1995 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1995 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 26th season in the National Football League, the 33rd as the Kansas City Chiefs and the 36th overall. The team improved on their 9–7 record from 1994 and finished the regular season with a 13–3 record and the AFC West division championship. However, the Chiefs suffered a devastating loss in the divisional round of the 1995–96 AFC playoffs when placekicker Lin Elliott missed three crucial field goals, which gave the Indianapolis Colts an upset win by the score of 10–7.
1995 Kansas City Chiefs season | |
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Owner | Lamar Hunt |
Head coach | Marty Schottenheimer |
Home field | Arrowhead Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 13–3 |
Division place | 1st AFC West |
Playoff finish | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Colts) 10–7 |
Pro Bowlers | QB Steve Bono FB Kimble Anders G Will Shields DE Neil Smith DT Dan Saleaumua LB Derrick Thomas CB Dale Carter |
Offseason
NFL draft
1995 Kansas City Chiefs draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
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1 | 31 | Trezelle Jenkins | Offensive tackle | Michigan | |
3 | 81 | Tamarick Vanover | Wide receiver | Florida State | |
3 | 97 | Troy Dumas | Linebacker | Nebraska | |
4 | 134 | Steve Stenstrom | Quarterback | Stanford | |
5 | 155 | Mike Pelton | Defensive tackle | Auburn | |
5 | 164 | Jerrott Willard | Linebacker | California | |
6 | 202 | Bryan Proby | Defensive tackle | Arizona State | |
6 | 207 | Tom Barndt | Center | Pittsburgh | |
Made roster |
Personnel
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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Roster
Regular season
The season began promisingly on September 3 with a convincing 34–10 win over the Seattle Seahawks in Seattle. New Chiefs quarterback Steve Bono passed for 3,121 yards and 21 touchdowns. Fullback Kimble Anders led the team in pass receptions with 55.
In Week Two, the Chiefs battled back from a two-touchdown deficit to defeat the New York Giants in overtime, 20–17 on September 10. A costly interception, penalties, and struggles on third down all led to a 17–3 Giants lead. The Chiefs didn't score a touchdown until 5:03 remained in the game. On the Chiefs' following possession, Bono completed to Danan Hughes with the game-tying score after a 67-yard, 14-play drive that took just 2 minutes and 32 seconds. Lin Elliott booted the game-winning field goal with 7:11 remaining in overtime to give the Chiefs the win. Marcus Allen led the Chiefs with 86 yards rushing and Bono passed for 187 yards.
The win improved the Chiefs record to 2–0. This was the first of three overtime wins for Kansas City at Arrowhead Stadium during the 1995 season, and it set the tone for the team's ability to win tight, close games throughout the regular season.
On September 17, James Hasty picked off a Jeff Hostetler pass and returned it for a touchdown in overtime as the Chiefs beat the Oakland Raiders, 23–17 to go 3–0. The defense would play a key role in Kansas City's success. The team held its opponents to a league-best 241 points and recorded a third-best 47 sacks.[2] Cornerback Dale Carter led the team with 4 interceptions. Rookie kick returner Tamarick Vanover was also spectacular, returning two kickoffs and one punt for scores. Linebacker Derrick Thomas and defensive ends Neil Smith and Dan Saleaumua also shined for the Chiefs' defense.
On October 1, Quarterback Steve Bono ran for a 76-yard bootleg touchdown, accumulating more than 20% of his total career rushing yards in 1 play. The Chiefs won over the Cardinals 24–3.
On October 9, Tamarick Vanover returned a punt 86 yards in overtime to give the Chiefs a 29–23 victory over the San Diego Chargers on Monday Night Football. It was the Chiefs' third overtime win at Arrowhead Stadium during the 1995 season, and was the first time in NFL history that an overtime game had been won on a punt return for a touchdown.
On October 22, the Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium, 21–7. Marcus Allen was again a standout for the offense, gaining 890 yards rushing and scoring 5 touchdowns for the season.
On November 19, the Chiefs won their seventh game in a row, beating the Houston Oilers 20–13 at Arrowhead Stadium, to go 10–1.
On December 24, Tamarick Vanover ran the opening kickoff 89 yards for a touchdown, and the Chiefs defeated the Seahawks, 26–3. They won the AFC West title and finished the regular season with a 13–3 record.
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance | TV Time |
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1 | September 3, 1995 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 34–10 | NBC 3:00pm CST | |
2 | September 10, 1995 | New York Giants | W 20–17 (OT) | FOX 12:00pm CST | |
3 | September 17, 1995 | Oakland Raiders | W 23–17 (OT) | NBC 12:00pm CST | |
4 | September 24, 1995 | at Cleveland Browns | L 35–17 | NBC 3:00pm CST | |
5 | October 1, 1995 | at Arizona Cardinals | W 24–3 | NBC 3:00pm CST | |
6 | October 9, 1995 | San Diego Chargers | W 29–23 (OT) | ABC 8:00pm CST | |
7 | October 15, 1995 | New England Patriots | W 31–26 | NBC 12:00pm CST | |
8 | October 22, 1995 | at Denver Broncos | W 21–7 | NBC 3:00pm CST | |
9 | Bye | ||||
10 | November 5, 1995 | Washington Redskins | W 24–3 | FOX 12:00pm CST | |
11 | November 12, 1995 | at San Diego Chargers | W 22–7 | NBC 3:00pm CST | |
12 | November 19, 1995 | Houston Oilers | W 20–13 | ESPN 7:00pm CST | |
13 | November 23, 1995 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 24–12 | NBC 3:00pm CST | |
14 | December 3, 1995 | at Oakland Raiders | W 29–23 | NBC 3:00pm CST | |
15 | December 11, 1995 | at Miami Dolphins | L 13–6 | ABC 8:00pm CST | |
16 | December 17, 1995 | Denver Broncos | W 20–17 | NBC 3:00pm CST | |
17 | December 24, 1995 | Seattle Seahawks | W 26–3 | NBC 12:00pm CST |
Week 1
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Standings
AFC West | |||||||
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W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
(1) Kansas City Chiefs | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 358 | 241 | W2 |
(4) San Diego Chargers | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 321 | 323 | W5 |
Seattle Seahawks | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 363 | 366 | L1 |
Denver Broncos | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 388 | 345 | W1 |
Oakland Raiders | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 348 | 332 | L6 |
Playoffs
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
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Divisional | January 7, 1996 | Indianapolis Colts | L 10–7 |
Game summary
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
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Colts | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO
- Date: January 7, 1996
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 0°F, relative humidity 58°F, round (wind) 8 MPH
- TV: NBC
- Boxscore
Game information | ||
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References
- "1995 Kansas City Chiefs draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
- Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1995 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics
- Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Jan-28.