The 1970 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's debut season in the National Football League, the eighth as the Kansas City Chiefs, and eleventh overall. It began with the Chiefs attempting to defend their Super Bowl IV championship title, but ended with a 7–5–2 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 1967.
Following their championship success, the Chiefs traded running back Mike Garrett, the club's all-time leading rusher at the time, to San Diego after a week 3 loss in Denver, and replaced him in the lineup with Ed Podolak. Despite a 44–24 win on September 28 against the eventual Super Bowl V champion Baltimore on the second-ever telecast of ABC's Monday Night Football, the Chiefs were just 3–3–1 at the season's midpoint.
One of the season's pivotal junctures came in a 17–17 tie against Oakland on November 1. The Chiefs were ahead 17–14 when quarterback Len Dawson apparently sealed the win, running for a first down which would have allowed Kansas City to run out the clock. While on the ground, Dawson was speared by Raiders defensive end Ben Davidson in an infamous incident that cost the Chiefs a victory and further inflamed the already heated Chiefs–Raiders rivalry. Wide receiver Otis Taylor retaliated and a bench-clearing brawl ensued. Offsetting penalties were called, nullifying Dawson's first down. The Chiefs were forced to punt and Raiders kicker George Blanda eventually booted a game-tying field goal with eight seconds remaining. Following the tie with Oakland the Chiefs' defense would permit only 43 points over the next 5 weeks, which included 4 wins and 6–6 tie with the St. Louis Cardinals at Municipal Stadium. The Cardinals had come into that game with a streak of three straight shutout wins. The Chiefs' defense held St. Louis to a late Field Goal as the game ended 6–6. After a 16–0 shutout of Denver the Chiefs had played to a 6–1–2 record over the past nine weeks to stand 7–3–2 with two weeks to play and very much looked like a team with a chance to defend its championship.
Then came the big one at Oakland, the game that decided pro football's toughest division. The Saturday game on December 12 was a stand-alone NBC national telecast. The Chiefs scored first for a 3–0 lead, it was tied 6–6 at the half. But the Raiders, behind the angry running of fullback Marv Hubbard, dominated the second half in a 20–6 division-clinching win for Oakland.
The Chiefs had a slim hope for the AFC wild card berth in the playoffs, but needed a win by Buffalo (3–9–1) in Miami and to win their season finale at San Diego. Miami jumped to a 28–0 first quarter lead and rolled to a 45–7 win, finishing at 10–4 to secure the AFC wild card. Warming up to play the Chargers, the Chiefs saw the Miami blowout and knew their reign as champions was over. Eliminated from the postseason, the Chiefs played an uninspired sleepwalk game and lost 31–13.
In the end, it was that tie in November with Oakland that ultimately cost the Chiefs the AFC West division title; Kansas City finished at 7–5–2, while the Raiders were a game ahead at 8–4–2. The rules were changed several years later to assess such penalties as the Davidson-Taylor incident as dead-ball fouls after the play counted.
Offseason NFL draft
Round Pick Player Position School/Club team126Sid SmithOffensive tackleUSC252Clyde WernerLinebackerWashington361Billy Bob BarnettDefensive endTexas A&M378David HadleyDefensive backAlcorn A&M5130Mike OriardCenterNotre Dame6156Robert HewsTacklePrinceton7182Clyde GlossonWide receiverTexas-El Paso8193Fred BarryDefensive backBoston University9234Charley EvansTackleTexas Tech10260Bob StankovichGuardArkansas11285Bill O'NealRunning backGrambling12312Rodney FedorchakGuardPittsburgh13338Troy PatridgeDefensive endTexas-Arlington14364Glenn DumontRunning backAmerican International15390Bob LiggettDefensive tackleNebraska16416Randy RossLinebackerKansas State17442Rayford JenkinsDefensive backAlcorn A&M
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 vs. College All-Stars W 24–3 1–0 Soldier Field 55,032 Recap 2 at Detroit Lions W 30–17 2–0 Tiger Stadium 55,032 Recap 3 Baltimore Colts L 3–17 2–1 Municipal Stadium 34,341 Recap 4 vs. Cleveland Browns W 16–13 3–1 Liberty Bowl 31,532 Recap 5 at Atlanta Falcons L 17–22 3–2 Atlanta Stadium 56,990 Recap 6 at Dallas Cowboys W 13–0 4–2 Cotton Bowl 69,055 Recap 7 at St. Louis Cardinals L 24–34 4–3 Busch Memorial Stadium 50,661 Recap
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 20 at Minnesota Vikings L 10–27 0–1 Metropolitan Stadium 47,900 Recap 2 at Baltimore Colts W 44–24 1–1 Memorial Stadium 53,911 Recap 3 October 4 at Denver Broncos L 13–26 1–2 Mile High Stadium 50,705 Recap 4 October 11 Boston Patriots W 23–10 2–2 Municipal Stadium 50,698 Recap 5 October 18 at Cincinnati Bengals W 27–19 3–2 Riverfront Stadium 57,265 Recap 6 October 25 Dallas Cowboys L 16–27 3–3 Municipal Stadium 51,158 Recap 7 November 1 Oakland Raiders T 17–17 3–3–1 Municipal Stadium 51,334 Recap 8 November 8 Houston Oilers W 24–9 4–3–1 Municipal Stadium 49,810 Recap 9 November 15 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 31–14 5–3–1 Three Rivers Stadium 50,081 Recap 10 November 22 St. Louis Cardinals T 6–6 5–3–2 Municipal Stadium 50,711 Recap 11 November 29 San Diego Chargers W 26–14 6–3–2 Municipal Stadium 50,315 Recap 12 December 6 Denver Broncos W 16–0 7–3–2 Municipal Stadium 50,454 Recap 13 at Oakland Raiders L 6–20 7–4–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 54,596 Recap 14 December 20 at San Diego Chargers L 13–31 7–5–2 San Diego Stadium 41,379 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 2: at Baltimore Colts
Week 3: at Denver Broncos
Week 4: vs. Boston Patriots
Week 5: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 6: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 7: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 8: vs. Houston Oilers
Week 9: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 10: vs. St. Louis Cardinals
Week 11: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 12: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 13: at Oakland Raiders
Week 14: at San Diego Chargers
Standings
References
External links 1970 Kansas City Chiefs at Pro-Football-Reference.com 1970 Kansas City Chiefs at ProFootballArchives.com 1970 Kansas City Chiefs at jt-sw.com