Top 5 Kansas City Chiefs games are more than the final score
The attacks on 9/11 had curtailed the NFL season. The normally loud and boisterous Chiefs fans were more interested in helping their opponent than jeering them.
Josh Looney, KCChiefs:
“It was an emotional day,” Chiefs Head Coach Dick Vermeil said. “It was for me and I’m sure for a lot of guys. You had to feel it and be touched by it. I was and I’m pretty sure most of the people on the sideline and our fans were. It was a very sincere tribute by the National Football League and the kind of people who are in the league.”The Giants later took out a half-page “thank you” ad in the Kansas City Star.
In all, Chiefs fans donated $220,706.94 in cash and checks to relief efforts in New York City related to the tragic attacks on the World Trade Center.Chiefs players, coaches, staff and the Hunt Family matched that total to bring the total one day donation to $451,413.88.
4. January 4, 1970 Kansas City 17 Oakland 7
Bleacherreport:
The Chiefs were the most successful franchise in the AFL. They had won the league title in 1962 (as the Dallas Texans) and again in 1966 to go along with their three division crowns. Their combined win-loss record in their first nine years was an astounding 81-47-5.
The man kneeling inspecting the tarp at Oakland Alameda County Stadium against the Raiders is Kansas City head coach, Hank Stram. He was known as "Little Caesar." He always believed his opponents were up to no good.
But for all his strictness and rules, the Chiefs were the most racially diverse team in all of professional football. Coach Stram cared for one thing only; and that was talent and an eagerness to do great things on the field. Roommates were not chosen by color, but by playing positions.
The Chiefs faced the Raiders for the third time this season. Oakland had won the first two meetings, and this was to be the last game played in the AFL prior to the merger. Oakland had won seven of the last eight meetings, and boasted the league MVP in QB Daryle Lamonica, and AFL coach of the year in John Madden.
With under four minutes to play and facing 3rd and 14 from his own six yard line, QB Len Dawson threw a 61 yard pass to WR Otis Taylor. The Chiefs moved in for a touchdown and added a late field goal.
There were many injuries on both teams as they closed the book on the AFL. Not one of the original eight teams folded under fierce pressure from the rival NFL. Five teams did move, but they all made it to the AFL/NFL merger after Super Bowl IV.
In the first meeting since the newly merged NFL, the Chiefs held a 17-14 lead late in the fourth quarter and appeared ready to run out the clock. Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson rolled right and gained enough yardage for a first down, and as he fell to the ground, oakland Raiders DE Ben Davidson drove his helmet into Dawson. Davidson was attacked by Chiefs wide receiver Otis Taylor. After a bench-clearing brawl, Davidson and Taylor were ejected, and the penalties that were called nullified the first down under the rules at the time. Kansas City was forced to punt. The Raiders took advantage, as George Blanda nailed a 48-yard field goal with 8 seconds left to secure a 17-17 tie. This was one of five consecutive miracle finishes for George Blanda who was featured on Sports illustrated, Newsweek and Time during this stretch.
Due to this incident, the NFL changed the rules so that Davidson's personal foul would have been enforced at the end of the play, and Taylor's penalty would have been assessed only after the Chiefs had been awarded a first down.
The Chiefs–Raiders rivalry is considered to be one of the National Football League's most bitter. Kansas City leads Oakland 57-51-2. Kansas City is one of only four teams that has a winning record against the Oakland Raiders.
2. January 11, 1970 Kansas City 23 Minnesota 7 Super Bowl IV
Bleacherreport:
The week leading up to Super Bowl IV, the odds-makers immediately made the Vikings the clear winner and a 13-point favorite. Simply put, the AFL was once again being ignored as a viable, competitive pro football league.To make things more difficult, controversy was added to the Chiefs agenda. A story broke on the NBC Network that Kansas City quarterback Len Dawson and five other players were involved in a web of bookmakers. None of the players were ever subpoenaed and were subsequently
cleared of anything unethical or iniquitous.
The Minnesota Vikings had punished their opponents with 50 sacks, and had allowed the fewest points in either league. They were known as " The Purple People Eaters." While they may not have underestimated their opponent as last year's Baltimore Colts had done with the New York Jets, the Vikings could not match the speed of the Kansas City Chiefs.
The inside running of RB Mike Garrett and the deep threat on the outside in WR Otis Taylor were too much for the Vikings to handle. Minnesota seemed confused with the Chiefs offensive formations, and poor tackling led to the 46 yard toss to WR Otis Taylor who danced down the KC sideline for a 23-7 insurmountable fourth quarter lead. The rolled up program in the hands of head coach, Hank Stram was thrown in the air when Otis slipped out of the hands of the last tackler.
1. December 25, 1971 Miami 27 Kansas City 24 (2OT)
It seemed almost unfair to watch such a great effort end in defeat. RB Ed Podolak was a converted college QB from the University of Iowa. His 78 yard kickoff return in overtime had setup the Chiefs for a 31 yard field goal attempt. Future Hall of Fame kicker, Jan Stenrud missed wide left.
On Podolak, Famed broadcaster Curt Gowdy repeatedly called it “the greatest one-man performance I’ve ever seen in football.”
Miami eventually defeated the Chiefs in the second overtime after 82 minutes and 40 seconds of action on a 37 yard field by K Garo Yepremian. Former Boston Patriots and Dolphins MLB Nick Buoniconti made 20 tackles in the Christmas Day affair, which was the longest game ever played in the NFL.
As you can see in the huddle, KC QB Len Dawson is facing two rows of players. The huddle was constructed in the choir formation instead of the usual circular arrangement. This changed back to the original setup during the season because players would be repeating what the QB said, and the defense could read their lips.
Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.
Follow me on Twitter at @_prmurphy
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