| 1994 Kansas City Chiefs season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Lamar Hunt |
| General manager | Carl Peterson |
| Head coach | Marty Schottenheimer |
| Home stadium | Arrowhead Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 9–7 |
| Division place | 2ndAFC West |
| Playoffs | LostWild Card Playoffs (atDolphins) 17–27 |
| All-Pros | 1
|
| Pro Bowlers | |
The1994 Kansas City Chiefs season was thefranchise's 25th season in theNational Football League, the 32nd as theKansas City Chiefs and the 35th overall. They failed to improve their 11–5 record from 1993 and finishing with a 9–7 record andWild Card spot in the1994–95 playoffs. The Chiefs lost to theMiami Dolphins 27–17 in the wild-card round. Alongside celebrating theNFL's 75th anniversary season,Hall of FamequarterbackJoe Montana retired following the season.
By playing their first four games vs. theNFC West, the Chiefs became the first AFC team to play its first four games against NFC teams since theAFL–NFL merger. The first team to play four inter-conference games to open a season were the1992 Los Angeles Rams.
1994 was the first season that the playing surface at Arrowhead Stadium was natural grass. It had previously beenTartanTurf from 1972 to 1993.
| Additions | Subtractions |
|---|---|
| QBSteve Bono (49ers) | QBDave Krieg (Lions) |
| TEDerrick Walker (Chargers) | RBTodd McNair (Oilers) |
| NTGreg Kragen (Broncos) | TReggie McElroy (Vikings) |
| WREric Martin (Saints) | RBHarvey Williams (Raiders) |
| CBMark Collins (Giants) | CBKevin Ross (Falcons) |
| LBGreg Manusky (Vikings) | SMartin Bayless (Redskins) |
| PLouie Aguiar (Jets) | TEJonathan Hayes (Steelers) |
| SWilliam White (Lions) | CBAlbert Lewis (Raiders) |
| PBryan Barker (Eagles) | |
| KNick Lowery (Jets) |
| 1994 Kansas City Chiefs draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | Greg Hill | Running back | Texas A&M | |
| 2 | 58 | Donnell Bennett | Running back | Miami (FL) | |
| 3 | 92 | Lake Dawson | Wide receiver | Notre Dame | |
| 3 | 96 | Chris Penn | Wide receiver | Tulsa | |
| 4 | 127 | Bracy Walker | Defensive back | North Carolina | |
| 5 | 151 | James Burton | Defensive back | Fresno State | |
| 5 | 156 | Rob Waldrop | Defensive tackle | Arizona | |
| 6 | 185 | Anthony Daigle | Running back | Fresno State | |
| 7 | 199 | Steve Matthews | Quarterback | Memphis | |
| 7 | 219 | Tracy Greene | Tight end | Grambling State | |
| Made roster | |||||
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
| Quarterbacks(QB) Running backs(RB) Wide receivers(WR) Tight ends(TE) | Offensive linemen(OL) | Linebackers(LB)
Defensive backs(DB)
Special teams(ST) | Practice squad 53 active, 9 inactive, 5 practice squadReserve
|
After an opening day win over theNew Orleans Saints, the Chiefs faced theSan Francisco 49ers on September 11. Facing his old team,Joe Montana led the Chiefs to a 24–17 win at Arrowhead. But after opening the season at 3–0, the Chiefs dropped 2 in a row to theRams andChargers.
On October 17, a 6-yard pass and a tightrope run into the end zone ended the Chiefs' 11-year drought inMile High Stadium.Joe Montana and the Chiefs faced a 4-point deficit onMonday Night Football. The final drive in the final 82 seconds took nine plays, all of them Montana passes except one run of 10 yards byMarcus Allen; Montana's final pass was a five-yard score toWillie Davis for the 31–28 Kansas City win. For the game, Montana hit 34 of 54 pass attempts for 393 yards and 3 touchdowns and the Chiefs, now 4–2, had now thrust themselves back into the playoff hunt. The game was tied 14–14 at the half.Lin Elliott's field goal with 4:08 left in the game temporarily put the Chiefs ahead 24–21. AMarcus Allen fumble set up the Broncos' final touchdown, but Montana and his inspiring confidence resulted in the comeback.
Montana would have another great season, passing for 3,283 yards. The rushing game improved from1993 as the Chiefs rushed for 1,732 yards and twelve touchdowns (up from the previous year's 1,655 yards). Allen's game trailed off from 1993 as he gained 709 yards to lead the team (to 764 the previous year), while rookieGreg Hill managed only 574 yards for the season. FullbackKimble Anders was the leading receiver with 67 receptions. The defense showed flashes of brilliance as it improved to seventh in fewest points allowed from 1993's ninth, and as had become the standard, was led by perennialPro BowlersDerrick Thomas andNeil Smith. Defensive backDale Carter had a superb year and was also chosen for the Pro Bowl.
On December 24, Marcus Allen gained 132 yards rushing as the Chiefs beat theLos Angeles Raiders 19–9 in the last Raiders game ever as host in Los Angeles. The win secured a fifth-straight playoff spot for the Chiefs.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 31 | Houston Oilers | W 24–17 | 1–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | 70,732 | Recap |
| 2 | August 7 | vs.Minnesota Vikings | L 9–17 | 1–1 | 49,555 | Recap | |
| 3 | August 12 | atWashington Redskins | W 17–14 | 2–1 | RFK Stadium | 40,778 | Recap |
| 4 | August 22 | Chicago Bears | L 18–21 | 2–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 75,114 | Recap |
| 5 | August 26 | atBuffalo Bills | L 3–24 | 2–3 | Rich Stadium | 46,166 | Recap |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 4 | atNew Orleans Saints | W 30–17 | 1–0 | Louisiana Superdome | 69,362 | Recap |
| 2 | September 11 | San Francisco 49ers | W 24–17 | 2–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | 79,907 | Recap |
| 3 | September 18 | atAtlanta Falcons | W 30–10 | 3–0 | Georgia Dome | 67,357 | Recap |
| 4 | September 25 | Los Angeles Rams | L 0–16 | 3–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 78,184 | Recap |
| 5 | Bye | ||||||
| 6 | October 9 | atSan Diego Chargers | L 6–20 | 3–2 | Jack Murphy Stadium | 62,923 | Recap |
| 7 | October 17 | atDenver Broncos | W 31–28 | 4–2 | Mile High Stadium | 75,151 | Recap |
| 8 | October 23 | Seattle Seahawks | W 38–23 | 5–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 78,847 | Recap |
| 9 | October 30 | atBuffalo Bills | L 10–44 | 5–3 | Rich Stadium | 79,501 | Recap |
| 10 | November 6 | Los Angeles Raiders | W 13–3 | 6–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 78,709 | Recap |
| 11 | November 13 | San Diego Chargers | L 13–14 | 6–4 | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,997 | Recap |
| 12 | November 20 | Cleveland Browns | W 20–13 | 7–4 | Arrowhead Stadium | 69,121 | Recap |
| 13 | November 27 | atSeattle Seahawks | L 9–10 | 7–5 | Kingdome | 54,120 | Recap |
| 14 | December 4 | Denver Broncos | L 17–20(OT) | 7–6 | Arrowhead Stadium | 77,631 | Recap |
| 15 | December 12 | atMiami Dolphins | L 28–45 | 7–7 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 71,578 | Recap |
| 16 | December 18 | Houston Oilers | W 31–9 | 8–7 | Arrowhead Stadium | 74,474 | Recap |
| 17 | December 24 | atLos Angeles Raiders | W 19–9 | 9–7 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 64,130 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are inbold text.
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 7 | 10 | 3 | 10 | 30 |
| Saints | 0 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
atLouisiana Superdome,New Orleans, Louisiana
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 24 |
atArrowhead Stadium,Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 7 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 30 |
| Falcons | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
atGeorgia Dome,Atlanta, Georgia
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Chargers | 3 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 20 |
atJack Murphy Stadium,San Diego, California
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 0 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 31 |
| Broncos | 0 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
atMile High Stadium,Denver, Colorado
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 23 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 38 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
| Bills | 14 | 17 | 3 | 10 | 44 |
atRich Stadium,Orchard Park, New York
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raiders | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chargers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 14 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browns | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 20 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 |
| Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
atKingdome,Seattle, Washington
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broncos | 7 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
| Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 17 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Dolphins | 0 | 14 | 21 | 10 | 45 |
atJoe Robbie Stadium,Miami, Florida
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oilers | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Chiefs | 7 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 31 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 19 |
| Raiders | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|
| AFC West | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| (2)San Diego Chargers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 381 | 306 | W2 |
| (6)Kansas City Chiefs | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 319 | 298 | W2 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 303 | 327 | L1 |
| Denver Broncos | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 347 | 396 | L3 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 287 | 323 | L2 |
| Round | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Card | December 31 | atMiami Dolphins (3) | L 17–27 | 0–1 | Joe Robbie Stadium | 67,487 | Recap |
| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiefs | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Dolphins | 7 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 27 |
at Joe Robbie Stadium, Miami, Florida
| Game information | ||
|---|---|---|
|