# 1971 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1971 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's second season in the National Football League (NFL), ninth as the Kansas City Chiefs, and twelfth overall. They improved from a 7–5–2 campaign in 1970 to record a 10–3–1 mark and win the AFC West division championship, the Chiefs' first division title since 1966 and last until 1993. The Chiefs tied with the Miami Dolphins for the best record in the AFC and were tied for the third-best record overall in the NFL, trailing only the 11–3 marks of the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.
The Chiefs' playoff loss to Miami remains the longest game in NFL history at 82 minutes and forty seconds. Dolphins kicker Garo Yepremian made a 37-yard field goal with seven minutes and twenty seconds left in the second overtime to win the game.
1971 marked the end of an era, as the last remaining original Texan/Chief, longtime player Johnny Robinson, retired after all 10 seasons in the AFL, 2 seasons in the NFL, and 12 seasons with the Texans/Chiefs.

## Season summary

Most of the pieces of the team which won Super Bowl IV two years earlier were still in place. Left defensive end Jerry Mays retired after the 1970 season, with Marvin Upshaw taking his spot, but the other ten defensive starters were the same as they were two years prior. Middle linebacker Willie Lanier was a unanimous All-Pro selection following the season, and would likely have been named NFL Defensive Player of the Year had not Viking defensive tackle Alan Page become the second defensive player to win the league's Most Valuable Player award. Outside linebacker Bobby Bell, defensive tackles Buck Buchanan and Curley Culp, and cornerback Emmitt Thomas joined Lanier on the AFC Pro Bowl squad following the season. Bell, Buchanan, Culp, Lanier, and Thomas are all members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
On offense, Robert Holmes was traded to the San Diego Chargers midway through the season, leaving Wendell Hayes to assume the fullback duties next to third-year pro Ed Podolak, who had become the starting halfback when Mike Garrett was traded to San Diego in 1970. Morris Stroud, the tallest player in NFL history at 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m), and Willie Frazier, acquired from San Diego, alternated at tight end for the retired Fred Arbanas, but the rest of the offensive line, save for center Jack Rudnay, remained the same from the Super Bowl winning team. Rudnay assumed the starting center spot in 1970 over veteran E. J. Holub. At wide receiver, rookie Elmo Wright, the Chiefs' first-round pick in the 1971 NFL draft from the University of Houston, assumed the slot opposite all-pro Otis Taylor, as Frank Pitts had moved on to the Cleveland Browns. Taylor earned selection to the Pro Bowl, along with guard Ed Budde, quarterback Len Dawson, and tackle Jim Tyrer.
Kansas City's special teams remained among the league's elite units, thanks to the combination of kicker Jan Stenerud and punter Jerrel Wilson, both of whom were named to the Pro Bowl. Podolak and Warren McVea handled the bulk of the return duties.
The season was the last for the Chiefs in Municipal Stadium; owner Lamar Hunt and general manager Jack Steadman were overseeing the construction of Arrowhead Stadium, located at the junction of Interstates 70 and 435 in Jackson County, at the eastern edge of the Kansas City city limits. Arrowhead, along with Royals Stadium, being constructed for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball, comprised the Truman Sports Complex, bucking the trend of multi-purpose stadiums in vogue at the time.
The season ended as the Miami Dolphins won the longest game in National Football League history on Christmas Day, defeating the Chiefs 27–24 in double-overtime on a 37-yard field goal by Garo Yepremian in the last football game in Municipal Stadium, as well as the last game for safety Johnny Robinson, who was an original member of the franchise as a rookie on the 1960 Dallas Texans. Head coach Hank Stram often called the 1971 Chiefs the franchise's best-ever squad, and the home playoff loss haunted Stram for the rest of his life, even after his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003; Stram died in 2005 at age 82. Others in the Hall of Fame from this squad are owner Hunt, quarterback Dawson, and kicker Stenerud.
The loss to Miami began a nosedive in the Chiefs' fortunes. Kansas City backslid to 8–6 and 7–5–2 in 1972 and 1973, before falling to 5–9 and a tie for last in the AFC West in 1974, leading to Stram's firing following the season. Kansas City did not reach the playoffs again until 1986, did not host (or win) another playoff game until 1991, and did not win the AFC West division title again until 1993.

## NFL Draft

1971 Kansas City Chiefs Draft :
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 16 | Elmo Wright | Wide receiver | Houston |
| 2 | 39 | Wilbur Young | Defensive tackle | William Penn |
| 2 | 42 | Scott Lewis | Defensive end | Grambling |
| 4 | 94 | David Robinson | Tight end | Jacksonville State |
| 5 | 120 | Mike Adamle | Running back | Northwestern |
| 6 | 146 | Kerry Reardon | Defensive back | Iowa |
| 8 | 191 | Mike Sensibaugh | Defensive back | Ohio State |
| 8 | 198 | Rick Telander | Defensive back | Northwestern |
| 9 | 224 | Alvin Hawes | Tackle | Minnesota |
| 10 | 250 | Bruce Jankowski | Wide receiver | Ohio State |
| 11 | 276 | Nate Allen | Defensive back | Texas Southern |
| 12 | 302 | Tony Esposito | Running back | Pittsburgh |
| 13 | 328 | Chuck Hixson | Quarterback | SMU |
| 14 | 354 | Bruce Bergey | Defensive end | UCLA |
| 15 | 380 | Mike Montgomery | Defensive back | Southwest Texas State |
| 16 | 406 | Darrell Jansonius | Guard | Iowa State |
| 17 | 431 | Travis Hill | Defensive back | Prairie View A&M |

## Preseason

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | August 7 | at Baltimore Colts | W 10–7 | 1–0 | Memorial Stadium | 16,771 | Recap |
| 2 | August 14 | Atlanta Falcons | W 12–10 | 2–0 | Municipal Stadium | 37,403 | Recap |
| 3 | August 21 | at New Orleans Saints | W 27–7 | 3–0 | Tulane Stadium | 70,459 | Recap |
| 4 | August 30 | New York Jets | W 21–16 | 4–0 | Municipal Stadium | 37,650 | Recap |
| 5 | September 4 | St. Louis Cardinals | T 17–17 | 4–0–1 | Municipal Stadium | 36,743 | Recap |
| 6 | September 11 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 17–24 | 4–1–1 | Cotton Bowl | 74,035 | Recap |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | September 19 | at San Diego Chargers | L 14–21 | 0–1 | San Diego Stadium | 54,061 | Recap |
| 2 | September 26 | at Houston Oilers | W 20–16 | 1–1 | Houston Astrodome | 46,498 | Recap |
| 3 | October 3 | at Denver Broncos | W 16–3 | 2–1 | Mile High Stadium | 51,200 | Recap |
| 4 | October 10 | San Diego Chargers | W 31–10 | 3–1 | Municipal Stadium | 50,514 | Recap |
| 5 | October 18 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 38–16 | 4–1 | Municipal Stadium | 49,533 | Recap |
| 6 | October 24 | Washington Redskins | W 27–20 | 5–1 | Municipal Stadium | 51,989 | Recap |
| 7 | October 31 | at Oakland Raiders | T 20–20 | 5–1–1 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 54,715 | Recap |
| 8 | November 7 | at New York Jets | L 10–13 | 5–2–1 | Shea Stadium | 62,812 | Recap |
| 9 | November 14 | Cleveland Browns | W 13–7 | 6–2–1 | Municipal Stadium | 50,388 | Recap |
| 10 | November 21 | Denver Broncos | W 28–10 | 7–2–1 | Municipal Stadium | 49,945 | Recap |
| 11 | November 25 | at Detroit Lions | L 21–32 | 7–3–1 | Tiger Stadium | 54,418 | Recap |
| 12 | December 6 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 26–17 | 8–3–1 | Candlestick Park | 45,306 | Recap |
| 13 | December 12 | Oakland Raiders | W 16–14 | 9–3–1 | Municipal Stadium | 51,215 | Recap |
| 14 | December 19 | Buffalo Bills | W 22–9 | 10–3–1 | Municipal Stadium | 48,121 | Recap |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. ||||||||

### Game summaries
#### Week 1: at San Diego Chargers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
* Date: September 19
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
* Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C)
* Game attendance: 54,381
* Referee: Ben Dreith
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Willie Davis
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Warren McVea 6-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 7–0.
Second quarter
KC – Ed Podolak 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 14–0.
Third quarter
SD – Mike Montgomery 39-yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick). Chiefs 14–7.
Fourth quarter
SD – Jerry LeVias 37-yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick). Tied 14–14.
SD – Mike Garrett 26-yard run (Dennis Partee kick). Chargers 21–14.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 11/22, 152 yards, 2 INT
SD – John Hadl – 17/37, 260 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
KC – Ed Podolak – 17 rushes, 65 yards
SD – Mike Garrett – 15 rushes, 59 yards, TD
Top receivers
KC – Otis Taylor – 3 receptions, 76 yards
SD – Gary Garrison – 4 receptions, 72 yards :

#### Week 2: at Houston Oilers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
| Oilers | 0 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 16 |
at Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas
* Date: September 26
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
* Game attendance: 46,498
* Referee: Fred Swearingen
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and George Ratterman
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Wendell Hayes 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 7–0.
KC – Jan Stenerud 43-yard field goal. Chiefs 10–0.
Second quarter
HOU – Ken Houston 68-yard fumble return (Braden Beck kick). Chiefs 10–7.
KC – Jan Stenerud 11-yard field goal. Chiefs 13–7.
Third quarter
HOU – Braden Beck 15-yard field goal. Chiefs 13–10.
Fourth quarter
HOU – Charlie Joiner 12-yard pass from Dan Pastorini (kick failed). Oilers 16–13.
KC – Warren McVea 4-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 20–16.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 14/24, 207 yards
HOU – Dan Pastorini – 10/21, 156 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
KC – Warren McVea – 15 rushes, 45 yards, TD
HOU – Joe Dawkins – 13 rushes, 16 yards
Top receivers
KC – Otis Taylor – 6 receptions, 97 yards
HOU – Ken Burrough – 2 receptions, 49 yards :

#### Week 3: at Denver Broncos

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
| Broncos | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
* Date: October 3
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C)
* Game attendance: 51,200
* Referee: Norm Schachter
* TV announcers (NBC): Ross Porter and Dave Kocourek
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
DEN – Jim Turner 37-yard field goal. Broncos 3–0.
Second quarter
KC – Aaron Brown 68-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 7–3.
KC – Jan Stenerud 20-yard field goal. Chiefs 10–3.
Third quarter
No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 26-yard field goal. Chiefs 13–3.
KC – Jan Stenerud 16-yard field goal. Chiefs 16–3.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 9/21, 91 yards, INT
DEN – Don Horn – 14/27, 168 yards, 4 INT
Top rushers
KC – Ed Podolak – 15 rushes, 38 yards
DEN – Bobby Anderson – 11 rushes, 34 yards
Top receivers
KC – Morris Stroud – 1 reception, 50 yards
DEN – Jim Whalen – 3 receptions, 71 yards :

#### Week 4: vs. San Diego Chargers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chargers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: October 10
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C)
* Game attendance: 50,514
* Referee: Norm Schachter
* TV announcers (NBC): Ross Porter and Willie Davis
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
SD – Dennis Partee 43-yard field goal. Chargers 3–0.
Second quarter
SD – Mike Garrett 3-yard pass from John Hadl (Dennis Partee kick). Chargers 10–0.
KC – Jim Otis 3-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chargers 10–7.
KC – Jan Stenerud 29-yard field goal. Tied 10–10.
Third quarter
KC – Otis Taylor 15-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 17–10.
Fourth quarter
KC – Warren McVea 15-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 24–10.
KC – Ed Podolak 7-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 31–10.
Top passers
SD – John Hadl – 12/23, 135 yards, TD, 2 INT
KC – Len Dawson – 16/23, 188 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
SD – Mike Garrett – 7 rushes, 44 yards
KC – Warren McVea – 11 rushes, 80 yards
Top receivers
SD – Gary Garrison – 1 reception, 36 yards
KC – Otis Taylor – 6 receptions, 97 yards, TD :

#### Week 5: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Steelers | 9 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 28 | 0 | 10 | 38 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: October 18
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 73 °F (23 °C)
* Game attendance: 49,533
* Referee: Pat Haggerty
* TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
PIT – Roy Gerela 43-yard field goal. Steelers 3–0.
PIT – Roy Gerela 40-yard field goal. Steelers 6–0.
PIT – Roy Gerela 35-yard field goal. Steelers 9–0.
Second quarter
KC – Otis Taylor 3-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Steelers 9–7.
KC – Otis Taylor 27-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 14–9.
KC – Elmo Wright 5-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 21–9.
KC – Ed Podolak 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 28–9.
Third quarter
No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 11-yard field goal. Chiefs 31–9.
PIT – John Fuqua 1-yard run (Roy Gerela kick). Chiefs 31–16.
KC – Emmitt Thomas 32-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 38–16.
Top passers
PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 20/39, 269 yards, 2 INT
KC – Len Dawson – 14/26, 290 yards, 3 TD, INT
Top rushers
PIT – Terry Bradshaw – 9 rushes, 37 yards
KC – Ed Podolak – 20 rushes, 43 yards, TD
Top receivers
PIT – Dave Smith – 5 receptions, 93 yards
KC – Otis Taylor – 6 receptions, 190 yards, 2 TD :

#### Week 6: vs. Washington Redskins

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Redskins | 7 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 20 |
| Chiefs | 3 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 27 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: October 24
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C)
* Game attendance: 51,989
* Referee: Jack Vest
* TV announcers (CBS): Ray Scott, Pat Summerall and Ron Barr
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
WAS – Charley Taylor 4-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Curt Knight kick). Redskins 7–0.
KC – Jan Stenerud 39-yard field goal. Redskins 7–3.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 15-yard field goal. Redskins 7–6.
WAS – Curt Knight 33-yard field goal. Redskins 10–6.
WAS – Charley Taylor 36-yard pass from Billy Kilmer (Curt Knight kick). Redskins 17–6.
Third quarter
KC – Otis Taylor 25-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Redskins 17–13.
Fourth quarter
WAS – Curt Knight 23-yard field goal. Redskins 20–13.
KC – Elmo Wright 15-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Tied 20–20.
KC – Otis Taylor 28-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 27–20.
Top passers
WAS – Billy Kilmer – 15/38, 220 yards, 2 TD, INT
KC – Len Dawson – 10/23, 203 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
WAS – Charley Harraway – 12 rushes, 58 yards
KC – Ed Podolak – 24 rushes, 110 yards
Top receivers
WAS – Charley Taylor – 7 receptions, 125 yards, 2 TD
KC – Otis Taylor – 5 receptions, 105 yards, 2 TD :

#### Week 7: at Oakland Raiders

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
| Raiders | 3 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
* Date: October 31
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C)
* Game attendance: 54,715
* Referee: Tommy Bell
* TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Ed Podolak 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 7–0.
OAK – George Blanda 17-yard field goal. Chiefs 7–3.
Second quarter
OAK – Marv Hubbard 1-yard run (George Blanda kick). Raiders 10–7.
KC – Ed Podolak 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 14–10.
Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 12-yard field goal. Chiefs 17–10.
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 37-yard field goal. Chiefs 20–10.
OAK – Fred Biletnikoff 24-yard pass from George Blanda (George Blanda kick). Chiefs 20–17.
OAK – George Blanda 8-yard field goal. Tied 20–20.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 7/13, 133 yards, INT
OAK – Daryle Lamonica – 10/22, 162 yards, 2 INT
Top rushers
KC – Ed Podolak – 13 rushes, 71 yards, 2 TD
OAK – Marv Hubbard – 17 rushes, 48 yards, TD
Top receivers
KC – Otis Taylor – 3 receptions, 70 yards
OAK – Fred Biletnikoff – 7 receptions, 128 yards, TD :

#### Week 8: at New York Jets

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Jets | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
at Shea Stadium, New York, New York
* Date: November 7
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C)
* Game attendance: 62,812
* Referee: Dick Jorgensen
* TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
NYJ – Emerson Boozer 1-yard run (Bobby Howfield kick). Jets 7–0.
KC – Mike Adamle 6-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Tied 7–7.
Second quarter
NYJ – Bobby Howfield 30-yard field goal. Jets 10–7.
KC – Jan Stenerud 19-yard field goal. Tied 10–10.
Third quarter
No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
NYJ – Bobby Howfield 39-yard field goal. Jets 13–10.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 13/25, 111 yards, TD, 2 INT
NYJ – Bob Davis – 3/9, 19 yards
Top rushers
KC – Warren McVea – 11 rushes, 39 yards
NYJ – John Riggins – 11 rushes, 63 yards
Top receivers
KC – Otis Taylor – 2 receptions, 35 yards
NYJ – Don Maynard – 2 receptions, 24 yards :

#### Week 9: vs. Cleveland Browns

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Browns | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Chiefs | 3 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: November 14
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C)
* Game attendance: 50,388
* Referee: Bernie Ulman
* TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 14-yard field goal. Chiefs 3–0.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal. Chiefs 6–0.
KC – Wendell Hayes 26-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 13–0.
Third quarter
No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
CLE – Milt Morin 18-yard pass from Bill Nelsen (Don Cockroft kick). Chiefs 13–7.
Top passers
CLE – Bill Nelsen – 7/11, 130 yards, TD
KC – Len Dawson – 15/24, 234 yards, TD
Top rushers
CLE – Leroy Kelly – 9 rushes, 30 yards
KC – Ed Podolak – 20 rushes, 69 yards
Top receivers
CLE – Frank Pitts – 5 receptions, 129 yards
KC – Otis Taylor – 3 receptions, 66 yards :

#### Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Chiefs | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: November 21
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 44 °F (7 °C)
* Game attendance: 49,945
* Referee: John McDonough
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and George Ratterman
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Morris Stroud 39-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 7–0.
KC – Elmo Wright 69-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 14–0.
DEN – Jim Turner 12-yard field goal. Chiefs 14–3.
Second quarter
KC – Ed Podolak 17-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 21–3.
Third quarter
KC – Jim Otis 12-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 28–3.
Fourth quarter
DEN – Floyd Little 26-yard run (Jim Turner kick). Chiefs 28–10.
Top passers
DEN – Steve Ramsey – 17/37, 231 yards, 3 INT
KC – Len Dawson – 11/19, 294 yards, 3 TD, INT
Top rushers
DEN – Floyd Little – 13 rushes, 63 yards, TD
KC – Ed Podolak – 14 rushes, 69 yards, TD
Top receivers
DEN – Jerry Simmons – 6 receptions, 153 yards
KC – Morris Stroud – 3 receptions, 93 yards, TD :

#### Week 11: at Detroit Lions

Thanksgiving Day games
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Lions | 0 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 32 |
at Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
* Date: November 25
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 29 °F (−2 °C)
* Game attendance: 54,418
* Referee: Jim Tunney
* TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
No scoring plays.
Second quarter
DET – Errol Mann 27-yard field goal. Lions 3–0.
DET – Steve Owens 1-yard run (Errol Mann kick). Lions 10–0.
KC – Ed Podolak 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Lions 10–7.
DET – Charlie Sanders 5-yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick). Lions 17–7.
Third quarter
DET – Earl McCullouch 17-yard pass from Greg Landry (Errol Mann kick). Lions 24–7.
DET – Punt blocked by Ron Jessie out of bounds in endzone for a Safety. Lions 26–7.
DET – Errol Mann 28-yard field goal. Lions 29–7.
KC – Ed Podolak 5-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Lions 29–14.
Fourth quarter
DET – Errol Mann 21-yard field goal. Lions 32–14.
KC – Ed Podolak 6-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Lions 32–21.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 13/22, 139 yards, INT
DET – Greg Landry – 15/22, 225 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
KC – Wendell Hayes – 10 rushes, 68 yards
DET – Steve Owens – 22 rushes, 79 yards, TD
Top receivers
KC – Ed Podolak – 5 receptions, 61 yards
DET – Charlie Sanders – 5 receptions, 90 yards, TD :

#### Week 12: at San Francisco 49ers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 26 |
| 49ers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
* Date: December 6
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C)
* Game attendance: 45,306
* Referee: Pat Haggerty
* TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
SF – Bruce Gossett 18-yard field goal. 49ers 3–0.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 15-yard field goal. Tied 3–3.
KC – Otis Taylor 46-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 10–3.
KC – Jan Stenerud 54-yard field goal. Chiefs 13–3.
SF – Ted Kwalick 35-yard pass from John Brodie (Bruce Gossett kick). Chiefs 13–10.
KC – Jan Stenerud 12-yard field goal. Chiefs 16–10.
Third quarter
KC – Otis Taylor 25-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 23–10.
Fourth quarter
SF – Vic Washington 3-yard run (Bruce Gossett kick). Chiefs 23–17.
KC – Jan Stenerud 8-yard field goal. Chiefs 26–17.
Top passers
KC – Len Dawson – 16/28, 263 yards, TD
SF – John Brodie – 20/32, 229 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
KC – Ed Podolak – 17 rushes, 75 yards
SF – Vic Washington – 12 rushes, 43 yards, TD
Top receivers
KC – Otis Taylor – 5 receptions, 81 yards, TD
SF – Gene Washington – 3 receptions, 73 yards :

#### Week 13: vs. Oakland Raiders

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Raiders | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: December 12
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C)
* Game attendance: 51,215
* Referee: Fred Swearingen
* TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al De Rogatis
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Otis Taylor 29-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 7–0.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 33-yard field goal. Chiefs 10–0.
OAK – Marv Hubbard 1-yard run (George Blanda kick). Chiefs 10–7.
KC – Jan Stenerud 14-yard field goal. Chiefs 13–7.
Third quarter
No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
OAK – Marv Hubbard 1-yard run (George Blanda kick). Raiders 14–13.
KC – Jan Stenerud 10-yard field goal. Chiefs 16–14.
Top passers
OAK – George Blanda – 12/22, 94 yards, 2 INT
KC – Len Dawson – 18/31, 199 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
OAK – Marv Hubbard – 21 rushes, 77 yards, 2 TD
KC – Wendell Hayes – 19 rushes, 77 yards
Top receivers
OAK – Fred Biletnikoff – 6 receptions, 52 yards
KC – Otis Taylor – 8 receptions, 113 yards, TD :

#### Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bills | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| Chiefs | 3 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 22 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: December 19
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 44 °F (7 °C)
* Game attendance: 48,121
* Referee: Bob Frederic
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and George Ratterman
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
BUF – John Leypoldt 45-yard field goal. Bills 3–0.
KC – Jan Stenerud 48-yard field goal. Tied 3–3.
Second quarter
BUF – John Leypoldt 31-yard field goal. Bills 6–3.
KC – Jan Stenerud 23-yard field goal. Tied 6–6.
BUF – John Leypoldt 49-yard field goal. Bills 9–6.
KC – Jan Stenerud 48-yard field goal. Tied 9–9.
Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 45-yard field goal. Chiefs 12–9.
KC – Bobby Bell 26-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 19–9.
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 34-yard field goal. Chiefs 22–9.
Top passers
BUF – Dennis Shaw – 17/34, 196 yards, 2 INT
KC – Mike Livingston – 11/25, 136 yards
Top rushers
BUF – O. J. Simpson – 14 rushes, 68 yards
KC – Warren McVea – 5 rushes, 40 yards
Top receivers
BUF – Marlin Briscoe – 3 receptions, 40 yards
KC – Otis Taylor – 4 receptions, 55 yards :

### Standings

AFC West :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 10 | 3 | 1 | .769 | 4–1–1 | 8–2–1 | 302 | 208 | W3 |
| Oakland Raiders | 8 | 4 | 2 | .667 | 4–1–1 | 7–3–1 | 344 | 278 | W1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 2–4 | 4–7 | 311 | 341 | L1 |
| Denver Broncos | 4 | 9 | 1 | .308 | 1–5 | 3–6–1 | 203 | 275 | L2 |
    Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

## Postseason
### Schedule

| Round | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
| Divisional | December 25 | Miami Dolphins | L 24–27 (2OT) | 0–1 | Municipal Stadium | 45,822 | Recap |

### Game summaries
#### AFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. Miami Dolphins

NFL on Christmas Day
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | Total |
| Dolphins | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 27 |
| Chiefs | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: December 25
* Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C)
* Game attendance: 45,822
* Referee: John McDonough
* TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al De Rogatis
* Recap
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 24-yard field goal. Chiefs 3–0.
KC – Ed Podolak 7-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 10–0.
Second quarter
MIA – Larry Csonka 1-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick). Chiefs 10–7.
MIA – Garo Yepremian 14-yard field goal. Tied 10–10.
Third quarter
KC – Jim Otis 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 17–10.
MIA – Jim Kiick 1-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick). Tied 17–17.
Fourth quarter
KC – Ed Podolak 3-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 24–17.
MIA – Marv Fleming 5-yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick). Tied 24–24.
Overtime
No scoring plays.
Second overtime
MIA – Garo Yepremian 37-yard field goal. Dolphins 27–24.
Top passers
MIA – Bob Griese – 20/35, 263 yards, TD, 2 INT
KC – Len Dawson – 18/26, 246 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
MIA – Larry Csonka – 24 rushes, 86 yards, TD
KC – Wendell Hayes – 22 rushes, 100 yards
Top receivers
MIA – Paul Warfield – 7 receptions, 140 yards
KC – Ed Podolak – 8 receptions, 110 yards, TD :