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1968 Kansas City Chiefs season
NFL team season
NFL team season
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Kansas City Chiefs |
| year | 1968 |
| record | 12–2 |
| division_place | 2nd AFL Western |
| coach | Hank Stram |
| general manager | Jack Steadman |
| owner | Lamar Hunt |
| stadium | Municipal Stadium |
| AFL allstars | QB 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 | |
| playoffs | Lost [Divisional Playoffs](1968-american-football-league-playoffs) |
| (at [Raiders](1968-oakland-raiders-season)) 6–41 | |
| shortnavlink | Chiefs seasons |
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 (at Raiders) 6–41
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. The loss to Oakland was a major event in the Chiefs' rivalry with the Raiders, one of the NFL's most storied feuds.
Roster
Preseason
| Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Week | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Date | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Result | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Record | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Venue | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Attendance | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Recap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| at **[Cincinnati Bengals](1968-cincinnati-bengals-season)** | **W** 38–14 | 1–0 | Nippert Stadium | 21,682 | [Recap](https://www.profootballarchives.com/1968aflkc.html) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at [Minnesota Vikings](1968-minnesota-vikings-season) | **W** 13–10 | 2–0 | Metropolitan Stadium | 46,228 | [Recap](https://www.profootballarchives.com/1968aflkc.html) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [St. Louis Cardinals](1968-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season) | **W** 13–10 | 3–0 | Municipal Stadium | 47,462 | [Recap](https://www.profootballarchives.com/1968aflkc.html) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **[Oakland Raiders](1968-oakland-raiders-season)** | **W** 31–21 | 4–0 | Municipal Stadium | 43,769 | [Recap](https://www.profootballarchives.com/1968aflkc.html) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at [Los Angeles Rams](1968-los-angeles-rams-season) | **L** 16–36 | 4–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 54,323 | [Recap](https://www.profootballarchives.com/1968aflkc.html) |
Regular season
Main article: 1968 American Football League season
| Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Week | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Date | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Result | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Record | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Venue | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Attendance | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Recap | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| at [Houston Oilers](1968-houston-oilers-season) | **W** 26–21 | 1–0 | Houston Astrodome | 45,083 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809090oti.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 15 | [New York Jets](1968-new-york-jets-season) | **L** 19–20 | 1–1 | Municipal Stadium | 48,871 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809150kan.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 22 | **[Denver Broncos](1968-denver-broncos-season)** | **W** 34–2 | 2–1 | Municipal Stadium | 45,821 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809220kan.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at [Miami Dolphins](1968-miami-dolphins-season) | **W** 48–3 | 3–1 | Miami Orange Bowl | 28,501 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196809280mia.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at [Buffalo Bills](1968-buffalo-bills-season) | **W** 18–7 | 4–1 | War Memorial Stadium | 40,748 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810050buf.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 13 | **[Cincinnati Bengals](1968-cincinnati-bengals-season)** | **W** 13–3 | 5–1 | Municipal Stadium | 47,096 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810130kan.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 20 | **[Oakland Raiders](1968-oakland-raiders-season)** | **W** 24–10 | 6–1 | Municipal Stadium | 50,015 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810200kan.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 27 | **[San Diego Chargers](1968-san-diego-chargers-season)** | **W** 27–20 | 7–1 | Municipal Stadium | 50,344 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196810270kan.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 3 | at **Oakland Raiders** | **L** 21–38 | 7–2 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 53,357 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811030rai.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 10 | at **Cincinnati Bengals** | **W** 16–9 | 8–2 | Nippert Stadium | 25,537 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811100cin.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 17 | [Boston Patriots](1968-boston-patriots-season) | **W** 31–17 | 9–2 | Municipal Stadium | 48,271 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811170kan.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| *Bye* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 28 | Houston Oilers | **W** 24–10 | 10–2 | Municipal Stadium | 48,493 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196811280kan.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 8 | at **San Diego Chargers** | **W** 40–3 | 11–2 | San Diego Stadium | 51,174 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812080sdg.htm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| at **Denver Broncos** | **W** 30–7 | 12–2 | Bears Stadium | 38,463 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812140den.htm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text. |
Standings
Postseason
A tie in the Western Division standings necessitated an unscheduled playoff game
Schedule
| Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Round | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Date | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Result | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Record | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Venue | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Attendance | Kansas City Chiefs | year=1968 | border=2}}" | Recap | Division |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 22 | at [Oakland Raiders](1968-oakland-raiders-season) | **L** 6–41 | 0–1 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 53,605 | [Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196812220rai.htm) |
AFL Divisional Playoffs: at Oakland Raiders
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. 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 – 13 rushes, 46 yards
- OAK – Charlie Smith – 13 rushes, 74 yards Top receivers
- KC – Otis Taylor – 4 receptions, 117 yards
- OAK – Fred Biletnikoff – 7 receptions, 180 yards, 3 TD
References
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
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