1973 Kansas City Chiefs 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.
1973 Kansas City Chiefs season | |
---|---|
Owner | Lamar Hunt |
Head coach | Hank Stram |
General manager | Jack Steadman |
Home field | Arrowhead Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 7–5–2 |
Division place | 2nd AFC West |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | C Jack Rudnay LB Willie Lanier |
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
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
|
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
|
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
|
Reserve lists
{{{reserve_lists}}}
|
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.
Standings
AFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
Game summaries
Week 1 vs. Los Angeles Rams
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rams | 6 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 23 |
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 13 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 16
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C)
- Game attendance: 62,315
- TV announcers (CBS): Ray Scott, Tom Brookshier, and Gil Stratton
- Box Score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 2 at New England Patriots
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Patriots | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
at Schaefer Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts
- Date: September 23
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C)
- Game attendance: 57,918
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Paul Maguire
- Box Score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 3 vs. Oakland Raiders
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Chiefs | 0 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 16 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 30
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C)
- Game attendance: 72,631
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
- Box Score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 4 vs. Denver Broncos
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Chiefs | 0 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 16 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 5 at Green Bay Packers
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
- TV announcers (NBC): Ross Porter and Willie Davis
- Box Score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 6 at Cincinnati Bengals
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
Bengals | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 7 at Buffalo Bills
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Bills | 14 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 23 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
- Date: October 29
- Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 45 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 76,071
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Howard Cosell
- Box Score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 8 at San Diego Chargers
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
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Kyle Rote
- Box Score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 9 vs Chicago Bears
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
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, and Howard Cosell
- Box Score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 10 vs Houston Oilers
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
- TV announcers (NBC): Bill Enis and Dave Kocourek
- Box Score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 11 at Denver Broncos
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
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Sam DeLuca
- Box Score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 12 vs Cleveland Browns
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
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
- Box Score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 13 at Oakland Raiders
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
- TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatis
- Box Score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 14 vs San Diego Chargers
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
- TV announcers (NBC): Ross Porter and Willie Davis
- Box Score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
References
- "Kansas City Chiefs History 1970's"". Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved July 30, 2007.