2012 Kansas City Chiefs season

Low points

The 2012 team tied the 1977 (2–12) and 2008 (2–14) teams for the franchise worst seasons in terms of fewest wins.

They tied with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the NFL's worst record. The Chiefs had the #1 pick in the 2013 National Football League Draft based on strength of schedule. It is the only time in franchise history the Chiefs have had the #1 pick.

Kansas City suffered from quarterback controversy all season and tied with the Arizona Cardinals for most interceptions (20) with Matt Cassel throwing 12 and his late season replacement Brady Quinn throwing 8. The Chiefs had the worst record in the NFL in offensive passing.

The Chiefs also lost 17 fumbles giving them 37 giveaways – tied for worst in the NFL with the New York Jets and Philadelphia and tying with Philadelphia for the NFL's worst giveaway/takeaway differential with −24.

Season low points included:

Starting the season tying the 1929 record of Buffalo Bisons for most games without ever leading in regulation time (8 games). The Chiefs had rallied in week 3 against the New Orleans Saints to tie the game in regulation and then won in overtime 27–24 but had never led until the overtime final. The Chiefs broke the streak in Week 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers when they led 10–0 in the second quarter before losing the game 16–13 in overtime. The Chiefs had had a bye in Week 7.

In Week 4 the Chiefs had six turnovers in a loss to San Diego.

Kansas City hometown fans were accused of cheering the injury of quarterback Matt Cassel in Week 5 in a 9–6 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Fans formed the "Save Our Chiefs" organization. They wore black to games to protest and hired an airplane to fly over Arrowhead Stadium on game days towing a banner that read, "Restore Hope: Fire Pioli."

When asked why running back Jamaal Charles carried the ball only 5 times in a week 8 loss to the Oakland Raiders, Romeo Crennel responded "Now, that I'm not exactly sure, either."

On December 1, 2012, Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher murdered his girlfriend at their home and then drove to the Arrowhead Stadium practice field where he shot himself in the head in front of general manager Scott Pioli and Coach Crennel.

In Week 15 the Chiefs didn't have a first down until the third quarter in a loss against Oakland.

In Week 16 the team rushed for a franchise record of 352 yards against the Colts and still lost the game.

In Week 17 the Chiefs matched the 1981 Baltimore Colts season record of losing 9 games by 14 points or more in one season as the Chiefs lost to Denver.

Highlights

Highlights of the season included:

The Chiefs won the home game 27–21 against the Carolina Panthers the day after the Belcher suicide at the stadium complex in Week 13. The victory snapped the Chiefs 8-game losing streak.

Jamaal Charles rushing was the main bright spot of the team. Charles tied a NFL record for players with single play rushes of 80 yards or more (3) held by Chris Johnson and Barry Sanders. Charles ran for touchdowns of 91 yards in Week 3 against the Saints, 80 yards on the first play of the game in Week 14 against Cleveland and 84 yards on the first play of the second half in Week 16 against Indianapolis. He also tied Larry Johnson for franchise record of two 200+ yard games in one season with his games versus the Saints and Colts. Charles in the Colts game officially broke Jim Brown's NFL record for yards per carry when he averaged 5.82 yards on 770 attempts through the Colts game (compared with Brown's 5.22 yards on 2,359 attempts). To qualify for the career record a player had to have 750 attempts. Charles ended the season as the NFL's 4th leading rusher (behind Adrian Peterson of Minnesota, Alfred Morris of the Washington Redskins and Marshawn Lynch of Seattle. Minnesota, Washington and Seattle went to the NFL playoffs. Charles ranked 28th in the season in rushing touchdowns (5). The Chiefs as a team ranked 5th in rushing.

The Chiefs had six players on the 2013 Pro Bowl team (Eric Berry, strong safety; Jamaal Charles, running back; Justin Houston, outside linebacker (not on the initial list but invited subsequently following an injury to another player in the bowl); Dustin Colquitt, punter; Tamba Hali, outside linebacker; Derrick Johnson, inside/middle linebacker). Berry and Hali were designated starters. Only 4 NFL teams had more pro bowl picks.( San Francisco (9), Houston (8), New England (7) and the Minnesota Vikings (7) ). Those teams made the playoffs.

Draft

NOTES

^{^[a]} Acquired via trade with the New England Patriots for S Jarrad Page.

Regular season

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Against the Atlanta Falcons, the Kansas City Chiefs were behind early in the first quarter when Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Julio Jones to lead 7–0. The Chiefs answered with a 39-yard field goal from Ryan Succop to make it 7–3. The Falcons scored on their next drive with a 34-yard field goal from Matt Bryant to extend their lead 10–3. In the second quarter, Matt Cassel threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Boss to tie the game at 10–10. Matt Ryan and the Falcons took the lead again with a 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Julio Jones to go up 17–10. Matt Cassel scored on a 5-yard rushing touchdown on the Chiefs next possession to make the score tied again at 17–17. The Falcons just managed to extend their lead before halftime with a 21-yard field goal by Matt Bryant to lead 20–17 coming into the half.

In the third quarter, Matt Ryan scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to make it 27–17. Shortly afterward, Matt Ryan tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tony Gonzalez to further extend their lead 34–17. In the fourth quarter, the Atlanta falcons scored twice on field goals of 30 and 41 yards by Matt Bryant to lead 40–17. Late in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs scored on a 4-yard run by running back Shaun Draughn. The final score of this game is 24–40 as the Kansas City Chiefs fall to 0–1

Week 2: at Buffalo Bills

In the first quarter, the Buffalo Bills scored first with a 17-yard rushing touchdown by running back C.J. Spiller to lead 7–0. In the second quarter, the Bills scored again with a 5-yard rushing touchdown by C.J. Spiller to lead 14–0. The Bills continued to extend their lead when quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to tight end Scott Chandler to lead 21–0 at halftime.

In the third quarter, the Chiefs finally scored with a 33-yard field goal by Ryan Succop to make it 3–21. The Bills answered with a 49-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to wide receiver Steve Johnson to make the score 28–3. The Bills continued to dominate with an 88-yard punt return touchdown by Leodis McKelvin to lead 35–3. In the fourth quarter, the Chiefs finally got going with Matt Cassel throwing a 33-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe to make the score 10–35. The Chiefs managed to score again with Matt Cassel throwing a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. The Chiefs fantastic effort in the fourth quarter was not enough, the final score is 17–35 as the Chiefs fall to 0–2.

Week 3: at New Orleans Saints

With the win, the Chiefs improved to 1–2.

Week 4: vs. San Diego Chargers

With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 1–3.

Week 5: vs. Baltimore Ravens

In a game with all field goals, the heavily favored 3-1 Baltimore Ravens won a surprisingly hard-fought match, and a heartbreaker for Kansas City. With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 1–4.

Week 6: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With the loss, the Chiefs went into their bye week at 1–5.

Week 8: vs. Oakland Raiders

With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 1–6. The loss made Kansas City the first team since the 1929 Buffalo Bisons team to play seven games without leading in regulation.

Week 9: at San Diego Chargers

With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 1–7 and were swept by the Chargers for the first time since 2009. Kansas City now holds the NFL record of not leading at any point during regulation at eight games.

Week 10: at Pittsburgh Steelers

The Chiefs led for the first time all season in this game with a first-quarter touchdown which gave them the lead 7–0. After relinquishing the lead, the Chiefs tied the game at 13–13 at the end of regulation to force overtime. However, despite the fact that they got the ball in overtime, QB Matt Cassel was picked off by Lamarr Woodley and the ball was returned to the Chiefs' 5-Yard line setting up the game winning field goal for the Steelers as the Chiefs lost the game 16–13 and their record dropped to 1–8.

Week 11: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

This would be the second time all season that the Chiefs would lead a game as they kicked for the first 3 points off of a 34-yard field goal from Ryan Succop. However, the Bengals' defense shut the Chiefs down as the Chiefs dropped to 1–9 and 0–5 in home games. The Chiefs who had 31 giveaways on the season would eventually end up with only 6 giveaways for the remainder of the season.

Week 12: vs. Denver Broncos

With the loss, the Chiefs dropped to 1–10. Coupled with wins from the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts, the Chiefs were officially eliminated from postseason contention.

Week 13: vs. Carolina Panthers

Before the game, tragedy struck the Chiefs as linebacker Jovan Belcher committed suicide after the shooting of his girlfriend the day before. Snapping a home losing skid of their own, the Chiefs won at Arrowhead for the first time since they robbed the Green Bay Packers of a perfect regular season during Week 15 of the 2011 season by snapping the latter's 19-game winning streak.

The Chiefs improved to 2–10 with the surprising win.

Week 14: at Cleveland Browns

With the loss, the Chiefs fell to 2–11.

Week 15: at Oakland Raiders

The Chiefs fell to 2–12 after being shutout only for the second time against the Raiders in team history. Because the Raiders (4–10) swept the Chiefs, Kansas City clinched fourth-place in the AFC West for the second straight year.