NFL game summary for 11/21/1971:
Len Dawson threw three TD passes, spoiling Jerry Smith's debut as head coach of the Broncos. He connected with Elmo Wright, Jim Otis and Morris Stroud. Steve Ramsey made his first start as Denver QB, and completed six passes to Jerry Simmons for 153 yards.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 149.6 (9) | 144.1 (17) | 293.7 (12) | 26 |
| DEFENSE | 129.8 (13) | 129.3 (3) | 259.1 (7) | 25 | |
 | OFFENSE | 130.3 (13) | 154.0 (12) | 284.3 (16) | 18 |
| DEFENSE | 78.4 (2) | 173.8 (21) | 252.2 (5) | 22 |
Line: Chiefs by 14
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos (2-7-1) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Kansas City Chiefs (7-2-1) | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
( 0- 7) KC Morris Stroud 39 yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick)
( 0-14) KC Elmo Wright 69 yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick)
( 3-14) DEN Jim Turner 12 yard field goal
( 3-21) KC Ed Podolak 17 yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick)
( 3-28) KC Jim Otis 12 yard pass from Len Dawson (Jan Stenerud kick)
(10-28) DEN Floyd Little 26 yard rush (Jim Turner kick)
DEN KC
First Downs: 15 16
Rushes-yards: 27-129 32-132
Yards/rush: 4.8 4.1
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 17-37-231-3 12-22-288-1
Sacked-yards: 4-41 3-33
Net pass yards: 190 255
Net yards/pass: 4.6 10.2
Total net yards: 319 387
Total plays: 68 (39% run) 57 (56% run)
Yards/play: 4.7 6.8
Fumbles-lost: 0-0 2-2
Turnovers: 3 3
Penalties-yards: 2-10 5-45
Attendance: 49,945
Passing:
DEN: Steve Ramsey, 17 of 37 for 231 yards (3 int) KC: Len Dawson, 11 of 19 for 294 yards and 3 TDs (1 int); Mike Livingston, 1 of 3 for -6 yards
Rushing:
DEN: Floyd Little, 13 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Anderson, 12 for 35 yards; Billy Masters, 1 for 26 yards; John Mosier, 1 for 5 yards KC: Ed Podolak, 14 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Jim Otis, 11 for 39 yards; Wendell Hayes, 5 for 21 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 3 yards; Mike Livingston, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Bobby Anderson, 7 for 37 yards; Jerry Simmons, 6 for 153 yards; Jack Gehrke, 2 for 25 yards; Floyd Little, 1 for 8 yards; Billy Masters, 1 for 8 yards KC: Morris Stroud, 3 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Otis Taylor, 3 for 84 yards; Elmo Wright, 2 for 89 yards and 1 TD; Ed Podolak, 2 for 16 yards; Jim Otis, 2 for 6 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
DEN: Bill Thompson, 3 for 55 yards; Floyd Little, 2 for 43 yards KC: Kerry Reardon, 2 for 67 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Charlie Greer, 2 for 10 yards; Bill Thompson, 1 for 6 yards KC: Ed Podolak, 2 for 7 yards; Kerry Reardon, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Bill Thompson, 1 for 0 yards KC: Emmitt Thomas, 2 for 23 yards; David Hadley, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 6 for 240 yards KC: Jerrel Wilson, 4 for 182 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 1/2 KC: Jan Stenerud, 0/3
DEN: Steve Ramsey, 17 of 37 for 231 yards (3 int) KC: Len Dawson, 11 of 19 for 294 yards and 3 TDs (1 int); Mike Livingston, 1 of 3 for -6 yards
Rushing:
DEN: Floyd Little, 13 for 63 yards and 1 TD; Bobby Anderson, 12 for 35 yards; Billy Masters, 1 for 26 yards; John Mosier, 1 for 5 yards KC: Ed Podolak, 14 for 69 yards and 1 TD; Jim Otis, 11 for 39 yards; Wendell Hayes, 5 for 21 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 3 yards; Mike Livingston, 1 for 0 yards
Receiving:
DEN: Bobby Anderson, 7 for 37 yards; Jerry Simmons, 6 for 153 yards; Jack Gehrke, 2 for 25 yards; Floyd Little, 1 for 8 yards; Billy Masters, 1 for 8 yards KC: Morris Stroud, 3 for 93 yards and 1 TD; Otis Taylor, 3 for 84 yards; Elmo Wright, 2 for 89 yards and 1 TD; Ed Podolak, 2 for 16 yards; Jim Otis, 2 for 6 yards and 1 TD
Kick returns:
DEN: Bill Thompson, 3 for 55 yards; Floyd Little, 2 for 43 yards KC: Kerry Reardon, 2 for 67 yards; Mike Adamle, 1 for 20 yards
Punt returns:
DEN: Charlie Greer, 2 for 10 yards; Bill Thompson, 1 for 6 yards KC: Ed Podolak, 2 for 7 yards; Kerry Reardon, 1 for 0 yards
Interceptions:
DEN: Bill Thompson, 1 for 0 yards KC: Emmitt Thomas, 2 for 23 yards; David Hadley, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
DEN: Billy Van Heusen, 6 for 240 yards KC: Jerrel Wilson, 4 for 182 yards
Field Goals:
DEN: Jim Turner, 1/2 KC: Jan Stenerud, 0/3