1968 Kansas City Chiefs season

Infobox NFL_season
team = Kansas City Chiefs
year = 1968
record = 12-2
division_place = 2nd AFC West
coach = Hank Stram
stadium = Municipal Stadium
playoffs = "'L Western Division playoff game (Raiders) 6-41

The 1968 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 12-2 record, resulting in a tie for first place in the AFL Western Division. The Chiefs and Oakland Raiders both finished with 12-2 records in the same division, but the Raiders won the championship in a tiebreaker playoff (defeating the Chief 41-6 Western Division playoff game).

A debate raged in Kansas City whether the club’s new stadium should be built downtown or at a “remote” location. A location in Eastern Jackson County was chosen as the site and groundbreaking ceremonies took place in July with plans calling for a unique “rolling roof” design.

The 1968 Chiefs boasted one of the finest defenses ever assembled by the club, allowing a franchise-low 170 points (12.1 ppg). 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. 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 AFL Western Division crown with the Oakland Raiders and setting up an AFL Western Division Playoff Game. Kansas City lost a 41-6 decision at Oakland on December 22 as the Raiders advanced to the AFL Championship Game against the New York Jets. [http://www.kcchiefs.com/history/60s Kansas City Chiefs History 1960's] ] The loss to Oakland was a major event in the Chiefs' rivalry with the Raiders, one of the NFL's most storied feuds.

Offseason

AFL Draft

Regular Season

eason Schedule

Division standings

[ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 298 ]

Postseason

:"A tie in the Western Division standings necessitated a Western Division playoff game"

Western Division playoff

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Chiefs
R1=0
R2=6
R3=0
R4=0
RT=6
Home=Raiders
H1=21
H2=7
H3=0
H4=13
HT=41

Oakland Raiders 41, Kansas City Chiefs 6:"December 22, 1968 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California"

Scoring
*OAK - Biletnikoff 24 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
*OAK - Wells 23 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
*OAK - Biletnikoff 44 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
*KC - Field goal Stenerud 10
*KC - Field goal Stenerud 8
*OAK - Biletnikoff 54 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
*OAK - Wells 35 pass from Lamonica (Blanda kick)
*OAK - Field goal Blanda 41
*OAK - Field goal Blanda 40

References