# 1977 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1977 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 8th season in the National Football League, the 15th as the Kansas City Chiefs, and the 18th overall. This season was the worst in franchise history until the 2008 season, with the Chiefs winning only two of fourteen games. After an 0–5 start, Head coach Paul Wiggin was fired following a 44–7 loss to Cleveland in week 7. Tom Bettis took over as interim head coach for the rest of the season. The team endured a six-game losing streak to conclude the season at 2–12.
Linebackers Willie Lanier and Jim Lynch, the last remaining links to the Chiefs' Super Bowl IV championship team in 1969, each played their final NFL season.

## Off-season
### 1977 NFL Draft

1977 Kansas City Chiefs draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
| 1 | 10 | Gary Green * | Cornerback | Baylor | |
| 2 | 37 | Tony Reed | Running back | Colorado | |
| 3 | 67 | Thomas Howard | Linebacker | Texas Tech | |
| 4 | 92 | Mark Bailey | Running back | Long Beach State | |
| 4 | 94 | Tony Samuels | Tight end | Bethune–Cookman | |
| 4 | 95 | Darius Helton | Guard | North Carolina Central | |
| 4 | 104 | Eric Harris | Cornerback | Memphis State | Made in 1980 |
| 6 | 150 | Rick Burleson | Defensive end | Texas | |
| 6 | 167 | Andre Herrera | Running back | Southern Illinois | |
| 7 | 177 | Chris Golub | Safety | Kansas | |
| 8 | 204 | Ron Olsonoski | Linebacker | St. Thomas | |
| 8 | 215 | Waddell Smith | Wide receiver | Kansas | |
| 9 | 226 | Derrick Glanton | Defensive end | Bishop | |
| 9 | 234 | Dave Green | Tackle | New Mexico | |
| 10 | 261 | Mark Vitali | Quarterback | Purdue | |
| 11 | 288 | Maurice Mitchell | Wide receiver | Northern Michigan | |
| 12 | 318 | Ray Burks | Linebacker | UCLA | |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

## Season summary

An 0–5 start doomed the squad with a 44–7 loss at Cleveland (10/30) effectively sealing Wiggin's fate. Despite the club's record Wiggin was still a popular figure in Kansas City, but was nonetheless relieved of his duties on Halloween, marking the first in-season coaching switch in team history, and the last until 2011, when Todd Haley was fired with three games remaining. Wiggin concluded his tenure with an 11–24 record.
Defensive backs coach Tom Bettis was named interim coach and claimed a 20–10 victory vs. Green Bay (11/6) in the franchise's initial contest under his direction, but it was the only victory of his brief head coaching tenure. The team endured a six-game losing streak to conclude the season at 2–12. (Ironically, Haley's successor, Romeo Crennel, also won his first game in charge against the Packers at home; Green Bay entered that game 13–0.)
Bettis and the remainder of the coaching staff assembled by Wiggin were released on December 19, one day after a 21–20 loss at Oakland (12/18) in the regular season finale. Marv Levy, the former head coach of the CFL's Montreal Alouettes, was named the fourth head coach in franchise history on December 20.
The heart and soul of the Chiefs once-vaunted defense departed when roommates Willie Lanier and Jim Lynch, who both joined the club together as second-round draft picks in 1967, retired following the 1977 campaign. Baltimore later acquired Lanier's rights in a trade, but failed to lure him out of retirement.
By managing to win only twice in the 1977 season, the team was given the second pick in the 1978 NFL draft.

## Preseason

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | August 6 | at Detroit Lions | L 0–17 | 0–1 | Pontiac Silverdome | 52,309 | Recap |
| 2 | August 13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 23–21 | 1–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 28,584 | Recap |
| 3 | August 18 | at Washington Redskins | L 7–13 | 1–2 | RFK Stadium | 33,263 | Recap |
| 4 | August 27 | Los Angeles Rams | W 27–19 | 2–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 34,975 | Recap |
| 5 | September 5 | Atlanta Falcons | L 16–24 | 2–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 22,748 | Recap |
| 6 | September 10 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 37–20 | 3–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 38,480 | Recap |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | September 18 | at New England Patriots | L 17–21 | 0–1 | Schaefer Stadium | 58,185 | Recap |
| 2 | September 25 | San Diego Chargers | L 7–23 | 0–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 56,146 | Recap |
| 3 | October 3 | Oakland Raiders | L 28–37 | 0–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 60,684 | Recap |
| 4 | October 9 | at Denver Broncos | L 7–23 | 0–4 | Mile High Stadium | 74,878 | Recap |
| 5 | October 16 | Baltimore Colts | L 6–17 | 0–5 | Arrowhead Stadium | 63,076 | Recap |
| 6 | October 23 | at San Diego Chargers | W 21–16 | 1–5 | San Diego Stadium | 33,010 | Recap |
| 7 | October 30 | at Cleveland Browns | L 7–44 | 1–6 | Cleveland Stadium | 60,381 | Recap |
| 8 | November 6 | Green Bay Packers | W 20–10 | 2–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | 62,687 | Recap |
| 9 | November 13 | at Chicago Bears | L 27–28 | 2–7 | Soldier Field | 49,543 | Recap |
| 10 | November 20 | Denver Broncos | L 7–14 | 2–8 | Arrowhead Stadium | 54,050 | Recap |
| 11 | November 27 | at Houston Oilers | L 20–34 | 2–9 | Houston Astrodome | 42,934 | Recap |
| 12 | December 4 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 7–27 | 2–10 | Arrowhead Stadium | 38,488 | Recap |
| 13 | December 11 | Seattle Seahawks | L 31–34 | 2–11 | Arrowhead Stadium | 22,262 | Recap |
| 14 | December 18 | at Oakland Raiders | L 20–21 | 2–12 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 50,304 | Recap |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. ||||||||

### Game summaries
#### Week 1: at New England Patriots

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Patriots | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
* Date: September 18
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Hazy, warm, 76 °F (24 °C)
* Game attendance: 58,185
* Referee: Fred Silva
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Len Dawson
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
KC – MacArthur Lane 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 7:54. Chiefs 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 19 yards, 3:34.
KC – Tony Reed 10-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 4:15. Chiefs 14–0. Drive: 3 plays, 65 yards, 1:28.
NE – Darryl Stingley 34-yard run (John Smith kick), 0:52. Chiefs 14–7. Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 3:23.
Second quarter
NE – Darryl Stingley 21-yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick), 1:08. Tied 14–14. Drive: 4 plays, 42 yards, 0:38.
Third quarter
NE – Jess Phillips 11-yard run (John Smith kick), 2:02. Patriots 21–14. Drive: 7 plays, 59 yards, 3:38.
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 22-yard field goal, 10:23. Patriots 21–17. Drive: 13 plays, 76 yards, 6:39.
Top passers
KC – Mike Livingston – 13/26, 219 yards
NE – Steve Grogan – 10/16, 155 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
KC – Tony Reed – 19 rushes, 88 yards, TD
NE – Sam Cunningham – 23 rushes, 105 yards
Top receivers
KC – Henry Marshall – 3 receptions, 76 yards
NE – Sam Cunningham – 3 receptions, 48 yards :

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

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chargers | 7 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 23 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: September 25
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Overcast, 75 °F (24 °C)
* Game attendance: 56,146
* Referee: Red Cashion
* TV announcers (NBC): Stu Nahan and Floyd Little
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
SD – Don Woods 12-yard pass from James Harris (Rolf Benirschke kick), 9:59. Chargers 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 41 yards, 3:21.
KC – Henry Marshall 19-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 3:20. Tied 7–7. Drive: 7 plays, 44 yards, 3:33.
Second quarter
SD – Leroy Jones 17-yard interception return (kick failed, hit right upright), 13:33. Chargers 13–7.
SD – Rolf Benirschke 31-yard field goal, 0:24. Chargers 16–7. Drive: 10 plays, 37 yards, 2:10.
Third quarter
No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
SD – Mike Fuller 7-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 2:01. Chargers 23–7. Drive: 14 plays, 54 yards, 7:58.
Top passers
SD – James Harris – 11/25, 85 yards, TD, 3 INT
KC – Mike Livingston – 7/21, 101 yards, TD, 3 INT
Top rushers
SD – Clarence Williams – 9 rushes, 88 yards
KC – Tony Reed – 13 rushes, 26 yards
Top receivers
SD – Joe Washington – 2 receptions, 18 yards
KC – Walter White – 5 receptions, 70 yards :

#### Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Raiders | 7 | 6 | 21 | 3 | 37 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 21 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: October 3
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Clear, 61 °F (16 °C)
* Game attendance: 60,684
* Referee: Jim Tunney
* TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
OAK – Fred Biletnikoff 21-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Errol Mann kick), 6:27. Raiders 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 3:52.
Second quarter
OAK – Errol Mann 42-yard field goal, 14:13. Raiders 10–0. Drive: 10 plays, 51 yards, 5:30.
KC – Walter White 48-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 10:19. Raiders 10–7. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 3:54.
KC – Walter White 1-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 5:28. Chiefs 14–10. Drive: 6 plays, 21 yards, 2:38.
KC – Henry Marshall 41-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 5:01. Chiefs 21–10. Drive: 1 play, 31 yards, 0:11.
OAK – Errol Mann 34-yard field goal, 1:02. Chiefs 21–13. Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 3:59.
Third quarter
OAK – Pete Banaszak 1-yard run (Errol Mann kick), 9:16. Chiefs 21–20. Drive: 12 plays, 69 yards, 5:44.
OAK – Clarence Davis 37-yard run (Errol Mann kick), 5:34. Raiders 27–21. Drive: 3 plays, 70 yards, 1:11.
OAK – Clarence Davis 2-yard run (Errol Mann kick), 3:02. Raiders 34–21. Drive: 4 plays, 47 yards, 1:30.
Fourth quarter
KC – Lawrence Williams 13-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 13:31. Raiders 34–28. Drive: 10 plays, 73 yards, 4:31.
OAK – Errol Mann 22-yard field goal, 5:37. Raiders 37–28. Drive: 14 plays, 57 yards, 7:54.
Top passers
OAK – Ken Stabler – 19/28, 297 yards, TD, 3 INT
KC – Mike Livingston – 9/20, 157 yards, 3 TD
Top rushers
OAK – Mark van Eeghen – 24 rushes, 116 yards
KC – Tony Reed – 12 rushes, 119 yards
Top receivers
OAK – Dave Casper – 7 receptions, 101 yards
KC – Henry Marshall – 3 receptions, 75 yards, TD :

#### Week 4: at Denver Broncos

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Broncos | 10 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 23 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
* Date: October 9
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. MDT
* Game weather: Sunny, 68 °F (20 °C)
* Game attendance: 74,878
* Referee: Gordon McCarter
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Floyd Little
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
DEN – Jim Turner 25-yard field goal, 7:31. Broncos 3–0. Drive: 4 plays, 9 yards, 1:33.
DEN – Craig Morton 7-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 1:42. Broncos 10–0. Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards, 1:55.
Second quarter
DEN – Jim Turner 33-yard field goal, 12:42. Broncos 13–0. Drive: 7 plays, 16 yards, 2:24.
DEN – Jim Turner 33-yard field goal, 5:06. Broncos 16–0. Drive: 12 plays, 61 yards, 5:10.
Third quarter
DEN – Otis Armstrong 1-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 9:17. Broncos 23–0. Drive: 5 plays, 46 yards, 1:42.
Fourth quarter
KC – Ed Podolak 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 7:25. Broncos 23–7. Drive: 5 plays, 44 yards, 1:35.
Top passers
KC – Tony Adams – 10/18, 81 yards, 2 INT
DEN – Craig Morton – 13/21, 189 yards
Top rushers
KC – Mark Bailey – 8 rushes, 30 yards
DEN – Jon Keyworth – 13 rushes, 59 yards
Top receivers
KC – Walter White – 6 receptions, 49 yards
DEN – Rick Upchurch – 2 receptions, 64 yards :

#### Week 5: vs. Baltimore Colts

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Colts | 14 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: October 16
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Clear, 54 °F (12 °C)
* Game attendance: 63,076
* Referee: Gene Barth
* TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Paul Maguire
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
BAL – Ron Lee 1-yard run (Toni Linhart kick), 3:12. Colts 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 48 yards, 1:54.
BAL – Don McCauley 2-yard run (Toni Linhart kick), 0:36. Colts 14–0. Drive: 6 plays, 36 yards, 3:01.
Second quarter
KC – John Brockington 1-yard run (kick aborted), 5:09. Colts 14–6. Drive: 9 plays, 46 yards, 5:24.
Third quarter
BAL – Toni Linhart 44-yard field goal, 1:29. Colts 17–6. Drive: 7 plays, 10 yards, 3:17.
Fourth quarter
No scoring plays.
Top passers
BAL – Bert Jones – 11/20, 90 yards
KC – Mike Livingston – 11/23, 146 yards, 2 INT
Top rushers
BAL – Lydell Mitchell – 28 rushes, 97 yards
KC – Tony Reed – 16 rushes, 69 yards
Top receivers
BAL – Don McCauley – 3 receptions, 32 yards
KC – Mark Bailey – 6 receptions, 86 yards :

#### Week 6: at San Diego Chargers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
| Chargers | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
* Date: October 23
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
* Game weather: Hazy, 75 °F (24 °C)
* Game attendance: 33,010
* Referee: Chuck Heberling
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Floyd Little
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
SD – Rolf Benirschke 40-yard field goal, 10:25. Chargers 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 4:35.
Second quarter
SD – Larry Dorsey 26-yard pass from James Harris (Rolf Benirschke kick), 5:22. Chargers 10–0. Drive: 4 plays, 41 yards, 1:58.
Third quarter
KC – Walter White 5-yard pass from Tony Adams (Jan Stenerud kick), 9:09. Chargers 10–7. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:05.
SD – Rolf Benirschke 47-yard field goal, 4:11. Chargers 13–7. Drive: 10 plays, 44 yards, 4:58.
Fourth quarter
SD – Rolf Benirschke 24-yard field goal, 9:14. Chargers 16–7. Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 5:28.
KC – Tony Reed 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 2:30. Chargers 16–14. Drive: 2 plays, 1 yard, 0:27.
KC – Tim Gray 15-yard fumble return (Jan Stenerud kick), 2:08. Chiefs 21–16.
Top passers
KC – Tony Adams – 15/26, 215 yards, TD
SD – James Harris – 18/35, 233 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
KC – Tony Reed – 22 rushes, 68 yards, TD
SD – Rickey Young – 13 rushes, 51 yards
Top receivers
KC – Walter White – 6 receptions, 96 yards, TD
SD – Rickey Young – 9 receptions, 97 yards :

#### Week 7: at Cleveland Browns

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
| Browns | 13 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 44 |
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
* Date: October 30
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny, clear, 61 °F (16 °C)
* Game attendance: 60,381
* Referee: Bernie Ulman
* TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck and Mike Haffner
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
CLE – Gary Parris 7-yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick), 8:08. Browns 7–0. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 3:53.
CLE – Don Cockroft 29-yard field goal, 4:28. Browns 10–0. Drive: 4 plays, 7 yards, 1:37.
CLE – Don Cockroft 34-yard field goal, 0:43. Browns 13–0. Drive: 7 plays, 35 yards, 1:50.
Second quarter
CLE – Don Cockroft 27-yard field goal, 11:13. Browns 16–0. Drive: 8 plays, 58 yards, 2:46.
CLE – Thom Darden 18-yard interception return (Don Cockroft kick), 6:40. Browns 23–0.
CLE – Mike Pruitt 1-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 1:09. Browns 30–0. Drive: 3 plays, 42 yards, 1:07.
Third quarter
CLE – Greg Pruitt 78-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 3:13. Browns 37–0. Drive: 1 play, 78 yards, 0:12.
Fourth quarter
CLE – Gary Parris 2-yard pass from Dave Mays(Don Cockroft kick), 2:39. Browns 44–0. Drive: 15 plays, 90 yards, 8:08.
KC – John Brockington 22-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:19. Browns 44–7. Drive: 7 plays, 78 yards, 1:20.
Top passers
KC – Mike Livingston – 12/22, 121 yards, TD, INT
CLE – Brian Sipe – 12/25, 200 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
KC – Ed Podolak – 9 rushes, 87 yards
CLE – Greg Pruitt – 18 rushes, 153 yards, TD
Top receivers
KC – Larry Brunson – 4 receptions, 54 yards
CLE – Reggie Rucker – 4 receptions, 94 yards :

#### Week 8: vs. Green Bay Packers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Packers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Chiefs | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: November 6
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Overcast, 58 °F (14 °C)
* Game attendance: 62,687
* Referee: Bob Frederic
* TV announcers (CBS): Lindsey Nelson and Paul Hornung
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal, 9:16. Chiefs 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 5:44.
KC – Henry Marshall 3-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 6:23. Chiefs 10–0. Drive: 4 plays, 39 yards, 1:19.
Second quarter
No scoring plays.
Third quarter
GB – Chester Marcol 31-yard field goal, 9:11. Chiefs 10–3. Drive: 11 plays, 49 yards, 5:49.
Fourth quarter
KC – Ed Podolak 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 14:53. Chiefs 17–3. Drive: 7 plays, 43 yards, 2:48.
GB – Terdell Middleton 85-yard kickoff return (Chester Marcol kick), 14:25. Chiefs 17–10.
KC – Jan Stenerud 22-yard field goal, 4:47. Chiefs 20–10. Drive: 11 plays, 56 yards, 5:05.
Top passers
GB – Lynn Dickey – 15/28, 139 yards
KC – Mike Livingston – 11/21, 143 yards, TD
Top rushers
GB – Terdell Middleton – 14 rushes, 49 yards
KC – Ed Podolak – 18 rushes, 98 yards, TD
Top receivers
GB – Steve Odom – 6 receptions, 80 yards
KC – Ed Podolak – 4 receptions, 51 yards :

#### Week 9: at Chicago Bears

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 14 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 27 |
| Bears | 0 | 0 | 7 | 21 | 28 |
at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois
* Date: November 13
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Partly cloudy and cool, 38 °F (3 °C)
* Game attendance: 49,543
* Referee: Don Wedge
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Adamle
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Mike Livingston 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 9:28. Chiefs 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 5:32.
KC – Ed Podolak 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 5:22. Chiefs 14–0. Drive: 7 plays, 66 yards, 2:44.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 37-yard field goal, 1:12. Chiefs 17–0. Drive: 7 plays, 34 yards, 1:50.
Third quarter
CHI – Walter Payton 1-yard run (Bob Thomas kick), 9:37. Chiefs 17–7. Drive: 6 plays, 31 yards, 2:26.
Fourth quarter
CHI – Walter Payton 1-yard run (Bob Thomas kick), 7:37. Chiefs 17–14. Drive: 10 plays, 54 yards, 4:37.
KC – Jan Stenerud 21-yard field goal, 3:21. Chiefs 20–14. Drive: 10 plays, 52 yards, 4:16.
CHI – Walter Payton 15-yard run (Bob Thomas kick), 2:02. Bears 21–20. Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 1:19.
KC – Ed Podolak 14-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 0:24. Chiefs 27–21. Drive: 9 plays, 56 yards, 1:38.
CHI – Greg Latta 37-yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick), 0:03. Bears 28–27. Drive: 2 plays, 57 yards, 0:21.
Top passers
KC – Mike Livingston – 16/27, 185 yards, 2 INT
CHI – Bob Avellini – 11/23, 193 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
KC – Ed Podolak – 29 rushes, 102 yards, 2 TD
CHI – Walter Payton – 33 rushes, 192 yards, 3 TD
Top receivers
KC – Walter White – 7 receptions, 92 yards
CHI – Greg Latta – 2 receptions, 50 yards, TD :

#### Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Broncos | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: November 20
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Clear, 52 °F (11 °C)
* Game attendance: 54,050
* Referee: Dick Jorgensen
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Haffner
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
No scoring plays.
Second quarter
DEN – Lonnie Perrin 2-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 11:55. Broncos 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 47 yards, 4:13.
KC – Henry Marshall 15-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 0:12. Tied 7–7. Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards, 1:31.
Third quarter
No scoring plays.
Fourth quarter
DEN – Haven Moses 23-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 4:29. Broncos 14–7. Drive: 4 plays, 52 yards, 1:39.
Top passers
DEN – Craig Morton – 8/18, 135 yards, TD, 2 INT
KC – Mike Livingston – 20/33, 180 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
DEN – Otis Armstrong – 21 rushes, 120 yards
KC – Raymond Burks – 1 rush, 51 yards
Top receivers
DEN – Haven Moses – 4 receptions, 80 yards, TD
KC – Larry Brunson – 5 receptions, 51 yards :

#### Week 11: at Houston Oilers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 6 | 0 | 14 | 20 |
| Oilers | 7 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 34 |
at Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas
* Date: November 27
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
* Game attendance: 42,934
* Referee: Red Cashion
* TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck and Paul Maguire
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
HOU – Ken Burrough 48-yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Tom Dempsey kick), 12:33. Oilers 7–0. Drive: 1 play, 48 yards, 0:08.
Second quarter
HOU – Tim Wilson 11-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick), 14:14. Oilers 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 32 yards, 2:02.
KC – Jan Stenerud 30-yard field goal, 9:03. Oilers 14–3. Drive: 13 plays, 67 yards, 5:11.
KC – Jan Stenerud 26-yard field goal, 1:12. Oilers 14–6. Drive: 7 plays, 20 yards, 1:24.
Third quarter
HOU – Tim Wilson 1-yard run (kick failed), 8:11. Oilers 20–6. Drive: 12 plays, 74 yards, 6:49.
Fourth quarter
HOU – Ken Burrough 7-yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Tom Dempsey kick), 13:05. Oilers 27–6. Drive: 3 plays, 89 yards, 0:47.
HOU – Don Hardeman 3-yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Tom Dempsey kick), 11:23. Oilers 34–6. Drive: 3 plays, 28 yards, 1:32.
KC – Walter White 36-yard pass from Tony Adams (Jan Stenerud kick), 2:23. Oilers 34–13. Drive: 4 plays, 72 yards, 1:17.
KC – Willie Lee 10-yard fumble return (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:35. Oilers 34–20.
Top passers
KC – Mike Livingston – 15/34, 201 yards, INT
HOU – Dan Pastorini – 11/24, 118 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
KC – Ed Podolak – 9 rushes, 40 yards
HOU – Rob Carpenter – 14 rushes, 149 yards
Top receivers
KC – Walter White – 4 receptions, 79 yards, TD
HOU – Ken Burrough – 4 receptions, 58 yards, 2 TD :

#### Week 12: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bengals | 7 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: December 4
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Overcast, foggy, 30 °F (−1 °C)
* Game attendance: 38,488
* Referee: Bernie Ulman
* TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck and Floyd Little
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
CIN – Billy Brooks 15-yard pass from Ken Anderson (Chris Bahr kick), 5:04. Bengals 7–0. Drive: 14 plays, 80 yards, 6:42.
KC – Mark Bailey 47-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 3:33. Tied 7–7. Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards, 1:31.
Second quarter
CIN – Chris Bahr 35-yard field goal, 13:59. Bengals 10–7. Drive: 10 plays, 27 yards, 2:17.
CIN – Pat McInally 14-yard pass from Ken Anderson (Chris Bahr kick), 0:07. Bengals 17–7. Drive: 1 plays, 14 yards, 0:05.
Third quarter
CIN – Chris Bahr 20-yard field goal, 1:42. Bengals 20–7. Drive: 13 plays, 57 yards, 6:51.
Fourth quarter
CIN – Pete Johnson 1-yard run (Chris Bahr kick), 14:57. Bengals 27–7. Drive: 4 plays, 12 yards, 1:35.
Top passers
CIN – Ken Anderson – 9/24, 102 yards, 2 TD
KC – Mike Livingston – 12/25, 178 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
CIN – Archie Griffin – 18 rushes, 80 yards
KC – Ted McKnight – 5 rushes, 25 yards
Top receivers
CIN – Archie Griffin – 3 receptions, 36 yards
KC – Henry Marshall – 4 receptions, 80 yards :

#### Week 13: vs. Seattle Seahawks

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Seahawks | 14 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 34 |
| Chiefs | 21 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 31 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
* Date: December 11
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Sunny, 40 °F (4 °C)
* Game attendance: 22,262
* Referee: Fred Silva
* TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Andy Russell
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
KC – Walter White 30-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 10:19. Chiefs 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards, 1:35.
SEA – David Sims 1-yard run (John Leypoldt kick), 7:46. Tied 7–7. Drive: 8 plays, 74 yards, 2:33.
KC – Gary Barbaro 102-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick), 7:11. Chiefs 14–7.
SEA – David Sims 5-yard run (John Leypoldt kick), 4:13. Tied 14–14. Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 2:58.
KC – Ed Podolak 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:09. Chiefs 21–14. Drive: 8 plays, 26 yards, 3:04.
Second quarter
SEA – Don Testerman 1-yard run (kick blocked), 11:34. Chiefs 21–20. Drive: 9 plays, 54 yards, 4:23.
SEA – Sherman Smith 35-yard pass from Jim Zorn (John Leypoldt kick), 9:27. Seahawks 27–21. Drive: 3 plays, 54 yards, 0:53.
SEA – Dave Brown 27-yard interception return (John Leypoldt kick), 1:12. Seahawks 34–21.
Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 23-yard field goal, 10:13. Seahawks 34–24. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:47.
Fourth quarter
KC – Mark Bailey 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 12:26. Seahawks 34–31. Drive: 3 plays, 6 yards, 1:12.
Top passers
SEA – Jim Zorn – 8/14, 133 yards, TD, 2 INT
KC – Tony Adams – 7/13, 135 yards, 2 INT
Top rushers
SEA – Sherman Smith – 19 rushes, 86 yards
KC – Ed Podolak – 21 rushes, 92 yards, TD
Top receivers
SEA – Sherman Smith – 3 receptions, 63 yards, TD
KC – Larry Brunson – 3 receptions, 95 yards :

#### Week 14: at Oakland Raiders

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 13 | 0 | 20 |
| Raiders | 3 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 21 |
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
* Date: December 18
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: Partly cloudy, 54 °F (12 °C)
* Game attendance: 50,304
* Referee: Gordon McCarter
* TV announcers (NBC): Dick Stockton and Mike Haffner
* Box score
Game information :
First quarter
OAK – Errol Mann 31-yard field goal, 7:47. Raiders 3–0. Drive: 8 plays, 34 yards, 3:25.
Second quarter
KC – Tim Collier 100-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick), 14:45. Chiefs 7–3.
OAK – Errol Mann 19-yard field goal, 7:28. Chiefs 7–6. Drive: 10 plays, 63 yards, 5:38.
Third quarter
KC – Mark Bailey 37-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 10:13. Chiefs 14–6. Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:07.
KC – Tim Gray 14-yard fumble return (kick blocked), 9:53. Chiefs 20–6.
OAK – Carl Garrett 5-yard run (kick failed, wide left), 5:21. Chiefs 20–12. Drive: 4 plays, 18 yards, 2:02.
OAK – Carl Garrett 4-yard pass from Mike Rae (kick failed, hit right upright), 2:11. Chiefs 20–18. Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards, 1:33.
Fourth quarter
OAK – Errol Mann 28-yard field goal, 6:33. Raiders 21–20. Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards, 7:26.
Top passers
KC – Tony Adams – 10/18, 131 yards, 4 INT
OAK – Mike Rae – 10/16, 117 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
KC – Tony Reed – 15 rushes, 61 yards
OAK – Mark van Eeghen – 16 rushes, 71 yards
Top receivers
KC – Tony Samuels – 4 receptions, 62 yards
OAK – Fred Biletnikoff – 3 receptions, 55 yards :

### Standings

AFC West :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| Denver Broncos$^{(1)}$ | 12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 6–1 | 11–1 | 274 | 148 | L1 |
| Oakland Raiders$^{(4)}$ | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 5–2 | 10–2 | 351 | 230 | W2 |
| San Diego Chargers | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | 3–4 | 6–6 | 222 | 205 | L2 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 1–3 | 4–9 | 282 | 373 | W2 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 2 | 12 | 0 | .143 | 1–6 | 1–11 | 225 | 349 | L6 |