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
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
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
Game information |
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter 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 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Raiders | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Chiefs | 0 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information |
First quarter 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 | 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 Second quarter 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 | 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 Second quarter Third quarter 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 | 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 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
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 | 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 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 | 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 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 | - 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 | 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 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 | 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 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 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 | 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 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 | 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 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 | 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 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
References
- ^ a b c d e "Kansas City Chiefs History 1970's"". Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved July 30, 2007.
Kansas City Chiefs |
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- Founded in 1960
- Formerly the Dallas Texans (1960–1962)
- Based and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri
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Franchise | |
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Key personnel | |
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Culture | |
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Lore | |
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Rivalries | |
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Wild card berths (10) | |
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Division championships (16) | |
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Conference championships (4) | |
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League championships (5) | |
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Former league affiliation | |
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Kansas City Chiefs seasons |
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Formerly the Dallas Texans (1960–1962) |
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