1986 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1986 Kansas City Chiefs season marked the franchise's 17th season in the National Football League and the 27th overall. The season concluded with a 10–6 record, representing the team's best performance since 1971. This successful run earned The Chiefs a wild card playoff berth, although their postseason journey was cut short by a New York Jets 35–15.

1986 Kansas City Chiefs season
OwnerLamar Hunt
General managerJim Schaaf
Head coachJohn Mackovic
Home fieldArrowhead Stadium
Results
Record10–6
Division place2nd AFC West
Playoff finishLost Wild Card Playoffs
(at Jets) 15–35
Pro Bowlers
AP All-Pros
2

Former linebacker Willie Lanier was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 2. On the field, the pieces started coming together for head coach John Mackovic. His offense displayed plenty of scoring punch, while the club's defense and special teams became increasingly effective.[1] With the team sitting at 3–3, Bill Kenney replaced Todd Blackledge for the second half of the season in a game against San Diego,[1] guiding the club to a 42–41 victory. That win was the first of four consecutive triumphs with Kenney at the helm, the club's longest winning streak since 1980. Poised with a 7–3 record after 10 games, three straight losses in November put the Chiefs playoff chances in jeopardy. Two December wins gave Kansas City a 9–6 mark, putting the Chiefs on the verge of their first postseason berth in 15 years.[1]

The defining moment of the season came in the regular season finale at Pittsburgh on December 21.[1] Despite being outgained in total yardage by a 515–171 margin, the Chiefs were able to notch a 24–19 victory as all of the team's points came via special teams on a blocked punt return, a field goal, a kickoff return and a blocked field goal return.[1] With a 10–6 record the Chiefs earned an AFC Wild Card berth, winning a tiebreaker with Seattle. Kenney was injured in the fourth quarter of the Steelers contest, meaning Blackledge drew the starting assignment for the club's first playoff contest since 1971, a 35–15 loss vs the New York Jets.

Mackovic was fired after the season.

Offseason

edit

NFL draft

edit
1986 Kansas City Chiefs Draft
Round Selection Player Position College
1 7 Brian Jozwiak Guard West Virginia
2 35 Dino Hackett Linebacker Appalachian State
3 63 Leonard Griffin Defensive end Grambling State
4 87 Tom Baugh Center Southern Illinois
90 Chas Fox Wide receiver Furman
6 141 Kent Hagood Running back South Carolina
8 196 Lewis Colbert Punter Auburn
9 229 Gary Baldinger Defensive end Wake Forest
10 257 Ike Readon Nose tackle Hampton
11 285 Aaron Pearson Linebacker Mississippi State

Personnel

edit

Staff / Coaches

edit
1986 Kansas City Chiefs staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning


Roster

edit
1986 Kansas City Chiefs roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Reserve


Rookies in italics

Preseason

edit
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 August 9 Cincinnati Bengals W 20–0 1–0 Arrowhead Stadium 30,067 Recap
2 August 16 at St. Louis Cardinals W 27–26 2–0 Busch Stadium 30,305 Recap
3 August 23 Buffalo Bills L 6–13 2–1 Arrowhead Stadium 39,911 Recap
4 August 30 at New Orleans Saints L 10–13 2–2 Louisiana Superdome 47,945 Recap

Regular season

edit

Schedule

edit
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 7 Cincinnati Bengals W 24–14 1–0 Arrowhead Stadium 43,430 Recap
2 September 14 at Seattle Seahawks L 17–23 1–1 Kingdome 61,068 Recap
3 September 21 Houston Oilers W 27–13 2–1 Arrowhead Stadium 43,699 Recap
4 September 28 at Buffalo Bills W 20–17 3–1 Rich Stadium 67,555 Recap
5 October 5 Los Angeles Raiders L 17–24 3–2 Arrowhead Stadium 74,430 Recap
6 October 12 at Cleveland Browns L 7–20 3–3 Cleveland Stadium 71,278 Recap
7 October 19 San Diego Chargers W 42–41 4–3 Arrowhead Stadium 55,767 Recap
8 October 26 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 27–20 5–3 Arrowhead Stadium 36,230 Recap
9 November 2 at San Diego Chargers W 24–23 6–3 Jack Murphy Stadium 48,518 Recap
10 November 9 Seattle Seahawks W 27–7 7–3 Arrowhead Stadium 53,268 Recap
11 November 16 at Denver Broncos L 17–38 7–4 Mile High Stadium 75,745 Recap
12 November 23 at St. Louis Cardinals L 14–23 7–5 Busch Stadium 29,680 Recap
13 November 30 Buffalo Bills L 14–17 7–6 Arrowhead Stadium 31,492 Recap
14 December 7 Denver Broncos W 37–10 8–6 Arrowhead Stadium 47,019 Recap
15 December 14 at Los Angeles Raiders W 20–17 9–6 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 60,952 Recap
16 December 21 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 24–19 10–6 Three Rivers Stadium 47,150 Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

edit

Week 1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

edit
Week 1: Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bengals 0 7 0714
Chiefs 7 0 14324

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks

edit
Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 0 7717
Seahawks 0 13 10023

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

Game information

Week 3: vs. Houston Oilers

edit
Week 3: Houston Oilers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Oilers 0 0 7613
Chiefs 3 10 14027

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: September 21
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Mostly Sunny, 87 °F (31 °C)
  • Game attendance: 43,699
  • Referee: Gene Barth
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Jimmy Cefalo
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 4: at Buffalo Bills

edit
Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 7 01020
Bills 7 0 7317

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: September 28
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 72 °F (22 °C)
  • Game attendance: 67,555
  • Referee: Jerry Seeman
  • TV announcers (NBC): Tom Davis and Dave Rowe
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 5: vs. Los Angeles Raiders

edit
Week 5: Los Angeles Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Raiders 0 7 14324
Chiefs 10 7 0017

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: October 5
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Partly Sunny, 60 °F (16 °C)
  • Game attendance: 74,430
  • Referee: Bob Frederic
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 6: at Cleveland Browns

edit
Week 6: Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 7 007
Browns 0 7 10320

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

Week 7: vs. San Diego Chargers

edit
Week 7: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 7 17 71041
Chiefs 7 21 7742

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: October 19
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 75 °F (24 °C)
  • Game attendance: 55,767
  • Referee: Dick Jorgensen
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Jimmy Cefalo
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 8: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

edit
Week 8: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 3 10 0720
Chiefs 7 3 10727

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 9: at San Diego Chargers

edit
Week 9: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 71724
Chargers 2 14 0723

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: November 2
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: Sunny and Clear, 78 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 48,518
  • Referee: Fred Wyant
  • TV announcers (NBC): Fred Roggin and Dave Rowe
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawks

edit
Week 10: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 0 077
Chiefs 0 17 7327

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 9
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Clear, 40 °F (4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 53,268
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
  • TV announcers (NBC): Len Berman and Dave Rowe
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 11: at Denver Broncos

edit
Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 7 10017
Broncos 21 10 7038

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: November 16
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/2:00 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 62 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 75,745
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Jimmy Cefalo
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 12: at St. Louis Cardinals

edit
Week 12: Kansas City Chiefs at St. Louis Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 01414
Cardinals 6 3 7723

at Busch Memorial Stadium, St. Louis, Missouri

  • Date: November 23
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 45 °F (7 °C)
  • Game attendance: 29,680
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Jimmy Cefalo
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 13: vs. Buffalo Bills

edit
Week 13: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bills 0 10 7017
Chiefs 7 0 0714

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 30
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 40 °F (4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 31,492
  • Referee: Tom Dooley
  • TV announcers (NBC): Gary Gerould and Butch Johnson
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: vs. Denver Broncos

edit
Week 14: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 3 7 0010
Chiefs 3 7 72037

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 7
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Overcast, 45 °F (7 °C)
  • Game attendance: 47,019
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: at Los Angeles Raiders

edit
Week 15: Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 10 10 0020
Raiders 0 10 7017

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

  • Date: December 14
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 70 °F (21 °C)
  • Game attendance: 60,952
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
  • TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Reggie Rucker
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: at Pittsburgh Steelers

edit
Week 16: Kansas City Chiefs at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 17 0024
Steelers 0 6 7619

at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Date: December 21
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 34 °F (1 °C)
  • Game attendance: 47,150
  • Referee: Gene Barth
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings

edit
AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
Denver Broncos(2) 11 5 0 .688 5–3 8–4 378 327 L1
Kansas City Chiefs(5) 10 6 0 .625 5–3 9–5 358 326 W3
Seattle Seahawks 10 6 0 .625 5–3 7–5 366 293 W5
Los Angeles Raiders 8 8 0 .500 4–4 7–5 323 346 L4
San Diego Chargers 4 12 0 .250 1–7 4–8 335 396 L2

Postseason

edit

Schedule

edit
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
Wild Card December 28 at New York Jets (4) L 15–35 0–1 Giants Stadium 69,307 Recap

Game summaries

edit

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: at (4) New York Jets

edit
AFC Wild Card Playoffs: (5) Kansas City Chiefs at (4) New York Jets – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 6 0 0915
Jets 7 14 7735

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: December 28
  • Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST/11:30 a.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 37 °F (3 °C)
  • Game attendance: 69,307
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Bob Griese
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Quarterback Pat Ryan led the Jets to the victory with 3 touchdown passes. The Chiefs scored first on a 67-yard drive capped by running back Jeff Smith. On their ensuing possession, the Jets faced fourth down and 6 on the Kansas City 33-yard line. Rather than attempt a long field goal, Ryan faked a handoff and rushed for a 24 yard gain. Two plays later, running back Freeman McNeil scored on a 4-yard rushing touchdown. In the second period, Ryan completed two touchdown pass: a 1-yarder to McNeil and an 11-yarder to wide receiver Al Toon. On the first play of the second half, Jets linebacker Kevin McArthur returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown. Ryan later clinched the victory in the fourth period with a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Billy Griggs. The Chiefs' only scores in the second half was a blocked punt recovery in the end zone, and an intentional safety by the Jets.

McNeil finished the game with 135 rushing yards, 3 receptions for 16 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e "Kansas City Chiefs History 1980's". Archived from the original on August 6, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
edit