1991 Kansas City Chiefs season
OwnerLamar Hunt
General managerCarl Peterson
Head coachMarty Schottenheimer
Home fieldArrowhead Stadium
Results
Record10–6
Division place2nd AFC West
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(vs. Raiders) 10–6
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Bills) 14–37
Pro Bowlers
3
AP All-Pros
1
  • LB Derrick Thomas (1st team)

The 1991 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 22nd season in the National Football League and 32nd overall. They failed to improve on their 11–5 record from 1990 and finished with a 10–6 record. Compared to the Chiefs' 1990 campaign, Steve DeBerg’s consistency had dropped. The running game made up for lost time as Christian Okoye ran for 1,031 yards for the season, Barry Word was productive, and rookie Harvey Williams was outstanding in limited playing time. The Chiefs defeated their division rival, the Los Angeles Raiders in the Wild Card round, resulting in the franchise's first playoff victory since Super Bowl IV in 1970. The next week, the Chiefs lost to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional playoffs.

The season began on July 27 when Jan Stenerud, the hero of Super Bowl IV, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But the Chiefs rebounded to win four straight games, including an October 7 game in which the Chiefs trounced the Buffalo Bills 33–6. It was the Chiefs' first home Monday Night Football game since 1983. On October 13, The Chiefs blasted the Miami Dolphins 42–7 as Christian Okoye ran for 153 yards.

On December 22, the Chiefs won 27–21 against the Raiders. The victory gave the Chiefs a home playoff game against the team; a loss would have meant playing in Los Angeles again the following week. It was the first playoff game in Kansas City in 20 years. The Chiefs 10–6 victory over the Raiders in the playoffs was the franchise's first postseason victory since the merger.

Quarterback Steve DeBerg completed 14 of 20 passes for 227 yards and 2 touchdowns. Barry Word rushed for 152 yards, and J. J. Birden caught 8 passes for 188 yards and 2 touchdowns. During the game, the Chiefs didn't have to punt and held the ball for almost 40 minutes.

Offseason

Draft

Main article: 1991 NFL draft
1991 Kansas City Chiefs draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 21 Harvey Williams  Running back LSU
2 50 Joe Valerio  Center Pennsylvania
3 77 Tim Barnett  Wide receiver Jackson State
5 133 Charles Mincy  Defensive back Washington
6 162 Darrell Malone  Defensive back Jacksonville State
7 189 Bernard Ellison  Defensive back Nevada
8 218 Tom Dohring  Offensive tackle Michigan
9 244 Robbie Keen  Placekicker California
10 273 Eric Ramsey  Defensive back Auburn
11 300 Bobby Olive  Wide receiver Ohio State
12 329 Ron Shipley  Guard New Mexico
      Made roster  

[1]

Personnel

Staff

1991 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
  • Director of Player Personnel – Whitey Dovell
  • Director of Pro Personnel – Mark Hatley

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers - Bill Cowher
  • Defensive Line – Tom Pratt
  • Defensive Backs – Tony Dungy
  • Special Assistant/Quality Control – Darvin Wallis

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

[2]

Roster

1991 Kansas City Chiefs roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad

47 active, 9 inactive, 4 practice squad


Rookies in italics

[3]

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 August 3 Dallas Cowboys L 14–24 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium 56,038 Recap
2 August 10 vs. New York Jets W 19–10 1–1 Busch Memorial Stadium (St. Louis, MO) 52,935 Recap
3 August 17 Detroit Lions W 38–14 2–1 Arrowhead Stadium 57,320 Recap
4 August 23 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 7–20 2–2 Tampa Stadium 33,996 Recap

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 1 Atlanta Falcons W 14–3 1–0 Arrowhead Stadium 74,246 Recap
2 September 8 New Orleans Saints L 10–17 1–1 Arrowhead Stadium 74,816 Recap
3 September 16 at Houston Oilers L 7–17 1–2 Houston Astrodome 61,058 Recap
4 September 22 Seattle Seahawks W 20–13 2–2 Arrowhead Stadium 71,789 Recap
5 September 29 at San Diego Chargers W 14–13 3–2 Jack Murphy Stadium 44,907 Recap
6 October 7 Buffalo Bills W 33–6 4–2 Arrowhead Stadium 76,120 Recap
7 October 13 Miami Dolphins W 42–7 5–2 Arrowhead Stadium 76,021 Recap
8 October 20 at Denver Broncos L 16–19 5–3 Mile High Stadium 75,866 Recap
9 October 28 Los Angeles Raiders W 24–21 6–3 Arrowhead Stadium 77,111 Recap
10 Bye
11 November 10 at Los Angeles Rams W 27–20 7–3 Anaheim Stadium 52,511 Recap
12 November 17 Denver Broncos L 20–24 7–4 Arrowhead Stadium 74,661 Recap
13 November 24 at Cleveland Browns L 15–20 7–5 Cleveland Stadium 63,991 Recap
14 December 1 at Seattle Seahawks W 19–6 8–5 Kingdome 57,248 Recap
15 December 8 San Diego Chargers W 20–17 (OT) 9–5 Arrowhead Stadium 73,330 Recap
16 December 14 at San Francisco 49ers L 14–28 9–6 Candlestick Park 62,672 Recap
17 December 22 at Los Angeles Raiders W 27–21 10–6 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 65,144 Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Atlanta Falcons

Week 1: Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 3 0 003
Chiefs 0 0 7714

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 2: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week 2: New Orleans Saints at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Saints 10 7 0017
Chiefs 0 0 3710

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 3: at Houston Oilers

Week 3: Kansas City Chiefs at Houston Oilers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 7 007
Oilers 7 0 7317

at Astrodome, Houston, Texas

Game information

Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 4: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 0 0 31013
Chiefs 0 10 01020

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 5: at San Diego Chargers

Week 5: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 7 0014
Chargers 7 0 3313

at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: September 29
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. PDT
  • Game weather: Fair and Warm, 77 °F (25 °C)
  • Game attendance: 44,907
  • Referee: Howard Roe
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bill Walsh
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 6: vs. Buffalo Bills

Week 6: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bills 0 6 006
Chiefs 3 10 17333

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: October 7
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Clear, 70 °F (21 °C)
  • Game attendance: 76,120
  • Referee: Gerry Austin
  • TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 7: vs. Miami Dolphins

Week 7: Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 0 0 077
Chiefs 14 14 14042

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 8: at Denver Broncos

Week 8: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 3 3716
Broncos 0 13 3319

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

Game information

Week 9: vs. Los Angeles Raiders

Week 9: Los Angeles Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 11 7 3021
Chiefs 0 7 31424

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: October 28
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Mostly Cloudy, 68 °F (20 °C)
  • Game attendance: 77,111
  • Referee: Tom White
  • TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford and Dan Dierdorf
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 11: at Los Angeles Rams

Week 11: Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 7 6727
Rams 0 14 0620

at Anaheim Stadium, Anaheim, California

Game information

Week 12: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 12: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Broncos 3 7 14024
Chiefs 0 10 3720

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 17
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Mostly Cloudy, 59 °F (15 °C)
  • Game attendance: 74,661
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers (NBC): Joel Meyers and Dan Hampton
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 13: at Cleveland Browns

Week 13: Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 31215
Browns 0 10 10020

at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

Week 14: at Seattle Seahawks

Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 6 3719
Seahawks 3 0 036

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: December 1
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 57,248
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 15: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Chargers 0 14 03017
Chiefs 0 0 107320

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: December 8
  • Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Mostly Sunny, 63 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 73,330
  • Referee: Gordon McCarter
  • TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Joe Namath
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 16: Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 7714
49ers 7 7 7728

at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California

  • Date: December 14
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: Sunny Skies, 49 °F (9 °C)
  • Game attendance: 62,672
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bill Walsh
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: at Los Angeles Raiders

Week 17: Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Raiders – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 7 10 01027
Raiders 7 0 01421

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

  • Date: December 22
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 68 °F (20 °C)
  • Game attendance: 65,144
  • Referee: Howard Roe
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bill Walsh
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings

AFC West
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(2) Denver Broncos 12 4 0 .750 5–3 10–4 304 235 W4
(4) Kansas City Chiefs 10 6 0 .625 6–2 8–4 316 252 W1
(5) Los Angeles Raiders 9 7 0 .563 5–3 7–5 298 297 L3
Seattle Seahawks 7 9 0 .438 2–6 6–6 276 261 W1
San Diego Chargers 4 12 0 .250 2–6 3–9 274 342 L1

Postseason

Main article: 1991–92 NFL playoffs

Schedule

Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
Wild Card December 28 Los Angeles Raiders (5) W 10–6 1–0 Arrowhead Stadium 75,827 Recap
Divisional January 5, 1992 at Buffalo Bills (1) L 14–37 1–1 Rich Stadium 80,182 Recap

Game summaries

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: vs. (5) Los Angeles Raiders

AFC Wild Card Playoffs: (5) Los Angeles Raiders at (4) Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Raiders 0 3 306
Chiefs 0 7 0310

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

AFC Divisional Playoffs: at (1) Buffalo Bills

AFC Divisional Playoffs: (4) Kansas City Chiefs at (1) Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 0 7714
Bills 7 10 71337

at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: January 5
  • Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST/11:30 a.m. CST
  • Game weather: Partly Sunny, 40 °F (4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 80,182
  • Referee: Pat Haggerty
  • TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Bill Walsh
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

References

  1. ^ "1991 Kansas City Chiefs draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  2. ^ Kansas City Chiefs 1991 Media Guide. pp. 4–21.
  3. ^ "1991 Kansas City Chiefs starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
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