1990 Kansas City Chiefs season
Encyclopedia
The 1990
Kansas City Chiefs
season ended with an 11–5 record and Wild Card
spot in the 1991 playoffs
. In Marty Schottenheimer
's first playoff appearance with the Chiefs, the lost to the Miami Dolphins
16–17 in the Wild Card
round. Starting with the home opener, the Chiefs began an NFL-record 18-straight seasons with every home game sold out. The record still stands as of the end of the Chiefs' 2007 season
.
The success of the 1989 season carried into 1990, and the Chiefs put together a super season to return to the playoffs for only the second time since 1971. The season began on August 4 when Buck Buchanan
, a key ingreident of the Chiefs' 1969 Super Bowl
championship season was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
.
On opening day, The Chiefs beat the Minnesota Vikings
24–21. On September 17, Stephone Paige
catches 10 passes for 206 yards, but the Chiefs still lose to the Denver Broncos
, 24–23 on Monday Night Football
.
On October 14, Barry Word
rushes for a team-record 200 yards against the Detroit Lions
at Arrowhead. Kansas City wins 43–24 to give the Chiefs a 4–2 record. Word would eventually gained 1,021 yards rushing for the season while Paige caught 65 passes for 1,021 yards. Quarterback Steve DeBerg
had his best season ever as a Chief as he Passed for 3,444 yards and 23 touchdowns.
On November 11, Derrick Thomas
who would sack 20 quarterbacks for the year, sacks Seattle Seahawks
quarterback Dave Krieg
an NFL-record seven sacks. On the game's last play, Derrick nearly had his 8th sack, but Krieg eluded him and threw a game-winning touchdown as the Seahawks won 17–16.
On December 9, two big fourth-down calls, two big touchdowns. Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer let his team make two big plays that ultimately led to Kansas City
's 31–20 win over the Denver Broncos and clinched a playoff spot.
The first big play was a fourth-and-goal at the Denver 1-yard line, and Barry Word carried the ball into the end zone to give the Chiefs a 17–13 lead. The second fourth-down attempt resulted in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Steve DeBerg to Robb Thomas
and put the game away in the fourth quarter. DeBerg passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns in the game.
Kansas City trailed 13–10 at the half, but scored 21 second-half points to take control of the game.
The win clinches at least a wild-card spot in the playoffs for Kansas City and improved their record to 9–4. The Chiefs won two of their last three games to finish 11–5, the team's best record since 1971. Defense carried the Chiefs to the playoffs thanks to Pro Bowlers Derrick Thomas, Albert Lewis
and Kevin Ross.
The Chiefs closed out the season with a 21–10 win over the Chicago Bears
. Now it was on to Miami in the AFC Wild-Card Playoff Game.
's long run was called back due to a questionable holding call. Nick Lowery
who would score 139 points all season and a Pro Bowl
berth missed a 52-yard field goal and with it the end of a great Chiefs season.
1990 NFL season
The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period...
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
season ended with an 11–5 record and Wild Card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
spot in the 1991 playoffs
NFL playoffs, 1990-91
The NFL playoffs following the 1990 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXV.The league expanded its playoff system from a 10-team to a 12-team tournament...
. In Marty Schottenheimer
Marty Schottenheimer
Martin Edward "Marty" Schottenheimer is the current head coach of the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. Over his career, he has served as head coach of the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Washington Redskins, and San Diego Chargers. He has the most wins of any NFL coach...
's first playoff appearance with the Chiefs, the lost to the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
16–17 in the Wild Card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
round. Starting with the home opener, the Chiefs began an NFL-record 18-straight seasons with every home game sold out. The record still stands as of the end of the Chiefs' 2007 season
2007 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2007 Kansas City Chiefs season began with the team looking to improve on their 9-7 record in 2006 and attempting to secure the franchise's first back-to-back playoff berth since 1995. The season ended with a nine game losing streak, the team's first since 1987 and a 4-12 record...
.
The success of the 1989 season carried into 1990, and the Chiefs put together a super season to return to the playoffs for only the second time since 1971. The season began on August 4 when Buck Buchanan
Buck Buchanan
Junious "Buck" Buchanan was an American collegiate and professional Football defensive tackle. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League and in the National Football League ....
, a key ingreident of the Chiefs' 1969 Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
championship season was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
.
On opening day, The Chiefs beat the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
24–21. On September 17, Stephone Paige
Stephone Paige
Stephone Paige , is a former professional American football player who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1983 to 1992 and the Minnesota Vikings in 1993. A 6'2" 185 lb. wide receiver undrafted free agent from Fresno State University, Paige played 9 years for the Chiefs and his final year...
catches 10 passes for 206 yards, but the Chiefs still lose to the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 24–23 on Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
.
On October 14, Barry Word
Barry Word
Barry Quentin Word is a former American football running back for the National Football League.-College:...
rushes for a team-record 200 yards against the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
at Arrowhead. Kansas City wins 43–24 to give the Chiefs a 4–2 record. Word would eventually gained 1,021 yards rushing for the season while Paige caught 65 passes for 1,021 yards. Quarterback Steve DeBerg
Steve DeBerg
Steven Leroy DeBerg had a long career as an American Football quarterback. His career spanned 21 years over 3 decades. Despite the fact that large portions of his career were spent as a backup, DeBerg ultimately accumulated some impressive NFL statistics, particularly during the early 1990s, when...
had his best season ever as a Chief as he Passed for 3,444 yards and 23 touchdowns.
On November 11, Derrick Thomas
Derrick Thomas
Derrick Vincent Thomas , nicknamed D.T., was an American football linebacker and defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League . He played his entire 11-year career for the Chiefs after being drafted fourth overall in the 1989 NFL Draft...
who would sack 20 quarterbacks for the year, sacks Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
quarterback Dave Krieg
Dave Krieg
David Michael Krieg is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League. He attended Milton College and made the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent...
an NFL-record seven sacks. On the game's last play, Derrick nearly had his 8th sack, but Krieg eluded him and threw a game-winning touchdown as the Seahawks won 17–16.
On December 9, two big fourth-down calls, two big touchdowns. Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer let his team make two big plays that ultimately led to Kansas City
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
's 31–20 win over the Denver Broncos and clinched a playoff spot.
The first big play was a fourth-and-goal at the Denver 1-yard line, and Barry Word carried the ball into the end zone to give the Chiefs a 17–13 lead. The second fourth-down attempt resulted in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Steve DeBerg to Robb Thomas
Robb Thomas
Robb Douglas Thomas is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL who played from 1989 to 1998.-High school career:...
and put the game away in the fourth quarter. DeBerg passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns in the game.
Kansas City trailed 13–10 at the half, but scored 21 second-half points to take control of the game.
The win clinches at least a wild-card spot in the playoffs for Kansas City and improved their record to 9–4. The Chiefs won two of their last three games to finish 11–5, the team's best record since 1971. Defense carried the Chiefs to the playoffs thanks to Pro Bowlers Derrick Thomas, Albert Lewis
Albert Lewis (American football)
Albert Ray Lewis is a former American football player who played in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders...
and Kevin Ross.
The Chiefs closed out the season with a 21–10 win over the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Now it was on to Miami in the AFC Wild-Card Playoff Game.
Staff
| 1990 Kansas City Chiefs staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
|
|||||
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 9, 1990 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
W 24–21 | |
| 2 | September 17, 1990 | at Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 24–23 | |
| 3 | September 23, 1990 | at Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
W 17–3 | |
| 4 | September 30, 1990 | Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 34–0 | |
| 5 | October 7, 1990 | at Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
L 23–19 | |
| 6 | October 14, 1990 | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
W 43–24 | |
| 7 | October 21, 1990 | at Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
L 19–7 | |
| 8 | Bye | |||
| 9 | November 4, 1990 | Los Angeles Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 9–7 | |
| 10 | November 11, 1990 | Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
L 17–16 | |
| 11 | November 18, 1990 | San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 27–10 | |
| 12 | November 25, 1990 | at Los Angeles Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 27–24 | |
| 13 | December 2, 1990 | at New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... |
W 37–7 | |
| 14 | December 9, 1990 | Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 31–20 | |
| 15 | December 16, 1990 | Houston Oilers Tennessee Titans The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter... |
L 27–10 | |
| 16 | December 23, 1990 | at San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 24–21 | |
| 17 | December 29, 1990 | at Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 21–10 | |
Postseason
In a scene that would be repeated throughout the 1990s the Chiefs had a great regular season but failed miserably in the post-season. In the Wild-card playoff game the Chiefs blew a 16–3 lead as the Dolphins scored 2 touchdowns to take a lead. The Chiefs had one last-chance for a win but Christian OkoyeChristian Okoye
Christian Emeka Okoye , is a Nigerian-American former American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1987 to 1992. Nicknamed "The Nigerian Nightmare," Okoye was known for his powerful running style and ability to break tackles. Okoye's six seasons in the NFL saw a league rushing...
's long run was called back due to a questionable holding call. Nick Lowery
Nick Lowery
Dominic Gerald Lowery , nicknamed Nick the Kick, is a former American football placekicker for the New England Patriots , the Kansas City Chiefs , and New York Jets . Lowery was selected to the Pro Bowl three times and when he retired was ranked first in field goal percentage and also had the most...
who would score 139 points all season and a Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
berth missed a 52-yard field goal and with it the end of a great Chiefs season.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wildcard | January 5, 1992 | at Miami Dolphins Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 17–16 | |