1971 Kansas City Chiefs season

NFL team 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.[1]

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.[2]

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,[2] as well as the last game for safety Johnny Robinson,[3] 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
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
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

Roster

1971 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 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

Week 1: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 7 0014
Chargers 0 0 71421

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

Second quarter

  • KC – Ed Podolak 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 14–0.

Third quarter

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

Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 10 3 0720
Oilers 0 7 3616

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

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

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

Week 3: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 10 0616
Broncos 3 0 003

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

Top rushers

  • KC – Ed Podolak – 15 rushes, 38 yards
  • DEN – Bobby Anderson – 11 rushes, 34 yards

Top receivers

Week 4: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 4: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 7 0010
Chiefs 0 10 71431

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

Second quarter

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

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

Week 5: Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Steelers 9 0 0716
Chiefs 0 28 01038

at Municipal Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

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

Week 6: Washington Redskins at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Redskins 7 10 0320
Chiefs 3 3 71427

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

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

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

Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 7 3320
Raiders 3 7 01020

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

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

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

Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 3 0010
Jets 7 3 0313

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

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

Top receivers

  • KC – Otis Taylor – 2 receptions, 35 yards
  • NYJ – Don Maynard – 2 receptions, 24 yards

Week 9: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week 9: Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Browns 0 0 077
Chiefs 3 10 0013

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

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

Top passers

  • CLE – Bill Nelsen – 7/11, 130 yards, TD
  • KC – Len Dawson – 15/24, 234 yards, TD

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • CLE – Frank Pitts – 5 receptions, 129 yards
  • KC – Otis Taylor – 3 receptions, 66 yards

Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 10: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 3 0 0710
Chiefs 14 7 7028

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

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

Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 7 7721
Lions 0 17 12332

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

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

Week 12: Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 16 7326
49ers 3 7 0717

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

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

Week 13: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 0 7 0714
Chiefs 7 6 7323

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

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

Week 14: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bills 3 6 009
Chiefs 3 6 10322

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

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

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • BUF – Marlin Briscoe – 3 receptions, 40 yards
  • KC – Otis Taylor – 4 receptions, 55 yards

Standings

AFC West
  • view
  • talk
  • edit
 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

AFC Divisional Playoffs: Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OT2OTTotal
Dolphins 0 10 770327
Chiefs 10 0 770024

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

Second quarter

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

References

  1. ^ "Dolphins under KC's tree". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. December 20, 1971. p. 24.
  2. ^ a b "Dallas, Miami playoff winners". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. December 26, 1971. p. D1.
  3. ^ "Chiefs begin trying to fill Robinson void". Lawrence Daily Journal-World. (Kansas). Associated Press. July 13, 1972. p. 21.

External links

  • 1971 Kansas City Chiefs on Database Football
  • v
  • t
  • e
Kansas City Chiefs
  • Founded in 1960
  • Formerly the Dallas Texans (1960–1962)
  • Based and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri
Franchise
Stadiums
Key personnel
Culture
Lore
Rivalries
Wild card berths (10)
Division championships (16)
Conference championships (4)
League championships (5)
Retired numbers
Media
Current league affiliations
Former league affiliation
  • v
  • t
  • e
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