The Minnesota Vikings went into Super Bowl IV feeling pretty optimistic.. They had one of the best defenses in league history. They had an opportunistic offense that could score points in bunches. Being the last Super Bowl before the complete merger of the AFL and the NFL, the Vikings also had the support of the old NFL teams and the desire to show the world that the New York Jets win in Super Bowl III was nothing but a fluke. After all, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Vikings' Super Bowl opponents were taken apart by the Green Bay Packers only three years before. Nothing worked as it was supposed to work. The Vikings walked into a buzz saw.
Whenever there's talk of the greatest teams in NFL history there's mention of Lombardi's Packers, the Chicago Bears of the early '30s, Paul Brown's Cleveland Browns, the '70s Pittsburgh Steelers, the '80s San Francisco 49ers, the 1985 Bears, the '90s Dallas Cowboys and the New England Patriots of a decade ago. No one ever mentions the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs. They should be part of that discussion. Their offense was terrific. Some called it "the offense of the '70s." Head coach Hank Stram did bring some innovations to the game but the talent on that offense is what really made it different from the rest. Len Dawson was a terrific thrower and one of the smartest quarterbacks around. He made it all go. Running back Mike Garrett was an explosive runner. Frank Pitts was solid at one receive spot. The other was a difference maker. Otis Taylor was the best receiver in football. His absence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame is one of the great mysteries. Fred Arbanas was excellent at tight end. The offenseive line was dominant. Tackle Jim Tyrer and guard Ed Budde were consistent All-Stars on the left side. Dave Hill was steady at right tackle. As was Mo Moorman at right guard. EJ Holub had been a star at linebacker but knee injuries had robbed him of his mobility. He was such a great football player that he was able to move to center and excel. While the Vikings defense got far more attention, the Chiefs defense was loaded. With Jerry Mays and Aaron Brown at ends and Curley Culp and Buck Buchanan inside, the Chiefs line rivaled the Vikings as the best in football. The linebacking trio of Bobby Bell, Willie Lanier and Jim Lynch was the best in football. It's also on of the best ever. The backfield of Emmitt Thomas and James Marsalis at corner and Johnny Robinson and Jim Kearney at safety completed an outstanding defensive unit. Even the kicking game was excellent with Jan Stenerud at kicker and Jerrel Wilson at punter. This was a great football team.
While noticed by the Hall of Fame, the 1969 Kansas City Chiefs aren't noticed enough. Stram, Dawson, Buchanan, Bell, Lanier, Thomas and Stenerud are all honored in Canton. Otis Taylor, Jim Tyrer, Curley Culp and Johnny Robinson should be. The Hall of Fame selectors moved to correct one of their many mistakes yesterday when they selected Culp as one of the 2013 senior nominees. It's a start but Otis Taylor has to be honored there as well. Every so often I have to check the list of Hall of Famers just to be sure that havent't missed something all these years.
I've given a decent amount of thought to this Chiefs team as they really thrashed my Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. I really think that the Vikings were surprised by the talent level that they faced that day. The entire NFL was surprised. Seeing film of the game now it's pretty obvious that they were ill-prepared. I assume that they figured that they were playing the same Chiefs team that folded before the Packers in the first Super Bowl. This was a different Chiefs team. The 1969 Kansas City Chiefs played football at a level that few teams ever have. They deserve consideration as one of the best. They may not be the best but they are most certainly in that discussion.
No comments:
Post a Comment