NFL team season
The 1977 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise 's 8th season in the National Football League , the 15th as the Kansas City Chiefs , and the 18th overall. This season was the worst in franchise history[ 1] 2008 season , with the Chiefs winning only two of fourteen games. After an 0–5 start, Head coach Paul Wiggin was fired following a 44–7 loss to Cleveland in week 7. Tom Bettis took over as interim head coach for the rest of the season. The team endured a six-game losing streak to conclude the season at 2–12.
An 0–5 start doomed the squad with a 44–7 loss at Cleveland (10/30) effectively sealing Wiggin's fate. Despite the club's record Wiggin was still a popular figure in Kansas City, but was nonetheless relieved of his duties on Halloween, marking the first in-season coaching switch in team history, and the last until 2011 , when Todd Haley was fired with three games remaining. Wiggin concluded his tenure with an 11–24 record.[ 1]
Defensive backs coach Tom Bettis was named interim coach and claimed a 20–10 victory vs. Green Bay (11/6) in the franchise's initial contest under his direction, but it was the only victory of his brief head coaching tenure. The team endured a six-game losing streak to conclude the season at 2–12.[ 1] Romeo Crennel , also won his first game in charge against the Packers at home; Green Bay entered that game 13–0.)
Bettis and the remainder of the coaching staff assembled by Wiggin were released on December 19, one day after a 21–20 loss at Oakland (12/18) in the regular season finale. Marv Levy , the former head coach of the CFL 's Montreal Alouettes , was named the fourth head coach in franchise history on December 20.[ 1]
The heart and soul of the Chiefs once-vaunted defense departed when roommates Willie Lanier and Jim Lynch , who both joined the club together as second-round draft picks in 1967 , retired following the 1977 campaign. Baltimore later acquired Lanier's rights in a trade, but failed to lure him out of retirement.[ 1]
By managing to win only twice in the 1977 season , the team was given the second pick in the 1978 NFL draft .
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Venue
Attendance
Recap
1
September 18
at New England Patriots
L 17–21
0–1
Schaefer Stadium
58,185
Recap
2
September 25
San Diego Chargers L 7–23
0–2
Arrowhead Stadium
56,146
Recap
3
Oakland Raiders L 28–37
0–3
Arrowhead Stadium
60,684
Recap
4
October 9
at Denver Broncos
L 7–23
0–4
Mile High Stadium
74,878
Recap
5
October 16
Baltimore Colts
L 6–17
0–5
Arrowhead Stadium
63,076
Recap
6
October 23
at San Diego Chargers
W 21–16
1–5
San Diego Stadium
33,010
Recap
7
October 30
at Cleveland Browns
L 7–44
1–6
Cleveland Stadium
60,381
Recap
8
November 6
Green Bay Packers
W 20–10
2–6
Arrowhead Stadium
62,687
Recap
9
November 13
at Chicago Bears
L 27–28
2–7
Soldier Field
49,543
Recap
10
November 20
Denver Broncos L 7–14
2–8
Arrowhead Stadium
54,050
Recap
11
November 27
at Houston Oilers
L 20–34
2–9
Houston Astrodome
42,934
Recap
12
December 4
Cincinnati Bengals
L 7–27
2–10
Arrowhead Stadium
38,488
Recap
13
December 11
Seattle Seahawks L 31–34
2–11
Arrowhead Stadium
22,262
Recap
14
December 18
at Oakland Raiders
L 20–21
2–12
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
50,304
Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Week 1: at New England Patriots [ edit ]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
NE – Darryl Stingley 21-yard pass from Steve Grogan (John Smith kick), 1:08. Tied 14–14. Drive: 4 plays, 42 yards, 0:38. Third quarter
NE – Jess Phillips 11-yard run (John Smith kick), 2:02. Patriots 21–14. Drive: 7 plays, 59 yards, 3:38. Fourth quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 22-yard field goal, 10:23. Patriots 21–17. Drive: 13 plays, 76 yards, 6:39.
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers KC – Henry Marshall – 3 receptions, 76 yards
NE – Sam Cunningham – 3 receptions, 48 yards
Week 2: vs. San Diego Chargers [ edit ]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SD – Leroy Jones 17-yard interception return (kick failed, hit right upright), 13:33. Chargers 13–7.
SD – Rolf Benirschke 31-yard field goal, 0:24. Chargers 16–7. Drive: 10 plays, 37 yards, 2:10. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
SD – Mike Fuller 7-yard run (Rolf Benirschke kick), 2:01. Chargers 23–7. Drive: 14 plays, 54 yards, 7:58.
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders [ edit ]
Week 3: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Raiders 7
6
21 3 37
Chiefs
0
21
0 7 28
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
OAK – Errol Mann 42-yard field goal, 14:13. Raiders 10–0. Drive: 10 plays, 51 yards, 5:30.
KC – Walter White 48-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 10:19. Raiders 10–7. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 3:54.
KC – Walter White 1-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 5:28. Chiefs 14–10. Drive: 6 plays, 21 yards, 2:38.
KC – Henry Marshall 41-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 5:01. Chiefs 21–10. Drive: 1 play, 31 yards, 0:11.
OAK – Errol Mann 34-yard field goal, 1:02. Chiefs 21–13. Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 3:59. Third quarter
OAK – Pete Banaszak 1-yard run (Errol Mann kick), 9:16. Chiefs 21–20. Drive: 12 plays, 69 yards, 5:44.
OAK – Clarence Davis 37-yard run (Errol Mann kick), 5:34. Raiders 27–21. Drive: 3 plays, 70 yards, 1:11.
OAK – Clarence Davis 2-yard run (Errol Mann kick), 3:02. Raiders 34–21. Drive: 4 plays, 47 yards, 1:30. Fourth quarter
KC – Lawrence Williams 13-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 13:31. Raiders 34–28. Drive: 10 plays, 73 yards, 4:31.
OAK – Errol Mann 22-yard field goal, 5:37. Raiders 37–28. Drive: 14 plays, 57 yards, 7:54.
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
Week 4: at Denver Broncos [ edit ]
Game information
First quarter
DEN – Jim Turner 25-yard field goal, 7:31. Broncos 3–0. Drive: 4 plays, 9 yards, 1:33.
DEN – Craig Morton 7-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 1:42. Broncos 10–0. Drive: 5 plays, 25 yards, 1:55. Second quarter
DEN – Jim Turner 33-yard field goal, 12:42. Broncos 13–0. Drive: 7 plays, 16 yards, 2:24.
DEN – Jim Turner 33-yard field goal, 5:06. Broncos 16–0. Drive: 12 plays, 61 yards, 5:10. Third quarter
DEN – Otis Armstrong 1-yard run (Jim Turner kick), 9:17. Broncos 23–0. Drive: 5 plays, 46 yards, 1:42. Fourth quarter
Top passers Top rushers KC – Mark Bailey – 8 rushes, 30 yards
DEN – Jon Keyworth – 13 rushes, 59 yards Top receivers
Week 5: vs. Baltimore Colts [ edit ]
Week 5: Baltimore Colts at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Colts 14
0
3 0 17
Chiefs
0
6
0 0 6
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Date : October 16Game time : 12:00 p.m. CDTGame weather : Clear, 54 °F (12 °C)Game attendance : 63,076Referee : Gene Barth TV announcers (NBC) : Charlie Jones and Paul Maguire Box score
Game information
First quarter
BAL – Ron Lee 1-yard run (Toni Linhart kick), 3:12. Colts 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 48 yards, 1:54.
BAL – Don McCauley 2-yard run (Toni Linhart kick), 0:36. Colts 14–0. Drive: 6 plays, 36 yards, 3:01. Second quarter
KC – John Brockington 1-yard run (kick aborted), 5:09. Colts 14–6. Drive: 9 plays, 46 yards, 5:24. Third quarter
BAL – Toni Linhart 44-yard field goal, 1:29. Colts 17–6. Drive: 7 plays, 10 yards, 3:17. Fourth quarter
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers BAL – Don McCauley – 3 receptions, 32 yards
KC – Mark Bailey – 6 receptions, 86 yards
Week 6: at San Diego Chargers [ edit ]
Week 6: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs 0
0
7 14 21
Chargers
3
7
3 3 16
at San Diego Stadium , San Diego, California
Date : October 23Game time : 1:00 p.m. PDTGame weather : Hazy, 75 °F (24 °C)Game attendance : 33,010Referee : Chuck Heberling TV announcers (NBC) : Jay Randolph and Floyd LittleBox score
Game information
First quarter
SD – Rolf Benirschke 40-yard field goal, 10:25. Chargers 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 58 yards, 4:35. Second quarter
SD – Larry Dorsey 26-yard pass from James Harris (Rolf Benirschke kick), 5:22. Chargers 10–0. Drive: 4 plays, 41 yards, 1:58. Third quarter
KC – Walter White 5-yard pass from Tony Adams (Jan Stenerud kick), 9:09. Chargers 10–7. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:05.
SD – Rolf Benirschke 47-yard field goal, 4:11. Chargers 13–7. Drive: 10 plays, 44 yards, 4:58. Fourth quarter
SD – Rolf Benirschke 24-yard field goal, 9:14. Chargers 16–7. Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 5:28.
KC – Tony Reed 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 2:30. Chargers 16–14. Drive: 2 plays, 1 yard, 0:27.
KC – Tim Gray 15-yard fumble return (Jan Stenerud kick), 2:08. Chiefs 21–16.
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers KC – Walter White – 6 receptions, 96 yards, TD
SD – Rickey Young – 9 receptions, 97 yards
Week 7: at Cleveland Browns [ edit ]
Game information
First quarter
CLE – Gary Parris 7-yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick), 8:08. Browns 7–0. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 3:53.
CLE – Don Cockroft 29-yard field goal, 4:28. Browns 10–0. Drive: 4 plays, 7 yards, 1:37.
CLE – Don Cockroft 34-yard field goal, 0:43. Browns 13–0. Drive: 7 plays, 35 yards, 1:50. Second quarter
CLE – Don Cockroft 27-yard field goal, 11:13. Browns 16–0. Drive: 8 plays, 58 yards, 2:46.
CLE – Thom Darden 18-yard interception return (Don Cockroft kick), 6:40. Browns 23–0.
CLE – Mike Pruitt 1-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 1:09. Browns 30–0. Drive: 3 plays, 42 yards, 1:07. Third quarter
CLE – Greg Pruitt 78-yard run (Don Cockroft kick), 3:13. Browns 37–0. Drive: 1 play, 78 yards, 0:12. Fourth quarter
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
Week 8: vs. Green Bay Packers [ edit ]
Week 8: Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Packers
0
0
3 7 10
Chiefs 10
0
0 10 20
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information
First quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal, 9:16. Chiefs 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 61 yards, 5:44.
KC – Henry Marshall 3-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 6:23. Chiefs 10–0. Drive: 4 plays, 39 yards, 1:19. Second quarter
Third quarter
GB – Chester Marcol 31-yard field goal, 9:11. Chiefs 10–3. Drive: 11 plays, 49 yards, 5:49. Fourth quarter
KC – Ed Podolak 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 14:53. Chiefs 17–3. Drive: 7 plays, 43 yards, 2:48.
GB – Terdell Middleton 85-yard kickoff return (Chester Marcol kick), 14:25. Chiefs 17–10.
KC – Jan Stenerud 22-yard field goal, 4:47. Chiefs 20–10. Drive: 11 plays, 56 yards, 5:05.
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
Week 9: at Chicago Bears [ edit ]
Week 9: Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs
14
3
0 10 27
Bears 0
0
7 21 28
at Soldier Field , Chicago, Illinois
Date : November 13Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Partly cloudy and cool, 38 °F (3 °C)Game attendance : 49,543Referee : Don Wedge TV announcers (NBC) : Jay Randolph and Mike Adamle Box score
Game information
First quarter
KC – Mike Livingston 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 9:28. Chiefs 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 5:32.
KC – Ed Podolak 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 5:22. Chiefs 14–0. Drive: 7 plays, 66 yards, 2:44. Second quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 37-yard field goal, 1:12. Chiefs 17–0. Drive: 7 plays, 34 yards, 1:50. Third quarter
Fourth quarter
CHI – Walter Payton 1-yard run (Bob Thomas kick), 7:37. Chiefs 17–14. Drive: 10 plays, 54 yards, 4:37.
KC – Jan Stenerud 21-yard field goal, 3:21. Chiefs 20–14. Drive: 10 plays, 52 yards, 4:16.
CHI – Walter Payton 15-yard run (Bob Thomas kick), 2:02. Bears 21–20. Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 1:19.
KC – Ed Podolak 14-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 0:24. Chiefs 27–21. Drive: 9 plays, 56 yards, 1:38.
CHI – Greg Latta 37-yard pass from Bob Avellini (Bob Thomas kick), 0:03. Bears 28–27. Drive: 2 plays, 57 yards, 0:21.
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
Week 10: vs. Denver Broncos [ edit ]
Week 10: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Broncos 0
7
0 7 14
Chiefs
0
7
0 0 7
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Date : November 20Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Clear, 52 °F (11 °C)Game attendance : 54,050Referee : Dick Jorgensen TV announcers (NBC) : Jay Randolph and Mike HaffnerBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
DEN – Haven Moses 23-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 4:29. Broncos 14–7. Drive: 4 plays, 52 yards, 1:39.
Top passers Top rushers DEN – Otis Armstrong – 21 rushes, 120 yards
KC – Raymond Burks – 1 rush, 51 yards Top receivers
Week 11: at Houston Oilers [ edit ]
Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs
0
6
0 14 20
Oilers 7
7
6 14 34
at Houston Astrodome , Houston, Texas
Date : November 27Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : None (indoor stadium)Game attendance : 42,934Referee : Red Cashion TV announcers (NBC) : Jack Buck and Paul MaguireBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
HOU – Tim Wilson 11-yard run (Tom Dempsey kick), 14:14. Oilers 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 32 yards, 2:02.
KC – Jan Stenerud 30-yard field goal, 9:03. Oilers 14–3. Drive: 13 plays, 67 yards, 5:11.
KC – Jan Stenerud 26-yard field goal, 1:12. Oilers 14–6. Drive: 7 plays, 20 yards, 1:24. Third quarter
HOU – Tim Wilson 1-yard run (kick failed), 8:11. Oilers 20–6. Drive: 12 plays, 74 yards, 6:49. Fourth quarter
HOU – Ken Burrough 7-yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Tom Dempsey kick), 13:05. Oilers 27–6. Drive: 3 plays, 89 yards, 0:47.
HOU – Don Hardeman 3-yard pass from Dan Pastorini (Tom Dempsey kick), 11:23. Oilers 34–6. Drive: 3 plays, 28 yards, 1:32.
KC – Walter White 36-yard pass from Tony Adams (Jan Stenerud kick), 2:23. Oilers 34–13. Drive: 4 plays, 72 yards, 1:17.
KC – Willie Lee 10-yard fumble return (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:35. Oilers 34–20.
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
Week 12: vs. Cincinnati Bengals [ edit ]
Week 12: Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Bengals 7
10
3 7 27
Chiefs
7
0
0 0 7
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Date : December 4Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Overcast, foggy, 30 °F (−1 °C)Game attendance : 38,488Referee : Bernie Ulman TV announcers (NBC) : Jack Buck and Floyd LittleBox score
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
CIN – Chris Bahr 35-yard field goal, 13:59. Bengals 10–7. Drive: 10 plays, 27 yards, 2:17.
CIN – Pat McInally 14-yard pass from Ken Anderson (Chris Bahr kick), 0:07. Bengals 17–7. Drive: 1 plays, 14 yards, 0:05. Third quarter
CIN – Chris Bahr 20-yard field goal, 1:42. Bengals 20–7. Drive: 13 plays, 57 yards, 6:51. Fourth quarter
CIN – Pete Johnson 1-yard run (Chris Bahr kick), 14:57. Bengals 27–7. Drive: 4 plays, 12 yards, 1:35.
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
Week 13: vs. Seattle Seahawks [ edit ]
Week 13: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks 14
20
0 0 34
Chiefs
21
0
3 7 31
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Date : December 11Game time : 1:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Sunny, 40 °F (4 °C)Game attendance : 22,262Referee : Fred Silva TV announcers (NBC) : Jay Randolph and Andy Russell Box score
Game information
First quarter
KC – Walter White 30-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 10:19. Chiefs 7–0. Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards, 1:35.
SEA – David Sims 1-yard run (John Leypoldt kick), 7:46. Tied 7–7. Drive: 8 plays, 74 yards, 2:33.
KC – Gary Barbaro 102-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick), 7:11. Chiefs 14–7.
SEA – David Sims 5-yard run (John Leypoldt kick), 4:13. Tied 14–14. Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 2:58.
KC – Ed Podolak 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:09. Chiefs 21–14. Drive: 8 plays, 26 yards, 3:04. Second quarter
SEA – Don Testerman 1-yard run (kick blocked), 11:34. Chiefs 21–20. Drive: 9 plays, 54 yards, 4:23.
SEA – Sherman Smith 35-yard pass from Jim Zorn (John Leypoldt kick), 9:27. Seahawks 27–21. Drive: 3 plays, 54 yards, 0:53.
SEA – Dave Brown 27-yard interception return (John Leypoldt kick), 1:12. Seahawks 34–21. Third quarter
KC – Jan Stenerud 23-yard field goal, 10:13. Seahawks 34–24. Drive: 9 plays, 69 yards, 4:47. Fourth quarter
KC – Mark Bailey 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 12:26. Seahawks 34–31. Drive: 3 plays, 6 yards, 1:12.
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers SEA – Sherman Smith – 3 receptions, 63 yards, TD
KC – Larry Brunson – 3 receptions, 95 yards
Week 14: at Oakland Raiders [ edit ]
Game information
First quarter
OAK – Errol Mann 31-yard field goal, 7:47. Raiders 3–0. Drive: 8 plays, 34 yards, 3:25. Second quarter
KC – Tim Collier 100-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick), 14:45. Chiefs 7–3.
OAK – Errol Mann 19-yard field goal, 7:28. Chiefs 7–6. Drive: 10 plays, 63 yards, 5:38. Third quarter
KC – Mark Bailey 37-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 10:13. Chiefs 14–6. Drive: 7 plays, 65 yards, 2:07.
KC – Tim Gray 14-yard fumble return (kick blocked), 9:53. Chiefs 20–6.
OAK – Carl Garrett 5-yard run (kick failed, wide left), 5:21. Chiefs 20–12. Drive: 4 plays, 18 yards, 2:02.
OAK – Carl Garrett 4-yard pass from Mike Rae (kick failed, hit right upright), 2:11. Chiefs 20–18. Drive: 3 plays, 9 yards, 1:33. Fourth quarter
OAK – Errol Mann 28-yard field goal, 6:33. Raiders 21–20. Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards, 7:26.
Top passers Top rushers Top receivers
Founded in 1960
Formerly the Dallas Texans (1960–1962)
Based and headquartered in Kansas City Missouri Franchise Stadiums Key personnel Culture Lore Rivalries Wild card berths (10) Division championships (16) Conference championships (4) League championships (5) Retired numbers Media Current league affiliations Former league affiliation
Formerly the Dallas Texans (1960–1962)
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