1976 Kansas City Chiefs season
1976 Kansas City Chiefs season | |
---|---|
Owner | Lamar Hunt |
General manager | Jim Schaaf |
Head coach | Paul Wiggin |
Home field | Arrowhead Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 5–9 |
Division place | 4th AFC West |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | 1 |
AP All-Pros | None |
The 1976 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's seventh season in the National Football League, the fourteenth as the Kansas City Chiefs, and the seventeenth overall. It ended with a third consecutive 5–9 record and the Chiefs missed the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.
Buck Buchanan announced his retirement in February, while Len Dawson announced his own departure on May 1.[1] Off the field, Jack Steadman was promoted to team president and Jim Schaaf was named general manager in August.[1] On the field, Kansas City's fortunes didn't improve in the second year of the Wiggin regime. The club dropped three straight home games, including an embarrassing 27–17 loss in week 3 to the New Orleans Saints, the first win with the Saints for former Kansas City coach Hank Stram (who refused to shake hands with Wiggin following the game and rode off on the shoulders of his players as he did after the Chiefs' victory in Super Bowl IV) before suffering a 50–17 setback at Buffalo on October 3, opening the season at 0–4 for the first time in team history.[1] The team registered a 3–1 record during a successful midseason stretch, but like most preceding seasons, could not maintain that momentum.[1]
After lingering in Len Dawson's shadow for eight seasons, Mike Livingston was firmly entrenched as the team's starting quarterback,[1] becoming the first QB to start every regular season game since Dawson in 1968. Although Livingston played well and rallied the squad for wins in two of the season's final three games, the Chiefs still ended the year with their third consecutive 5–9 record.[1] Running back MacArthur Lane was the club's top offensive threat, becoming the only player at the time in franchise history to lead the league in receptions (66).
Offseason
[edit]NFL Draft
[edit]Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15 | Rod Walters | Guard | Iowa |
2 | 41 | Cliff Frazier | Defensive tackle | UCLA |
3 | 63 | Keith Simons | Defensive tackle | Minnesota |
3 | 74 | Gary Barbaro | Safety | Nicholls State |
3 | 79 | Henry Marshall | Wide receiver | Missouri |
5 | 137 | Willie Lee | Defensive tackle | Bethune-Cookman |
5 | 144 | Jimbo Elrod | Linebacker | Oklahoma |
6 | 166 | Steve Taylor | Defensive back | Kansas |
6 | 167 | Bob Gregolunas | Linebacker | Northern Illinois |
6 | 172 | Calvin Harper | Offensive tackle | Illinois State |
7 | 196 | Rod Wellington | Running back | Iowa |
8 | 222 | Orrin Olsen | Center | BYU |
9 | 249 | Tim Collier | Cornerback | East Texas State |
10 | 277 | Whitney Paul | Defensive end | Colorado |
11 | 304 | Bob Squires | Tight end | Hastings |
12 | 331 | Harold Porter | Wide receiver | Southwestern Louisiana |
13 | 361 | Joe Bruner | Quarterback | Northeast Louisiana |
14 | 388 | Rick Thurman | Offensive tackle | Texas |
15 | 415 | Dave Rozumek | Linebacker | New Hampshire |
16 | 445 | Dennis Anderson | Punter | Arizona |
17 | 472 | Pat McNeil | Running back | Baylor |
= Pro Bowler |
Roster
[edit]Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
| Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
| Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
| Reserve lists
Practice squad
|
Preseason
[edit]Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 2 | Houston Oilers | W 9–3 (OT) | 1–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | 30,006 | Recap |
2 | August 7 | Minnesota Vikings | L 10–13 | 1–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 32,851 | Recap |
3 | August 15 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 13–21 | 1–2 | Candlestick Park | 36,101 | Recap |
4 | August 21 | Washington Redskins | W 23–20 | 2–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 30,014 | Recap |
5 | August 28 | Detroit Lions | L 21–23 | 2–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 27,410 | Recap |
6 | September 3 | at St. Louis Cardinals | L 14–31 | 2–4 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 42,997 | Recap |
Regular season
[edit]Schedule
[edit]Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 12 | San Diego Chargers | L 16–30 | 0–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 53,133 | Recap |
2 | September 20 | Oakland Raiders | L 21–24 | 0–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 60,884 | Recap |
3 | September 26 | New Orleans Saints | L 17–27 | 0–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 53,918 | Recap |
4 | October 3 | at Buffalo Bills | L 17–50 | 0–4 | Rich Stadium | 51,909 | Recap |
5 | October 10 | at Washington Redskins | W 33–30 | 1–4 | RFK Stadium | 53,060 | Recap |
6 | October 17 | at Miami Dolphins | W 20–17 (OT) | 2–4 | Miami Orange Bowl | 43,325 | Recap |
7 | October 24 | Denver Broncos | L 26–35 | 2–5 | Arrowhead Stadium | 57,961 | Recap |
8 | October 31 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 28–19 | 3–5 | Tampa Stadium | 41,779 | Recap |
9 | November 7 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 0–45 | 3–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | 71,516 | Recap |
10 | November 14 | at Oakland Raiders | L 10–21 | 3–7 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 48,259 | Recap |
11 | November 21 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 24–27 | 3–8 | Arrowhead Stadium | 46,259 | Recap |
12 | November 28 | at San Diego Chargers | W 23–20 | 4–8 | San Diego Stadium | 29,272 | Recap |
13 | December 5 | at Denver Broncos | L 16–17 | 4–9 | Mile High Stadium | 58,170 | Recap |
14 | December 12 | Cleveland Browns | W 39–14 | 5–9 | Arrowhead Stadium | 34,340 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Game summaries
[edit]Week 1: vs. San Diego Chargers
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 6 | 7 | 14 | 3 | 30 |
Chiefs | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 12
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 85 °F (29 °C)
- Game attendance: 53,133
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck and Len Dawson
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 2: vs. Oakland Raiders
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 20
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 64 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 60,884
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Alex Karras and Howard Cosell
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 3: vs. New Orleans Saints
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saints | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 | 27 |
Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 26
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Overcast, 63 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 53,918
- Referee: Don Wedge
- TV announcers (CBS): Lindsey Nelson and Alex Hawkins
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 4: at Buffalo Bills
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
Bills | 16 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 50 |
at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York
- Date: October 3
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 64 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 51,909
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- TV announcers (NBC): Ross Porter and Mike Haffner
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 5: at Washington Redskins
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 6 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 33 |
Redskins | 3 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 30 |
at RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.
- Date: October 10
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C)
- Game attendance: 53,060
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck and Len Dawson
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 6: at Miami Dolphins
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
Dolphins | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 17 |
at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
- Date: October 17
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 80 °F (27 °C)
- Game attendance: 43,325
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Haffner
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 7: vs. Denver Broncos
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 14 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 35 |
Chiefs | 7 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 26 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 24
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Overcast, 43 °F (6 °C)
- Game attendance: 57,961
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Floyd Little
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 8: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 3 | 14 | 8 | 28 |
Buccaneers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 19 |
at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida
- Date: October 31
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 70 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 41,779
- Referee: Gene Barth
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Haffner
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 9: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 7 | 3 | 21 | 14 | 45 |
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 7
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Clear, 48 °F (9 °C)
- Game attendance: 71,516
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (NBC): Ross Porter and Lionel Aldridge
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 10: at Oakland Raiders
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Raiders | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: November 14
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: Overcast, 62 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 48,259
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Paul Maguire
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 11: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bengals | 14 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 27 |
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 21
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 45 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 46,259
- Referee: Cal Lepore
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Floyd Little
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 12: at San Diego Chargers
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 10 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 23 |
Chargers | 7 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
at San Diego Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: November 28
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: Clear, 70 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 29,272
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Ross Porter and Lionel Aldridge
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 13: at Denver Broncos
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
Broncos | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
- Date: December 5
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 34 °F (1 °C)
- Game attendance: 58,170
- Referee: Bernie Ulman
- TV announcers (NBC): Ross Porter and Sam DeLuca
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 14: vs. Cleveland Browns
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Browns | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Chiefs | 0 | 15 | 17 | 7 | 39 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 12
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 45 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 34,340
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck and Paul Maguire
- Box score
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Standings
[edit]AFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Oakland Raiders(1) | 13 | 1 | 0 | .929 | 7–0 | 10–1 | 350 | 237 | W10 |
Denver Broncos | 9 | 5 | 0 | .643 | 5–2 | 7–5 | 315 | 206 | W2 |
San Diego Chargers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 2–5 | 4–8 | 248 | 285 | L1 |
Kansas City Chiefs | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 2–5 | 4–8 | 290 | 376 | W1 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0 | 14 | 0 | .000 | 0–4 | 0–13 | 125 | 412 | L14 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "Kansas City Chiefs History 1970's". Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved July 30, 2007.