The 1979 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 10th season in the National Football League, the 17th as the Kansas City Chiefs, and the 20th overall. They improved on their 4–12 record from 1978 to a 7–9 record, but a last-place finish in the AFC West. The Chiefs missed the playoffs for the eighth straight year due to the four other teams ahead of them in their division all finishing with winning records.
Kansas City owned a pair of picks in the first round of the 1979 draft, selecting defensive end Mike Bell and quarterback Steve Fuller. By the season's third game, Fuller had supplanted Mike Livingston as the club's starter.[1]
With Fuller at the helm, the Chiefs owned a 4–2 record after six games, but a five-game midseason losing streak ended the attempt. Despite finishing fifth in the AFC West for a second straight season, Kansas City's 7–9 record was a notable accomplishment considering the fact that the division's other four clubs all posted winning records for a second consecutive season.[1]
The Chiefs closed the season by dropping a 3–0 decision at Tampa Bay on December 16 in one of the most water-logged contests in franchise annals. As both clubs struggled to move the ball under monsoon-like conditions (Kansas City was held to 80 total yards), a field goal late in the fourth quarter by the Buccaneers' Neil O'Donoghue averted the NFL's first scoreless tie since 1943, allowing Tampa Bay to win the NFC Central division championship after a three-game losing streak.[1]
The Chiefs set a dubious NFL record for the season, with the fewest passing yards (1,660, 103.8 per game) in a 16-game season.[2]
Offseason
NFL draft
Roster
Preseason
Regular season
Schedule
| Week
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Result
|
Record
|
Venue
|
Attendance
|
Recap
|
| 1
|
September 2
|
Baltimore Colts
|
W 14–0
|
1–0
|
Arrowhead Stadium
|
50,442
|
Recap
|
| 2
|
September 9
|
Cleveland Browns
|
L 24–27
|
1–1
|
Arrowhead Stadium
|
42,181
|
Recap
|
| 3
|
September 16
|
at Houston Oilers
|
L 6–20
|
1–2
|
Houston Astrodome
|
45,684
|
Recap
|
| 4
|
September 23
|
Oakland Raiders
|
W 35–7
|
2–2
|
Arrowhead Stadium
|
67,821
|
Recap
|
| 5
|
September 30
|
at Seattle Seahawks
|
W 24–6
|
3–2
|
Kingdome
|
61,169
|
Recap
|
| 6
|
October 7
|
at Cincinnati Bengals
|
W 10–7
|
4–2
|
Riverfront Stadium
|
40,041
|
Recap
|
| 7
|
October 14
|
Denver Broncos
|
L 10–24
|
4–3
|
Arrowhead Stadium
|
74,292
|
Recap
|
| 8
|
October 21
|
New York Giants
|
L 17–21
|
4–4
|
Arrowhead Stadium
|
44,362
|
Recap
|
| 9
|
October 28
|
at Denver Broncos
|
L 3–20
|
4–5
|
Mile High Stadium
|
74,908
|
Recap
|
| 10
|
November 4
|
San Diego Chargers
|
L 14–20
|
4–6
|
Arrowhead Stadium
|
59,353
|
Recap
|
| 11
|
November 11
|
Pittsburgh Steelers
|
L 3–30
|
4–7
|
Arrowhead Stadium
|
70,132
|
Recap
|
| 12
|
November 18
|
at Oakland Raiders
|
W 24–21
|
5–7
|
Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum
|
53,596
|
Recap
|
| 13
|
November 25
|
at San Diego Chargers
|
L 7–28
|
5–8
|
San Diego Stadium
|
50,078
|
Recap
|
| 14
|
December 2
|
Seattle Seahawks
|
W 37–21
|
6–8
|
Arrowhead Stadium
|
42,160
|
Recap
|
| 15
|
December 9
|
at Baltimore Colts
|
W 10–7
|
7–8
|
Memorial Stadium
|
25,684
|
Recap
|
| 16
|
December 16
|
at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
|
L 0–3
|
7–9
|
Tampa Stadium
|
63,624
|
Recap
|
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
|
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Baltimore Colts
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- KC – Ted McKnight 70-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 8:05. Chiefs 14–0. Drive: 3 plays, 79 yards, 1:13.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- BAL – Joe Washington – 13 receptions, 130 yards
- KC – Ted McKnight – 4 receptions, 30 yards
|
|
Week 2: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 2: Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 9
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 84 °F (29 °C)
- Game attendance: 42,181
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (NBC): Stu Nahan and Paul Maguire
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- CLE – Don Cockroft 27-yard field goal, 5:17. Browns 3–0. Drive: 10 plays, 64 yards, 4:12.
- CLE – Reggie Rucker 17-yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick), 0:44. Browns 10–0. Drive: 7 plays, 64 yards, 1:46.
Second quarter
- CLE – Ozzie Newsome 20-yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick), 1:16. Browns 17–0. Drive: 6 plays, 77 yards, 1:33.
Third quarter
- CLE – Don Cockroft 32-yard field goal, 3:30. Browns 20–0. Drive: 8 plays, 46 yards, 3:50.
- KC – J. T. Smith 17-yard pass from Steve Fuller (Jan Stenerud kick), 0:00. Browns 20–7. Drive: 8 plays, 47 yards, 3:30.
Fourth quarter
- KC – Tony Reed 9-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 8:52. Browns 20–14. Drive: 11 plays, 85 yards, 4:20.
- KC – Ted McKnight 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 5:30. Chiefs 21–20. Drive: 7 plays, 32 yards, 2:29.
- KC – Jan Stenerud 30-yard field goal, 2:19. Chiefs 24–20. Drive: 7 plays, 13 yards, 2:54.
- CLE – Reggie Rucker 21-yard pass from Brian Sipe (Don Cockroft kick), 0:52. Browns 27–24. Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards, 1:27.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
Week 3: at Houston Oilers
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- KC – J. T. Smith 55-yard punt return (kick blocked), 14:45. Oilers 7–6.
- HOU – Tim Wilson 24-yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Toni Fritsch kick), 7:55. Oilers 14–6. Drive: 5 plays, 70 yards, 2:15.
- HOU – Toni Fritsch 28-yard field goal, 0:10. Oilers 17–6. Drive: 7 plays, 17 yards, 0:54.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- HOU – Toni Fritsch 23-yard field goal, 8:53. Oilers 20–6. Drive: 13 plays, 65 yards, 5:40.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- KC – Tony Reed – 3 receptions, 37 yards
- HOU – Mike Barber – 3 receptions, 66 yards
|
|
Week 4: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 4: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 23
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 77 °F (25 °C)
- Game attendance: 67,821
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Len Dawson
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- KC – Steve Gaunty 19-yard pass from Steve Fuller (Jan Stenerud kick), 6:09. Chiefs 7–0. Drive: 12 plays, 70 yards, 7:02.
- KC – J. T. Smith 88-yard punt return (Jan Stenerud kick), 3:03. Chiefs 14–0.
Second quarter
Third quarter
- KC – Gary Barbaro 70-yard interception return (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:35. Chiefs 21–0.
Fourth quarter
- KC – Arnold Morgado 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 5:31. Chiefs 28–0. Drive: 15 plays, 58 yards, 9:35.
- OAK – Derrick Jensen 1-yard pass from Jim Plunkett (Jim Breech kick), 3:33. Chiefs 28–7. Drive: 5 plays, 46 yards, 1:58.
- KC – Arnold Morgado 3-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:01. Chiefs 35–7. Drive: 1 play, 3 yards, 0:03.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
Week 5: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington
- Date: September 30
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 61,169
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Paul Maguire
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- SEA – Efrén Herrera 38-yard field goal, 12:29. Seahawks 3–0. Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 2:21.
Second quarter
- KC – Ted McKnight 23-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 13:49. Chiefs 7–3. Drive: 1 play, 23 yards, 0:06.
- KC – Jan Stenerud 36-yard field goal, 7:16. Chiefs 10–3. Drive: 5 plays, 19 yards, 2:03.
Third quarter
- SEA – Efrén Herrera 20-yard field goal, 4:56. Chiefs 10–6. Drive: 11 plays, 78 yards, 6:28.
Fourth quarter
- KC – Mike Williams 3-yard pass from Steve Fuller (Jan Stenerud kick), 9:03. Chiefs 17–6. Drive: 5 plays, 20 yards, 2:42.
- KC – Ted McKnight 84-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:27. Chiefs 24–6. Drive: 3 plays, 89 yards, 0:25.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
Week 6: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 6: Kansas City Chiefs at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
at Riverfront Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Date: October 7
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Sunny and cool, 53 °F (12 °C)
- Game attendance: 40,041
- Referee: Cal Lepore
- TV announcers (KCMO-Kansas City): Jack Harry, Ed Budde, and Nick Monroe
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- KC – Mike Williams 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick) 3:39. Chiefs 7–0. Drive: 5 plays, 48 yards, 2:31.
- KC – Jan Stenerud 46-yard field goal, 0:05. Chiefs 10–0. Drive: 6 plays, 36 yards, 1:40.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
Week 7: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 7: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 14
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Overcast, 59 °F (15 °C)
- Game attendance: 74,292
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Len Dawson
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- DEN – Jim Turner 28-yard field goal, 0:04. Broncos 3–0. Drive: 12 plays, 47 yards, 4:21.
Second quarter
- DEN – Bill Thompson 2-yard fumble return (Jim Turner kick), 0:17. Broncos 10–0.
Third quarter
- DEN – Haven Moses 16-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 9:46. Broncos 17–0. Drive: 4 plays, 71 yards, 2:18.
Fourth quarter
- KC – Jan Stenerud 44-yard field goal, 9:57. Broncos 17–3. Drive: 6 plays, 8 yards, 1:51.
- DEN – Rick Upchurch 7-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 2:51. Broncos 24–3. Drive: 10 plays, 81 yards, 4:08.
- KC – Arnold Morgado 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 0:56. Broncos 24–10. Drive: 9 plays, 59 yards, 1:55.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
Week 8: vs. New York Giants
Week 8: New York Giants at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- KC – Jan Stenerud 25-yard field goal, 13:09. Chiefs 3–0. Drive: 4 plays, 2 yards, 0:51.
Second quarter
- KC – Arnold Morgado 1-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 11:27. Chiefs 10–0. Drive: 10 plays, 67 yards, 4:20.
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- KC – Henry Marshall 38-yard pass from Mike Livingston (Jan Stenerud kick), 3:28. Chiefs 17–14. Drive: 1 play, 38 yards, 0:08.
- NYG – Harry Carson 22-yard fumble return (Joe Danelo kick), 1:42. Giants 21–17.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- NYG – Earnest Gray – 4 receptions, 107 yards, TD
- KC – Tony Reed – 8 receptions, 103 yards
|
|
Week 9: at Denver Broncos
Week 9: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
- Date: October 28
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: Sunny, 62 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 74,908
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Len Dawson
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- DEN – Rick Upchurch 5-yard pass from Craig Morton (Jim Turner kick), 11:52. Broncos 14–0. Drive: 4 plays, 12 yards, 2:16.
Third quarter
- DEN – Rick Upchurch 32-yard pass from Jon Keyworth (kick blocked), 9:42. Broncos 20–0. Drive: 3 plays, 63 yards, 1:28.
- KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal, 1:54. Broncos 20–3. Drive: 14 plays, 63 yards, 7:38.
Fourth quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
Week 10: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 10: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 4
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 65 °F (18 °C)
- Game attendance: 59,353
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Paul Maguire
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- SD – John Jefferson 13-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Mike Wood kick), 11:21. Chargers 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 54 yards, 2:34.
- SD – Mike Wood 31-yard field goal, 2:59. Chargers 10–0. Drive: 12 plays, 71 yards, 6:37.
Second quarter
Third quarter
- SD – Mike Wood 26-yard field goal, 3:03. Chargers 13–0. Drive: 14 plays, 58 yards, 7:32.
Fourth quarter
- KC – Steve Fuller 18-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 14:06. Chargers 13–7. Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 3:57.
- SD – Clarence Williams 5-yard run (Mike Wood kick), 5:45. Chargers 20–7. Drive: 14 plays, 73 yards, 8:21.
- KC – J. T. Smith 24-yard pass from Steve Fuller (Jan Stenerud kick), 3:05. Chargers 20–14. Drive: 7 plays, 73 yards, 2:40.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
Week 11: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 11: Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 11
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 43 °F (6 °C)
- Game attendance: 70,132
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and John Brodie
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
- PIT – John Stallworth 26-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick), 11:13. Steelers 7–0. Drive: 4 plays, 46 yards, 1:41.
- PIT – Matt Bahr 31-yard field goal, 6:17. Steelers 10–0. Drive: 6 plays, 29 yards, 2:11.
Second quarter
- PIT – Lynn Swann 16-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick), 11:19. Steelers 17–0. Drive: 10 plays, 71 yards, 5:39.
- PIT – Matt Bahr 20-yard field goal, 0:03. Steelers 20–0. Drive: 19 plays, 64 yards, 6:28.
Third quarter
- KC – Jan Stenerud 42-yard field goal, 9:14. Steelers 20–3. Drive: 8 plays, 35 yards, 3:37.
Fourth quarter
- PIT – Matt Bahr 37-yard field goal, 10:25. Steelers 23–3. Drive: 10 plays, 59 yards, 4:48.
- PIT – Larry Brown 1-yard pass from Terry Bradshaw (Matt Bahr kick), 3:03. Steelers 30–3. Drive: 9 plays, 42 yards, 5:43.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
Week 12: at Oakland Raiders
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- KC – Jan Stenerud 41-yard field goal, 12:27. Chiefs 10–0. Drive: 7 plays, 18 yards, 3:18.
- OAK – Mark van Eeghen 2-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Jim Breech kick), 1:07. Chiefs 10–7. Drive: 11 plays, 60 yards, 3:36.
Third quarter
- KC – Tony Samuels fumble recovery in endzone (Jan Stenerud kick), 6:49. Chiefs 17–7. Drive: 15 plays, 92 yards, 8:11.
- KC – Henry Marshall 23-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 4:59. Chiefs 24–7. Drive: 1 play, 23 yards, 0:07.
- OAK – Derrick Ramsey 16-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Jim Breech kick), 0:10. Chiefs 24–14. Drive: 9 plays, 76 yards, 4:40.
Fourth quarter
- OAK – Cliff Branch 3-yard pass from Ken Stabler (Jim Breech kick), 7:28. Chiefs 24–21. Drive: 10 plays, 64 yards, 4:19.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- KC – Mike Williams – 4 receptions, 54 yards
- OAK – Dave Casper – 7 receptions, 91 yards
|
|
Week 13: at San Diego Chargers
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- SD – John Jefferson 42-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Mike Wood kick), 2:29. Chargers 14–7. Drive: 8 plays, 91 yards, 3:48.
Third quarter
- SD – Bob Klein 8-yard pass from Dan Fouts (Mike Wood kick), 5:05. Chargers 21–7. Drive: 14 plays, 82 yards, 6:26.
Fourth quarter
- SD – Artie Owens 8-yard run (Mike Wood kick), 8:11. Chargers 28–7. Drive: 14 plays, 87 yards, 6:37.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
Week 14: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 14: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 2
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 32 °F (0 °C)
- Game attendance: 42,160
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Paul Maguire
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- KC – Earl Gant 2-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 14:57. Chiefs 21–0. Drive: 13 plays, 43 yards, 5:33.
- KC – Jan Stenerud 27-yard field goal, 0:18. Chiefs 24–0. Drive: 8 plays, 40 yards, 4:07.
Third quarter
- KC – Jan Stenerud 31-yard field goal, 11:29. Chiefs 27–0. Drive: 7 plays, 51 yards, 2:23.
- SEA – Jeff Moore 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:11. Chiefs 27–7. Drive: 5 plays, 69 yards, 1:18.
- KC – Jan Stenerud 22-yard field goal, 2:41. Chiefs 30–7. Drive: 13 plays, 37 yards, 7:40.
Fourth quarter
- KC – Ted McKnight 3-yard run (Jan Stenerud kick), 13:18. Chiefs 37–7. Drive: 6 plays, 59 yards, 3:22.
- SEA – Dan Doornink 1-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 10:12. Chiefs 37–14. Drive: 5 plays, 75 yards, 3:06.
- SEA – Jeff Moore 12-yard run (Efrén Herrera kick), 2:10. Chiefs 37–21. Drive: 3 plays, 20 yards, 0:14.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- SEA – Jim Zorn – 2 rushes, 21 yards
- KC – Earl Gant – 21 rushes, 67 yards, TD
- Top receivers
|
|
Week 15: at Baltimore Colts
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- KC – Jan Stenerud 43-yard field goal, 11:16. Chiefs 10–7. Drive: 5 plays, 54 yards, 2:08.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- KC – Earl Gant – 5 receptions, 33 yards
- BAL – Joe Washington – 6 receptions, 70 yards, TD
|
|
Week 16: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 16: Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
at Tampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida
- Date: December 16
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Rain, 67 °F (19 °C)
- Game attendance: 63,624
- Referee: Jerry Seeman
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Paul Maguire
- Box score
| Game information
|
|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- TB – Neil O'Donoghue 19-yard field goal, 8:50. Buccaneers 3–0. Drive: 13 plays, 63 yards, 6:49.
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
- KC – Earl Gant – 3 receptions, 24 yards
- TB – Jerry Eckwood – 2 receptions, 26 yards
|
|
Standings
Awards and records
- Bob Grupp, NFL Leader, Punting, 43.6 average yards per punt[3]
References
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| Franchise | |
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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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