1986 Kansas City Chiefs season

1986 Kansas City Chiefs season
Head coach	John Mackovic
General manager	Jim Schaaf
Owner	Lamar Hunt
Home field	Arrowhead Stadium
Results
Record	10–6
Division place	2nd AFC West
Playoff finish	Lost AFC Wild Card
Pro Bowlers	DT Bill Maas S Lloyd Burruss S Deron Cherry

The 1986 Kansas City Chiefs season ended with a 10–6 record, the most wins for the franchise since 1971. The Chiefs clinched a wild card playoff berth, but lost to the New York Jets 35-15.

Former linebacker Willie Lanier was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 2. On the field, the pieces started coming together for head coach John Mackovic. His offense displayed plenty of scoring punch, while the club’s defense and special teams became increasingly effective.^[1] With the team sitting at 3–3, Bill Kenney replaced Todd Blackledge for the second half of the season in a game against San Diego,^[1] guiding the club to a 42–41 victory. That win was the first of four consecutive triumphs with Kenney at the helm, the club’s longest winning streak since 1980. Poised with a 7–3 record after 10 games, three straight losses in November put the Chiefs playoff chances in jeopardy. Two December wins gave Kansas City a 9–6 mark, putting the Chiefs on the verge of their first postseason berth in 15 years.^[1]

The defining moment of the season came in the regular season finale at Pittsburgh on December 21.^[1] Despite being outgained in total yardage by a 515-to-171-yard margin, the Chiefs were able to notch a 24–19 victory as all of the team’s points came via special teams on a blocked punt return, a field goal, a kickoff return and a blocked field goal return.^[1] With a 10–6 record the Chiefs earned an AFC Wild Card berth, winning a tiebreaker with Seattle. Bill Kenney was injured in the fourth quarter of the Steelers contest, meaning Todd Blackledge would draw the starting assignment for the club’s first playoff contest since 1971, a 35–15 loss at New York.

Mackovic was fired by Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt after the season.

Personnel

Staff

1986 Kansas City Chiefs staff
	Front office Founder – Lamar Hunt President – Jack Steadman Vice President and General Manager – Jim Schaaf Director of Player Personnel – Les Miller Coordinator of Pro Scouting – Greg Mohns Head coaches Head Coach – John Mackovic Assistant Head Coach – Frank Gansz Offensive coaches Quarterbacks – Pete McCulley Offensive Backs – Willie Peete Receivers – Richard Williamson Offensive Line – Carl Mauck Offensive Assistant – J. D. Helm			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers – Walt Corey Defensive Line – John Paul Young Defensive Backs – Doug Graber Defensive Assistant – Dave Brazil Special teams coaches Special Teams – Frank Gansz Strength and conditioning Strength and Conditioning – C. T. Hewgley

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Attendance
1	September 7, 1986	Cincinnati Bengals	W 24–14	43,430
2	September 14, 1986	at Seattle Seahawks	L 23–17	61,068
3	September 21, 1986	Houston Oilers	W 27–13	43,699
4	September 28, 1986	at Buffalo Bills	W 20–17	67,555
5	October 5, 1986	Los Angeles Raiders	L 24–17	74,430
6	October 12, 1986	at Cleveland Browns	L 20–7	71,278
7	October 19, 1986	San Diego Chargers	W 42–41	55,767
8	October 26, 1986	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 27–20	36,230
9	November 2, 1986	at San Diego Chargers	W 24–23	48,518
10	November 9, 1986	Seattle Seahawks	W 27–7	53,268
11	November 16, 1986	at Denver Broncos	L 38–17	75,745
12	November 23, 1986	at St. Louis Cardinals	L 23–14	29,680
13	November 30, 1986	Buffalo Bills	L 17–14	31,492
14	December 7, 1986	Denver Broncos	W 37–10	47,019
15	December 14, 1986	at Los Angeles Raiders	W 20–17	60,952
16	December 21, 1986	at Pittsburgh Steelers	W 24–19	47,150

Standings

AFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	PF	PA	STK
Denver Broncos^(2)	11	5	0	.688	5–3	8–4	378	327	L1
Kansas City Chiefs^(5)	10	6	0	.625	5–3	9–5	358	326	W3
Seattle Seahawks	10	6	0	.625	5–3	7–5	366	293	W5
Los Angeles Raiders	8	8	0	.500	4–4	7–5	323	346	L4
San Diego Chargers	4	12	0	.250	1–7	4–8	335	396	L2

Playoffs

AFC Wild Card Playoffs

	1	2	3	4	Total
Chiefs	6	0	0	9	15
Jets	7	14	7	7	35

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

• Date: December 28, 1986
• Game time: 12:30 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 75,212
• Referee: Red Cashion
• TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Bob Griese

Quarterback Pat Ryan led the Jets to the victory with 3 touchdown passes. The Chiefs scored first on a 67-yard drive capped by running back Jeff Smith. On their ensuing possession, the Jets faced fourth down and 6 on the Kansas City 33-yard line. Rather than attempt a long field goal, Ryan faked a handoff and rushed for a 24 yard gain. Two plays later, running back Freeman McNeil scored on a 4-yard rushing touchdown. In the second period, Ryan completed two touchdown pass: a 1-yarder to McNeil and an 11-yarder to wide receiver Al Toon. On the first play of the second half, Jets linebacker Kevin McArthur returned an interception 21 yards for a touchdown. Ryan later clinched the victory in the fourth period with a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Billy Griggs. The Chiefs' only scores in the second half was a blocked punt recovery in the end zone, and an intentional safety by the Jets.

McNeil finished the game with 135 rushing yards, 3 receptions for 16 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

• Scoring
  • KC – Smith 1 run (kick failed)
  • NYJ – McNeil 4 run (Leahy kick)
  • NYJ – McNeil 1 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick)
  • NYJ – Toon 11 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick)
  • NYJ – McArthur 21 interception return (Leahy kick)
  • KC – Lewis recovered blocked punt in end zone (Lowery kick)
  • NYJ – Griggs 6 pass from Ryan (Leahy kick)
  • KC – Safety, Jennings ran out of end zone

References

1. Kansas City Chiefs History 1980's

External links

• 1986 Kansas City Chiefs at Pro-Football-Reference.com