NFL team season
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.
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 [ edit] NFL Draft [ edit]
Round
Pick
Player
Position
School/Club Team
Schedule [ edit] Preseason [ edit] Regular season [ edit]
Week
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 [ edit] Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals [ edit]
Week 1: Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Chiefs 7
10
7
0
24
Bengals
0
9
0
14
23
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
Date : September 3Game time : 1:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : 68 °F (20.0 °C), relative humidity 77%, wind 6 mphGame attendance : 41,810Referee : Bob FredericTV announcers (NBC) : Jim Simpson and Paul WarfieldBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
CIN – Don Bass 0-yard fumble return (kick failed). Chiefs 7–6.
KC – Ted McKnight 26-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 14–6.
CIN – Chris Bahr 42-yard field goal. Chiefs 14–9.
KC – Jan Stenerud 19-yard field goal. Chiefs 17–9.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
KC – Mark Bailey – 26 rushes, 106 yards
CIN – Archie Griffin – 9 rushes, 50 yards
Top receivers
KC – Walter White – 6 receptions, 57 yards
CIN – Archie Griffin – 2 receptions, 37 yards, TD
Week 2: vs Houston Oilers [ edit]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
HOU – Toni Fritsch 49-yard field goal. Oilers 6–0.
KC – Jan Stenerud 41-yard field goal. Oilers 6–3.
KC – Ted McKnight 3-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 10–6.
Third quarter
KC – Tony Reed 19-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 17–6.
Fourth quarter
HOU – Earl Campbell 1-yard run (Toni Fritsch kick). Chiefs 17–13.
HOU – Earl Campbell 2-yard run (Toni Fritsch kick). Oilers 20–17.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
HOU – Mike Barber – 1 reception, 17 yards
KC – Tony Reed – 4 receptions, 31 yards
Week 3: at New York Giants [ edit]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
NYG – Joe Danelo 41-yard field goal. Giants 23–7.
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 24-yard field goal. Giants 23–10.
NYG – Joe Danelo 40-yard field goal. Giants 26–10.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos [ edit]
Week 4: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period
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
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
DEN – Jim Turner 42-yard field goal. Broncos 10–7.
KC – Jan Stenerud 46-yard field goal. Tied 10–10.
Third quarter
KC – Tony Reed 15-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 17–10.
DEN – Larry Canada 3-yard run (Jim Turner kick). Tied 17–17.
Fourth quarter
Overtime
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
DEN – Riley Odoms – 4 receptions, 60 yards, TD
KC – Tony Reed – 4 receptions, 53 yards
Week 5: at Buffalo Bills [ edit]
Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Period
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 1Game time : 1:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : 60 °F (15.6 °C), relative humidity 84%, wind 18 mphGame attendance : 47,310Referee : Gordon McCarterTV announcers (NBC) : Marv Albert and Ed PodolakBox score
Game information
First quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 42-yard field goal. Chiefs 3–0.
KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal. Chiefs 6–0.
Second quarter
BUF – Bob Chandler 20-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 7–6.
BUF – Terry Miller 8-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 14–6.
BUF – Bob Chandler 22-yard pass from Joe Ferguson (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 21–6.
Third quarter
BUF – Curtis Brown 22-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick). Bills 28–6.
Fourth quarter
KC – Ted McKnight 41-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Bills 28–13.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 6: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers [ edit]
Week 6: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period
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 8Game time : 1:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 54 °F (12.2 °C), relative humidity 58%, wind 12 mphGame attendance : 38,201Referee : Gene BarthTV announcers (CBS) : Jim Thacker and Roman GabrielBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 30-yard field goal. Buccaneers 10–6.
TB – Jimmy DuBose 1-yard run (kick failed). Buccaneers 16–6.
TB – Louis Carter 3-yard run (Neil O’Donoghue kick). Buccaneers 23–6.
KC – Henry Marshall 26-yard pass from Tony Adams (Jan Stenerud kick). Buccaneers 23–13.
TB – Jimmy DuBose 1-yard run (Neil O’Donoghue kick). Buccaneers 30–13.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 7: at Oakland Raiders [ edit]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
OAK – Mark van Eeghen 1-yard run (Errol Mann kick). Raiders 21–0.
OAK – Charlie Phillips 42-yard interception return (Errol Mann kick). Raiders 28–0.
KC – Larry Dorsey 16-yard pass from Tony Adams (kick failed). Raiders 28–6.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
KC – Tony Reed – 7 receptions, 91 yards
OAK – Cliff Branch – 4 receptions, 76 yards
Week 8: vs. Cleveland Browns [ edit]
Week 8: Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period
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 22Game time : 1:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : 67 °F (19.4 °C), relative humidity 43%, wind 13 mphGame attendance : 41,157Referee : Jerry MarkbreitTV announcers (NBC) : Jim Simpson and Paul WarfieldBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
KC – Arnold Morgado 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 17–3.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 9: at Pittsburgh Steelers [ edit]
Week 9: Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Period
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 29Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 43 °F (6.1 °C), relative humidity 71%, wind 10 mphGame attendance : 48,185Referee : Red CashionTV announcers (NBC) : Jay Randolph and Paul MaguireBox Score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
PIT – Franco Harris 11-yard run (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 14–3.
PIT – John Stallworth 23-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (kick failed). Steelers 20–3.
Third quarter
KC – Ted McKnight 14-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Steelers 20–10.
KC – Tony Reed 16-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Steelers 20–17.
PIT – Donnie Shell 17-yard fumble return (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 27–17.
Fourth quarter
KC – Arnold Morgado 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Steelers 27–24.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 10: vs Oakland Raiders [ edit]
Week 10: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period
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 5Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 64 °F (17.8 °C), relative humidity 64%, wind 13 mphGame attendance : 75,418Referee : Bob FredericTV announcers (NBC) : Jay Randolph and Ed PodolakBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 11: at San Diego Chargers [ edit]
Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period
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 12Game time : 1:00 p.m. PSTGame weather : 58 °F (14.4 °C), relative humidity 65%, wind 14 mphGame attendance : 41,395Referee : Fred WyantTV announcers (NBC) : Jay Randolph and Mike HaffnerBox score
Game information
First quarter
SD – Hank Bauer 1-yard run (kick failed). Chargers 6–0.
Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 39-yard field goal. Chargers 6–3.
SD – Hank Bauer 1-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick). Chargers 13–3.
KC – Jan Stenerud 20-yard field goal. Chargers 13–6.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
KC – Arnold Morgado 5-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Tied 20–20.
SD – Rolf Benirschke 28-yard field goal. Chargers 23–20.
KC – Jan Stenerud 47-yard field goal. Tied 23–23.
Overtime
SD – John Jefferson 14-yard pass from Dan Fouts. Chargers 29–23.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 12: vs. Seattle Seahawks [ edit]
Week 12: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period
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 19Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 32 °F (0.0 °C), relative humidity 73%, wind 14 mph, wind chill 22Game attendance : 35,252Referee : Chuck HeberlingTV announcers (NBC) : Marv Albert and Paul MaguireBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – David Sims 10-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick). Seahawks 10–0.
KC – Jan Stenerud 20-yard field goal. Seahawks 10–3.
Third quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 18-yard field goal. Seahawks 13–3.
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 13: vs. San Diego Chargers [ edit]
Week 13: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period
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 26Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 40 °F (4.4 °C), relative humidity 94%, wind 19 mphGame attendance : 26,248Referee : Ben DreithTV announcers (NBC) : Jay Randolph and Mike HaffnerBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 37-yard field goal. Chiefs 20–0.
Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 35-yard field goal. Chiefs 23–0.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 14: vs. Buffalo Bills [ edit]
Week 14: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period
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 3Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : 24 °F (−4.4 °C), relative humidity 84%, wind 13 mph, wind chill 12Game attendance : 25,781Referee : Fred SilvaTV announcers (NBC) : Jay Randolph and Mike HaffnerBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
BUF – Tom Dempsey 22-yard field goal. Bills 10–7.
KC – Walter White 3-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick). Chiefs 14–10.
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 15: at Denver Broncos [ edit]
Week 15: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Chiefs
3
0
0
0
3
Broncos 7
0
10
7
24
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
Date : December 10Game time : 2:00 p.m. MSTGame weather : 24 °F (−4.4 °C), relative humidity 61%, wind 6 mph, wind chill 16Game attendance : 74,149Referee : Don WedgeTV announcers (NBC) : Jay Randolph and Paul MaguireBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
DEN – Jim Turner 38-yard field goal. Broncos 10–3.
DEN – Riley Odoms 23-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick). Broncos 17–3.
Fourth quarter
DEN – Riley Odoms 29-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick). Broncos 24–3.
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Week 16: at Seattle Seahawks [ edit]
Week 16: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period
1
2
3
4
Total
Chiefs
3
7
7
2
19
Seahawks 7
13
0
3
23
at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington
Date : December 17Game time : 1:00 p.m. PSTGame weather : None (game played indoors)Game attendance : 58,490Referee : Bob FredericTV announcers (NBC) : Jay Randolph and Ed PodolakBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Al Hunter 1-yard run (kick failed). Seahawks 13–3.
SEA – Al Hunter 55-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick). Seahawks 20–3.
KC – Arnold Morgado 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Seahawks 20–10.
Third quarter
KC – Tony Reed 62-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick). Seahawks 20–17.
Fourth quarter
SEA – Efrén Herrera 31-yard field goal. Seahawks 23–17.
KC – Ed Beckman ran Herman Weaver out of endzone for a safety. Seahawks 23–19.
Top passers
Top rushers
KC – Tony Reed – 11 rushes, 121 yards, TD
SEA – Al Hunter – 27 rushes, 133 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
Standings [ edit] References [ edit]
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