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]
Round Pick Player Position School/Club Team
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
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 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 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 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.
Week 1 vs. Los Angeles Rams [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
LA – David Ray 27-yard field goal. Rams 23–0. Fourth quarter
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
Week 2: at New England Patriots [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders [ edit ] 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 Top receivers OAK – Cliff Branch – 2 receptions, 29 yards KC – Wendell Hayes – 3 receptions, 23 yards
Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos [ edit ] 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
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
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 [ edit ] 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 [ edit ] 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 21Game time : 4:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : 52 °F (11 °C)Game attendance : 56,397Referee : Tommy Bell TV announcers (KMBC-TV ) : Bill Enis and Kyle RoteBox 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 Top rushers Top receivers KC – Ed Podolak – 4 receptions, 43 yards CIN – Isaac Curtis – 8 receptions, 106 yards
Week 7: at Buffalo Bills [ edit ] 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 [ edit ] 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 [ edit ] 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 : Game time : 8:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 51 °F (11 °C)Game attendance : 70,664Referee : Fred Silva TV announcers (ABC) : Frank Gifford, Don Meredith, and Howard CosellBox 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
Week 10: vs. Houston Oilers [ edit ] 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
Game information First quarter
Second quarter
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 [ edit ] Game information First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
Week 12 vs Cleveland Browns [ edit ] 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 2Game time : 3:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 56 °F (13 °C)Game attendance : 70,296Referee : Jack Reader TV announcers (NBC) : Curt Gowdy and Al DeRogatisBox 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 [ edit ] 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
Week 14: vs. San Diego Chargers [ edit ] 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 16Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 20 °F (−7 °C)Game attendance : 43,755Referee : Chuck Heberling TV announcers (NBC) : Ross Porter and Willie DavisBox 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 Top receivers SD – Robert Holmes – 5 receptions, 50 yards KC – Jeff Kinney – 2 receptions, 42 yards
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
Formerly the Dallas Texans (1960–1962)