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{{Infobox NFL season
{{short description|NFL team season}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox NFL team season
| team = Kansas City Chiefs
| team = Kansas City Chiefs
| year = 1968
| year = 1968
| record = 12–2
| record = 12–2
| division_place = 2nd [[American_Football_League#AFL_franchises|AFL Western]]
| division_place = 2nd [[AFL Western]]
| coach = [[Hank Stram]]
| coach = [[Hank Stram]]
| general manager = [[Jack Steadman (American football executive)|Jack Steadman]]
| stadium = [[Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)|Municipal Stadium]]
| owner = [[Lamar Hunt]]
| playoffs = Lost [[AFL_playoffs#1968_playoffs|Western Division playoff game]] ([[Oakland Raiders|Raiders]]) 41–6
| stadium = [[Municipal Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)|Municipal Stadium]]
| AFL allstars = QB [[Len Dawson]]<br>OT [[Jim Tyrer]]<br>G [[Ed Budde]]<br>DT [[Buck Buchanan]]<br>DE [[Jerry Mays (defensive lineman)|Jerry Mays]]<br>LB [[Jim Lynch]]<br>LB [[Willie Lanier]]<br>LB [[Bobby Bell]]<br>CB [[Emmitt Thomas]]<br>S [[Johnny Robinson (safety)|Johnny Robinson]]<br>K [[Jan Stenerud]]
| playoffs = Lost [[1968 American Football League playoffs|Divisional Playoffs]]<br>(at [[1968 Oakland Raiders season|Raiders]]) 6–41
| shortnavlink = Chiefs seasons
}}
}}


The '''[[1968 American Football League season|1968]] [[Kansas City Chiefs]] season''' ended with a 12–2 record, resulting in a tie for first place in the AFL Western Division. The Chiefs and [[Oakland Raiders]] both finished with 12–2 records in the same division, but the Raiders won the championship in a tiebreaker playoff (defeating the Chiefs 41–6 [[AFL_playoffs#1968_playoffs|Western Division playoff game]]).
The ''' 1968 Kansas City Chiefs season''' was the 9th season for the [[Kansas City Chiefs]] as a professional [[American Football League|AFL]] [[franchise (sports)|franchise]]; They finished with a 12–2 record (the best in the Stram era), resulting in a tie for first place in the AFL Western Division with the [[Oakland Raiders]], before the Raiders won the championship in a [[1968 American Football League playoffs|tiebreaker playoff]], defeating the Chiefs 41–6.


The 1968 Chiefs boasted one of the finest defenses ever assembled by the club, allowing an AFL record (and still franchise-low) 170 points, or 12.1 points per game. The nucleus of the defensive unit was clearly in its prime, producing six AFL All-Stars, including all three of the squad's linebackers.
A debate raged in Kansas City whether the club’s new [[stadium]] should be built [[Downtown Kansas City|downtown]] or at a “remote” location. A location in Eastern Jackson County was chosen as the site and groundbreaking ceremonies took place in July with plans calling for a unique “rolling roof” design.


Offensively, quarterback [[Len Dawson]] led the AFL in passing for the fourth time. Guard [[Ed Budde]] won the AFL Offensive Player of the Week award for the October 20 game against the Raiders. It was the first time the award was given to an interior lineman.
The 1968 Chiefs boasted one of the finest defenses ever assembled by the club, allowing an AFL record (and still franchise-low) 170 points, or 12.1 points per game. The nucleus of the defensive unit was clearly in its prime, producing six AFL All-Stars, including all three of the squad’s linebackers.


The Chiefs began the season with a 7–1 record and rattled off five straight victories to close the regular season at 12–2, sharing the division crown with the Raiders and setting up their playoff on December 22, in which the Raiders advanced to the AFL Championship Game against the [[New York Jets]].<ref name="Chiefs History 1960's">{{Cite web |url=http://www.kcchiefs.com/history/60s |title=Kansas City Chiefs History 1960's |access-date=July 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041018042826/http://www.kcchiefs.com/history/60s/ |archive-date=October 18, 2004 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> The loss to Oakland was a major event in the [[Chiefs-Raiders rivalry|Chiefs' rivalry with the Raiders]], one of the NFL's most [[National Football League rivalries|storied feuds]].
Offensively, quarterback [[Len Dawson]] led the AFL in passing for the fourth time.


==Roster==
The Chiefs began the season with a 7–1 record and rattled off five straight victories to close the regular season at 12–2, sharing the AFL Western Division crown with the [[Oakland Raiders]] and setting up an AFL Western Division Playoff Game. Kansas City lost a 41–6 decision at Oakland on December 22 as the Raiders advanced to the AFL Championship Game against the [[New York Jets]].<ref name="Chiefs History 1960's">[http://www.kcchiefs.com/history/60s Kansas City Chiefs History 1960's]</ref> The loss to Oakland was a major event in the [[Chiefs-Raiders rivalry|Chiefs' rivalry with the Raiders]], one of the NFL's most [[National Football League rivalries|storied feuds]].
{{NFL season roster
| year = 1968
| team = Kansas City Chiefs


| quarterbacks =
==Offseason==
{{NFLplayer|16|Len Dawson}}
===AFL Draft===
{{NFLplayer|11|Jacky Lee}}
{{Empty section|date=February 2011}}
{{NFLplayer|10|Mike Livingston|rookie=y}}

| running_backs =
{{NFLplayer|23|Bert Coan}}
{{NFLplayer|21|Mike Garrett}}
{{NFLplayer|38|Wendell Hayes|FB}}
{{NFLplayer|45|Robert Holmes|d=American football|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|32|Curtis McClinton|FB}}

| wide_receivers =
{{NFLplayer|17|Jack Gehrke|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|25|Frank Pitts}}
{{NFLplayer|30|Gloster Richardson}}
{{NFLplayer|&nbsp;1|Noland Smith}}
{{NFLplayer|89|Otis Taylor|d=American football}}

| tight_ends =
{{NFLplayer|84|Fred Arbanas}}
{{NFLplayer|80|Reggie Carolan}}

| offensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|71|Ed Budde|G}}
{{NFLplayer|60|George Daney|rookie=y|G}}
{{NFLplayer|73|Dave Hill|d=American football|T}}
{{NFLplayer|55|E. J. Holub|C}}
{{NFLplayer|64|Curt Merz|G}}
{{NFLplayer|61|Mo Moorman|rookie=y|G}}
{{NFLplayer|65|Remi Prudhomme|C}}
{{NFLplayer|77|Jim Tyrer|T}}

| defensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|87|Aaron Brown|d=defensive lineman|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|86|Buck Buchanan|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|61|Curley Culp|rookie=y|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|85|Chuck Hurston|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|99|Ernie Ladd|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|82|Ed Lothamer|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|75|Jerry Mays|d=defensive lineman|DE}}

| linebackers =
{{NFLplayer|52|Bud Abell}}
{{NFLplayer|78|Bobby Bell}}
{{NFLplayer|63|Willie Lanier}}
{{NFLplayer|51|Jim Lynch}}
{{NFLplayer|58|Dave Martin|d=linebacker|rookie=y}}

| defensive_back =
{{NFLplayer|24|Ceasar Belser}}
{{NFLplayer|46|Jim Kearney|d=American football|SS}}
{{NFLplayer|48|Sam Longmire}}
{{NFLplayer|22|Willie Mitchell|d=football player|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|42|Johnny Robinson|d=safety|FS}}
{{NFLplayer|20|Goldie Sellers|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|18|Emmitt Thomas|CB}}

| special_teams =
{{NFLplayer|&nbsp;3|Jan Stenerud|K}}
{{NFLplayer|44|Jerrel Wilson|P}}

| reserve_lists =
{{NFLplayer|74|Gene Trosch|DE|IR}}

| practice_squad =
}}

==Preseason==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Week
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Date
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Opponent
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Result
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Record
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Venue
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Attendance
! style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Recap
|- style="background:#cfc"
! 1
| {{dow tooltip|August 3, 1968}}
| at '''[[1968 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]'''
| '''W''' 38–14
| 1–0
| [[Nippert Stadium]]
| 21,682
| [https://www.profootballarchives.com/1968aflkc.html Recap]
|- style="background:#cfc"
! 2
| {{dow tooltip|August 10, 1968}}
| at [[1968 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]
| '''W''' 13–10
| 2–0
| [[Metropolitan Stadium]]
| 46,228
| [https://www.profootballarchives.com/1968aflkc.html Recap]
|- style="background:#cfc"
! 3
| {{dow tooltip|August 17, 1968}}
| [[1968 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]]
| '''W''' 13–10
| 3–0
| [[Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)|Municipal Stadium]]
| 47,462
| [https://www.profootballarchives.com/1968aflkc.html Recap]
|- style="background:#cfc"
! 4
| {{dow tooltip|August 24, 1968}}
| '''[[1968 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]'''
| '''W''' 31–21
| 4–0
| [[Municipal Stadium (Kansas City)|Municipal Stadium]]
| 43,769
| [https://www.profootballarchives.com/1968aflkc.html Recap]
|- style="background:#fcc"
! 5
| {{dow tooltip|August 31, 1968}}
| at [[1968 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]
| '''L''' 16–36
| 4–1
| [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]
| 54,323
| [https://www.profootballarchives.com/1968aflkc.html Recap]
|}


==Regular season==
==Regular season==
{{main|1968 American Football League season}}
===Season schedule===

{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Week
! Week
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Date
! Date
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Opponent
! Opponent
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Result
! Result
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Record
! Attendance
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Venue
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Attendance
| 1
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Recap
| September 10, 1968
|- style="background:#cfc"
| at [[Tennessee Titans|Houston Oilers]]
! 1
| W 26–21
| {{dow tooltip|September 9, 1968}}
| <center>45,083</center>
| at [[1968 Houston Oilers season|Houston Oilers]]
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
| '''W''' 26–21
| 2
| 1–0
| September 15, 1968
| [[New York Jets]]
| [[Houston Astrodome]]
| L 20-19
| 45,083
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809090oti.htm Recap]
| <center>48,871</center>
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
|- style="background:#fcc"
| 3
! 2
| September 22, 1968
| September 15
| [[1968 New York Jets season|New York Jets]]
| [[Denver Broncos]]
| '''L''' 19–20
| W 34–2
| 1–1
| <center>45,821</center>
| [[Municipal Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)|Municipal Stadium]]
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| 4
| 48,871
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809150kan.htm Recap]
| September 28, 1968
|- style="background:#cfc"
| at [[Miami Dolphins]]
! 3
| W 48–3
| September 22
| <center>28,501</center>
| '''[[1968 Denver Broncos season|Denver Broncos]]'''
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| '''W''' 34–2
| 5
| 2–1
| October 5, 1968
| Municipal Stadium
| at [[Buffalo Bills]]
| 45,821
| W 18–7
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809220kan.htm Recap]
| <center>40,748</center>
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
|- style="background:#cfc"
| 6
! 4
| October 13, 1968
| {{dow tooltip|September 28, 1968}}
| at [[1968 Miami Dolphins season|Miami Dolphins]]
| [[Cincinnati Bengals]]
| W 13–3
| '''W''' 48–3
| 3–1
| <center>47,096</center>
| [[Miami Orange Bowl]]
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| 7
| 28,501
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809280mia.htm Recap]
| October 20, 1968
|- style="background:#cfc"
| [[Oakland Raiders]]
! 5
| W 24–10
| {{dow tooltip|October 5, 1968}}
| <center>50,015</center>
| at [[1968 Buffalo Bills season|Buffalo Bills]]
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| '''W''' 18–7
| 8
| 4–1
| October 27, 1968
| [[War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo, New York)|War Memorial Stadium]]
| [[San Diego Chargers]]
| 40,748
| W 27–20
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810050buf.htm Recap]
| <center>50,344</center>
|-style="background: #ffdddd;"
|- style="background:#cfc"
| 9
! 6
| October 13
| November 3, 1968
| '''[[1968 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]]'''
| at [[Oakland Raiders]]
| '''W''' 13–3
| L 38–21
| 5–1
| <center>53,357</center>
| Municipal Stadium
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| 10
| 47,096
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810130kan.htm Recap]
| November 10, 1968
|- style="background:#cfc"
| at [[Cincinnati Bengals]]
! 7
| W 16-9
| October 20
| <center>25,537</center>
| '''[[1968 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]'''
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| '''W''' 24–10
| 11
| 6–1
| November 17, 1968
| Municipal Stadium
| [[New England Patriots|Boston Patriots]]
| W 31-17
| 50,015
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810200kan.htm Recap]
| <center>48,271</center>
|- style="background:#cfc"
! 8
| October 27
| '''[[1968 San Diego Chargers season|San Diego Chargers]]'''
| '''W''' 27–20
| 7–1
| Municipal Stadium
| 50,344
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810270kan.htm Recap]
|- style="background:#fcc"
! 9
| November 3
| at '''Oakland Raiders'''
| '''L''' 21–38
| 7–2
| [[Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum]]
| 53,357
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811030rai.htm Recap]
|- style="background:#cfc"
! 10
| November 10
| at '''Cincinnati Bengals'''
| '''W''' 16–9
| 8–2
| [[Nippert Stadium]]
| 25,537
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811100cin.htm Recap]
|- style="background:#cfc"
! 11
| November 17
| [[1968 Boston Patriots season|Boston Patriots]]
| '''W''' 31–17
| 9–2
| Municipal Stadium
| 48,271
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811170kan.htm Recap]
|-
|-
| 12
! 12
| colspan="4" align="center"| ''Bye''
| colspan="7" |''[[Bye (sports)|Bye]]''
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
|- style="background:#cfc"
| 13
! 13
| November 28, 1968
| [[NFL on Thanksgiving Day|November 28]]
| [[Tennessee Titans|Houston Oilers]]
| Houston Oilers
| W 24-10
| '''W''' 24–10
| 10–2
| <center>48,493</center>
| Municipal Stadium
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| 14
| 48,493
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811280kan.htm Recap]
| December 8, 1968
|- style="background:#cfc"
| at [[San Diego Chargers]]
! 14
| W 40–3
| December 8
| <center>51,174</center>
| at '''San Diego Chargers'''
|-style="background: #ddffdd;"
| '''W''' 40–3
| 15
| 11–2
| December 14, 1968
| at [[Denver Broncos]]
| [[San Diego Stadium]]
| 51,174
| W 30–7
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812080sdg.htm Recap]
| <center>38,463</center>
|- style="background:#cfc"
! 15
| {{dow tooltip|December 14, 1968}}
| at '''Denver Broncos'''
| '''W''' 30–7
| 12–2
| [[Bears Stadium]]
| 38,463
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812140den.htm Recap]
|-style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"
|colspan="8"| '''Note:''' Intra-division opponents are in '''bold''' text.
|}
|}


==Standings==
===Division standings===
{{1968 AFL Western standings}}
{| class="wikitable" cellpadding="3" border="1"
|- bgcolor="#ccffff"
| colspan="7" align="center" | '''Western Division'''
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
!Team!!W!!L!!T!!PCT!!PF!!PA
|- align="center"
|align="left"| *[[Oakland Raiders]]
|12||2||0||.857||453||233
|- align="center"
|align="left"| '''[[Kansas City Chiefs]]'''
|12||2||0||.857||371||170
|- align="center"
|align="left"| [[San Diego Chargers]]
|9||5||0||.643||382||310
|- align="center"
|align="left"| [[Denver Broncos]]
|5||9||0||.357||255||404
|- align="center"
|align="left"| [[Cincinnati Bengals]]
|3||11||0||.214||215||329
|} <ref>NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 298</ref>


==Postseason==
==Postseason==
{{further|1968 American Football League playoffs}}
{{see|AFL playoffs, 1968}}
:''A tie in the Western Division standings necessitated a Western Division playoff game''
A tie in the Western Division standings necessitated an unscheduled playoff game


===Schedule===
===Western Division playoff===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{Linescore Amfootball|
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Round
|Road=Chiefs
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Date
|R1=0
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Opponent
|R2=6
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Result
|R3=0
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Record
|R4=0
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Venue
|RT=6
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Attendance
|Home='''Raiders'''
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}"| Recap
|H1=21
|- style="background:#fcc"
|H2=7
! Division
|H3=0
| December 22
|H4=13
| at [[1968 Oakland Raiders season|Oakland Raiders]]
|HT=41
| '''L''' 6–41
}}
| 0–1
| [[Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum]]
| 53,605
| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812220rai.htm Recap]
|}


====AFL Divisional Playoffs: at Oakland Raiders====
'''[[Oakland Raiders]] 41, [[Kansas City Chiefs]] 6'''
{{Americanfootballbox
:''December 22, 1968 at [[McAfee Coliseum|Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum]], [[Oakland, California]]''
|titlestyle={{Gridiron primary style|Kansas City Chiefs|year=1968|border=2}}; text-align:center

|state=autocollapse
'''Scoring'''
|title=AFL Divisional Playoffs: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders&nbsp;– Game summary
*OAK – Biletnikoff 24 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
|date=December 22
*OAK – Wells 23 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
|time=1:00 p.m. PST
*OAK – Biletnikoff 44 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
|road=Chiefs
*KC – Field goal Stenerud 10
|R1=0|R2=6|R3=0|R4=0
*KC – Field goal Stenerud 8
|home='''Raiders'''
*OAK – Biletnikoff 54 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
|H1=21|H2=7|H3=0|H4=13
*OAK – Wells 35 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
|stadium=Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
*OAK – Field goal Blanda 41
|attendance=53,605
*OAK – Field goal Blanda 40
|weather={{convert|42|F|C}}
|referee=
|TV=NBC
|TVAnnouncers=Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote and [[Al DeRogatis]]
|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812220rai.htm Recap]
|scoring=
'''First quarter'''
*OAK – [[Fred Biletnikoff]] 24-yard pass from [[Daryle Lamonica]] ([[George Blanda]] kick). ''Raiders 7–0.''
*OAK – [[Warren Wells]] 23-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick). ''Raiders 14–0.''
*OAK – Fred Biletnikoff 44-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick). ''Raiders 21–0.''
'''Second quarter'''
*KC – [[Jan Stenerud]] 10-yard field goal. ''Raiders 21–3.''
*KC – Jan Stenerud 8-yard field goal. ''Raiders 21–6.''
*OAK – Fred Biletnikoff 54-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick). ''Raiders 28–6.''
'''Third quarter'''
*''No scoring plays.''
'''Fourth quarter'''
*OAK – Warren Wells 35-yard pass from Daryle Lamonica (George Blanda kick). ''Raiders 35–6.''
*OAK – George Blanda 41-yard field goal. ''Raiders 38–6.''
*OAK – George Blanda 40-yard field goal. ''Raiders 41–6.''
|stats=
'''Top passers'''
*KC – [[Len Dawson]] – 17/36, 253 yards, 4 INT
*OAK – Daryle Lamonica – 19/39, 347 yards, 5 TD
'''Top rushers'''
*KC – [[Robert Holmes (American football)|Robert Holmes]] – 13 rushes, 46 yards
*OAK – [[Charlie Smith (running back)|Charlie Smith]] – 13 rushes, 74 yards
'''Top receivers'''
*KC – [[Otis Taylor (American football)|Otis Taylor]] – 4 receptions, 117 yards
*OAK – Fred Biletnikoff – 7 receptions, 180 yards, 3 TD
}}


==References==
==References==
Line 189: Line 382:
[[Category:Kansas City Chiefs seasons]]
[[Category:Kansas City Chiefs seasons]]
[[Category:1968 American Football League season by team|Kansas City Chiefs]]
[[Category:1968 American Football League season by team|Kansas City Chiefs]]
[[Category:1968 in sports in Missouri|Kansas]]

{{Americanfootball-season-stub}}

Latest revision as of 11:49, 17 October 2024

1968 Kansas City Chiefs season
OwnerLamar Hunt
General managerJack Steadman
Head coachHank Stram
Home fieldMunicipal Stadium
Results
Record12–2
Division place2nd AFL Western
Playoff finishLost Divisional Playoffs
(at Raiders) 6–41
AFL All-StarsQB Len Dawson
OT Jim Tyrer
G Ed Budde
DT Buck Buchanan
DE Jerry Mays
LB Jim Lynch
LB Willie Lanier
LB Bobby Bell
CB Emmitt Thomas
S Johnny Robinson
K Jan Stenerud

The 1968 Kansas City Chiefs season was the 9th season for the Kansas City Chiefs as a professional AFL franchise; They finished with a 12–2 record (the best in the Stram era), resulting in a tie for first place in the AFL Western Division with the Oakland Raiders, before the Raiders won the championship in a tiebreaker playoff, defeating the Chiefs 41–6.

The 1968 Chiefs boasted one of the finest defenses ever assembled by the club, allowing an AFL record (and still franchise-low) 170 points, or 12.1 points per game. The nucleus of the defensive unit was clearly in its prime, producing six AFL All-Stars, including all three of the squad's linebackers.

Offensively, quarterback Len Dawson led the AFL in passing for the fourth time. Guard Ed Budde won the AFL Offensive Player of the Week award for the October 20 game against the Raiders. It was the first time the award was given to an interior lineman.

The Chiefs began the season with a 7–1 record and rattled off five straight victories to close the regular season at 12–2, sharing the division crown with the Raiders and setting up their playoff on December 22, in which the Raiders advanced to the AFL Championship Game against the New York Jets.[1] The loss to Oakland was a major event in the Chiefs' rivalry with the Raiders, one of the NFL's most storied feuds.

Roster

[edit]
1968 Kansas City Chiefs roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Reserve


Rookies in italics

Preseason

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 August 3 at Cincinnati Bengals W 38–14 1–0 Nippert Stadium 21,682 Recap
2 August 10 at Minnesota Vikings W 13–10 2–0 Metropolitan Stadium 46,228 Recap
3 August 17 St. Louis Cardinals W 13–10 3–0 Municipal Stadium 47,462 Recap
4 August 24 Oakland Raiders W 31–21 4–0 Municipal Stadium 43,769 Recap
5 August 31 at Los Angeles Rams L 16–36 4–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 54,323 Recap

Regular season

[edit]
Main article: 1968 American Football League season
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 9 at Houston Oilers W 26–21 1–0 Houston Astrodome 45,083 Recap
2 September 15 New York Jets L 19–20 1–1 Municipal Stadium 48,871 Recap
3 September 22 Denver Broncos W 34–2 2–1 Municipal Stadium 45,821 Recap
4 September 28 at Miami Dolphins W 48–3 3–1 Miami Orange Bowl 28,501 Recap
5 October 5 at Buffalo Bills W 18–7 4–1 War Memorial Stadium 40,748 Recap
6 October 13 Cincinnati Bengals W 13–3 5–1 Municipal Stadium 47,096 Recap
7 October 20 Oakland Raiders W 24–10 6–1 Municipal Stadium 50,015 Recap
8 October 27 San Diego Chargers W 27–20 7–1 Municipal Stadium 50,344 Recap
9 November 3 at Oakland Raiders L 21–38 7–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,357 Recap
10 November 10 at Cincinnati Bengals W 16–9 8–2 Nippert Stadium 25,537 Recap
11 November 17 Boston Patriots W 31–17 9–2 Municipal Stadium 48,271 Recap
12 Bye
13 November 28 Houston Oilers W 24–10 10–2 Municipal Stadium 48,493 Recap
14 December 8 at San Diego Chargers W 40–3 11–2 San Diego Stadium 51,174 Recap
15 December 14 at Denver Broncos W 30–7 12–2 Bears Stadium 38,463 Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

[edit]
AFL Western Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Oakland Raiders 12 2 0 .857 6–2 453 233 W8
Kansas City Chiefs 12 2 0 .857 7–1 371 170 W5
San Diego Chargers 9 5 0 .643 5–3 382 310 L2
Denver Broncos 5 9 0 .357 1–7 275 404 L3
Cincinnati Bengals 3 11 0 .214 1–7 215 329 L3

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings in the AFL.

Postseason

[edit]
Further information: 1968 American Football League playoffs

A tie in the Western Division standings necessitated an unscheduled playoff game

Schedule

[edit]
Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
Division December 22 at Oakland Raiders L 6–41 0–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,605 Recap

AFL Divisional Playoffs: at Oakland Raiders

[edit]
AFL Divisional Playoffs: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 6 006
Raiders 21 7 01341

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Date: December 22
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 42 °F (6 °C)
  • Game attendance: 53,605
  • TV announcers (NBC): Curt Gowdy, Kyle Rote and Al DeRogatis
  • Recap
Game information

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Kansas City Chiefs History 1960's". Archived from the original on October 18, 2004. Retrieved July 30, 2007.
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