Forty-five years ago, Chiefs lost to the Buccaneers 3-0 in the ‘Monsoon Game’
Rain is in the forecast for the Chiefs’ “Monday Night Football” game against the Buccaneers, but it shouldn’t affect play like when these teams met 45 years ago in Tampa, Florida.
Dubbed the “Monsoon Game,” the teams played in a downpour for three quarters before the rain let up some in the final 15 minutes. The difference in the game, which was played Dec. 16, 1979, came down to special teams.
The Buccaneers blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt by the Chiefs in the second quarter. Tampa Bay made a 19-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
“If anybody had told me we’d come down here and lose 3-0,” Chiefs cornerback Gary Green said afterward, “I’d say they were a liar.”
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, it was a true story.
The Buccaneers fumbled five times but only lost one, althought Doug Williams threw two interceptions. The Chiefs fumbled twice and lost it once. Steve Fuller completed seven of 13 passes for only 46 yards and the Chiefs ran the ball 22 times but picked up just 58 yards.
“We had planned to throw the ball more today but the weather took that away from us,” Fuller told reporters. “They looked at times like they were in a nine-man line, and it’s hard to run against a defense like that.”
The Chiefs had four first downs in the game, and just two came after the first quarter. Add in three sacks and the Chiefs had a mere 80 total yards.
“We could have played all month and they wouldn’t have scored,” Buccaneers cornerback Danny Reece told reporters afterward.
Here are highlights from that game.
