Kansas City vs Oakland 1968 Game 1

[LeonardRachiele]

This year 1968 and 1969 were two key seasons in the rivalry between these two teams.

In 1968, both finished 12-2 and split the two games of the season.

The First Game on Week 7

at Kansas City. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 24 to 10. Unbelievable as it seemed, the Chiefs threw only three passes in this game. Len Dawson made his precision handoffs to Mike Garret, Robert Holmes, and Wendell Hays. This trio ran for an awesome 294 yards and three touchdowns. The Chiefs sacked Daryl Lamonica three times for 20 yards in losses but gave up none. For Oakland, Daryl Lamonica went 12 for 27 for 189 yards and a touchdown. Hewitt Dixon caught five passes for 48 yards. Billy Cannon caught two passes for 68 yards and had the aforementioned touchdown. The Raiders had only token yardage rushing. This game was unusual because Kansas City ran the ball and had no passing game. Oakland passed the ball but had almost no running game. The Chiefs came out on top 24 to 10.

[Brian wolf]

Hank Stram believed in running the ball and had an interesting history with running backs. He admitted that his first, Abner Haynes, was a franchise back but also had to replace him, due to fumbles and Haynes involvement with the 1964 AFL All-star game boycott, which sent him to Denver in a trade. I truly feel had Haynes stayed with the team, he would be in the HOF.

Stram loved his fullback Curtis McClinton but tried to replace Haynes with another big back in Mack Lee Hill but tragically, he died during routine surgery. Another back, Stone Johnson, died on the field during a kickoff return in 1963. Bert Coan contributed as well before Stram struck paydirt with Mike Garrett, a quick Emmitt Smith type back that made people miss. Garrett was almost ROTY but dazzled in the AFL Championship game and SB loss to GB. Some Packers had admitted that the game might have been different had he gotten the ball more. He also played well in the SB win against the Vikings. Stram traded Garrett to the Chargers in 1970. Garrett had an excellent game against them which helped prevent the Chiefs from winning their division but truth be told, the team just underachieved that year. I still believe that trading Garrett, like Haynes before, was a mistake. The Chiefs running game was never the same.

Stram replaced McClinton with Wendall Hayes as his fullback type runner and Hayes had some niftyness for his size. Another talented player given away by the Broncos during the 60s. Stram also utilized another big back who ran hard in Robert Holmes, who was more squatty but strong. Warren McVea was another halfback that helped the team like Jack Spikes, a tall FB-HB, years before.

With Garrett gone, Stram mostly gave the ball to Ed Podolak, a smart runner who played better his first three or four years with the team. Injuries took their toll by the time the team let go of Stram.

Stram is in the HOF but team fans have to wonder what might have been, had Johnson and Mack Lee Hill not died and Haynes and Garrett had finished their careers with the team?

[JohnR]

Think maybe the Raiders missed Tom Keating that day?

[RRMarshall]

The reason for Hank Stram's avoidance of the pass were injuries to two of his WRs, Otis Taylor and Gloster Richardson. Stram dusted off the old Power-T formation and used 2 TEs and at times 3 RBs in a powerhouse backfield that caught the Raiders flat-footed. As a result the Chiefs won the time of possession by some ridiculous proportion, over some 45 minutes. This would be the Chiefs only regular season victory against the rival Raiders from 1967-1970. Of course they did win the 1969 AFL Championship so that's probably a trade their fans would take!

[Bryan]

Stram also utilized another big back who ran hard in Robert Holmes, who was more squatty but strong. Warren McVea was another halfback that helped the team like Jack Spikes, a tall FB-HB, years before.

Robert Holmes had some terrible "ball security" issues and flamed out pretty quickly, yet I am amazed that his career lasted as long as it did. Watching Holmes on the Oilers and Chargers is mesmerizing...a guy getting the ball who cannot advance it forward. Holmes' 1969 postseason run was like the opposite of John Riggins in 1982....24 carries, 21 yards, 2 fumbles. He almost gave away the 69 AFL title game. Yet despite all evidence to the contrary, Stram insisted on playing Holmes. He had a stretch from the 1969 postseason until his release from KC in 1971 where he had 108 rushing attempts, 262 yards, and 7 fumbles. Not sure why the Oilers even wanted him, but Holmes' 1971 season has to be one of the worst in NFL RB history....112 carries, 323 yards, 8 fumbles. But Holmes would four more seasons with three teams in two leagues...why did anyone even want him?

[Brian wolf]

Youre right Bryan, fumbles could be an issue for the team. Holmes ran best his rookie season with KC but fumbled at the worst times. Fumbles hurt Abner Haynes career as well. I am no expert on Municipal Stadium in KC but a worn out field could have been a nightmare when it rained. That field had the Athletics, Royals and a soccer team, also. George Toma did a great job keeping it going till weather chewed it up. That field had alot of icy, cold weather games as well. Ironically, Toma was criticized for the recent field in the SB in Arizona but he maintained, that league field director Ed Mangan messed up the field by overwatering it and letting it portably go indoors without letting sunlight absorb it first.
Eagles fans cried foul and brinksmanship because Toma had spent his life supporting and helping the Chiefs.
It reminded me of when the Chiefs called foul to the Raiders fields in Alameda-County Stadium that seemed to get overwatered despite the field being at sea level ...

[Sonny9]

The reason for Hank Stram's avoidance of the pass were injuries to two of his WRs, Otis Taylor and Gloster Richardson. Stram dusted off the old Power-T formation and used 2 TEs and at times 3 RBs in a powerhouse backfield that caught the Raiders flat-footed. As a result the Chiefs won the time of possession by some ridiculous proportion, over some 45 minutes. This would be the Chiefs only regular season victory against the rival Raiders from 1967-1970. Of course they did win the 1969 AFL Championship so that's probably a trade their fans would take!

The last regular season game the 2 played in 1969 to determine the #1 seed, KC lost 10-6. Dawson was 2-6 for 47 yds and was sacked 3 times for -18. KC ran 48 times for 165 yards
Holmes caught 2
Garrett had 2 incompletes thrown to him. Taylor and Pitts had 1 each. Taylor had 1 carry for -12 yards