Chiefs flashback| Game 9, Nov. 9, 1969: Chiefs 27, Chargers 3

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In honor of the 40th anniversary season of the Chiefs winning Super Bowl IV, The Star each Sunday from its archives will revisit every game of the 1969 season and 1970 playoffs, capped by the Super Bowl victory over Minnesota.

Quarterback Len Dawson, returning to the starting lineup for the first time since a knee injury sidelined him for five weeks, threw for 169 yards before sitting out the final 10 minutes as the Chiefs defeated the San Diego Chargers 27-3 in front of a record crowd of 51,104 at Municipal Stadium.

The Chiefs, 8-1, tied a franchise record with their sixth straight win while the Chargers, who started rookie Marty Domres in place of veteran John Hadl, slipped to 4-5.

Mike Garrett and Warren McVea scored touchdowns on short-yardage runs, sandwiching the biggest play of the game -- a 50-yard bomb from McVea to Frank Pitts on an option pass that gave the Chiefs a 20-3 lead late in the third quarter.

McVea rolled left as if on a sweep and then tossed the pass to a wide-open Pitts, who caught the ball at the San Diego 25 and took advantage of a block by tight end Fred Arbanas and coasted to the end zone.

Dawson showed some rust, throwing three interceptions, but the Chiefs’ defense more than returned the favor with five interceptions itself _ two by cornerback Emmitt Thomas; and one each by cornerback James Marsalis, safety Jim Kearney and middle linebacker Willie Lanier.

Jan Stenerud made field goals of 30 and 47 yards.

| Randy Covitz, rcovitz@kcstar.com

Posted on Sat, Nov. 14, 2009 09:17 AM

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