The 1978 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 9th season in the National Football League, the 16th as the Kansas City Chiefs, and the 19th overall. It began with the hiring of new head coach Marv Levy, formerly of the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes. With the NFL expanding its schedule to 16 games, the Chiefs finished with a 4–12 record and 5th in the AFC West.
1978 Kansas City Chiefs season | |
---|---|
Owner | Lamar Hunt |
General manager | Jim Schaaf |
Head coach | Marv Levy |
Home field | Arrowhead Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 4–12 |
Division place | 5th AFC West |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | None |
AP All-Pros | None |
Coach Levy's systematic restocking of a relatively barren defensive roster began with a 1978 draft class that included a pair of future Chiefs franchise hall of famers in defensive end Art Still and linebacker Gary Spani. Running back Ed Podolak, who was the club's all-time leading rusher at the time, retired in the offseason on June 15.[1]
Perhaps Levy's most unconventional tactic in rebuilding the Chiefs was installing the Wing-T offense. "It was a situation where we took over a team that had the worst defensive record in the history of the National Football League," Levy explained.[1] "We wanted to keep that defense off the field, so we ran the ball 60 times a game."[1] The 1978 Chiefs team ran and ran often, posting franchise records with 663 rushing attempts and 2,986 ground yards.[1] Levy's squad ran the ball a staggering 69 times in a 24–23 Opening Day win at Cincinnati on September 3, the most rushing attempts in an NFL contest since 1948.[1] Five different players had 100-yard rushing games during the year, including running back Tony Reed, who finished the season with 1,053 yards to become the team's first 1,000-yard back since 1967.[1] Despite the squad's Opening Day success, the club lost 10 of its next 11 games, including a pair of overtime decisions. However, the team showed signs of improvement with the defense recording a 23–0 shutout against San Diego on November 26 as the club concluded its first 16-game schedule with a 4–12 mark.[1]
Offseason
editNFL Draft
editRound | Selection | Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Art Still | Defensive end | Kentucky |
2 | 29 | Sylvester Hicks | Defensive end | Tennessee State |
3 | 58 | Gary Spani | Linebacker | Kansas State |
4 | 85 | Daniel Johnson | Linebacker | Tennessee State |
4 | 104 | Pete Woods | Quarterback | Missouri |
5 | 112 | Jerrold McRae | Wide receiver | Tennessee State |
5 | 118 | Dwight Carey | Defensive tackle | Texas–Arlington |
5 | 134 | Robert Woods | Wide receiver | Grambling State |
7 | 168 | Ricky Odom | Defensive back | USC |
7 | 184 | Bill Kellar | Wide receiver | Stanford |
8 | 195 | John Henry White | Running back | Louisiana Tech |
9 | 224 | Larry Brown | Tackle | Miami (FL) |
10 | 251 | Earl Bryant | Defensive end | Jackson State |
11 | 280 | Ray Milo | Defensive back | New Mexico State |
12 | 307 | Willie Brock | Center | Colorado |
Roster
editPreseason
editWeek | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 5 | at Green Bay Packers | W 17–14 | 1–0 | Lambeau Field | 54,453 | Recap |
2 | August 12 | Minnesota Vikings | W 17–13 | 2–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | 41,092 | Recap |
3 | August 20 | at New England Patriots | L 7–24 | 2–1 | Schaefer Stadium | 39,043 | Recap |
4 | August 26 | St. Louis Cardinals | L 7–12 | 2–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 40,884 | Recap |
Regular season
editSchedule
editWeek | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 3 | at Cincinnati Bengals | W 24–23 | 1–0 | Riverfront Stadium | 41,810 | Recap |
2 | September 10 | Houston Oilers | L 17–20 | 1–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 40,213 | Recap |
3 | September 17 | at New York Giants | L 10–26 | 1–2 | Giants Stadium | 70,546 | Recap |
4 | September 24 | Denver Broncos | L 17–23 (OT) | 1–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 60,593 | Recap |
5 | October 1 | at Buffalo Bills | L 13–28 | 1–4 | Rich Stadium | 47,310 | Recap |
6 | October 8 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 13–30 | 1–5 | Arrowhead Stadium | 38,201 | Recap |
7 | October 15 | at Oakland Raiders | L 6–28 | 1–6 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 50,759 | Recap |
8 | October 22 | Cleveland Browns | W 17–3 | 2–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | 41,157 | Recap |
9 | October 29 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 24–27 | 2–7 | Three Rivers Stadium | 48,185 | Recap |
10 | November 5 | Oakland Raiders | L 10–20 | 2–8 | Arrowhead Stadium | 75,418 | Recap |
11 | November 12 | at San Diego Chargers | L 23–29 (OT) | 2–9 | San Diego Stadium | 41,395 | Recap |
12 | November 19 | Seattle Seahawks | L 10–13 | 2–10 | Arrowhead Stadium | 35,252 | Recap |
13 | November 26 | San Diego Chargers | W 23–0 | 3–10 | Arrowhead Stadium | 26,248 | Recap |
14 | December 3 | Buffalo Bills | W 14–10 | 4–10 | Arrowhead Stadium | 25,781 | Recap |
15 | December 10 | at Denver Broncos | L 3–24 | 4–11 | Mile High Stadium | 74,149 | Recap |
16 | December 17 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 19–23 | 4–12 | Kingdome | 58,490 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Game summaries
editWeek 1: at Cincinnati Bengals
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 7 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
Bengals | 0 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 23 |
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Date: September 3
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 75 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 41,810
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Paul Warfield
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 2: vs Houston Oilers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Oilers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 20 |
Chiefs | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 10
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 86 °F (30 °C)
- Game attendance: 40,213
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Ed Podolak
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 3: at New York Giants
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
Giants | 14 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 26 |
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: September 17
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Clear, 70 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 70,546
- Referee: Cal Lepore
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 23 |
Chiefs | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 24
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 83 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 60,593
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Len Dawson
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 5: at Buffalo Bills
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 6 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 |
Bills | 0 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
- Date: October 1
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 65 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 47,310
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Ed Podolak
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 6: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buccaneers | 0 | 10 | 0 | 20 | 30 |
Chiefs | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 8
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 72 °F (22 °C)
- Game attendance: 38,201
- Referee: Gene Barth
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Thacker and Roman Gabriel
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 7: at Oakland Raiders
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
Raiders | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: October 15
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 65 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,759
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (KMBC-Kansas City): Jay Randolph and Mike Haffner
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 8: vs. Cleveland Browns
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Browns | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Chiefs | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 22
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 75 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 41,157
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Simpson and Paul Warfield
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 9: at Pittsburgh Steelers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 24 |
Steelers | 7 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 29
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Sunny, 48 °F (9 °C)
- Game attendance: 48,185
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Paul Maguire
- Box Score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 10: vs Oakland Raiders
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 0 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 20 |
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 5
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Overcast, 69 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 75,418
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Ed Podolak
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 11: at San Diego Chargers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 23 |
Chargers | 6 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 29 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: November 12
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: Clear, 64 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 41,395
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Haffner
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 12: vs. Seattle Seahawks
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seahawks | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 19
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Overcast, 36 °F (2 °C)
- Game attendance: 35,252
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Paul Maguire
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 13: vs. San Diego Chargers
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chiefs | 0 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 26
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Rainy, 38 °F (3 °C)
- Game attendance: 26,248
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Haffner
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bills | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 3
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 21 °F (−6 °C)
- Game attendance: 25,781
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Haffner
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 15: at Denver Broncos
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Broncos | 7 | 0 | 10 | 7 | 24 |
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 16: at Seattle Seahawks
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 19 |
Seahawks | 7 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington
- Date: December 17
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 58,490
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Ed Podolak
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Standings
editAFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Denver Broncos(3) | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 7–1 | 8–4 | 282 | 198 | L1 |
Oakland Raiders | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–5 | 5–7 | 311 | 283 | W1 |
Seattle Seahawks | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 4–4 | 6–6 | 345 | 358 | W1 |
San Diego Chargers | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 5–3 | 7–5 | 355 | 309 | W3 |
Kansas City Chiefs | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1–7 | 4–10 | 243 | 327 | L2 |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Kansas City Chiefs History 1970's". Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.