1970 Chiefs

[Bryan]

Watched some 1970 Chiefs footage last night...had some thoughts and questions:

*Did the NFL purposely have the Chiefs open at Minnesota?

*Their MNF game against eventual champion Baltimore was interesting. The lighting in Memorial Stadium wasn't the best, so it looked like Unitas was heaving the ball into darkness, only to have Johnny Robinson miraculously appear and intercept. The Chiefs led 31-0 early the in the 2nd quarter. Robinson had 3 INTs and a 46-yard TD fumble return.

*Mike Garrett fumbled against Minnesota, was sent to San Diego, and ended up scoring two TDs against KC later in the season. Ed Podolak, who was a bit player in 1969, ended up with 1715 all-purpose yards, leading the team in rushing, 2nd in receiving, 1st in punt returns (13.5 avg) and 2nd in kick returns. He also completed 2 passes for 40 yards.

*In the game that probably cost them a playoff spot, the Chiefs lost to the Broncos for the first time ever. The rematch later in the year had the Broncos starting Al Pastrana at QB, who was my favorite of the 30 or so guys Denver used at QB in that era. The Chiefs won 16-0, Pastrana completed 9 passes and threw 5 INTS, Johnny Robinson picked off 3. Robinson ended the year with 10 INTS and was consensus 1st team All-Pro...not bad for a 32-year old.

*I did not know that late in the year the Chiefs picked up Billy Cannon. He scored 2 TDs against Pittsburgh.

*How many times have two teams faced each other who both had 7-3-2 records? Seems odd. The Raiders and Chiefs played in the 2nd to last game to determine who made the playoffs, and the Raiders won 20-6. The Chiefs had some bad luck with the schedule in 1970, losing to the Raiders/Cowboys/Vikings, and tying the Raiders and Cardinals...all tough opponents. I think had the Chiefs beaten the Raiders and made the postseason, they could very easily had represented the AFC in the Super Bowl and possibly repeated as champions.

[BD Sullivan]

Watched some 1970 Chiefs footage last night...had some thoughts and questions:

*Did the NFL purposely have the Chiefs open at Minnesota?

*Their MNF game against eventual champion Baltimore was interesting. The lighting in Memorial Stadium wasn't the best, so it looked like Unitas was heaving the ball into darkness, only to have Johnny Robinson miraculously appear and intercept. The Chiefs led 31-0 early the in the 2nd quarter. Robinson had 3 INTs and a 46-yard TD fumble return.

*Mike Garrett fumbled against Minnesota, was sent to San Diego, and ended up scoring two TDs against KC later in the season. Ed Podolak, who was a bit player in 1969, ended up with 1715 all-purpose yards, leading the team in rushing, 2nd in receiving, 1st in punt returns (13.5 avg) and 2nd in kick returns. He also completed 2 passes for 40 yards.

*In the game that probably cost them a playoff spot, the Chiefs lost to the Broncos for the first time ever. The rematch later in the year had the Broncos starting Al Pastrana at QB, who was my favorite of the 30 or so guys Denver used at QB in that era. The Chiefs won 16-0, Pastrana completed 9 passes and threw 5 INTS, Johnny Robinson picked off 3. Robinson ended the year with 10 INTS and was consensus 1st team All-Pro...not bad for a 32-year old.

*I did not know that late in the year the Chiefs picked up Billy Cannon. He scored 2 TDs against Pittsburgh.

*How many times have two teams faced each other who both had 7-3-2 records? Seems odd. The Raiders and Chiefs played in the 2nd to last game to determine who made the playoffs, and the Raiders won 20-6. The Chiefs had some bad luck with the schedule in 1970, losing to the Raiders/Cowboys/Vikings, and tying the Raiders and Cardinals...all tough opponents. I think had the Chiefs beaten the Raiders and made the postseason, they could very easily had represented the AFC in the Super Bowl and possibly repeated as champions.

While the NFL appeared to be sending a clear message by having the Chiefs open up on the road against the previous two NFL SB teams, having it on the opening weekend allowed for the hype to build for what turned out to be a ho-hum game. The Chiefs could have played at home that first weekend since the Royals were in Milwaukee.

Garrett and Stram couldn't stand each other and Garrett had previously said that he would be playing baseball the following year. Stram felt that the Chiefs had depth at running back and figured the second rounder they got for Garrett wouldn't be there after the season ended.

Cannon was cut by the Raiders in August and was originally signed to the Chiefs' taxi (practice) squad in early October. After a few weeks to presumably get back in shape, he was put on the active roster--ironically taking Garrett's spot on the roster. Stram said he wanted depth at TE, with one report saying that Morris Stroud was going to be shifted to DE--though that makes little sense if Stram was worried about depth. Interestingly, it reunited Cannonb with Johnny Robinson, who was also a running back at LSU at roughly the same time. Had Garrett remained on the team when Cannon arrived, it would have given the Chiefs three Heisman winners on the roster: John Huarte was third string QB.

The Chiefs 6-6 tie against the Cardinals was obviously a winnable game. The Chiefs led 3-0 early and missed a great chance to boost the lead to maybe 10 when they recovered a fumble at the STL 26. However, Dawson was sacked and then was picked off on the next play. Stenerud just missed on a 55-yard FG attempt in the last minute, falling about two feet short.

The other tie for KC that year was the infamous game against the Raiders where Ben Davidson's spearing of Dawson sparked a brawl begun by Otis Taylor that cost the Chiefs a clinching first down and led to one of Blanda's string of miracles--a 48-yarder at the gun.

In the Denver loss, Dawson was sacked seven times.

[oldecapecod11]

...Cannon was cut by the Raiders in August and was originally signed to the Chiefs' taxi (practice) squad in early October. After a few weeks to presumably get back in shape, he was put on the active roster--ironically taking Garrett's spot on the roster. Stram said he wanted depth at TE, with one report saying that Morris Stroud was going to be shifted to DE--though that makes little sense if Stram was worried about depth. Interestingly, it reunited Cannonb with Johnny Robinson, who was also a running back at LSU at roughly the same time. Had Garrett remained on the team when Cannon arrived, it would have given the Chiefs three Heisman winners on the roster: John Huarte was third string QB...

The Cannon-Robinson tandem was the year of the Chinese Bandits in 1958 at LSU.
Robinson was the other halfback in the starting backfield known as the "White Team."
Also on the starting team was Mel Branch (Dallas/KC and Miami DE) and Tommy Davis (long-time 49ers P/PK) who,
in addition to kicking for the Tigers, was the "Go Team" (2nd string back-ups) Fullback.
{Edited by Moderator}

[74_75_78_79_]

'70 was the last time two SB-participants from year before opened vs each other and likely will be given the way it's done now with defending-Champ opening at home, banner unfolding. It would definitely serve as a disrespectful reminder to the visiting team which lost.

Denver does host Carolina next year btw.

As for Monday Nighters between previous year's SB teams, only one I recall is Pack@Pats in '97.

[ChrisBabcock]

Denver does host Carolina next year btw.

So it is still possible. I don't think they would schedule that game week 1 though.