NFL game summary for 09/23/1973:
The veteran combination of Len Dawson's passes and Otis Taylor's receptions set up a 1-yard plunge by Willie Ellison and a 33-yard FG by Jan Stenerud for the Chiefs' scoring. The Patriots scored in the closing minutes on a plunge by Sam Cunningham following a 50-yard Jim Plunkett-to-Reggie Rucker pass.
Team stats coming into this game (NFL ranks in parentheses):
| Team | Rush Yds/Gm | Pass Yds/Gm | Tot Yds/Gm | Turnovers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | OFFENSE | 40.0 (26) | 230.0 (2) | 270.0 (16) | 2 |
| DEFENSE | 278.0 (25) | 80.0 (6) | 358.0 (21) | 1 | |
 | OFFENSE | 107.0 (20) | 190.0 (7) | 297.0 (11) | 4 |
| DEFENSE | 360.0 (26) | 99.0 (9) | 459.0 (25) | 2 |
Line: Chiefs by 7
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City Chiefs (1-1-0) | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| New England Patriots (0-2-0) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
( 7- 0) KC Willie Ellison 1 yard rush (Jan Stenerud kick)
(10- 0) KC Jan Stenerud 33 yard field goal
(10- 7) NE Sam Cunningham 1 yard rush (Bill Bell kick)
KC NE
First Downs: 16 18
Rushes-yards: 42-149 25-40
Yards/rush: 3.5 1.6
Comp-Att-Yd-INT: 11-14-180-0 16-29-203-1
Sacked-yards: 3-24 3-41
Net pass yards: 156 162
Net yards/pass: 9.2 5.1
Total net yards: 305 202
Total plays: 59 (71% run) 57 (43% run)
Yards/play: 5.2 3.5
Fumbles-lost: 2-1 1-1
Turnovers: 1 2
Penalties-yards: 7-75 5-70
Attendance: 57,918
Passing:
KC: Len Dawson, 11 of 14 for 180 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 16 of 29 for 203 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
KC: Willie Ellison, 20 for 90 yards and 1 TD; Ed Podolak, 13 for 40 yards; Jeff Kinney, 4 for 7 yards; Warren McVea, 3 for 3 yards; Elmo Wright, 1 for 9 yards; Otis Taylor, 1 for 0 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 9 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Josh Ashton, 6 for 14 yards; Paul Gipson, 5 for -1 yards; Mack Herron, 2 for 5 yards; Jim Plunkett, 2 for 4 yards; Randy Vataha, 1 for -4 yards
Receiving:
KC: Otis Taylor, 5 for 115 yards; Ed Podolak, 2 for 31 yards; Jeff Kinney, 2 for 30 yards; Morris Stroud, 1 for 6 yards; Willie Ellison, 1 for -2 yards NE: Reggie Rucker, 5 for 97 yards; Randy Vataha, 4 for 50 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 22 yards; Sam Cunningham, 2 for 18 yards; Josh Ashton, 2 for 9 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
KC: Larry Marshall, 1 for 33 yards; Robert West, 1 for 0 yards NE: Reggie Rucker, 1 for 25 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
KC: Larry Marshall, 2 for 12 yards; Ed Podolak, 1 for 0 yards NE: Sandy Durko, 1 for 1 yard; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
KC: Kerry Reardon, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
KC: Jerrel Wilson, 4 for 178 yards NE: Bruce Barnes, 6 for 263 yards
Field Goals:
KC: Jan Stenerud, 1/3 NE: Bill Bell, 0/1
KC: Len Dawson, 11 of 14 for 180 yards NE: Jim Plunkett, 16 of 29 for 203 yards (1 int)
Rushing:
KC: Willie Ellison, 20 for 90 yards and 1 TD; Ed Podolak, 13 for 40 yards; Jeff Kinney, 4 for 7 yards; Warren McVea, 3 for 3 yards; Elmo Wright, 1 for 9 yards; Otis Taylor, 1 for 0 yards NE: Sam Cunningham, 9 for 22 yards and 1 TD; Josh Ashton, 6 for 14 yards; Paul Gipson, 5 for -1 yards; Mack Herron, 2 for 5 yards; Jim Plunkett, 2 for 4 yards; Randy Vataha, 1 for -4 yards
Receiving:
KC: Otis Taylor, 5 for 115 yards; Ed Podolak, 2 for 31 yards; Jeff Kinney, 2 for 30 yards; Morris Stroud, 1 for 6 yards; Willie Ellison, 1 for -2 yards NE: Reggie Rucker, 5 for 97 yards; Randy Vataha, 4 for 50 yards; Darryl Stingley, 2 for 22 yards; Sam Cunningham, 2 for 18 yards; Josh Ashton, 2 for 9 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 7 yards
Kick returns:
KC: Larry Marshall, 1 for 33 yards; Robert West, 1 for 0 yards NE: Reggie Rucker, 1 for 25 yards; Mack Herron, 1 for 21 yards
Punt returns:
KC: Larry Marshall, 2 for 12 yards; Ed Podolak, 1 for 0 yards NE: Sandy Durko, 1 for 1 yard; Darryl Stingley, 1 for 1 yard
Interceptions:
KC: Kerry Reardon, 1 for 0 yards
Punting:
KC: Jerrel Wilson, 4 for 178 yards NE: Bruce Barnes, 6 for 263 yards
Field Goals:
KC: Jan Stenerud, 1/3 NE: Bill Bell, 0/1