1973 Kansas City Chiefs season

NFL team 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.

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.[1] 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.[1]

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.[1] Len Dawson became the second Chiefs player in as many years to win the NFL Man of the Year Award.[1] 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.[1]

Offseason

NFL Draft

Round Pick Player Position School/Club Team

Roster

1973 Kansas City Chiefs roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics

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

Week 1: Los Angeles Rams at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Rams 6 14 3023
Chiefs 0 0 01313

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

First quarter

  • LA – Pat Curran 2-yard pass from John Hadl (kick failed). Rams 6–0.

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • LA – David Ray 27-yard field goal. Rams 23–0.

Fourth quarter

Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
  • LA – Lawrence McCutcheon – 3 receptions, 53 yards, TD
  • KC – Otis Taylor – 4 receptions, 83 yards

Week 2: at New England Patriots

Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 10 0010
Patriots 0 0 077

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

Third quarter

  • No scoring plays.

Fourth quarter

Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
  • KC – Otis Taylor – 5 receptions, 115 yards
  • NE – Reggie Rucker – 5 receptions, 97 yards

Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week 3: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 0 3 003
Chiefs 0 6 3716

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

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
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

Week 4: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 7 0714
Chiefs 0 6 7316

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
Top rushers
Top receivers
  • DEN – Floyd Little – 3 receptions, 64 yards, TD
  • KC – Ed Podolak – 12 receptions, 84 yards

Week 5: at Green Bay Packers

Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 0 0310
Packers 0 10 0010

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

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • No scoring plays.

Fourth quarter

  • KC – Jan Stenerud 36-yard field goal. Tied 10–10.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
  • KC – Ed Podolak – 6 receptions, 30 yards
  • GB – MacArthur Lane – 4 receptions, 38 yards

Week 6: at Cincinnati Bengals

Week 6: Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 3 306
Bengals 0 7 0714

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

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
Top receivers
  • KC – Ed Podolak – 4 receptions, 43 yards
  • CIN – Isaac Curtis – 8 receptions, 106 yards

Week 7: at Buffalo Bills

Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 7 0714
Bills 14 0 9023

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

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

Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers

Week 8: at San Diego Chargers

Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 6 3 3719
Chargers 0 0 000

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

Third quarter

  • KC – Jan Stenerud 36-yard field goal. Chiefs 12–0.

Fourth quarter

Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers

Week 9: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 9: Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 0 707
Chiefs 3 9 7019

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

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

Fourth quarter

  • No scoring plays.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
  • CHI – Carl Garrett – 2 receptions, 62 yards
  • KC – Otis Taylor – 3 receptions, 54 yards, TD

Week 10: vs. Houston Oilers

Week 10: Houston Oilers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Oilers 0 0 7714
Chiefs 7 7 101438

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

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
Top rushers
Top receivers

Week 11 at Denver Broncos

Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 3 0710
Broncos 0 14 0014

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
Top rushers
Top receivers
  • KC – Otis Taylor – 3 receptions, 50 yards, TD
  • DEN – Haven Moses – 5 receptions, 108 yards, 2 TD

Week 12 vs Cleveland Browns

Week 12: Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Browns 0 3 31420
Chiefs 7 0 31020

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

Second quarter

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
Top rushers
Top receivers

Week 13: at Oakland Raiders

Week 13: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 707
Raiders 7 13 31437

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

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

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
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

Week 14: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 0 306
Chiefs 10 3 101033

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

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
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
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 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

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Kansas City Chiefs History 1970's"". Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved July 30, 2007.
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Kansas City Chiefs
  • Founded in 1960
  • Formerly the Dallas Texans (1960–1962)
  • Based and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri
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Division championships (16)
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Kansas City Chiefs seasons
Formerly the Dallas Texans (1960–1962)
Bold indicates AFL Championship (1960–65) or Super Bowl (1966–) victory
Italics indicates Super Bowl appearance