1968 Kansas City Chiefs season

1968 Kansas City Chiefs season
Head coach	Hank Stram
Home field	Municipal Stadium
Results
Record	12–2
Division place	2nd AFL Western
Playoff finish	Lost Western Division playoff game (Raiders) 41–6

The 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 Western Division playoff game).

A debate raged in Kansas City whether the club’s new stadium should be built 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.

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 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. The loss to Oakland was a major event in the Chiefs' rivalry with the Raiders, one of the NFL's most storied feuds.

Regular season

Season schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 10, 1968	at Houston Oilers	W 26–21	45,083
2	September 15, 1968	New York Jets	L 20–19	48,871
3	September 22, 1968	Denver Broncos	W 34–2	45,821
4	September 28, 1968	at Miami Dolphins	W 48–3	28,501
5	October 5, 1968	at Buffalo Bills	W 18–7	40,748
6	October 13, 1968	Cincinnati Bengals	W 13–3	47,096
7	October 20, 1968	Oakland Raiders	W 24–10	50,015
8	October 27, 1968	San Diego Chargers	W 27–20	50,344
9	November 3, 1968	at Oakland Raiders	L 38–21	53,357
10	November 10, 1968	at Cincinnati Bengals	W 16–9	25,537
11	November 17, 1968	Boston Patriots	W 31–17	48,271
12	Bye
13	November 28, 1968	Houston Oilers	W 24–10	48,493
14	December 8, 1968	at San Diego Chargers	W 40–3	51,174
15	December 14, 1968	at Denver Broncos	W 30–7	38,463

Division standings

Western Division
Team	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA
*Oakland Raiders	12	2	0	.857	453	233
Kansas City Chiefs	12	2	0	.857	371	170
San Diego Chargers	9	5	0	.643	382	310
Denver Broncos	5	9	0	.357	255	404
Cincinnati Bengals	3	11	0	.214	215	329

Postseason

Further information: AFL playoffs, 1968

A tie in the Western Division standings necessitated a Western Division playoff game

Western Division playoff

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chiefs	0	6	0	0	6
Raiders	21	7	0	13	41

Oakland Raiders 41, Kansas City Chiefs 6

December 22, 1968 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

Scoring

• OAK – Biletnikoff 24 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
• OAK – Wells 23 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
• OAK – Biletnikoff 44 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
• KC – Field goal Stenerud 10
• KC – Field goal Stenerud 8
• OAK – Biletnikoff 54 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
• OAK – Wells 35 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
• OAK – Field goal Blanda 41
• OAK – Field goal Blanda 40