December 26 | San Francisco 49ers | L 13–26 | 2–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | 24,319 | Recap |
| 17 | January 2 | New York Jets | W 37–13 | 3–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | 11,902 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

### Game summaries
#### Week 1: at Buffalo Bills

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| Bills | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
* Date: September 12
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 81 °F (27 °C)
* Game attendance: 76,383
* Referee: Jerry Seeman
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Haffner
* Recap, Game Book
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Nick Lowery 39-yard field goal, 11:33. Chiefs 3–0. Drive: 10 plays, 58 yards, 3:27.
BUF – Frank Lewis 20-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick), 3:37. Bills 7–3. Drive: 14 plays, 61 yards, 7:56.
Second quarter
KC – Nick Lowery 47-yard field goal, 11:55. Bills 7–6. Drive: 14 plays, 54 yards, 6:42.
BUF – Jerry Butler 6-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Nick Mike-Mayer kick), 0:37. Bills 14–6. Drive: 7 plays, 62 yards, 1:16.
Third quarter
No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
KC – Nick Lowery 42-yard field goal, 11:48. Bills 14–9. Drive: 5 plays, 28 yards, 0:46.
Top passers
KC – Bill Kenney – 14/30, 149 yards, INT
BUF – Joe Ferguson – 18/31, 266 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
KC – Billy Jackson – 12 rushes, 53 yards
BUF – Curtis Brown – 13 rushes, 50 yards
Top receivers
KC – Henry Marshall – 5 receptions, 69 yards
BUF – Jerry Butler – 6 receptions, 51 yards, TD :

#### Week 2: vs. San Diego Chargers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: September 19
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Clear, 70 °F (21 °C)
* Game attendance: 60,514
* Referee: Ben Dreith
* TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Bob Griese
* Recap, Game Book
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Dave Klug blocked punt recovery in endzone (Nick Lowery kick), 13:09. Chiefs 7–0.
Second quarter
KC – Nick Lowery 19-yard field goal, 11:50. Chiefs 10–0. Drive: 15 plays, 67 yards, 9:16.
KC – Nick Lowery 27-yard field goal, 2:36. Chiefs 13–0. Drive: 5 plays, 48 yards, 2:27.
KC – Nick Lowery 41-yard field goal, 0:00. Chiefs 16–0. Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 1:06.
Third quarter
SD – Wes Chandler 17-yard pass from Chuck Muncie (Rolf Benirschke kick), 8:02. Chiefs 16–7. Drive: 8 plays, 77 yards, 3:40.
SD – Penalty on Matt Herkenhoff enforced in end zone for a Safety, 6:20. Chiefs 16–9.
KC – Nick Lowery 34-yard field goal, 2:23. Chiefs 19–9. Drive: 7 plays, 31 yards, 2:47.
Fourth quarter
SD – Rolf Benirschke 49-yard field goal, 14:21. Chiefs 19–12. Drive: 7 plays, 18 yards, 2:50.
Top passers
SD – Dan Fouts – 21/36, 204 yards, INT
KC – Bill Kenney – 22/30, 203 yards, INT
Top rushers
SD – Chuck Muncie – 12 rushes, 52 yards
KC – Joe Delaney – 10 rushes, 51 yards
Top receivers
SD – Wes Chandler – 6 receptions, 69 yards, TD
KC – Henry Marshall – 4 receptions, 63 yards :

#### Week 11: at New Orleans Saints

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
| Saints | 10 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
* Date: November 21
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
* Game attendance: 39,741
* Referee: Bob Frederic
* TV announcers (NBC): Phil Stone and Gene Washington
* Recap, Game Book
Game information :
First quarter
NO – Toni Fritsch 19-yard field goal, 7:15. Saints 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 46 yards, 5:51.
NO – Wayne Wilson 15-yard pass from Guido Merkens (Toni Fritsch kick), 0:47. Saints 10–0. Drive: 6 plays, 31 yards, 2:55.
Second quarter
KC – Henry Marshall 44-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick), 11:33. Saints 10–7. Drive: 7 plays, 79 yards, 4:14.
Third quarter
NO – George Rogers 1-yard run (Toni Fritsch kick), 8:26. Saints 17–7. Drive: 10 plays, 88 yards, 6:34.
Fourth quarter
KC – Al Dixon 13-yard pass from Steve Fuller (Nick Lowery kick), 10:55. Saints 17–14. Drive: 10 plays, 80 yards, 4:33.
NO – Jeff Groth 6-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Toni Fritsch kick), 9:35. Saints 24–14. Drive: 4 plays, 18 yards, 1:20.
KC – Nick Lowery 35-yard field goal, 6:12. Saints 24–17. Drive: 7 plays, 53 yards, 3:23.
NO – Toni Fritsch 42-yard field goal, 0:24. Saints 27–17. Drive: 12 plays, 40 yards, 5:48.
Top passers
KC – Steve Fuller – 9/14, 117 yards, TD
NO – Ken Stabler – 13/18, 129 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
KC – Joe Delaney – 11 rushes, 71 yards
NO – George Rogers – 33 rushes, 123 yards, TD
Top receivers
KC – J. T. Smith – 6 receptions, 101 yards
NO – Jeff Groth – 4 receptions, 68 yards, TD :

#### Week 12: at Los Angeles Rams

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Rams | 0 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California
* Date: November 28
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: Cloudy, 70 °F (21 °C)
* Game attendance: 45,793
* Referee: Chuck Heberling
* TV announcers (NBC): Phil Stone and Gene Washington
* Recap, Game Book
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Billy Jackson 1-yard run (Nick Lowery kick), 5:50. Chiefs 7–0. Drive: 18 plays, 68 yards, 9:10.
Second quarter
LA – Wendell Tyler 1-yard run (Mike Lansford kick), 8:52. Tied 7–7. Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards, 4:29.
LA – Wendell Tyler 23-yard run (Mike Lansford kick), 2:02. Rams 14–7. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:30.
Third quarter
LA – LeRoy Irvin 63-yard punt return (kick blocked), 3:54. Rams 20–7.
Fourth quarter
KC – J.T. Smith 35 yard pass from Steve Fuller (Nick Lowery kick), 11:07. Rams 20–14. Drive: 3 plays, 43 yards, 1:34.
Top passers
KC – Steve Fuller – 12/27, 163 yards, TD, INT
LA – Bert Jones – 6/12, 67 yards, INT
Top rushers
KC – Joe Delaney – 18 rushes, 69 yards
LA – Wendell Tyler – 25 rushes, 138 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
KC – Henry Marshall – 6 receptions, 71 yards
LA – Mike Guman – 2 receptions, 39 yards :

#### Week 13: at Pittsburgh Steelers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Steelers | 14 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 35 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
* Date: December 5
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Overcast, 62 °F (17 °C)
* Game attendance: 52,090
* Referee: Red Cashion
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Bob Griese
* Recap, Game Book
Game information :
First quarter
PIT – John Stallworth 3-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick), 7:30. Steelers 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 26 yards, 3:28.
PIT – John Stallworth 74-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick), 3:08. Steelers 14–0. Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 1:39.
Second quarter
PIT – Greg Hawthorne 5-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Gary Anderson kick), 12:50. Steelers 21–0. Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 4:08.
KC – Billy Jackson 1-yard run (Nick Lowery kick), 3:27. Steelers 21–7. Drive: 17 plays, 78 yards, 9:23.
PIT – Franco Harris 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 0:16. Steelers 28–7. Drive: 9 plays, 76 yards, 3:11.
Third quarter
No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
KC – Willie Scott 3 yard pass from Steve Fuller (Nick Lowery kick), 8:50. Steelers 28–14. Drive: 6 plays, 50 yards, 1:51.
PIT – Sidney Thornton 2-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 1:52. Steelers 35–14. Drive: 11 plays, 73 yards, 6:58.
Top passers
KC – Steve Fuller – 18/31, 249 yards, TD, INT
PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 15/20, 231 yards, 3 TD, INT
Top rushers
KC – Joe Delaney – 10 rushes, 39 yards
PIT – Franco Harris – 18 rushes, 68 yards, TD
Top receivers
KC – Henry Marshall – 5 receptions, 98 yards
PIT – John Stallworth – 4 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TD :

#### Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Raiders

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Raiders | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 21 |
| Chiefs | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: December 12
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Clear, 29 °F (−2 °C)
* Game attendance: 26,307
* Referee: Fred Wyant
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Len Dawson
* Recap, Game Book
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Nick Lowery 35-yard field goal, 5:12. Chiefs 3–0. Drive: 9 plays, 41 yards, 4:01.
Second quarter
RAI – Todd Christensen 4-yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Chris Bahr kick), 11:16. Raiders 7–3. Drive: 9 plays, 71 yards, 3:38.
KC – Nick Lowery 27-yard field goal, 3:08. Raiders 7–6. Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 6:08.
Third quarter
KC – Nick Lowery 29-yard field goal, 0:58. Chiefs 9–7. Drive: 4 plays, –9 yards, 1:07.
Fourth quarter
RAI – Todd Christensen 8-yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Chris Bahr kick), 5:21. Raiders 14–9. Drive: 3 plays, 67 yards, 1:00.
KC – Billy Jackson 1-yard run (Nick Lowery kick), 1:55. Chiefs 16–14. Drive: 7 plays, 85 yards, 3:26.
RAI – Calvin Muhammad 35-yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Chris Bahr kick), 0:25. Raiders 21–16. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 1:30.
Top passers
RAI – Jim Plunkett – 18/33, 303 yards, 3 TD, INT
KC – Steve Fuller – 10/21, 136 yards
Top rushers
RAI – Marcus Allen – 18 rushes, 47 yards
KC – Joe Delaney – 13 rushes, 32 yards
Top receivers
RAI – Cliff Branch – 5 receptions, 111 yards
KC – Al Dixon – 6 receptions, 102 yards :

#### Week 15: at Denver Broncos

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 3 | 7 | 10 | 17 | 37 |
| Broncos | 0 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
* Date: December 19
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
* Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 55 °F (13 °C)
* Game attendance: 74,192
* Referee: Jim Tunney
* TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Bob Trumpy
* Recap, Game Book
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Nick Lowery 47-yard field goal, 11:14. Chiefs 3–0. Drive: 6 plays, 15 yards, 2:10.
Second quarter
KC – Eric Harris 56-yard interception return (Nick Lowery kick), 9:10. Chiefs 10–0.
DEN – Gerald Willhite 2-yard run (kick failed, wide right), 3:26. Chiefs 10–6. Drive: 10 plays, 78 yards, 5:44.
DEN – Rick Upchurch 78-yard punt return (Rich Karlis kick), 1:26. Broncos 13–10.
Third quarter
KC – Al Dixon 1-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick), 12:50. Chiefs 17–13. Drive: 5 plays, 28 yards, 2:10.
DEN – Rich Karlis 44-yard field goal, 3:56. Chiefs 17–16. Drive: 9 plays, 16 yards, 4:20.
KC – Nick Lowery 19-yard field goal, 0:16. Chiefs 20–16. Drive: 7 plays, 72 yards, 3:40.
Fourth quarter
KC – Nick Lowery 23-yard field goal, 6:23. Chiefs 23–16. Drive: 15 plays, 76 yards, 5:57.
KC – Carlos Carson 33-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick), 2:06. Chiefs 30–16. Drive: 6 plays, 40 yards, 3:09.
KC – Gary Barbaro 43-yard interception return, 1:38. Chiefs 37–16.
Top passers
KC – Bill Kenney – 12/26, 188 yards, 2 TD, INT
DEN – Steve DeBerg – 19/30, 163 yards, 2 INT
Top rushers
KC – James Hadnot – 13 rushes, 49 yards
DEN – Gerald Willhite – 12 rushes, 46 yards, TD
Top receivers
KC – Carlos Carson – 3 receptions, 110 yards, TD
DEN – Dave Preston – 5 receptions, 49 yards :

#### Week 16: vs. San Francisco 49ers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers | 3 | 0 | 6 | 17 | 26 |
| Chiefs | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: December 26
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Cloudy, 30 °F (−1 °C)
* Game attendance: 24,319
* Referee: Jerry Seeman
* TV announcers (CBS): Dick Stockton and Jim Hill
* Recap, Game Book
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Nick Lowery 40-yard field goal, 9:16. Chiefs 3–0. Drive: 12 plays, 45 yards, 5:42.
SF – Ray Wersching 32-yard field goal, 4:09. Tied 3–3. Drive: 13 plays, 57 yards, 5:07.
Second quarter
KC – Anthony Hancock 41-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick), 8:36. Chiefs 10–3. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 5:03.
Third quarter
SF – Ray Wersching 44-yard field goal, 12:04. Chiefs 10–6. Drive: 5 plays, 37 yards, 2:56.
SF – Ray Wersching 42-yard field goal, 3:27. Chiefs 10–9. Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 4:22.
Fourth quarter
SF – Jeff Moore 1-yard run (Ray Wersching kick), 13:21. 49ers 16–10. Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards, 3:23.
KC – Nick Lowery 39-yard field goal, 8:30. 49ers 16–13. Drive: 6 plays, 8 yards, 3:06.
SF – Ray Wersching 34-yard field goal, 1:56. 49ers 19–13. Drive: 12 plays, 60 yards, 6:34.
SF – Ronnie Lott 83-yard interception return (Ray Wersching kick), 0:11. 49ers 26–13.
Top passers
SF – Joe Montana – 20/35, 253 yards, 2 INT
KC – Bill Kenney – 14/30, 181 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
SF – Jeff Moore – 18 rushes, 56 yards, TD
KC – James Hadnot – 16 rushes, 55 yards
Top receivers
SF – Dwight Clark – 4 receptions, 104 yards
KC – Carlos Carson – 4 receptions, 76 yards :

#### Week 17: vs. New York Jets

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Jets | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 20 | 0 | 10 | 37 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: January 2
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Cloudy, 32 °F (0 °C)
* Game attendance: 11,902
* Referee: Pat Haggerty
* TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Jim Turner
* Recap, Game Book
Game information :
First quarter
NYJ – Pat Leahy 30-yard field goal, 9:32. Jets 3–0. Drive: 8 plays, 55 yards, 5:28.
NYJ – Pat Leahy 20-yard field goal, 5:46. Jets 6–0. Drive: 6 plays, 30 yards, 3:27.
KC – Carlos Carson 28-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick), 2:10. Chiefs 7–6. Drive: 9 plays, 74 yards, 3:36.
Second quarter
KC – Henry Marshall 13-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick), 8:49. Chiefs 14–6. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 6:30.
KC – Gary Green 42-yard interception return (Nick Lowery kick), 7:11. Chiefs 21–6.
KC – Nick Lowery 44-yard field goal, 1:50. Chiefs 24–6. Drive: 7 plays, 25 yards, 3:23.
KC – Nick Lowery 43-yard field goal, 0:00. Chiefs 27–6. Drive: 7 plays, 35 yards, 1:08.
Third quarter
No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
KC – Henry Marshall 5-yard pass from Bill Kenney (Nick Lowery kick), 13:26. Chiefs 34–6. Drive: 9 plays, 57 yards, 5:17.
KC – Nick Lowery 44-yard field goal, 7:30. Chiefs 37–6. Drive: 6 plays, 53 yards, 2:52.
NYJ – Mickey Shuler 10-yard pass from Pat Ryan (Pat Leahy kick), 5:02. Chiefs 37–13. Drive: 10 plays, 89 yards, 2:28.
Top passers
NYJ – Richard Todd – 14/29, 109 yards, INT
KC – Bill Kenney – 18/27, 223 yards, 3 TD, INT
Top rushers
NYJ – Freeman McNeil – 12 rushes, 83 yards
KC – James Hadnot – 10 rushes, 58 yards
Top receivers
NYJ – Wesley Walker – 4 receptions, 56 yards
KC – Carlos Carson – 4 receptions, 95 yards, TD :

### Standings

AFC West :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Los Angeles Raiders$^{(1)}$ | 8 | 1 | 0 | .889 | 5–0 | 5–1 | 260 | 200 | W5 |
| San Diego Chargers$^{(5)}$ | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 2–3 | 5–3 | 288 | 221 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 2–1 | 3–5 | 127 | 147 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 176 | 184 | W1 |
| Denver Broncos | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | 0–6 | 0–6 | 148 | 226 | L3 |
AFCvte :
| # | Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK |
| Seeded postseason qualifiers |||||||||
| 1 | Los Angeles Raiders | 8 | 1 | 0 | .889 | 260 | 200 | W5 |
| 2 | Miami Dolphins | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 198 | 131 | W3 |
| 3 | Cincinnati Bengals | 7 | 2 | 0 | .778 | 232 | 177 | W2 |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 204 | 146 | W2 |
| 5 | San Diego Chargers | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 288 | 221 | L1 |
| 6 | New York Jets | 6 | 3 | 0 | .667 | 245 | 166 | L1 |
| 7 | New England Patriots | 5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 143 | 157 | W1 |
| 8 | Cleveland Browns | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 140 | 182 | L1 |
| Did not qualify for the postseason |||||||||
| 9 | Buffalo Bills | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 150 | 154 | L3 |
| 10 | Seattle Seahawks | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | 127 | 147 | W1 |
| 11 | Kansas City Chiefs | 3 | 6 | 0 | .333 | 176 | 184 | W1 |
| 12 | Denver Broncos | 2 | 7 | 0 | .222 | 148 | 226 | L3 |
| 13 | Houston Oilers | 1 | 8 | 0 | .111 | 136 | 245 | L7 |
| 14 | Baltimore Colts | 0 | 8 | 1 | .056 | 113 | 236 | L2 |
| Tiebreakers |||||||||
| 1 2 Miami finished ahead of Cincinnati based on better conference record (6–1 to Cincinnati’s 6–2). 1 2 Pittsburgh finished ahead of San Diego based on better record against common opponents (3–1 to Chargers' 2–1). Conference tiebreak was initially used to eliminate New York Jets. 1 2 3 Pittsburgh and San Diego finished ahead of New York Jets based on conference record (Pittsburgh and San Diego 5–3 against Jets’ 2–3) 1 2 3 Cleveland finished ahead of Buffalo and Buffalo ahead of Seattle based on conference record (4–3 to Buffalo’s 3–3 to Seattle’s 3–5). |||||||||