1995 Kansas City Chiefs season

The 1995 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 26th in the National Football League (NFL), their 33rd in Kansas City and their 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, allowing the Indianapolis Colts to win 10–7. Due to the retirement of Joe Montana, the Chiefs made a change at the quarterback position, by starting Steve Bono, who started two games in 1994 while Montana was injured.

1995 Kansas City Chiefs season
OwnerLamar Hunt
General managerCarl Peterson
Head coachMarty Schottenheimer
Home fieldArrowhead Stadium
Results
Record13–3
Division place1st AFC West
Playoff finishLost Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Colts) 7–10
Pro Bowlers
AP All-Pros
3
  • DE Neil Smith (2nd team)
  • CB Dale Carter (2nd team)
  • P Louie Aguiar (2nd team)

Offseason

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Draft

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1995 Kansas City Chiefs draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
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  

[1]

1995 expansion draft

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Kansas City Chiefs selected during the Expansion Draft
Round Overall Name Position Expansion Team
9 18 Greg Kragen NT Carolina Panthers
20 39 Monty Grow DB Jacksonville Jaguars

Personnel

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Staff

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1995 Kansas City Chiefs staff

Front office

  • Founder – Lamar Hunt
  • Chairman of the board – Jack Steadman
  • President/general manager/chief executive officer – Carl Peterson
  • Assistant general manager – Dennis Thum
  • Vice-president of player personnel – Lynn Stiles
  • Director of pro personnel – Mark Hatley
  • Director of college scouting – Terry Bradway

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Mike Stock
  • Assistant special teams – Woodrow Lowe

Strength and conditioning


Roster

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1995 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

Practice squad


53 active, 4 inactive, 5 practice squad Reserve


Rookies in italics

Season summary

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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.

Preseason

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 August 5 Washington Redskins W 37–21 1–0 Arrowhead Stadium 70,807 Recap
2 August 11 at Arizona Cardinals L 17–22 1–1 Sun Devil Stadium 44,690 Recap
3 August 19 Buffalo Bills W 36–10 2–1 Arrowhead Stadium 76,299 Recap
4 August 26 at Minnesota Vikings W 17–13 3–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 39,349 Recap

Regular season

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Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 3 at Seattle Seahawks W 34–10 1–0 Kingdome 47,562 Recap
2 September 10 New York Giants W 20–17 (OT) 2–0 Arrowhead Stadium 77,964 Recap
3 September 17 Oakland Raiders W 23–17 (OT) 3–0 Arrowhead Stadium 78,696 Recap
4 September 24 at Cleveland Browns L 17–35 3–1 Cleveland Stadium 74,280 Recap
5 October 1 at Arizona Cardinals W 24–3 4–1 Sun Devil Stadium 50,211 Recap
6 October 9 San Diego Chargers W 29–23 (OT) 5–1 Arrowhead Stadium 79,288 Recap
7 October 15 New England Patriots W 31–26 6–1 Arrowhead Stadium 77,992 Recap
8 October 22 at Denver Broncos W 21–7 7–1 Mile High Stadium 71,044 Recap
9 Bye
10 November 5 Washington Redskins W 24–3 8–1 Arrowhead Stadium 77,821 Recap
11 November 12 at San Diego Chargers W 22–7 9–1 Jack Murphy Stadium 59,285 Recap
12 November 19 Houston Oilers W 20–13 10–1 Arrowhead Stadium 77,576 Recap
13 November 23 at Dallas Cowboys L 12–24 10–2 Texas Stadium 64,901 Recap
14 December 3 at Oakland Raiders W 29–23 11–2 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 53,930 Recap
15 December 11 at Miami Dolphins L 6–13 11–3 Joe Robbie Stadium 70,321 Recap
16 December 17 Denver Broncos W 20–17 12–3 Arrowhead Stadium 75,061 Recap
17 December 24 Seattle Seahawks W 26–3 13–3 Arrowhead Stadium 75,784 Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

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Week 1: at Seattle Seahawks

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Week 1: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 13 14034
Seahawks 3 0 0710

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

Game information

Week 2: vs. New York Giants

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Week 2: New York Giants at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Giants 7 3 07017
Chiefs 3 0 014320

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 3: vs. Oakland Raiders

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Week 3: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Raiders 0 14 30017
Chiefs 7 0 010623

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 4: at Cleveland Browns

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Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 3 01417
Browns 7 0 72135

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

  • Date: September 24
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT/3:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Sunny and cool, 58 °F (14 °C)
  • Game attendance: 74,280
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jim Lampley, Bob Golic and Will McDonough
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 5: at Arizona Cardinals

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Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 14 10024
Cardinals 0 0 033

at Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Arizona

Game information

Week 6: vs. San Diego Chargers

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Week 6: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Chargers 3 10 010023
Chiefs 0 13 010629

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 7: vs. New England Patriots

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Week 7: New England Patriots at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Patriots 7 3 9726
Chiefs 3 21 0731

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 8: at Denver Broncos

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Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 7 7021
Broncos 7 0 007

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: October 22
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT/2:00 p.m. MDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy/light snow, 34 °F (1 °C)
  • Game attendance: 71,044
  • Referee: Red Cashion
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire and Phil Simms
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins

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Week 10: Washington Redskins at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Redskins 0 3 003
Chiefs 7 10 0724

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 11: at San Diego Chargers

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Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 6 6322
Chargers 7 0 007

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

Week 12: vs. Houston Oilers

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Week 12: Houston Oilers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Oilers 0 6 0713
Chiefs 3 7 01020

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 13: at Dallas Cowboys

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Thanksgiving Day games

Week 13: Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 6 6012
Cowboys 14 0 7324

at Texas Stadium, Irving, Texas

  • Date: November 23
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 66 °F (19 °C)
  • Game attendance: 64,901
  • Referee: Gerry Austin
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire, Phil Simms and Jim Gray
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: at Oakland Raiders

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Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 6 6 10729
Raiders 7 3 01323

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Date: December 3
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: Increased clouds, 56 °F (13 °C)
  • Game attendance: 53,930
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire, Phil Simms and Jim Gray
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: at Miami Dolphins

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Week 15: Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 066
Dolphins 6 7 0013

at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida

  • Date: December 11
  • Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST/8:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 69 °F (21 °C)
  • Game attendance: 70,321
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf and Lynn Swann
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: vs. Denver Broncos

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Week 16: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 0 7 3717
Chiefs 7 7 0620

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 17
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 37 °F (3 °C)
  • Game attendance: 75,061
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire and Phil Simms
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: vs. Seattle Seahawks

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Week 17: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 3 003
Chiefs 13 7 3326

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Clear, 31 °F (−1 °C)
  • Game attendance: 75,784
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers (NBC): Jim Lampley and Bob Golic
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings

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AFC West
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

Postseason

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Schedule

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Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
Wild Card First-round bye
Divisional January 7, 1996 Indianapolis Colts (5) L 7–10 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium 77,594 Recap

Game summaries

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AFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (5) Indianapolis Colts

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AFC Divisional Playoffs: (5) Indianapolis Colts at (1) Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 7 3010
Chiefs 7 0 007

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: January 7
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Clear and cold, 11 °F (−12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 77,594
  • Referee: Jerry Markbreit
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire, Phil Simms and Jim Gray
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Entering the playoffs holding the league's best record and the one seed, the Chiefs played the Indianapolis Colts, who were coming off a dominant 35–20 win against the Chiefs' divisional rival in the San Diego Chargers. Against the Colts, the heavily-favored Chiefs appeared to be in the driver's seat of their own destiny after jumping out to an early 7–0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a Lake Dawson touchdown catch from Steve Bono. It would, however, be the Chiefs' final points they would score of the season, as for the rest of the game, the Colts' defense swarmed Bono, picking him off three times throughout the remainder of the game. Aside from the dominating defensive effort from Indianapolis, the Colts also scored a touchdown of their own off a Jim Harbaugh-Floyd Turner touchdown pass to tie the game at 7–7 going into halftime. For the rest of the game, both offenses were stagnant in the frigid-cold air inside Arrowhead Stadium. While both teams had great opportunities to score, poor special teams performances on both sides would prove to be a hinderance. Despite this, the Colts attained the lead for good in the third quarter off a Cary Blanchard field goal (his only make in three attempts) to make the score 10–7. The aforementioned Colts defense, which had swarmed the Kansas City offense, forced head coach Marty Schottenheimer to make a change at quarterback late in the game, substituting Bono out for Rich Gannon in the fourth quarter after Bono's third interception of the game. However, after Dawson dropped a potential game-winning touchdown pass on the Chiefs' final drive, Schottenheimer opted for Lin Elliott to kick the game-tying field goal. Throughout the game, Elliott had been shaky on field goals, as up until that point he had been 0-2 from 35 and 39 yards. Despite this, he was trotted out to attempt to kick the game into a potential overtime; his third kick, this time from 43 yards, sailed well wide of the uprights, ending the Chiefs' season at a 13–4 record. The Colts, meanwhile, would advance to the AFC Championship Game, though they would lose in a thrilling matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

References

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  1. ^ "1995 Kansas City Chiefs draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  2. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: 1995 NFL Opposition & Defensive Statistics