Super Bowl IV: Kansas City Chiefs 23 Minnesota Vikings 7 - MVP Chiefs QB Len Dawson
Super Bowl IV: Kansas City Chiefs 23 Minnesota Vikings 7 - MVP Chiefs QB Len Dawson

In the last game before the AFL-NFL merger, Len Dawson's workmanlike performance helped Kansas City beat the Vikings, 23-7. Dawson (12 of 17, 122 yards passing) orchestrated four scoring drives in the first half alone, three of which resulted in Jan Stenerud field goals. Utilizing a running back-by-committee approach, Dawson's Chiefs outgained the Vikings on the ground (151-67). After building a 16-0 lead at the half, Dawson punctuated the victory with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Otis Taylor.

The AFL squared the Super Bowl at two games apiece with the NFL, as the Chiefs defeated the Vikings 23-7 after building a 16-0 halftime lead behind Len Dawson's superb quarterbacking and a Chiefs powerful defense.

Although the AFL showed it could stand with the NFL in , the perception of NFL dominance remained. Hank Stram and the Chiefs took their AFL pride seriously and walked into the fourth AFL-NFL Championship with an eye at forever banishing any question about the AFL's legitimacy.

Many sports writers and fans thought the victory was a fluke and continued to believe that the NFL was still superior to the AFL. The Vikings were 13-point favorites. Minnesota posted a 12--2 record during the 1969 NFL regular season before and easily defeated the Cleveland Browns, 27--7, in the 1969 NFL Championship Game. The Chiefs, who appeared in Super Bowl I, finished the 1969 AFL season at 11--3, and defeated the Oakland Raiders, 17--7, in the 1969 AFL Championship Game.

Under wet conditions, the Chiefs defense dominated Super Bowl IV by limiting the Minnesota offense to only 67 rushing yards, forcing three interceptions, and recovering two fumbles. Kansas City's Len Dawson became the fourth consecutive winning quarterback to be named Super Bowl MVP. He completed 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown, with one interception. Dawson also rushed 11 yards on three carries. Dawson connected with Otis Taylor on a 46-yard play for the final Chiefs touchdown.

The crowd of 80,562 set a Super Bowl record

Super Bowl IV: Kansas City Chiefs 23 Minnesota Vikings 7 - MVP Chiefs QB Len Dawson
Super Bowl IV Logo

Super Bowl IV MVP: Len Dawson, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

Super Bowl IV MVP: Len Dawson, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl IV MVP: Len Dawson, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

On paper, the exploits of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Len Dawson did not look like much in directing the Chiefs to a 23-7 victory over the Vikings. Dawson completed only 12 of 17 passes for 142 yards.

But it was Dawson's determined and focused leadership that drove Kansas City to its upset victory in the last game played between the AFL and NFL (the merger of the two leagues was completed after the game).

A series of Dawson-led drives led Kansas City to three Jan Stenerud field goals before Mike Garrett scored on a short run to give the Chiefs a 16-0 halftime lead. In the fourth quarter, Dawson delivered the clinching score at the end of an 82-yard drive, hitting wide receiver Otis Taylor with a 46-yard touchdown pass.

Super Bowl IV Scoring

Teams Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
Source: NFL
Minnesota Vikings (NFL)00707
Kansas City Chiefs (AFL)3137023

 

1st Quarter

Chiefs: Stenerud 48-yard Field Goal, 8:08

2nd Quarter

Chiefs: Stenerud 32-yard Field Goal, 1:40

Chiefs: Stenerud 25-yard Field Goal, 7:08

Chiefs Garrett 5-yard TD run (Stenerud PAT), 9:26

3rd Quarter

Vikings: Osborn 4-yard TD run (Cox PAT), 10:28

Chiefs: Taylor 46-yard TD pass from Dawson (Stenerud PAT), 13:38

Super Bowl IV Team Statistics

Team Statistics Vikings Chiefs
Source: NFL
Total First Downs1319
Rushing First Downs29
Passing First Downs107
Penalty First Downs13
Total Net Yardage239273
Total Offensive Plays5062
Avg. Gain Per Offensive Play4.84.4
Rushes1942
Yards Gained Rushing (Net)67151
Avg. Yards per Rush3.53.6
Passes Attempted2817
Passes Completed1712
Had Intercepted31
Tackled Attempting to Pass33
Yards Lost Attempting to Pass2720
Yards Gained Passing (Net)172122
Punts34
Avg. Distance37.048.5
Punt Returns21
Punt Return Yardage180
Kickoff Returns42
Kickoff Return Yardage7936
Interception Return Yardage024
Fumbles30
Own Fumbles Recovered10
Opponent Fumbles Recovered02
Penalties64
Yards Penalized6747
Field Goals03
Field Goals Attempted13
Third-Down Efficiency3 / 97 / 15
Fourth-Down Efficiency0 / 00 / 0
Time of Possession25:2734:33

Super Bowl IV: Vikings Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Kapp16/2518302
Cuozza1/31601
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Brown626010
Reed 417015
Osborn 71514t
Kapp 2907
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
Henderson 7111028
Brown311011
Beasley 241026
Reed216012
Osborn211010
Washington1909
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
Krause 1000
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Lee 337.0500
Punt Returns#/FCYardsLongTD
West2/018110
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
West346270
Jones133330

 

Super Bowl IV: Colts Player Stats

Source: NFL
PassingComp / AttYardsTDINT
Dawson22/1714211
RushingCarriesYardsTDLong
Garrett 113916
Pitts337019
Hayes 831013
McVea 122609
Dawson 311011
Holmes 5707
ReceivingCatchesYardsTDLong
Taylor681146
Pitts 333020
Garrett 225017
Hayes 1303
InterceptionsINTYardsLongTD
Lanier 1990
Robinson1990
Thomas 1660
Punting#AVGLongBlocked
Wilson448.5590
Punt ReturnsNO/FCYDSLGTD
Garrett 1/0000
Kickoff Returns#YardsLongTD
Garrett 118180
Hayes 118180

January 11, 1970

Tulane Stadium (New Orleans, Louisiana)

Attendance: 80,562

National Anthem: Doc Severinsen with Pat O'Brien

Coin Toss: John McDonough

Halftime Show: "Mardi Gras"

Network: CBS

Announcers: Jack Buck and Pat Summerall

Nielsen ratings: 39.4 (est. 44.3 million viewers)

Cost of 30-second commercial: $78,000

Super Bowl IV Chiefs & Vikings Highlights

Super Bowl IV: Ticket & Championship Ring

Super Bowl IV Championship Ring and Game Ticket Super Bowl IV: Kansas City Chiefs 23 Minnesota Vikings 7 - MVP Chiefs QB Len Dawson

NFL Football: "Super Bowl IV | Kansas City Chiefs 23 Minnesota Vikings 7 | MVP Chiefs QB Len Dawson"