1978 Kansas City Chiefs season

Last updated

1978 Kansas City Chiefs season
Owner Lamar Hunt
General manager Jim Schaaf
Head coach Marv Levy
Home stadium Arrowhead Stadium
Results
Record4–12
Division place5th AFC West
PlayoffsDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers None
All-Pros None

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.

Contents

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

NFL Draft

1978 Kansas City Chiefs draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
12 Art Still  *  Defensive end Kentucky
229 Sylvester Hicks  Defensive end Tennessee State
358 Gary Spani   Linebacker Kansas State
485 Daniel Johnson  LinebackerTennessee State
4104Pete Woods  Quarterback Missouri
5112 Jerrold McRae   Wide receiver Tennessee State
5118Dwight Carey  Defensive tackle Texas–Arlington
5134 Robert Woods  Wide receiver Grambling State
7168 Ricky Odom   Cornerback USC
7184 Bill Kellar  Wide receiver Stanford
8195 John Henry White   Running back Louisiana Tech
9224Larry Brown  Offensive tackle Miami (FL)
10251Earl Bryant Defensive end Jackson State
11280 Ray Milo   Safety New Mexico State
12307Willie Brock  Center Colorado
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Roster

1978 Kansas City Chiefs roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Reserve


Rookies in italics

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
1August 5at Green Bay Packers W 17–141–0 Lambeau Field 54,453 Recap
2August 12 Minnesota Vikings W 17–132–0 Arrowhead Stadium 41,092 Recap
3August 20at New England Patriots L 7–242–1 Schaefer Stadium 39,043 Recap
4August 26 St. Louis Cardinals L 7–122–2Arrowhead Stadium40,884 Recap

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
1September 3at Cincinnati Bengals W 24–231–0 Riverfront Stadium 41,810 Recap
2September 10 Houston Oilers L 17–201–1 Arrowhead Stadium 40,213 Recap
3September 17at New York Giants L 10–261–2 Giants Stadium 70,546 Recap
4September 24 Denver Broncos L 17–23 (OT)1–3Arrowhead Stadium60,593 Recap
5October 1at Buffalo Bills L 13–281–4 Rich Stadium 47,310 Recap
6October 8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 13–301–5Arrowhead Stadium38,201 Recap
7October 15at Oakland Raiders L 6–281–6 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 50,759 Recap
8October 22 Cleveland Browns W 17–32–6Arrowhead Stadium41,157 Recap
9October 29at Pittsburgh Steelers L 24–272–7 Three Rivers Stadium 48,185 Recap
10November 5 Oakland Raiders L 10–202–8Arrowhead Stadium75,418 Recap
11November 12at San Diego Chargers L 23–29 (OT)2–9 San Diego Stadium 41,395 Recap
12November 19 Seattle Seahawks L 10–132–10Arrowhead Stadium35,252 Recap
13November 26 San Diego Chargers W 23–03–10Arrowhead Stadium26,248 Recap
14December 3 Buffalo Bills W 14–104–10Arrowhead Stadium25,781 Recap
15December 10at Denver Broncos L 3–244–11 Mile High Stadium 74,149 Recap
16December 17at Seattle Seahawks L 19–234–12 Kingdome 58,490 Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Cincinnati Bengals

Week 1: Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Chiefs7107024
Bengals0901423

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

Week 2: Houston Oilers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Oilers3301420
Chiefs0107017

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 3: at New York Giants

Week 3: Kansas City Chiefs at New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Chiefs070310
Giants1463326

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game information

Week 4: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 4: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter1234OTTotal
Broncos7370623
Chiefs7370017

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 5: at Buffalo Bills

Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Chiefs600713
Bills0217028

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

Week 6: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Buccaneers01002030
Chiefs3001013

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

Week 7: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Chiefs00066
Raiders7701428

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

Game information

Week 8: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week 8: Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Browns30003
Chiefs370717

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

Week 9: Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Chiefs3014724
Steelers7137027

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

Week 10: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Raiders0701320
Chiefs003710

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

Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter1234OTTotal
Chiefs06710023
Chargers6773629

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

Week 12: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Seahawks373013
Chiefs030710

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

Week 13: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Chargers00000
Chiefs0173323

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

Week 14: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bills073010
Chiefs707014

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

Week 15: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Chiefs30003
Broncos7010724

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: December 10
  • Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: Partly sunny, 35 °F (2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 74,149
  • Referee: Don Wedge
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Paul Maguire
  • Box score
Game information

Week 16: at Seattle Seahawks

Week 16: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Chiefs377219
Seahawks7130323

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

AFC West
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
Denver Broncos (3)1060.6257–18–4282198L1
Oakland Raiders 970.5633–55–7311283W1
Seattle Seahawks 970.5634–46–6345358W1
San Diego Chargers 970.5635–37–5355309W3
Kansas City Chiefs 4120.2501–74–10243327L2

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Kansas City Chiefs History 1970's". Archived from the original on August 23, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.