The 1966 Kansas City Chiefs season was the team's seventh season in the American Football League (AFL) and fourth in Kansas City. With an 11–2 regular season record, the Chiefs won the Western Division and defeated the Buffalo Bills 31–7 to win their second AFL Championship, their first in Kansas City.

By winning the AFL Championship, the Chiefs were invited to play in the inaugural AFL-NFL World Championship Game, which would later be known as Super Bowl I, against the NFL's Green Bay Packers. The contest between the best of the NFL vs AFL was a contest for one half, but the Packers pulled away in the second half for a 35–10 victory.

Offseason

Draft

Undrafted free agents

+ 1966 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeRudy BarberLiinebackerBethune–Cookman

Roster

Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 at Denver Broncos W 32–30 1–0 Bears Stadium 17,771 Recap 2 at Miami Dolphins W 33–0 2–0 Miami Orange Bowl 36,366 Recap 3 vs. San Diego Chargers W 31–21 3–0 Anaheim Stadium 36,038 Recap 4 Houston Oilers W 31–20 4–0 Municipal Stadium 25,270 Recap

Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 Bye 2 September 11 at Buffalo Bills W 42–20 1–0 War Memorial Stadium 42,023 Recap 3 September 18 at Oakland Raiders W 32–10 2–0 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 50,746 Recap 4 September 25 at Boston Patriots W 43–24 3–0 Fenway Park 22,641 Recap 5 October 2 Buffalo Bills L 14–29 3–1 Municipal Stadium 43,885 Recap 6 Denver Broncos W 37–10 4–1 Municipal Stadium 33,929 Recap 7 October 16 Oakland Raiders L 13–34 4–2 Municipal Stadium 33,057 Recap 8 October 23 at Denver Broncos W 56–10 5–2 Bears Stadium 26,196 Recap 9 October 30 Houston Oilers W 48–23 6–2 Municipal Stadium 31,676 Recap 10 November 6 San Diego Chargers W 24–14 7–2 Municipal Stadium 40,986 Recap 11 November 13 Miami Dolphins W 34–16 8–2 Municipal Stadium 34,063 Recap 12 November 20 Boston Patriots T 27–27 8–2–1 Municipal Stadium 41,475 Recap 13 November 27 at New York Jets W 32–24 9–2–1 Shea Stadium 60,318 Recap 14Bye 15 December 11 at Miami Dolphins W 19–18 10–2–1 Miami Orange Bowl 17,881 Recap 16 December 18 at San Diego Chargers W 27–17 11–2–1 Balboa Stadium 28,348 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

Postseason Schedule Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap AFL Championship January 1, 1967 at Buffalo Bills W 31–7 1–0 War Memorial Stadium 42,080 Recap Super Bowl I January 15, 1967 vs. Green Bay Packers L 10–35 1–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 61,946 Recap

1966 AFL Championship

January 1, 1967, at War Memorial Stadium in Buffalo, New YorkAttendance: 42,080

The host Bills entered the AFL title game as two-time defending champions, but the visiting Chiefs were three-point favorites, mainly because of their explosive and innovative offense led by head coach Hank Stram. The Bills were a more conventional team with a solid defensive line and a running mindset on offense. The two teams had split their season series, played early in the schedule without weather as a factor, with the road team winning each.

Played on a sunny day, a Bills fumble on the opening kickoff gave the Chiefs a short field to work with. Quarterback Len Dawson immediately took advantage of it, hitting Fred Arbanas for the game's first score. Buffalo quarterback Jack Kemp's first pass for the Bills was a 69-yard score to Elbert Dubenion. Late in the second quarter and trailing 14–7, Kemp led the Bills to the Kansas City 10. Bobby Crockett was open in the end zone, but Kemp's pass was intercepted by Johnny Robinson, who returned it 72 yards. That set up a Mike Mercer field goal to close out the first half with a ten-point lead.

Buffalo found no offensive rhythm in the second half, and the third quarter was scoreless. The Chiefs closed the game out in the fourth quarter with Dawson found Chris Burford for a 45-yard gain, setting up a one-foot touchdown run by rookie running back Mike Garrett, extending the lead to 24–7. Garrett scored his second touchdown less than two minutes later, following another Bills fumble.

Scoring summary First quarter KC – Arbanas 29 pass from Dawson (Mercer kick), KC 7–0 BUF – Dubenion 69 pass from Kemp (Lusteg kick), 7–7 Tie Second quarter KC – Taylor 29 pass from Dawson (Mercer kick), KC 14–7 KC – Field goal Mercer 32, KC 17–7 Third quarter no scoring Fourth quarter KC – Garrett 1 run (Mercer kick), KC 24–7 KC – Garrett 18 run (Mercer kick), KC 31–7

Upon their return to Kansas City, the Chiefs were greeted by 12,000 fans at the airport. They split their players' shares for the title game 51 ways, or $5,308 each. Chiefs go to Super Bowl I but lost to the NFL Champion Packers 35-10.

First AFL-NFL World Championship (Super Bowl I)

January 15, 1967, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CaliforniaAttendance: 61,946

The first AFL-NFL World Championship Game, later known as Super Bowl I, was played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on January 15, 1967. The Chiefs faced the Green Bay Packers of the NFL, who finished their regular season at 12–2 and won the NFL championship game, their second consecutive and fourth in six seasons.

The Packers jumped out to an early 7–0 lead with quarterback Bart Starr's 37-yard touchdown pass to reserve receiver Max McGee, who had entered the game a few plays earlier for re-injured starter Boyd Dowler. Early in the second quarter, Kansas City marched 66 yards in 6 plays to tie the game on a 7-yard pass from quarterback Len Dawson to Curtis McClinton. But the Packers responded on their next drive, advancing 73 yards down the field and scoring on fullback Jim Taylor's 14-yard touchdown run with the team's famed "Power Sweep" play. With a minute left in the half, the lead was cut to 14–10 on Mike Mercer's 31-yard field goal.

Early in the second half, Dawson was intercepted by safety Willie Wood, who returned it 50 yards to the 5-yard line. On the next play, running back Elijah Pitts rushed for a touchdown, and the Packers led 21–10. Late in the third quarter, McGee scored his second touchdown of the game with a 13-yard reception from Starr, as Green Bay held the Chiefs' offense to 12 yards in the quarter. Pitts scored another touchdown for the Packers from a yard out midway through the fourth quarter for the final score, 35–10. Starr was named the MVP of the game, completing 16 of 23 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns.

Scoring summary First quarter GB – McGee 37 pass from Starr (Chandler kick), 7–0 GB Second quarter KC – McClinton 7 pass from Dawson (Mercer kick), 7–7 Tie GB – Taylor 14 run (Chandler kick), 14–7 GB KC – FG Mercer 31, 14–10 GB Third quarter GB – Pitts 5 run (Chandler kick), 21–10 GB GB – McGee 13 pass from Starr (Chandler kick), 28–10 GB Fourth quarter GB – Pitts 1 run (Chandler kick), 35–10 GB

The Kansas City players received $7,500 each as runners-up; combined with the AFL title game money, each Chief earned over $12,800 in the two-game postseason. Chiefs lose this game but in 1967 miss the playoffs 9-5. First time since 1965.

References

External links 1966 Kansas City Chiefs at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1966 Kansas City Chiefs at ProFootballArchives.com 1966 Kansas City Chiefs at jt-sw.com