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NFL team season
The 1974 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise 's fifth season in the National Football League , the twelfth season in Kansas City Chiefs , and the fifteenth overall, it ended with a 5–9 record and the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the third straight season consecutive and third-place finish in the AFC West , Hank Stram was fired after the season and was replaced by Paul Wiggin in 1975.
While the club's new facility at Arrowhead Stadium was drawing rave reviews, the Chiefs roster was beginning to show its age.[ 1] The result was the team's first losing season in eleven years as the club was unable to string together consecutive victories during the year, a first in franchise history.[ 1] Many of the club's key players were entering the twilight of their careers: Len Dawson was 39, Jim Tyrer was 35, Bobby Bell , Buck Buchanan , and Ed Budde were 34, Dave Hill was 33 and Otis Taylor was 32.[ 1]
One of the year's few bright spots in the 5–9 season was cornerback Emmitt Thomas , who led the league with a franchise-record 12 interceptions. The final game of the 1974 campaign marked the final time all seven of Kansas City's Pro Football Hall of Fame players from the club's AFL champion era took the field together with coach Hank Stram.[ 1] Including owner Lamar Hunt and seven future Minnesota Vikings Hall of Famers, an amazing total of 16 Hall of Fame inductees were involved in that 1974 season finale game. That 35–15 loss against Minnesota provided an anticlimactic conclusion to Hank Stram's illustrious coaching career in Kansas City. Three days later, Stram, the only head coach in franchise history was relieved of his duties on December 27 after compiling a 124–76–10 regular season record with the club.
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Venue
Attendance
Recap
1
September 15
New York Jets
W 24–16
1–0
Arrowhead Stadium
74,854
Recap
2
September 22
at Oakland Raiders
L 7–27
1–1
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
48,108
Recap
3
September 29
at Houston Oilers
W 17–7
2–1
Houston Astrodome
28,538
Recap
4
October 6
Denver Broncos
L 14–17
2–2
Arrowhead Stadium
67,298
Recap
5
October 13
Pittsburgh Steelers
L 24–34
2–3
Arrowhead Stadium
65,517
Recap
6
October 20
at Miami Dolphins
L 3–9
2–4
Miami Orange Bowl
67,779
Recap
7
October 27
at San Diego Chargers
W 24–14
3–4
San Diego Stadium
34,371
Recap
8
November 3
New York Giants
L 27–33
3–5
Arrowhead Stadium
61,437
Recap
9
November 10
San Diego Chargers
L 7–14
3–6
Arrowhead Stadium
48,551
Recap
10
at Denver Broncos
W 42–34
4–6
Mile High Stadium
50,236
Recap
11
November 24
at Cincinnati Bengals
L 6–33
4–7
Riverfront Stadium
49,777
Recap
12
December 1
at St. Louis Cardinals
W 17–13
5–7
Busch Memorial Stadium
41,863
Recap
13
December 8
Oakland Raiders
L 6–7
5–8
Arrowhead Stadium
60,577
Recap
14
Minnesota Vikings
L 15–35
5–9
Arrowhead Stadium
35,480
Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Week 1: vs. New York Jets [ edit ]
Game information
First quarter
NYJ – Rich Caster 2-yard pass from Joe Namath (kick blocked), 2:55. Jets 6–0. Drive: 8 plays, 45 yards, 3:52.
Second quarter
NYJ – Eddie Bell 7-yard pass from Joe Namath (Bobby Howfield kick), 11:07. Jets 13–0. Drive: 4 plays, 37 yards, 1:02.
KC – Ed Podolak 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 4:54. Jets 13–7. Drive: 5 plays, 46 yards, 1:44.
NYJ – Bobby Howfield 25-yard field goal, 0:38. Jets 16–7. Drive: 9 plays, 63 yards, 4:16.
KC – Marvin Upshaw 52-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick), 0:10. Jets 16–14.
Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal, 2:59. Chiefs 17–16. Drive: 13 plays, 74 yards, 6:06.
Fourth quarter
KC – Emmitt Thomas 38-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:52. Chiefs 24–16.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 2: at Oakland Raiders [ edit ]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
OAK – Mike Siani 9 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick), 10:46. Raiders 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards, 1:51.
OAK – Pete Banaszak 20 yard run (kick failed, wide left), 6:05. Raiders 20–0. Drive: 3 plays, 36 yards, 0:50.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
OAK – Dave Casper 2 yard pass from Ken Stabler (George Blanda kick), 11:28. Raiders 27–7. Drive: 2 plays, 8 yards, 0:50.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 3: at Houston Oilers [ edit ]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
HOU – Ronnie Coleman 1-yard run (Skip Butler kick), 6:27. Oilers 7–0. Drive: 13 plays, 89 yards, 8:33.
KC – Jan Stenerud 35-yard field goal, 2:11. Oilers 7–3. Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 4:16.
Fourth quarter
KC – Willie Ellison 8-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 7:02. Chiefs 10–7. Drive: 13 plays, 80 yards, 7:07.
KC – Morris Stroud 8-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 2:41. Chiefs 17–7. Drive: 3 plays, 4 yards, 1:07.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos [ edit ]
Week 4: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Broncos
3
0
7 7 17
Chiefs
7
7
0 0 14
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information
First quarter
DEN – Jim Turner 41-yard field goal, 7:31. Broncos 3–0. Drive: 4 plays, 7 yards, 0:59.
KC – Willie Ellison 1 yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 4:19. Chiefs 7–3. Drive: 8 plays, 59 yards, 3:12.
Second quarter
KC – Bobby Bell 28-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick), 8:09. Chiefs 14–3.
Third quarter
DEN – Jon Keyworth 2-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 2:33. Chiefs 14–10. Drive: 3 plays, 36 yards, 0:56.
Fourth quarter
DEN – Jon Keyworth 3-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 10:46. Broncos 17–14. Drive: 3 plays, 11 yards, 0:57.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 5: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers [ edit ]
Week 5: Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Steelers
7
17
10 0 34
Chiefs
3
7
7 7 24
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Date : October 13Game time : 1:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : Cloudy, light rain, 61 °F (16 °C)Game attendance : 65,517Referee : Bernie Ulman TV announcers (KDKA ) : Dick Stockton and Bill CurrieBox Score
Game information
First quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 31 yard field goal, 9:56. Chiefs 3–0. Drive: 7 plays, 18 yards, 2:46.
PIT – Rocky Bleier 2-yard run (Roy Gerela kick), 4:13 Steelers 7–3. Drive: 6 plays, 34 yards.
Second quarter
KC – Barry Pearson 13-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 14:56. Chiefs 10–7. Drive: 5 plays, 48 yards, 1:58.
PIT – Preston Pearson 3-yard run (Roy Gerela kick), 8:51. Steelers 14–10. Drive: 5 plays, 24 yards, 1:56.
PIT – Glen Edwards 49-yard interception return (Roy Gerela kick), 6:24. Steelers 21–10.
PIT – Roy Gerela 32-yard field goal, 2:19. Steelers 24–10. Drive: 7 plays, 18 yards, 2:29.
Third quarter
KC – Otis Taylor 10-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 6:28. Steelers 24–17. Drive: 10 plays, 83 yards, 4:48.
PIT – Roy Gerela 45-yard field goal, 2:41. Steelers 27–17. Drive: 13 plays, 43 yards, 3:35.
PIT – Frank Lewis 31-yard pass from Joe Gilliam (Roy Gerela kick), 1:05. Steelers 34–17. Drive: 3 plays, 33 yards, 1:18.
Fourth quarter
KC – Elmo Wright 13-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 14:57. Steelers 34–24. Drive: 4 plays, 53 yards, 1:08.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 6: at Miami Dolphins [ edit ]
Week 6: Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs
0
3
0 0 3
Dolphins
0
2
0 7 9
at Miami Orange Bowl , Miami, Florida
Date : October 20Game time : 4:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : Clear, 80 °F (27 °C)Game attendance : 67,779Referee : Fred Swearingen TV announcers (NBC) : Al Michaels and Mike HaffnerBox Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 21-yard field goal, 9:57. Chiefs 3–0. Drive: 17 plays, 65 yards, 9:24.
MIA – Punt blocked by Tim Foley out of bounds in end zone for a Safety, 2:14. Chiefs 3–2.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 7: at San Diego Chargers [ edit ]
Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs
0
7
7 10 24
Chargers
7
0
0 7 14
at San Diego Stadium , San Diego, California
Date : October 27Game time : 1:00 p.m. PSTGame weather : Cloudy, 60 °F (16 °C)Game attendance : 34,371Referee : Bob FredericTV announcers (NBC) : Ross Porter and Willie DavisBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
KC – Woody Green 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 10:13. Chiefs 14–7. Drive: 9 plays, 67 yards, 4:47.
Fourth quarter
SD – Don Woods 6-yard run (Dennis Partee kick), 12:06. Tied 14–14. Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 5:29.
KC – Woody Green 69-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick), 10:24. Chiefs 21–14. Drive: 3 plays, 90 yards, 1:42.
KC – Jan Stenerud 23-yard field goal, 0:58. Chiefs 24–14. Drive: 12 plays, 62 yards, 5:31.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
KC – Woody Green – 4 receptions, 98 yards, TD
SD – Gary Garrison – 6 receptions, 92 yards, TD
Week 8: vs. New York Giants [ edit ]
Week 8: New York Giants at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Giants
7
13
3 10 33
Chiefs
7
7
0 13 27
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
NYG – Ron Johnson 1-yard run (kick blocked), 12:09. Giants 13–7. Drive: 7 plays, 35 yards, 2:33.
NYG – Ron Johnson 1-yard run (Pete Gogolak kick), 2:22. Giants 20–7. Drive: 12 plays, 50 yards, 5:25.
KC – Morris Stroud 8-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick), 0:12. Tied 20–14. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 1:56.
Third quarter
NYG – Pete Gogolak 33-yard field goal, 8:29. Giants 23–14. Drive: 4 plays, –5 yards, 1:22.
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 19-yard field goal, 14:20. Giants 23–17. Drive: 12 plays, 79 yards, 3:30.
NYG – Pete Gogolak 35-yard field goal, 12:08. Giants 26–17. Drive: 8 plays, 37 yards, 2:03.
KC – Larry Brunson 23-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick), 5:20. Giants 26–24. Drive: 15 plays, 75 yards, 6:38.
NYG – Joe Dawkins 51-yard pass from Craig Morton (Pete Gogolak kick), 4:13. Giants 33–24. Drive: 3 plays, 60 yards, 1:07.
KC – Jan Stenerud 42-yard field goal, 2:20. Giants 33–27. Drive: 9 plays, 41 yards, 1:44.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 9: vs. San Diego Chargers [ edit ]
Week 9: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chargers
0
7
0 7 14
Chiefs
0
0
0 7 7
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Date : November 10Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Rain, 49 °F (9 °C)Game attendance : 48,551Referee : Tommy Bell TV announcers (NBC) : Ross Porter and Willie DavisBox Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 10: at Denver Broncos [ edit ]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
DEN – Jon Keyworth 1-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 12:40. Broncos 14–7. Drive: 8 plays, 58 yards, 3:24.
KC – Ed Podolak 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 7:25. Tied 14–14. Drive: 4 plays, 17 yards, 1:33.
DEN – Billy Van Heusen 11-yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick), 4:42. Broncos 21–14. Drive: 6 plays, 58 yards, 2:34.
KC – Jan Stenerud 41-yard field goal, 1:50. Broncos 21–17. Drive: 8 plays, 45 yards, 2:52.
Third quarter
KC – Otis Armstrong tackled in end zone by Willie Lanier for a Safety, 12:02. Broncos 21–19.
KC – Otis Taylor 35-yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick), 10:08. Chiefs 26–21. Drive: 5 plays, 49 yards, 3:36.
KC – Woody Green 17-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 33–21. Drive: 1 play, 17 yards, 0:07.
KC – Jan Stenerud 35-yard field goal, 1:53. Chiefs 36–21. Drive: 6 plays, 33 yards, 2:47.
Fourth quarter
DEN – Jon Keyworth 1-yard run (kick blocked), 14:58. Chiefs 36–27. Drive: 4 plays, 59 yards, 1:44.
KC – Wendell Hayes 1-yard run (kick failed), 11:59. Chiefs 42–27. Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 2:59.
DEN – Otto Stowe 4-yard pass from Charley Johnson (Jim Turner kick), 7:50. Chiefs 42–34. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 4:09.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 11: at Cincinnati Bengals [ edit ]
Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs
0
6
0 0 6
Bengals
7
20
0 6 33
at Riverfront Stadium , Cincinnati, Ohio
Date : November 24Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : Cloudy, 53 °F (12 °C)Game attendance : 49,777Referee : Bernie Ulman TV announcers (NBC) : Jim Simpson and John BrodieBox Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
CIN – Ed Williams 19-yard pass from Ken Anderson (Horst Muhlmann kick), 14:52. Bengals 14–0. Drive: 8 plays, 70 yards, 4:23.
CIN – Bob Maddox blocked punt recovery in end zone (kick failed), 5:14. Bengals 20–0.
KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal, 3:33. Bengals 20–3. Drive: 6 plays, 56 yards, 1:29.
CIN – Isaac Curtis 6-yard pass from Ken Anderson (Horst Muhlmann kick), 0:54. Bengals 27–3. Drive: 7 plays, 76 yards, 2:39.
KC – Jan Stenerud 47-yard field goal, 0:00. Bengals 27–6. Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 0:54.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
CIN – Chip Myers 11-yard pass from Ken Anderson (kick aborted), 11:05. Bengals 33–6. Drive: 13 plays, 80 yards, 5:36.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 12: at St. Louis Cardinals [ edit ]
Game information
First quarter
STL – Terry Metcalf 22-yard pass from Jim Hart (kick failed, wide right), 6:57. Cardinals 6–0. Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 3:08.
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
KC – Wendell Hayes 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 13:24. Chiefs 14–6. Drive: 2 plays, 3 yards, 0:39.
KC – Jan Stenerud 22-yard field goal, 3:52. Chiefs 17–6. Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 5:36.
STL – Terry Metcalf 2-yard run (Jim Bakken kick), 2:49. Chiefs 17–13. Drive: 5 plays, 62 yards, 1:03.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 13: vs. Oakland Raiders [ edit ]
Week 13: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Raiders
0
0
0 7 7
Chiefs
3
3
0 0 6
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Date : December 8Game time : 3:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Clear, cold, 27 °F (−3 °C)Game attendance : 60,577Referee : Ben Dreith TV announcers (NBC) : Jim Simpson and John BrodieBox Score
Game information
First quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 50-yard field goal, 4:06. Chiefs 3–0. Drive: 4 plays, 5 yards, 3:24.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal, 0:02. Chiefs 6–0. Drive: 8 plays, 51 yards, 1:08.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 14: vs Minnesota Vikings [ edit ]
Week 14: Minnesota Vikings at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Vikings
0
14
7 14 35
Chiefs
3
9
0 3 15
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information
First quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 37-yard field goal, 8:41. Chiefs 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 6:19.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 32-yard field goal, 8:50. Chiefs 6–0. Drive: 13 plays, 58 yards, 5:57.
MIN – Sam McCullum 34-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick), 3:01. Vikings 7–6. Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 3:00.
MIN – Sam McCullum 10-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Fred Cox kick), 0:33. Vikings 14–6. Drive: 7 plays, 52 yards, 1:25.
KC – Emmitt Thomas 73-yard interception return (kick failed, wide right), 0:00. Vikings 14–12.
Third quarter
MIN – Ed Marinaro 7-yard pass from Bob Berry (Fred Cox kick), 7:46. Vikings 21–12. Drive: 12 plays, 65 yards, 7:14.
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 29-yard field goal, 14:57. Vikings 21–15. Drive: 12 plays, 43 yards, 5:00.
MIN – Oscar Reed 3-yard pass from Bob Berry (Fred Cox kick), 8:36. Vikings 28–15. Drive: 10 plays, 58 yards, 6:21.
MIN – Brent McClanahan 6-yard run (Fred Cox kick), 0:59. Vikings 35–15. Drive: 9 plays, 68 yards, 3:53.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Founded in 1960
Formerly the Dallas Texans (1960–1962)
Based and headquartered in Kansas City , Missouri
Franchise Stadiums Key personnel Culture Lore Rivalries Wild card berths (10) Division championships (16) Conference championships (4) League championships (5) Retired numbers Media Current league affiliations Former league affiliation
Formerly the Dallas Texans (1960–1962)