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] until the 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.
Linebackers Willie Lanier and Jim Lynch, the last remaining links to the Chiefs' Super Bowl IV championship team in 1969, each played their final NFL season.
Off-season
1977 NFL draft
Roster
Season summary
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] (Ironically, Haley's successor, 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.
Preseason
Regular season
Schedule
| 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.
|
Game summaries
Week 1: at New England Patriots
| 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
| 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
Week 3: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
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
| 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
Week 5: Baltimore Colts at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 16
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 54 °F (12 °C)
- Game attendance: 63,076
- Referee: 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
| 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
| 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
Week 8: Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
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
| 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
Week 10: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 20
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Clear, 52 °F (11 °C)
- Game attendance: 54,050
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Mike Haffner
- Box 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
Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Oilers – Game summary
at Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas
- Date: November 27
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 42,934
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck and Paul Maguire
- Box 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
Week 12: Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 4
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Overcast, foggy, 30 °F (−1 °C)
- Game attendance: 38,488
- Referee: Bernie Ulman
- TV announcers (NBC): Jack Buck and Floyd Little
- Box 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
Week 13: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 11
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 40 °F (4 °C)
- Game attendance: 22,262
- Referee: 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
| 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
|
|
Standings
References
External links
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| Franchise | |
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| Stadiums | |
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| Key personnel | |
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| Culture | |
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| Lore | |
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| Rivalries | |
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| Wild card berths (10) | |
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| Division championships (17) | |
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| Conference championships (5) | |
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| League championships (5) | |
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| Retired numbers | |
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| Media | |
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| Current league affiliations | |
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| Former league affiliation | |
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