2006 Kansas City Chiefs season
Encyclopedia
The 2006
Kansas City Chiefs
season began with the team looking to improve on their 10–6 record in 2005
under new head coach Herman Edwards
.
The team battled many obstacles during the 2006 season, including the loss of starting quarterback Trent Green
in the first game, the readjustment of a record-breaking offense, and the death of owner and founder Lamar Hunt
. Despite the obstacles, the team gained momentum after rebounding from an 0–2 start, clinching the sixth seed in the playoffs with a 9–7 record. The team finished second in the AFC West with a 4–2 divisional record. The Chiefs lost in the Wild Card
round of the playoffs 8–23 to their playoff rival and eventual Super Bowl champions
, the Indianapolis Colts
.
Note: Playoff berths in parentheses.
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
, head coach, retired after the Chiefs' 2005 campaign. On Monday, January 9, 2006, the Chiefs made their first step throughout the 2006 offseason when they hired Herman Edwards
from the New York Jets
as the new head coach.
2006 NFL Draft
Note: The Chiefs exchanged their fourth round draft pick to the New York Jets
in order to acquire coach Herman Edwards.
cornerback
Ty Law
was added to Kansas City's lineup to strengthen the defense. To help the offense, Left tackle Kyle Turley
made his first appearance post-two-year absence from the NFL, and Running back
Michael Bennett was acquired to back up Larry Johnson. The Chiefs signed quarterback Casey Printers
, who had success in the Canadian Football League
, to their practice squad.
Key losses to the team included the heart and soul of the team's offense; Pro Bowl tackles Willie Roaf
and John Welbourn
announcing their retirements (Welbourn later returned to the team in week eight following a suspension served after his reinstatement), and Fullback
Tony Richardson was signed by the Minnesota Vikings
.
.
In the preseason, the Chiefs lost to the Houston Texans
on August 12 and the New York Giants
on August 17. For their preseason home games, the Chiefs defeated the St. Louis Rams
and retained the Missouri Governor's Cup
on August 26 and also defeated the New Orleans Saints
on August 31.
, Kansas City, Missouri
The Chiefs opened the regular season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals
on September 10. The game was broadcast on CBS
at noon Kansas City time.
The Chiefs' offense began at a slow pace, while their defense initially held the Bengals to a field goal within the first few minutes. The Bengals began to rip through the Chiefs' defense with the help of Rudi Johnson
, who would later go on to rush for 96 yards and a touchdown
.
In the third quarter, quarterback
Trent Green
received a concussion when he slid past the first-down marker and was hit by
Robert Geathers
' shoulder. Green laid motionless for eleven minutes until he was taken off the field by a stretcher. The mood of the game changed instantly when the Chiefs lost their leader, and many fans began to leave Arrowhead Stadium
due to heavy rain and the dwindling score.
Back-up quarterback Damon Huard
came into the game and completed 12 of 20 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown, and was sacked four times. Tight end
Tony Gonzalez caught his first touchdown pass of the season and helped bring the score to 20–10. The Bengals left with their first win of the 2006 season.
, Denver, Colorado
Heading into their second game of the season and first on the road, the Chiefs looked to backup quarterback Damon Huard to lead their first win of the season. The game marked the first time the Herman Edwards regime played against the Denver Broncos
, as Kansas City had not won in Denver since 2000
. The game was broadcast on CBS at 1:15pm Denver time.
The game was the first time the Chiefs and Broncos played with no touchdowns scored by either team. The Kansas City defense held the Broncos scoreless in the first half, and to only nine points by the end of the game; the fewest the Chiefs have permitted at Denver since registering a 21–7 win on October 22, 1995. It also marked the fewest points Denver scored at INVESCO Field since it opened in 2001
.
Punter
Dustin Colquitt
tied a career high with six punts and established a career high with 281 punting yards. Two costly fumbles by Damon Huard and one by Larry Johnson in the red zone resulted in the tied game going into overtime. The Broncos won the toss and set up for the game winning kick by Jason Elam
.
, Kansas City, Missouri
On October 1, the Chiefs hosted the San Francisco 49ers
at Arrowhead Stadium
. Coach Herman Edwards confirmed Trent Green would not play in the game. The game was broadcast on Fox at noon Kansas City time.
The Chiefs defense shut out the 49ers high scoring offense, forcing two interceptions and three forced fumbles. Quarterback Alex Smith
was held to 92 yards passing and the 49ers to 93 yards rushing. In their first three games, the 49ers had given up only four sacks, but against the Chiefs, they allowed five total sacks.
Quarterback Damon Huard completed 18 of 23 passes for 208 yards and two passing touchdowns. While compiling a 133.3 passer rating – 158.3 is perfect – Huard was hardly ever touched or even hurried by a San Francisco defense which had rung up 12 sacks in its first three games. The game marked the first shutout for the Chiefs defense since December 1, 2002
, and the 49ers their first shutout since 2004
and only their second since 1977
.
, Glendale, Arizona
On October 8, the Chiefs traveled to Glendale, Arizona
for their first game in the University of Phoenix Stadium
to face the Arizona Cardinals
. Trent Green was still recovering from his concussion, and Arizona's rookie quarterback Matt Leinart
made his career start. The game was broadcast on CBS
1:15pm Arizona time.
The game began with Arizona's offense dominating and catching the Chiefs' defense off-guard with a 49-yard touchdown pass to Wide receiver Anquan Boldin
, putting the Cardinals on the scoreboard within three minutes of the game.
On the opening kickoff, Dante Hall
was injured and left the game, leaving rookie Jeff Webb
to return the kicks for the rest of the game, including a 56-yard punt return. Samie Parker
caught a 15-yard touchdown pass, leaving the Chiefs within three points of the Cardinals (17–20). The play was officially reviewed as the referees initially thought Parker caught the ball out of bounds, but the referees decided it was caught in the endzone.
Damon Huard threw Larry Johnson a 78-yard screen pass that would be stopped short of a touchdown when Antrel Rolle
twisted Johnson's neck by grabbing his facemask, sending him to the turf motionless for 2 minutes. Johnson recovered and received a standing ovation. The NFL fined Rolle $12,500 for his penalty. It was the second time in the 2006 season in which Rolle had been fined for an illegal tackle. The play set up Lawrence Tynes’ eventual game-winning field goal, leaving the Chiefs with the 23–20 lead.
Neil Rackers set up for a kick with less than 15 seconds to play in order to send the 23–20 contest into overtime. Rackers missed the uprights by a foot with seconds left in the game.
, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
On October 15, the Chiefs traveled to Heinz Field
to battle the defending Super Bowl champion
Pittsburgh Steelers
. The Chiefs entered the game 2–2 for the season, while the Steelers were 1–3 with a three-game losing streak. The game was broadcast on CBS
4:15 p.m. Pittsburgh time.
Trent Green would sit out for the fourth straight week. Damon Huard would make his fourth consecutive start as he entered the game ranked second in the NFL in quarterback ratings, while the Chiefs defense ranked in the top five in the NFL. Larry Johnson recovered from his facemask tackle from Antrel Rolle and started as running back.
Ben Roethlisberger
threw his first touchdown of the season as the Chiefs defense gave up 372 total yards in the first half, allowing 17 first downs. Cornerback Ty Law made a costly error in the opening series by slipping on the turf, allowing Santonio Holmes
to gain 50 yards on the third play of the game. Holmes would have scored if he had not slipped as well.
The Chiefs managed one touchdown in the game, coming from Larry Johnson in the third quarter. Following a 49-yard interception by safety
Troy Polamalu
, Larry Johnson stopped Polamalu by tackling him from his long hair. Johnson was not penalized for pulling Polamalu down, but by pulling him back up by his hair (a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct ).
The Chiefs put in rookie quarterback Brodie Croyle in the final quarter, who managed an interception for a touchdown and a sack, as the Steelers ended the game with the 45–7 victory margin.
, Kansas City, Missouri
On October 22, the Chiefs returned to Arrowhead to face division rivals, the San Diego Chargers
. The game was broadcast on CBS
at noon Kansas City time.
Trent Green had been ruled out to start in the game, but has been cleared by doctors to begin practicing with the squad. Ronnie Cruz
, the Chiefs' only fullback, is out for the year following an unspecified knee injury. Tight end Kris Wilson
took over for Cruz. The Chiefs also signed fullback Greg Hanoian in the days before the game to add depth to the position.
The game started with the Chiefs forcing turnovers on San Diego's first four possessions. Damon Huard later converted turnovers with two touchdown passes. Jared Allen forced a fumble from quarterback Philip Rivers
, recovered by Tamba Hali. The Chiefs took advantage of the turnover by scoring a touchdown with Eddie Kennison, making the lead 14–0. The Chargers would kick a field goal and the Chiefs would respond with a 15-yard field goal extending the lead to 20–3. The Chargers would not go into halftime with a 17-point deficit, so they kicked another field goal with 5 minutes to halftime.
The game was tied for the rest of the fourth quarter until 33 seconds remained when Damon Huard led the Chiefs to a 52-yard gain with 3 passes—two of them to Tony Gonzalez for 37 yards. The gain by Gonzalez set up for a the game winning field goal by kicker Lawrence Tynes. With 11 seconds left in the game, with the Chiefs trying to avoid overtime, Tynes connected on a career long 53-yard kick which later gave the Chiefs the victory, 30–27.
, Kansas City, Missouri
On October 29, the Chiefs hosted the defending NFC champion and former division rival, the Seattle Seahawks
. The game marked the first time the Seahawks had played at Arrowhead since joining the NFC. The game was broadcast on Fox
at noon Kansas City time.
Trent Green had been cleared by doctors to practice again with the team, but he required a minimum of 2 more games to adjust to playing time. Backup quarterback Damon Huard was injured in the days before the game and was expected to miss the game, but he was declared fit to start. On the Chiefs radio coverage during the game, play-by-play announcer Mitch Holthus
called the game "The Backup Bowl."
Offensive tackle John Welbourn
practiced with the team, but it was not known if he will be welcomed back to the team following a suspension violating the league's steroid policy. He later came back after Week 8 after serving his suspension. The Chiefs also signed offensive tackle Chris Terry to a two-year contract. Previously, Terry had been suspended from the NFL for four games in 2003
for violation of the policies on substance abuse
and personal conduct.
In the second quarter, the Chiefs' Lawrence Tynes connected on a 32-yard field goal adding to the Chiefs' lead 13–7. Quarterback Seneca Wallace responded to the Chiefs' lead by throwing to Wide receiver Deion Branch
, who went out of bounds in front of the end zone. The Chiefs challenged the call as they believed Branch did not have possession while in bounds. Replays showed Branch caught the ball while in the air and while one foot landed in bounds, the other stepped on the line. The review booth was experiencing technical difficulties. so the referees declared the call stands.
The Chiefs' defense held the Seahawks for the remaining time in the fourth quarter after Jared Allen intercepted a tipped pass from Seneca Wallace. Allen had the ball stripped by Deion Branch near the Seattle 27-yard line. Seattle challenged Allen's possession as it was later seen that Branch recovered the ball before going out of bounds. The referees took nearly four minutes in reviewing the play, where new NFL rules claim that referees should take no longer than 90 seconds or else the play will stand. The call was reversed and Seattle regained possession with less than two minutes remaining and one timeout left.
In the last few moments in the game, Derrick Johnson managed to get the Chiefs' first sack on Seneca Wallace and the Chiefs' defense held the Seahawks to secure the win. With the win, the Chiefs climbed above .500 for the first time in the season.
, St. Louis, Missouri
On November 5, the Chiefs traveled to the Edward Jones Dome
to battle their intrastate and interleague rivals, the St. Louis Rams
. The Chiefs were defending the Missouri Governor's Cup
, in which both teams competed in the pre-season. The game was broadcast on CBS
at noon St. Louis time.
Chiefs' running back Priest Holmes
would meet with a neurosurgeon about his October 30 neck injury, suffered against the Chargers' Shawne Merriman
. Holmes must practice by November 7 to be eligible to remain in the season. Trent Green suited up for the game against the Rams, but was listed as the third quarterback behind starter Damon Huard and rookie Brodie Croyle. Herm Edwards said there was no chance Green would play against the Rams, but could be back by week 10.
Damon Huard threw a 43-yard pass to Samie Parker which put the Chiefs in the red zone at the 3-yard line. Huard continued the drive with a 3-yard pass to Tony Gonzalez, his 58th career touchdown and the Chiefs' all-time record breaker for Tight ends. The Chiefs were leading with two and a half minutes into the game. Kansas City again used Larry Johnson's speed to their advantage as Johnson broke a 16-yard dash, setting up a field goal by Lawrence Tynes on fourth and one. An offensive battle ensued between the two teams before the half, as Tony Gonzalez scored his 59th career touchdown and second of the game from 25-yards out. The Rams failed to find the endzone, but Jeff Wilkins connected on a field goal to make the score 24–10 at the half.
Damon Huard fumbled on Kansas City's next offensive drive but was recovered by Kyle Turley—in his first game back from an injury. The Rams' defensive unit stopped the Chiefs from securing the lead. The Chiefs' defense gave up some major yardage on the Rams' next turn on offense. Penalties to St. Louis cost them over 60 yards, as the Chiefs' offense suffered a penalty for defensive pass interference from Dexter Coakley
and a facemask to Larry Johnson from Oshiomogho Atogwe
. The Chiefs would go on to secure the win with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kris Wilson to make the score 31–17. The game ended as the clock ran out as the Chiefs retained the Governor's Cup and advanced to 5–3.
Several Chiefs players were injured throughout the game including Brian Waters
, Tamba Hali
, Derrick Johnson
, Greg Wesley
, Keyaron Fox
and Kendall Gammon
.
, Miami Gardens, Florida
On November 12, the Chiefs traveled to Dolphin Stadium
to play the Miami Dolphins
. The Chiefs entered the game with a three-game winning streak and the Dolphins entered with an upset victory over the previously undefeated Chicago Bears
. The game was broadcast on CBS
at 1pm Miami time.
In a November 7 press conference, Herm Edwards backed off on the subject of whether Trent Green will retain his starting role. On Election Day
, Chiefs' fans were asked to vote for their choice of starting quarterback on The Kansas City Star's website. Damon Huard won the poll with 58%. The vote did not determine Edwards' decision, and was strictly for the fan's input.
Pro Bowler Brian Waters missed the game and several other Chiefs players—including Derrick Johnson and Greg Wesley—missed the game with their own injuries. Kansas City was 3-for-14 on third-down conversions and had the ball for only 24 minutes throughout the game.
The Chiefs were shut out by the end of the first half, the first time Miami had not allowed their opponents to score all season. After the second half, the Chiefs began to regain their ground. A fumble by Ronnie Brown gave Kansas City's Jared Allen 20-yards to recover and put the Chiefs in the red zone. Larry Johnson would finish the opportunity from the turnover and score from 2-yards out for a touchdown. The Chiefs now trailed 10–13 following an XPA by Lawrence Tynes.
The Chiefs regained the ball after a failed offensive drive by Miami with 3:10 left in the game. A costly sack by former Chiefs player Vonnie Holliday
would put Damon Huard back within 5-yards of the end zone. The Chiefs would not be able to rally back from the 3-point deficit following an incomplete pass to Tony Gonzalez. The Dolphins ran the clock out for their third win of the season, and Kansas City's first loss in three games.
, Kansas City, Missouri
On November 19, the Chiefs began a short week by facing their historic division rivals, the Oakland Raiders
, and prepared for another home game just four days later against the Denver Broncos. The game was broadcasted on CBS
at noon Kansas City time.
Tight end Tony Gonzalez missed the game because of a sprained shoulder from week 10, and at the time his status for the Thanksgiving
game was unknown. Brian Waters and Kevin Sampson
will also miss the game, and Derrick Johnson and Greg Wesley are questionable to start.
In the week before the game, Trent Green was cleared by his doctor to play in the game. Coach Herm Edwards said early Wednesday (November 15) that whatever decision he made would remain a secret until game time, but by the evening, Fox Sports
reported Edwards confirmed Green to be the. On the Chiefs' radio broadcast, Mitch Holthus noted the crowd was so deafening that it sounded "like a playoff game."
Trent Green took the field for the first time in two months, but barely threw the ball in the first half, gaining only 3-yards passing. Green was not making many throws for the first 3½ quarters. He attempted four passes in the first half for only three yards. Edwards said he dialed down the playbook not necessarily because of Green’s rust but because the Chiefs wanted to get Larry Johnson more involved. With the help of backup Michael Bennett, Larry Johnson and the run game trampled the Raiders to get into the end zone from 5 yards out. The Chiefs led 7–0.
The noise from the Chiefs fans began to die down when the Raiders took the lead. After offensive struggles from both teams, the Chiefs finally managed to be within 15-yards until they were penalized for delay of game, setting them back 5 yards. The Chiefs managed to kick a field goal to make the game 13–10, reclaiming the lead. Through the fourth quarter, the Raiders were plagued with multiple penalties. Trent Green made his biggest throw of the game when he connected with Eddie Kennison for a 24-yard gain, and another to Samie Parker for 16 yards. Larry Johnson capped off the offensive drive by running 9-yards into the endzone. The play was challenged by Oakland and reversed, but the Chiefs still managed to score with a 1-yard touchdown by Johnson with less than 2 minutes to go in the game. After an PAT, the Chiefs secured their lead 17–13.
Aaron Brooks shot a pass from the 8 yard line to Randy Moss, but the ball was intercepted by rookie safety Jarrad Page
with 30 seconds left in the game. The Chiefs secured the win with a kneel-down by Trent Green, and their seventh straight win over the Raiders, their 50th win over the Raiders in 95 meetings. The game marked the first time in 120 games, since 1999
, that Tony Gonzalez did not play in the game.
Larry Johnson finished with a two-touchdown, 159-yard rushing game on his 27th birthday. Trent Green in his comeback performance finished with 9 completed passes out of 16 attempts for 102 yards passing. Aaron Brooks had his own impressive comeback by completing 13 or 22 passes for 179 yards passing and one touchdown. The Chiefs finished the game with only 92 yards passing, but 200 rushing. The Raiders were penalized 8 times for 65 yards.
, Kansas City, Missouri
On Thanksgiving
, the Chiefs played their modern-day rivals, the Denver Broncos. The game was broadcast on the NFL Network
as part of the NFL's new "Thanksgiving Tripleheader" tradition
, set to kick off the NFL Network's broadcasts of Thursday and Saturday Night Football
. The game also aired on Denver
and Kansas City
local television--KDVR
-Fox 31 in Denver and WDAF
-Fox 4 in Kansas City at 7pm Kansas City time. The game was broadcast on Westwood One
radio. The game marked the first time in NFL history that the league played a triple-header on the holiday, and it was also the first Thanksgiving prime-time game.
After John Fogerty
played at halftime, the Chiefs showed their own explosive firepower. A big gain by Samie Parker for 31-yards set up another field goal by Lawrence Tynes from 34 yards out. The Broncos fought back on their next possession. It appeared the Plummer threw his second interception of the game when Patrick Surtain
intercepted a ball intended for Javon Walker
, but a penalty on Lenny Walls
reversed the call. The Chiefs led 13–10.
A defensive battle ensued in the fourth quarter, as the Broncos and Chiefs' defense held each other from scoring again. At the 30-yard line, a pass from Trent Green was intercepted by Darrent Williams
, intended for Samie Parker. The Chiefs regained possession at 8:00 left in the game. The Chiefs secured the win
The game ball was given to Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt
, who lobbied for 37-years to put a Thanksgiving game in Kansas City. The 74-year-old Hunt, who missed only a handful of games since founding the franchise, was admitted to a Dallas-area hospital on Wednesday, bitterly disappointed he would not see Kansas City's inaugurating the NFL's new Thanksgiving tripleheader.
Making the night even more festive was an in-house standing-room-only crowd of 80,866, the largest since 1972 (the year Arrowhead Stadium opened).
, Cleveland, Ohio
On December 3, the Chiefs traveled to Ohio
to battle the Cleveland Browns
following a 10-day break. The Chiefs looked to secure a three-game win streak over the Browns, who suffered from a 1–14 home record in December since 1999
. The game was broadcast on CBS at noon Cleveland time.
On November 28, it was announced that former Chiefs starting running back Priest Holmes
would not return for the remainder of the 2006 season, along with Chiefs cornerback William Bartee
. Holmes has not played since October 30, 2005
, when he was injured on a hit by Chargers
linebacker Shawne Merriman
in a game at San Diego. The injury left him with head and neck trauma, diagnosed by three spinal specialists.
Before halftime, the Browns tied the game with another touchdown, 14–14. Kansas City began the second half and Eddie Kennison racked in 39 yards with a pass from Trent Green. The Chiefs moved up field and capped off another offensive drive with a touchdown from Kris Wilson. The play was challenged by Cleveland, but upheld. The Chiefs appeared to have sealed the win as they were up 28–14 with twelve minutes left in the game.
Cleveland fought back by finding holes in the Kansas City defense. A 54-yard pass to Jason Wright set the Browns up for a score. Steve Heiden
caught a 6-yard pass for a touchdown, placing the Browns within a possession, 28–21. The Browns moved 81 yards in three and half minutes. Kansas City never found its offensive power again: a failed offensive drive gave the Browns possession again. With forty seconds remaining in the game, the Chiefs gave up another touchdown: a 3-yard pass to Steve Heiden
tied the game. The Chiefs called a timeout with five seconds remaining but were clearly out of Lawrence Tynes
' range for a game-winning field goal. A short pass to Tony Gonzalez, intending to reach out of bounds to stop the clock, led the game into overtime.
The Chiefs won the toss in overtime but incomplete passes barred them from winning their eighth game of the season. The game marked the second time this season that the Chiefs could not stop a team in overtime from advancing to the red zone and their second overtime loss from a field goal.
, Kansas City, Missouri
On December 10, the Chiefs looked to extend their "December home game winning streak" to 19 games when they took on the Baltimore Ravens. The Chiefs previously won the past 18 games at home in December, leading back to their loss to the Indianapolis Colts
on December 15, 1996
. The game was broadcast on CBS at noon Kansas City time. Before the game, there was a moment of silence
for ailing Chiefs owner and founder Lamar Hunt
, who was still in the hospital seeking cancer
treatment.
Throughout the first half, it was a defensive fight with the Ravens getting a 41-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter by kicker Matt Stover
. Within the first half, Trent Green committed three turnovers
In the third quarter, Kansas City fell big as blown coverage allowed Steve McNair
to complete an 87-yard touchdown pass to Mark Clayton. The pass was the longest made by McNair in his career and Clayton's longest reception The blown coverage would seal the loss for the Chiefs. The score put the Ravens up 13–0 with just under 6 and a half minutes left in the third quarter. Chiefs fans began to file out of Arrowhead Stadium, realizing their team lost for the first time in December at home in over a decade.
died due to complications to prostate cancer
at the age of 74. Hunt had been in the hospital seeking cancer treatment since November 22. Hunt was stricken with prostate cancer in September 1998 and underwent a series of chemotherapy
treatments. In October 2003 he had surgery to remove the prostate gland.
Hunt is survived by wife Norma, children Lamar Jr., Sharron Munson, Clark and Daniel; and 13 grandchildren. Clark Hunt
will oversee the family's sports interests. On Thursday, December 14, before the Thursday Night Football
game on NFL Network between the San Francisco 49ers
and Seattle Seahawks
, a moment of silence
was held to honor Lamar Hunt.
, San Diego, California
The race in the AFC West continued to heat up in December, especially when the Chiefs took on the San Diego Chargers on prime-time national television. The Chiefs entered the game fighting to keep their playoff dreams alive while the San Diego Chargers looked to secure the home field advantage in the playoffs.
The game was scheduled to be broadcast on CBS at 1pm San Diego time, but on December 4, the game was officially chosen to be aired on NBC Sunday Night Football
at 8:15 ET (6:15 San Diego time) as part of the league's new "flex scheduling" policy. The game marked the first time the Chiefs appeared on NBC Sunday Night Football, their first prime-time game in San Diego, and their first game to be aired on NBC
since facing Denver in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Arrowhead on January 4, 1998
.
Publicity fueled the Sunday night match when Chiefs defensive end Tamba Hali
claimed the Chargers were a "finesse team" eight weeks ago after Kansas City beat San Diego 30–27 at Arrowhead Stadium in week 5. The game was the last time the Chargers lost before their seven game winning streak leading into week 14.
Prior to kickoff, there was a video tribute and moment of silence for Hunt, who died Wednesday night of complications from prostate cancer. He was 74. The Chiefs had "LH" decals on the backs of their helmets. The Chiefs opted for white pants in honor of Lamar Hunt. The Chiefs got their start in Kansas City wearing white on white when playing on the road and some players appealed to coach Herm Edwards to go to the traditional look Sunday night.
After getting one sack in the previous two games and none in last week’s loss to Baltimore, the Chiefs were able to put some pressure on Philip Rivers
in the first half. James Reed
and Tamba Hali
each had a sack, and the Chiefs would have had a third, but Rivers was penalized for intentional grounding when he unloaded the ball. The Chiefs did not allow Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers to complete a pass until early in the second quarter when he threw for 18 yards to Vincent Jackson
. The Chargers still led 7–3 at the time.
Tomlinson broke three NFL records: single-season scoring (186 points), single-season rushing touchdowns (28) and consecutive multitouchdown games (eight). Tomlinson's 85-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was the game’s deciding play. It gave the Chargers a 14–3 lead with less than 3 minutes until halftime. The Chiefs never recovered from the botched blocked punt and let the Chargers run away with their eleventh win of the season and homefield advantage in the playoffs.
Trent Green finished the game 23 of 41 with 185 yards passing, no touchdowns and one interception. It was Green's fourth loss in six games after returning from his injury in week one. Lawrence Tynes
was the only scorer for the Chiefs, kicking three field goals from 45, 52 and 24 yards out.
The game was the Chiefs' third straight loss and the Chargers' eighth straight win.
, Oakland, California
On December 23, the Chiefs visited the Oakland Raiders for a Saturday night game. The game was broadcasted on the NFL Network
and local Oakland and Kansas City television at 5pm Oakland time. Former Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil
helped announce the game with Bryant Gumbel
on NFL Network. The Chiefs had lost three straight and the Raiders lost seven in a row. The Raiders themselves had not beat the Chiefs in four years and were looking for their first division win since 2004
.
Kansas City managed to hold Oakland throughout the first quarter while Lawrence Tynes
managed to get a 29-yard field goal. Kansas City's Jared Allen
recovered a fumble from Oakland's Andrew Walter
after Walter was sandwiched by Allen and Kawika Mitchell
. In the third quarter, the Raiders would get yet another field goal as Janikowski got one from 53 yards out. It would be the final score from Oakland of the night, and the third field goal. Kansas City looked to extend their lead with a kick from Lawrence Tynes but the kick was missed wide right. Kansas City still had the lead, 17–6.
The Chiefs became the first team to ever win eight straight against the Raiders. The Raiders (2–13) have lost eight straight overall and matched the franchise record for losses in a season set when they went 1–13 in 1962—the season before Davis arrived to coach and eventually own the team.
Larry Johnson has 398 yards rushing in three starts against the Raiders, and his 10 touchdowns in six games are his most against any opponent. Johnson broke Christian Okoye
's club record of 370 carries in a season. Johnson's 31 carries gave him 383. With the win, Kansas City snapped its three-game skid, improved its record to 8–7, while the Raiders lost their eighth straight game of the season.
, Kansas City, Missouri
On New Years Eve 2006, the Chiefs closed out the regular season when they played the Jacksonville Jaguars
. The team looked to restart their "December home game winning streak" during the cold, wintry weather. The game was broadcast on CBS at noon Kansas City time.
The game began with Kansas City under enormous doubt to reach the playoffs. Kansas City would slide into the tournament with losses to Jacksonville, Tennessee
, Cincinnati
and Denver
. The team started the day with the 10th seed in the AFC playoffs, but ended 2006 with a truly happy new year. The Chiefs paid tribute to Hunt with a moment of silence before the game and the video boards played tributes before and during the game.
Quarterback Trent Green was hit hard from Clint Ingram
, resulting in a slightly sprained ankle. He sat out the next few drives as back-up quarterback Damon Huard
returned to the field with the Kansas City offense to enormous applause. Huard threw a deep pass to Eddie Kennison (who miraculously held on to the ball after juggling it) and gained 40-yards. Huard handed off to Larry Johnson, who ran in for this third touchdown of the game from 12-yards out. The Chiefs were leading 35–17. By the end of the third quarter, Chiefs starting quarterback Trent Green was back in the game and threw an interception—a play that was met with jeers for Green and chants for Damon Huard to return.
Within the final five minutes, all of which Kansas City held possession, various penalties were issued against the Chiefs and Jaguars. The most notable of which came against Jacksonville's defensive tackle John Henderson and Kansas City's guard Brian Waters
, both of which were flagged for unnecessary roughness. Both Henderson and Waters began to brawl against each other. Kansas City ran out the clock throughout the final two minutes and hung on for their ninth win of the season.
The Chiefs, needing four teams to lose in order to gain the final seed in the playoffs, had their wish come true. Kansas City clinched the final playoff berth with Denver's loss to San Francisco and fulfilled an almost impossible playoff scenario. For the first time since 2003
, the Chiefs were heading back to the playoffs to face the team they lost to, the Indianapolis Colts
.
Kansas City's Larry Johnson set the single-season record for carries. Johnson's 416 attempts passed Jamal Anderson
's (Atlanta Falcons
) 1998
record of 410 carries. Johnson finished the game with 138 yards on 33 carries with three touchdowns.
, a loss by Tennessee
, and two overtime losses by Cincinnati
and Denver
. The Chiefs, 9–7, played against the Indianapolis Colts
, 12–4, on Saturday, January 6 at 4:30 ET.
The Chiefs were a 50-to-1 bet and the longest shot to win the Super Bowl
, according to odds posted January 3, 2007 by online sportsbook PinnacleSports.com. Pinnacle pegged Kansas City at 30–1 to win the AFC title and a berth in the big game. The Chiefs held the sixth seed in the AFC playoff bracket, the same berth as the previous year's Super Bowl champion
Pittsburgh Steelers
. The Chiefs were eliminated by the Colts in the first round of the playoffs, losing by a score of 23–8.
, Indianapolis, Indiana
Entering the AFC Wildcard Round as the sixth-seed, the Chiefs began their playoff run in the RCA Dome
against the third-seeded Indianapolis Colts
. In the first half, Kansas City trailed early as Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri
getting a 48-yard and a 19-yard field goal in the first quarter, along with a 50-yard field goal in the second quarter. Also in the first half, the Chiefs offense was unable to get a single first down. In the third quarter, Indianapolis continued its domination with a 6-yard TD run by RB Joseph Addai
. Afterwards, Kansas City's offense finally got going by not only getting some first downs, but they also capped off their drive with QB Trent Green
completing a 6-yard TD pass to TE Tony Gonzalez. Following the touchdown, the Chiefs got a successful two-point conversion as Green completed the pass to FB Kris Wilson. However, the Colts continued its domination as in the fourth quarter, Colts QB Peyton Manning
helped wrap up the game with a 5-yard TD pass to WR Reggie Wayne
.
RB Larry Johnson, one of the league's top rushers, was held to just 32 yards on 13 carries, along with 29 receiving yards on 5 receptions, by the Colts defense (which was last in the league against the run).
Unlike the teams' previous meeting in the playoffs which consisted of an offensive shootout, both teams' defenses were the story of the game. With the loss, Kansas City ended its season with an overall record of 9–8.
, including RB Larry Johnson (2nd selection), TE Tony Gonzalez (8th selection), G Will Shields
(12th selection) and G Brian Waters
(3rd selection). Shields will make his 12th straight trip to Honolulu as a Pro Bowl performer, extending his record for the longest streak of Pro Bowl
appearances in team history.
Total yards in season: 5,143 (#16 in NFL)
Points per game: 20.7 (#15 in NFL)
Quarterback rating: QB Damon Huard
, 98.0 (#2 in NFL)
Rushing yards: RB Larry Johnson, 1,789 (#2 in NFL)
Total touchdowns: RB Larry Johnson, 19 (#2 in NFL)
Total yards in season: 5,262 (#16 in NFL)
Points per game: 19.7 (T-#11 in NFL)
2006 NFL season
The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006...
Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
season began with the team looking to improve on their 10–6 record in 2005
2005 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2005 Kansas City Chiefs season resulted in a 10–6 record, but no playoff berth. The Chiefs became the sixth 10–6 team to fail to qualify for the playoffs since the NFL introduced the wild card....
under new head coach Herman Edwards
Herman Edwards
Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN...
.
The team battled many obstacles during the 2006 season, including the loss of starting quarterback Trent Green
Trent Green
Trent Jason Green is a retired professional American football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana University....
in the first game, the readjustment of a record-breaking offense, and the death of owner and founder Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
. Despite the obstacles, the team gained momentum after rebounding from an 0–2 start, clinching the sixth seed in the playoffs with a 9–7 record. The team finished second in the AFC West with a 4–2 divisional record. The Chiefs lost in the Wild Card
Wild card (sports)
The term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
round of the playoffs 8–23 to their playoff rival and eventual Super Bowl champions
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
, the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.
Schedule
◊: Denotes an over-time game| 2006 Preseason | |||||||
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Game site | TV | Record | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 12, 2006 | at Houston Texans Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 24–14 | Reliant Stadium Reliant Stadium Reliant Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Houston, Texas, USA. Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500, a total square footage of with of natural grass playing surface.... |
CBS | 0–1 | |
|
| August 17, 2006 | at New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 17–0 | Giants Stadium Giants Stadium Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to... |
FOX | 0–2 | |
|
| August 26, 2006 | St. Louis Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... |
W 16–12 | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS | 1–2 | |
|
| August 31, 2006 | New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
W 10–9 | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS | 2–2 | |
|
| 2006 Regular Season | |||||||
| 1 | September 10, 2006 | Cincinnati Bengals 2006 Cincinnati Bengals season The 2006 Cincinnati Bengals season began with the team trying to improve on their 11–5 record in 2005, defending their AFC North Division Championship title, and progress further through the playoffs than they made in the 2005 season having lost to Pittsburgh in the 1st round after losing star... |
L 23–10 | Arrowhead Stadium Arrowhead Stadium Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs.... |
CBS NFL on CBS The NFL on CBS is the brand name of the CBS television network's coverage of the National Football League's American Football Conference games, produced by CBS Sports.-Market coverage and television policies:... |
0–1 | |
| 2 | September 17, 2006 | at Denver Broncos 2006 Denver Broncos season The 2006 Denver Broncos season began with the team trying to improve on their 13–3 record and make a return to the AFC Championship Game as they did in 2005.-Offseason:... |
L 9–6 ◊ | INVESCO Field at Mile High | CBS | 0–2 | |
| Week 3 — Bye | |||||||
| 4 | October 1, 2006 | San Francisco 49ers 2006 San Francisco 49ers season The 2006 San Francisco 49ers season began with the team trying to improve on their 4-12 record in 2005. Despite having improved from their previous two disastrous seasons and were in the top 10 best offense in the league in 2006 ,they missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year, continuing... |
W 41–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
1–2 | |
| 5 | October 8, 2006 | at Arizona Cardinals 2006 Arizona Cardinals season The 2006 Arizona Cardinals season began with the team trying to improve on their 5-11 record in 2005. They also moved into the Cardinals Stadium in Glendale, Arizona . The stadium was christened University of Phoenix Stadium on September 26... |
W 23–20 | University of Phoenix Stadium University of Phoenix Stadium University of Phoenix Stadium, opened August 1, 2006, is a multipurpose football stadium located in Glendale, Arizona. It is the home of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League and the annual Fiesta Bowl... |
CBS | 2–2 | |
| 6 | October 15, 2006 | at Pittsburgh Steelers 2006 Pittsburgh Steelers season The 2006 Pittsburgh Steelers season began with the team trying to improve on their 11–5 record from 2005 and trying to defend their Super Bowl XL championship.-Offseason:... |
L 45–7 | Heinz Field Heinz Field Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively... |
CBS | 2–3 | |
| 7 | October 22, 2006 | San Diego Chargers 2006 San Diego Chargers season The 2006 San Diego Chargers season began with the team trying to improve on their 9–7 record in 2005. They finished the campaign as the #1 seed in the AFC ending the season at 14–2, best record in the NFL... |
W 30–27 | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS | 3–3 | |
| 8 | October 29, 2006 | Seattle Seahawks 2006 Seattle Seahawks season The 2006 Seattle Seahawks season was the team's 31st season in the National Football League. The season began with the team attempting to improve on their 13-3 record from 2005, repeat as National Football Conference champions, and return to the Super Bowl... |
W 35–28 | Arrowhead Stadium | FOX | 4–3 | |
| 9 | November 5, 2006 | at St. Louis Rams 2006 St. Louis Rams season The 2006 St. Louis Rams season was the team's 69th year with the National Football League and the 12th season in St. Louis. The season began with the Rams trying to improve on their 6-10 record from 2005 under new head coach Scott Linehan.-Offseason:... |
W 31–17 | Edward Jones Dome Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome (more formally known as the Edward Jones Dome at America's Center, and previously known as The Trans World Dome (from 1995–2001) is a multi-purpose stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and home of the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. It was... |
CBS | 5–3 | |
| 10 | November 12, 2006 | at Miami Dolphins 2006 Miami Dolphins season The 2006 Miami Dolphins season began with the team trying to improve on their 9–7 record in 2005. Instead, they finished the season 6–10 after being hyped by some to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, and saw their coach Nick Saban abandon his contract to coach college football for the Alabama... |
L 13–10 | Dolphin Stadium | CBS | 5–4 | |
| 11 | November 19, 2006 | Oakland Raiders 2006 Oakland Raiders season The 2006 Oakland Raiders season, which was supposed to improve on a lackluster 4–12 record from 2005, ended with the Raiders suffering through a 2–14 campaign, the worst record in the 2006 NFL season, the worst season since the club went 1–13 in 1962 and their worst since the National Football... |
W 17–13 | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS | 6–4 | |
| 12 | November 23, 2006 | Denver Broncos | W 19–10 | Arrowhead Stadium | NFL Network Run to the Playoffs Thursday Night Football is the brand name used by NFL Network for its schedule of live regular season telecasts of National Football League games on Thursday nights. Also included in the package are some Saturday specials.... |
7–4 | |
| 13 | December 3, 2006 | at Cleveland Browns 2006 Cleveland Browns season The 2006 Cleveland Browns season marked the 60th anniversary of the Browns franchise. It began with the team attempting to improve upon their win-loss record from 2005, where the team ended the year at 6–10. They were one of the most active teams during the free agency period, and looked to be one... |
L 31–28 ◊ | Cleveland Browns Stadium Cleveland Browns Stadium -See also:* List of current National Football League stadiums* Chronology of home stadiums for current National Football League teams* List of American football stadiums by capacity* List of U.S. stadiums by capacity* List of North American stadiums by capacity... |
CBS | 7–5 | |
| 14 | December 10, 2006 | Baltimore Ravens 2006 Baltimore Ravens season The 2006 Baltimore Ravens season began with the team trying to improve on their 6–10 record in 2005. The Ravens, for the first time in franchise history, started 4–0. The Ravens' ended the regular season with a team-best 13–3 record. The Ravens clinched the AFC North title, 1st-round bye... |
L 20–10 | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS | 7–6 | |
| 15 | December 17, 2006 | at San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 20–9 | Qualcomm Stadium Qualcomm Stadium Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area.... |
NBC NBC Sunday Night Football NBC Sunday Night Football is a weekly television broadcast of Sunday evening National Football League games on NBC that began airing on Sunday, August 6, 2006 with the pre-season opening Hall of Fame Game. Al Michaels serves as the play-by-play announcer, with Cris Collinsworth as the color... |
7–7 | |
| 16 | December 23, 2006 | at Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 20–9 | McAfee Coliseum | NFL Network | 8–7 | |
| 17 | December 31, 2006 | Jacksonville Jaguars 2006 Jacksonville Jaguars season The 2006 Jacksonville Jaguars season was the 11th season for the team in the National Football League. The Jaguars failed to improve on their 12–4 record from 2005, and missed the playoffs.-2006 NFL Draft:-Staff:-Preseason:Source:... |
W 35–30 | Arrowhead Stadium | CBS | 9–7 | |
| 2007 Playoffs | |||||||
| Wild Card | January 6, 2007 | at Indianapolis Colts 2006 Indianapolis Colts season The 2006 Indianapolis Colts season was the 54th season for the team in the National Football League and 23rd in Indianapolis. The 2006 Colts season began with the team trying to maintain or improve on their regular season record of 14–2 from the 2005 season, and advance farther into the playoffs.... |
L 23–8 | RCA Dome RCA Dome RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons .... |
NBC NBC Sports NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others... |
9–8 | |
Standings
Standings as of the end of the 2006 regular seasonNote: Playoff berths in parentheses.
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
Offseason
Dick VermeilDick Vermeil
Richard Albert "Dick" Vermeil is a former American head coach for the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles , St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs...
, head coach, retired after the Chiefs' 2005 campaign. On Monday, January 9, 2006, the Chiefs made their first step throughout the 2006 offseason when they hired Herman Edwards
Herman Edwards
Herman "Herm" Edwards, Jr. is an American football analyst who most recently coached in the National Football League for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was fired from this position on January 23, 2009. Since then, he has been hired as a football analyst for ESPN...
from the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as the new head coach.
2006 NFL Draft2006 NFL DraftThe 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
Note: The Chiefs exchanged their fourth round draft pick to the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in order to acquire coach Herman Edwards.
| Round | Pick | Name | Position | College |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Tamba Hali Tamba Hali Tamba Boimah Hali is an American football outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League. He was the 20th overall pick out of Penn State in the 2006 NFL Draft... |
Defensive end Defensive end Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years... |
Penn State |
| 2 | 54 | Bernard Pollard Bernard Pollard Bernard Karmell Pollard is an American football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft... |
Strong safety | Purdue |
| 3 | 85 | Brodie Croyle Brodie Croyle John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005... |
Quarterback Quarterback Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... |
Alabama University of Alabama The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States.... |
| 5 | 154 | Marcus Maxey Marcus Maxey Marcus Jacolby Maxey is an American football defensive back free agent of the NFL.Maxey was selected in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of the University of Miami. Maxey was waived by the Chiefs earlier in the 2006 NFL season and spent a few weeks on the roster of the Chicago Bears... |
Cornerback Cornerback A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position... |
Miami University of Miami The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12... |
| 6 | 186 | Tre' Stallings Tre' Stallings Cornelius Tre' Stallings is an American football guard most recently was in training camp for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft He played college football at Mississippi.-External links:**... |
Guard Guard (American football) In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team.... |
Ole Miss University of Mississippi The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the... |
| 6 | 190 | Jeff Webb Jeff Webb Jeffrey Leon Webb is a gridiron football wide receiver for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft... |
Wide receiver Wide receiver A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... |
San Diego State |
| 7 | 228 | Jarrad Page Jarrad Page Jarrad Matthew Page is an American football safety for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft... |
Strong safety | UCLA |
Roster moves
Just before training camp, Pro BowlPro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
Ty Law
Ty Law
Tajuan "Ty" Law is a retired football cornerback of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots 23rd overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. He played college football at Michigan....
was added to Kansas City's lineup to strengthen the defense. To help the offense, Left tackle Kyle Turley
Kyle Turley
Kyle John Turley is a former American football offensive tackle of the National Football League, and current American recording artist. He was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints seventh overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at San Diego State.In addition to the...
made his first appearance post-two-year absence from the NFL, and Running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Michael Bennett was acquired to back up Larry Johnson. The Chiefs signed quarterback Casey Printers
Casey Printers
Casey J. Printers was a professional American football and Canadian football player. He played college football at Texas Christian University from 1999 to 2001, leading his team to three straight bowl games, before transferring to Florida A&M for his senior year...
, who had success in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
, to their practice squad.
Key losses to the team included the heart and soul of the team's offense; Pro Bowl tackles Willie Roaf
Willie Roaf
William Layton Roaf, sometimes nicknamed "Nasty" is a former American football offensive tackle.-Football career:...
and John Welbourn
John Welbourn
John Welbourn is an American football offensive tackle and guard who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at California...
announcing their retirements (Welbourn later returned to the team in week eight following a suspension served after his reinstatement), and Fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
Tony Richardson was signed by the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
.
Training camp & Pre-season
The Chiefs held training camp at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. The team reported July 28 and broke camp on August 18. On August 4, the Chiefs scrimmaged the Minnesota Vikings in Mankato, MinnesotaMankato, Minnesota
Mankato is a city in Blue Earth, Nicollet, and Le Sueur counties in the U.S. state of Minnesota. The population was 39,309 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth largest city in Minnesota outside of the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. The county seat of Blue Earth County, it is located...
.
In the preseason, the Chiefs lost to the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on August 12 and the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on August 17. For their preseason home games, the Chiefs defeated the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
and retained the Missouri Governor's Cup
Governor's Cup (Missouri)
The Missouri Governor's Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner between the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams' annual meetings in the preseason and occasional contests in the regular season....
on August 26 and also defeated the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
on August 31.
Week 1: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
at Arrowhead StadiumArrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
, Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
The Chiefs opened the regular season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
on September 10. The game was broadcast on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
at noon Kansas City time.
The Chiefs' offense began at a slow pace, while their defense initially held the Bengals to a field goal within the first few minutes. The Bengals began to rip through the Chiefs' defense with the help of Rudi Johnson
Rudi Johnson
Burudi Ali "Rudi" Johnson is a former American football running back who played professionally from 2001 - 2008. Rudi was born in Petersburg, Virginia approximately 30 miles south of Richmond. His first name "Burudi" is Swahili and means "cool'" and his middle name "Ali" represented his family's...
, who would later go on to rush for 96 yards and a touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
.
In the third quarter, quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Trent Green
Trent Green
Trent Jason Green is a retired professional American football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana University....
received a concussion when he slid past the first-down marker and was hit by
Robert Geathers
Robert Geathers
Robert Geathers is an American football player who currently plays defensive end and linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals. Geathers played at Choppee High School and later at Carvers Bay High School. As a senior, he recorded 100 tackles and nine sacks on defense and played quarterback on offense...
' shoulder. Green laid motionless for eleven minutes until he was taken off the field by a stretcher. The mood of the game changed instantly when the Chiefs lost their leader, and many fans began to leave Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
due to heavy rain and the dwindling score.
Back-up quarterback Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
came into the game and completed 12 of 20 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown, and was sacked four times. Tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Tony Gonzalez caught his first touchdown pass of the season and helped bring the score to 20–10. The Bengals left with their first win of the 2006 season.
Week 2: at Denver Broncos
at Invesco Field at Mile HighINVESCO Field at Mile High
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, previously known as Invesco Field at Mile High, and commonly known as Mile High, is a multi-purpose stadium, in Denver, Colorado. It replaced the identically sized, but commercially obsolete Mile High Stadium in 2001...
, Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
Heading into their second game of the season and first on the road, the Chiefs looked to backup quarterback Damon Huard to lead their first win of the season. The game marked the first time the Herman Edwards regime played against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, as Kansas City had not won in Denver since 2000
2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants.Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000...
. The game was broadcast on CBS at 1:15pm Denver time.
The game was the first time the Chiefs and Broncos played with no touchdowns scored by either team. The Kansas City defense held the Broncos scoreless in the first half, and to only nine points by the end of the game; the fewest the Chiefs have permitted at Denver since registering a 21–7 win on October 22, 1995. It also marked the fewest points Denver scored at INVESCO Field since it opened in 2001
2001 NFL season
The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League.Following a pattern set in 1999, the first week of the season was permanently moved to the weekend following Labor Day...
.
Punter
Punter (football position)
A punter in American or Canadian football is a special teams player who receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage and then punts the football to the opposing team so as to limit any field position advantage. This generally happens on a fourth down in American football and a...
Dustin Colquitt
Dustin Colquitt
Dustin Farr Colquitt is an American football punter for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
tied a career high with six punts and established a career high with 281 punting yards. Two costly fumbles by Damon Huard and one by Larry Johnson in the red zone resulted in the tied game going into overtime. The Broncos won the toss and set up for the game winning kick by Jason Elam
Jason Elam
Jason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
.
Week 3: Bye Week
The Chiefs took a week off, using the time to help Trent Green recover from his injury and developing Damon Huard and Brodie Croyle familiarity with their offensive playbook.Week 4: vs. San Francisco 49ers
at Arrowhead StadiumArrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
, Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
On October 1, the Chiefs hosted the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
at Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
. Coach Herman Edwards confirmed Trent Green would not play in the game. The game was broadcast on Fox at noon Kansas City time.
The Chiefs defense shut out the 49ers high scoring offense, forcing two interceptions and three forced fumbles. Quarterback Alex Smith
Alex Smith
Alexander Douglas Smith is a professional American football player and starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Smith was drafted with the 1st-overall pick in the 1st round of the 2005 NFL Draft by San Francisco from the University of Utah...
was held to 92 yards passing and the 49ers to 93 yards rushing. In their first three games, the 49ers had given up only four sacks, but against the Chiefs, they allowed five total sacks.
Quarterback Damon Huard completed 18 of 23 passes for 208 yards and two passing touchdowns. While compiling a 133.3 passer rating – 158.3 is perfect – Huard was hardly ever touched or even hurried by a San Francisco defense which had rung up 12 sacks in its first three games. The game marked the first shutout for the Chiefs defense since December 1, 2002
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
, and the 49ers their first shutout since 2004
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
and only their second since 1977
1977 NFL season
The 1977 NFL season was the 58th regular season of the National Football League. The Seattle Seahawks were placed in the AFC West while the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were slotted in the NFC Central....
.
Week 5: at Arizona Cardinals
at University of Phoenix StadiumUniversity of Phoenix Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium, opened August 1, 2006, is a multipurpose football stadium located in Glendale, Arizona. It is the home of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League and the annual Fiesta Bowl...
, Glendale, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
On October 8, the Chiefs traveled to Glendale, Arizona
Glendale, Arizona
Glendale is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, located about nine miles northwest from Downtown Phoenix. According to 2010 Census Bureau, the population of the city is 226,721....
for their first game in the University of Phoenix Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium
University of Phoenix Stadium, opened August 1, 2006, is a multipurpose football stadium located in Glendale, Arizona. It is the home of the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League and the annual Fiesta Bowl...
to face the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Trent Green was still recovering from his concussion, and Arizona's rookie quarterback Matt Leinart
Matt Leinart
Matthew Stephen Leinart , is an American professional football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League...
made his career start. The game was broadcast on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
1:15pm Arizona time.
The game began with Arizona's offense dominating and catching the Chiefs' defense off-guard with a 49-yard touchdown pass to Wide receiver Anquan Boldin
Anquan Boldin
-Arizona Cardinals:As a rookie Boldin set an NFL record for most receiving yards by a rookie in his first game , tied Billy Sims for most yards from scrimmage by a rookie in his first game , and holds the NFL record for most receptions in the first 26 games of an NFL career...
, putting the Cardinals on the scoreboard within three minutes of the game.
On the opening kickoff, Dante Hall
Dante Hall
Damieon Dante Hall is a former American football Return specialist, and wide receiver in the National Football League. He is considered one of the greatest return specialists in NFL History...
was injured and left the game, leaving rookie Jeff Webb
Jeff Webb
Jeffrey Leon Webb is a gridiron football wide receiver for the Omaha Nighthawks of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
to return the kicks for the rest of the game, including a 56-yard punt return. Samie Parker
Samie Parker
Samie Jabar Parker is an American football wide receiver for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
caught a 15-yard touchdown pass, leaving the Chiefs within three points of the Cardinals (17–20). The play was officially reviewed as the referees initially thought Parker caught the ball out of bounds, but the referees decided it was caught in the endzone.
Damon Huard threw Larry Johnson a 78-yard screen pass that would be stopped short of a touchdown when Antrel Rolle
Antrel Rolle
Antrel Rocelious Rolle is an American football safety for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Miami...
twisted Johnson's neck by grabbing his facemask, sending him to the turf motionless for 2 minutes. Johnson recovered and received a standing ovation. The NFL fined Rolle $12,500 for his penalty. It was the second time in the 2006 season in which Rolle had been fined for an illegal tackle. The play set up Lawrence Tynes’ eventual game-winning field goal, leaving the Chiefs with the 23–20 lead.
Neil Rackers set up for a kick with less than 15 seconds to play in order to send the 23–20 contest into overtime. Rackers missed the uprights by a foot with seconds left in the game.
Week 6: at Pittsburgh Steelers
at Heinz FieldHeinz Field
Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
On October 15, the Chiefs traveled to Heinz Field
Heinz Field
Heinz Field is a stadium located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It primarily serves as the home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and University of Pittsburgh Panthers American football teams, members of the National Football League and National Collegiate Athletic Association respectively...
to battle the defending Super Bowl champion
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. The Chiefs entered the game 2–2 for the season, while the Steelers were 1–3 with a three-game losing streak. The game was broadcast on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
4:15 p.m. Pittsburgh time.
Trent Green would sit out for the fourth straight week. Damon Huard would make his fourth consecutive start as he entered the game ranked second in the NFL in quarterback ratings, while the Chiefs defense ranked in the top five in the NFL. Larry Johnson recovered from his facemask tackle from Antrel Rolle and started as running back.
Ben Roethlisberger
Benjamin Todd "Ben" Roethlisberger , nicknamed Big Ben, is an American football quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Steelers in the first round in the 2004 NFL Draft...
threw his first touchdown of the season as the Chiefs defense gave up 372 total yards in the first half, allowing 17 first downs. Cornerback Ty Law made a costly error in the opening series by slipping on the turf, allowing Santonio Holmes
Santonio Holmes
Santonio Holmes Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft after playing college football at Ohio State...
to gain 50 yards on the third play of the game. Holmes would have scored if he had not slipped as well.
The Chiefs managed one touchdown in the game, coming from Larry Johnson in the third quarter. Following a 49-yard interception by safety
Defensive back
In American football and Canadian football, defensive backs are the players on the defensive team who take positions somewhat back from the line of scrimmage; they are distinguished from the defensive line players and linebackers, who take positions directly behind or close to the line of...
Troy Polamalu
Troy Polamalu
Troy Aumua Polamalu is an American football strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Steelers. He played college football at the University of Southern California.-High school:Troy Polamalu graduated...
, Larry Johnson stopped Polamalu by tackling him from his long hair. Johnson was not penalized for pulling Polamalu down, but by pulling him back up by his hair (a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct ).
The Chiefs put in rookie quarterback Brodie Croyle in the final quarter, who managed an interception for a touchdown and a sack, as the Steelers ended the game with the 45–7 victory margin.
Week 7: vs. San Diego Chargers
at Arrowhead StadiumArrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
, Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
On October 22, the Chiefs returned to Arrowhead to face division rivals, the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The game was broadcast on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
at noon Kansas City time.
Trent Green had been ruled out to start in the game, but has been cleared by doctors to begin practicing with the squad. Ronnie Cruz
Ronnie Cruz
Ronnie Valentin Cruz is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
, the Chiefs' only fullback, is out for the year following an unspecified knee injury. Tight end Kris Wilson
Kris Wilson (American football)
Kristopher "Kris" Wilson is an American football tight end for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Pittsburgh...
took over for Cruz. The Chiefs also signed fullback Greg Hanoian in the days before the game to add depth to the position.
The game started with the Chiefs forcing turnovers on San Diego's first four possessions. Damon Huard later converted turnovers with two touchdown passes. Jared Allen forced a fumble from quarterback Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
, recovered by Tamba Hali. The Chiefs took advantage of the turnover by scoring a touchdown with Eddie Kennison, making the lead 14–0. The Chargers would kick a field goal and the Chiefs would respond with a 15-yard field goal extending the lead to 20–3. The Chargers would not go into halftime with a 17-point deficit, so they kicked another field goal with 5 minutes to halftime.
The game was tied for the rest of the fourth quarter until 33 seconds remained when Damon Huard led the Chiefs to a 52-yard gain with 3 passes—two of them to Tony Gonzalez for 37 yards. The gain by Gonzalez set up for a the game winning field goal by kicker Lawrence Tynes. With 11 seconds left in the game, with the Chiefs trying to avoid overtime, Tynes connected on a career long 53-yard kick which later gave the Chiefs the victory, 30–27.
Week 8: vs. Seattle Seahawks
at Arrowhead StadiumArrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
, Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
On October 29, the Chiefs hosted the defending NFC champion and former division rival, the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
. The game marked the first time the Seahawks had played at Arrowhead since joining the NFC. The game was broadcast on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
at noon Kansas City time.
Trent Green had been cleared by doctors to practice again with the team, but he required a minimum of 2 more games to adjust to playing time. Backup quarterback Damon Huard was injured in the days before the game and was expected to miss the game, but he was declared fit to start. On the Chiefs radio coverage during the game, play-by-play announcer Mitch Holthus
Mitch Holthus
Mitch Holthus, the "Voice of the Kansas City Chiefs", is the play-by-play announcer for the Kansas City Chiefs on KCFX and the Kansas City Chiefs Football Radio Network. Additionally, he hosts "Chiefs Insider" on television station KCTV, Kansas City....
called the game "The Backup Bowl."
Offensive tackle John Welbourn
John Welbourn
John Welbourn is an American football offensive tackle and guard who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at California...
practiced with the team, but it was not known if he will be welcomed back to the team following a suspension violating the league's steroid policy. He later came back after Week 8 after serving his suspension. The Chiefs also signed offensive tackle Chris Terry to a two-year contract. Previously, Terry had been suspended from the NFL for four games in 2003
2003 NFL season
-Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *...
for violation of the policies on substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
and personal conduct.
In the second quarter, the Chiefs' Lawrence Tynes connected on a 32-yard field goal adding to the Chiefs' lead 13–7. Quarterback Seneca Wallace responded to the Chiefs' lead by throwing to Wide receiver Deion Branch
Deion Branch
Anthony Deion Branch, Jr. is an American football wide receiver for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Louisville.He has also played for the Seattle Seahawks...
, who went out of bounds in front of the end zone. The Chiefs challenged the call as they believed Branch did not have possession while in bounds. Replays showed Branch caught the ball while in the air and while one foot landed in bounds, the other stepped on the line. The review booth was experiencing technical difficulties. so the referees declared the call stands.
The Chiefs' defense held the Seahawks for the remaining time in the fourth quarter after Jared Allen intercepted a tipped pass from Seneca Wallace. Allen had the ball stripped by Deion Branch near the Seattle 27-yard line. Seattle challenged Allen's possession as it was later seen that Branch recovered the ball before going out of bounds. The referees took nearly four minutes in reviewing the play, where new NFL rules claim that referees should take no longer than 90 seconds or else the play will stand. The call was reversed and Seattle regained possession with less than two minutes remaining and one timeout left.
In the last few moments in the game, Derrick Johnson managed to get the Chiefs' first sack on Seneca Wallace and the Chiefs' defense held the Seahawks to secure the win. With the win, the Chiefs climbed above .500 for the first time in the season.
Week 9: at St. Louis Rams
at the Edward Jones DomeEdward Jones Dome
The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome (more formally known as the Edward Jones Dome at America's Center, and previously known as The Trans World Dome (from 1995–2001) is a multi-purpose stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and home of the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. It was...
, St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
On November 5, the Chiefs traveled to the Edward Jones Dome
Edward Jones Dome
The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome (more formally known as the Edward Jones Dome at America's Center, and previously known as The Trans World Dome (from 1995–2001) is a multi-purpose stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and home of the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. It was...
to battle their intrastate and interleague rivals, the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. The Chiefs were defending the Missouri Governor's Cup
Governor's Cup (Missouri)
The Missouri Governor's Cup is the trophy awarded to the winner between the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and St. Louis Rams' annual meetings in the preseason and occasional contests in the regular season....
, in which both teams competed in the pre-season. The game was broadcast on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
at noon St. Louis time.
Chiefs' running back Priest Holmes
Priest Holmes
Priest Anthony Holmes is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at Texas.Holmes earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV...
would meet with a neurosurgeon about his October 30 neck injury, suffered against the Chargers' Shawne Merriman
Shawne Merriman
Shawne DeAndre Merriman is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted 12th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2005 NFL Draft. On November 2, 2010, the Chargers waived Merriman...
. Holmes must practice by November 7 to be eligible to remain in the season. Trent Green suited up for the game against the Rams, but was listed as the third quarterback behind starter Damon Huard and rookie Brodie Croyle. Herm Edwards said there was no chance Green would play against the Rams, but could be back by week 10.
Damon Huard threw a 43-yard pass to Samie Parker which put the Chiefs in the red zone at the 3-yard line. Huard continued the drive with a 3-yard pass to Tony Gonzalez, his 58th career touchdown and the Chiefs' all-time record breaker for Tight ends. The Chiefs were leading with two and a half minutes into the game. Kansas City again used Larry Johnson's speed to their advantage as Johnson broke a 16-yard dash, setting up a field goal by Lawrence Tynes on fourth and one. An offensive battle ensued between the two teams before the half, as Tony Gonzalez scored his 59th career touchdown and second of the game from 25-yards out. The Rams failed to find the endzone, but Jeff Wilkins connected on a field goal to make the score 24–10 at the half.
Damon Huard fumbled on Kansas City's next offensive drive but was recovered by Kyle Turley—in his first game back from an injury. The Rams' defensive unit stopped the Chiefs from securing the lead. The Chiefs' defense gave up some major yardage on the Rams' next turn on offense. Penalties to St. Louis cost them over 60 yards, as the Chiefs' offense suffered a penalty for defensive pass interference from Dexter Coakley
Dexter Coakley
William Dexter Coakley is a former American football linebacker who played 10 seasons in the National Football League. He was a third round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys in the 1997 NFL Draft, out of Division I-AA school Appalachian State...
and a facemask to Larry Johnson from Oshiomogho Atogwe
Oshiomogho Atogwe
Oshiomogho Isaac "O.J." Atogwe is a Canadian safety of American football for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Stanford.-Early years:He attended high school at W.F....
. The Chiefs would go on to secure the win with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Kris Wilson to make the score 31–17. The game ended as the clock ran out as the Chiefs retained the Governor's Cup and advanced to 5–3.
Several Chiefs players were injured throughout the game including Brian Waters
Brian Waters
Brian Demond Waters is an American football guard for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1999 out of the University of North Texas...
, Tamba Hali
Tamba Hali
Tamba Boimah Hali is an American football outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League. He was the 20th overall pick out of Penn State in the 2006 NFL Draft...
, Derrick Johnson
Derrick Johnson
-Kansas City Chiefs:Johnson started every game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005, becoming the first Chiefs linebacker in 20 years to start all 16 games of his rookie campaign. He was subsequently awarded the Mack Lee Hill Award by the Chiefs...
, Greg Wesley
Greg Wesley
Gregory Lashon Wesley is an American football safety who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
, Keyaron Fox
Keyaron Fox
Keyaron James Fox [Key-AARON] is an American football linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
and Kendall Gammon
Kendall Gammon
Kendall Robert Gammon is a retired American football player who played multiple positions for the Kansas City Chiefs...
.
Week 10: at Miami Dolphins
at Dolphin StadiumDolphin Stadium
Sun Life Stadium is an American football stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, a suburb of Miami. It is the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins National Football League team, and the University of Miami Hurricanes football team. It also hosts the Orange Bowl, an annual college football bowl game. It...
, Miami Gardens, Florida
Miami Gardens, Florida
Miami Gardens is a Miami suburban city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. The city name comes from one of the major roadways through the area, Miami Gardens Drive. According to the 2010 U.S...
On November 12, the Chiefs traveled to Dolphin Stadium
Dolphin Stadium
Sun Life Stadium is an American football stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, a suburb of Miami. It is the home stadium of the Miami Dolphins National Football League team, and the University of Miami Hurricanes football team. It also hosts the Orange Bowl, an annual college football bowl game. It...
to play the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The Chiefs entered the game with a three-game winning streak and the Dolphins entered with an upset victory over the previously undefeated Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The game was broadcast on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
at 1pm Miami time.
In a November 7 press conference, Herm Edwards backed off on the subject of whether Trent Green will retain his starting role. On Election Day
Election Day (politics)
Election Day refers to the day when general elections are held. In many countries, general elections are always held on a Sunday, to enable as many voters as possible to participate, while in other countries elections are always held on a weekday...
, Chiefs' fans were asked to vote for their choice of starting quarterback on The Kansas City Star's website. Damon Huard won the poll with 58%. The vote did not determine Edwards' decision, and was strictly for the fan's input.
Pro Bowler Brian Waters missed the game and several other Chiefs players—including Derrick Johnson and Greg Wesley—missed the game with their own injuries. Kansas City was 3-for-14 on third-down conversions and had the ball for only 24 minutes throughout the game.
The Chiefs were shut out by the end of the first half, the first time Miami had not allowed their opponents to score all season. After the second half, the Chiefs began to regain their ground. A fumble by Ronnie Brown gave Kansas City's Jared Allen 20-yards to recover and put the Chiefs in the red zone. Larry Johnson would finish the opportunity from the turnover and score from 2-yards out for a touchdown. The Chiefs now trailed 10–13 following an XPA by Lawrence Tynes.
The Chiefs regained the ball after a failed offensive drive by Miami with 3:10 left in the game. A costly sack by former Chiefs player Vonnie Holliday
Vonnie Holliday
Dimetry Giovonni "Vonnie" Holliday is an American football defensive end for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 19th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft...
would put Damon Huard back within 5-yards of the end zone. The Chiefs would not be able to rally back from the 3-point deficit following an incomplete pass to Tony Gonzalez. The Dolphins ran the clock out for their third win of the season, and Kansas City's first loss in three games.
Week 11: vs. Oakland Raiders
at Arrowhead StadiumArrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
, Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
On November 19, the Chiefs began a short week by facing their historic division rivals, the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, and prepared for another home game just four days later against the Denver Broncos. The game was broadcasted on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
at noon Kansas City time.
Tight end Tony Gonzalez missed the game because of a sprained shoulder from week 10, and at the time his status for the Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
game was unknown. Brian Waters and Kevin Sampson
Kevin Sampson
Kevin M. Sampson is an American football tackle who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
will also miss the game, and Derrick Johnson and Greg Wesley are questionable to start.
In the week before the game, Trent Green was cleared by his doctor to play in the game. Coach Herm Edwards said early Wednesday (November 15) that whatever decision he made would remain a secret until game time, but by the evening, Fox Sports
Fox Sports (USA)
Fox Sports is a division of the Fox Broadcasting Company . It was formed in 1994 with Fox's acquisition of broadcast rights to National Football League games...
reported Edwards confirmed Green to be the. On the Chiefs' radio broadcast, Mitch Holthus noted the crowd was so deafening that it sounded "like a playoff game."
Trent Green took the field for the first time in two months, but barely threw the ball in the first half, gaining only 3-yards passing. Green was not making many throws for the first 3½ quarters. He attempted four passes in the first half for only three yards. Edwards said he dialed down the playbook not necessarily because of Green’s rust but because the Chiefs wanted to get Larry Johnson more involved. With the help of backup Michael Bennett, Larry Johnson and the run game trampled the Raiders to get into the end zone from 5 yards out. The Chiefs led 7–0.
The noise from the Chiefs fans began to die down when the Raiders took the lead. After offensive struggles from both teams, the Chiefs finally managed to be within 15-yards until they were penalized for delay of game, setting them back 5 yards. The Chiefs managed to kick a field goal to make the game 13–10, reclaiming the lead. Through the fourth quarter, the Raiders were plagued with multiple penalties. Trent Green made his biggest throw of the game when he connected with Eddie Kennison for a 24-yard gain, and another to Samie Parker for 16 yards. Larry Johnson capped off the offensive drive by running 9-yards into the endzone. The play was challenged by Oakland and reversed, but the Chiefs still managed to score with a 1-yard touchdown by Johnson with less than 2 minutes to go in the game. After an PAT, the Chiefs secured their lead 17–13.
Aaron Brooks shot a pass from the 8 yard line to Randy Moss, but the ball was intercepted by rookie safety Jarrad Page
Jarrad Page
Jarrad Matthew Page is an American football safety for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
with 30 seconds left in the game. The Chiefs secured the win with a kneel-down by Trent Green, and their seventh straight win over the Raiders, their 50th win over the Raiders in 95 meetings. The game marked the first time in 120 games, since 1999
1999 NFL season
The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season...
, that Tony Gonzalez did not play in the game.
Larry Johnson finished with a two-touchdown, 159-yard rushing game on his 27th birthday. Trent Green in his comeback performance finished with 9 completed passes out of 16 attempts for 102 yards passing. Aaron Brooks had his own impressive comeback by completing 13 or 22 passes for 179 yards passing and one touchdown. The Chiefs finished the game with only 92 yards passing, but 200 rushing. The Raiders were penalized 8 times for 65 yards.
Week 12: vs. Denver Broncos
at Arrowhead StadiumArrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
, Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
On Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving Day is a holiday celebrated primarily in the United States and Canada. Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. In Canada, Thanksgiving falls on the same day as Columbus Day in the...
, the Chiefs played their modern-day rivals, the Denver Broncos. The game was broadcast on the NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
as part of the NFL's new "Thanksgiving Tripleheader" tradition
Thanksgiving Classic
The National Football League's Thanksgiving Classic is a series of games played during the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. It has been a regular occurrence since the league's inception in 1920. Since 2006, three games are played every Thanksgiving...
, set to kick off the NFL Network's broadcasts of Thursday and Saturday Night Football
Run to the Playoffs
Thursday Night Football is the brand name used by NFL Network for its schedule of live regular season telecasts of National Football League games on Thursday nights. Also included in the package are some Saturday specials....
. The game also aired on Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
and Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
local television--KDVR
KDVR
KDVR, , is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the Denver, Colorado designated market area. The station is owned by Local TV LLC, the media arm of private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners, under a local marketing agreement with Tribune-owned CW affiliate KWGN . Its transmitter is...
-Fox 31 in Denver and WDAF
WDAF-TV
WDAF-TV, virtual channel 4.1, is the Fox-affiliated television station serving the Kansas City, Missouri-Kansas designated market area. The station is owned by Local TV LLC, the media arm of private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners. Its studios and transmitter are located in the Signal Hill...
-Fox 4 in Kansas City at 7pm Kansas City time. The game was broadcast on Westwood One
Westwood One
Westwood One was an American radio network and was based in New York City. At one time, it was managed by CBS Radio, the radio arm of CBS Corporation, and Viacom and was later purchased by the private equity firm The Gores Group...
radio. The game marked the first time in NFL history that the league played a triple-header on the holiday, and it was also the first Thanksgiving prime-time game.
After John Fogerty
John Fogerty
John Cameron Fogerty is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his time with the swamp rock/roots rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival and as a #1 solo recording artist. Fogerty has a rare distinction of being named on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest...
played at halftime, the Chiefs showed their own explosive firepower. A big gain by Samie Parker for 31-yards set up another field goal by Lawrence Tynes from 34 yards out. The Broncos fought back on their next possession. It appeared the Plummer threw his second interception of the game when Patrick Surtain
Patrick Surtain
Patrick Frank Surtain is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
intercepted a ball intended for Javon Walker
Javon Walker
Javon Lataff Walker is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 20th overall of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State....
, but a penalty on Lenny Walls
Lenny Walls
Lenny Brad Walls is a professional American and Canadian football defensive back who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2002...
reversed the call. The Chiefs led 13–10.
A defensive battle ensued in the fourth quarter, as the Broncos and Chiefs' defense held each other from scoring again. At the 30-yard line, a pass from Trent Green was intercepted by Darrent Williams
Darrent Williams
Darrent Demarcus Williams was an American football player for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. Williams was also the owner and CEO of independent record label RYNO Entertainment in Fort Worth, Texas.-High school:Born and raised in Fort Worth, Williams attended O.D...
, intended for Samie Parker. The Chiefs regained possession at 8:00 left in the game. The Chiefs secured the win
The game ball was given to Chiefs founder Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
, who lobbied for 37-years to put a Thanksgiving game in Kansas City. The 74-year-old Hunt, who missed only a handful of games since founding the franchise, was admitted to a Dallas-area hospital on Wednesday, bitterly disappointed he would not see Kansas City's inaugurating the NFL's new Thanksgiving tripleheader.
Making the night even more festive was an in-house standing-room-only crowd of 80,866, the largest since 1972 (the year Arrowhead Stadium opened).
Week 13: at Cleveland Browns
at Cleveland Browns StadiumCleveland Browns Stadium
-See also:* List of current National Football League stadiums* Chronology of home stadiums for current National Football League teams* List of American football stadiums by capacity* List of U.S. stadiums by capacity* List of North American stadiums by capacity...
, Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
On December 3, the Chiefs traveled to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
to battle the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
following a 10-day break. The Chiefs looked to secure a three-game win streak over the Browns, who suffered from a 1–14 home record in December since 1999
1999 NFL season
The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season...
. The game was broadcast on CBS at noon Cleveland time.
On November 28, it was announced that former Chiefs starting running back Priest Holmes
Priest Holmes
Priest Anthony Holmes is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He played college football at Texas.Holmes earned a Super Bowl ring with the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV...
would not return for the remainder of the 2006 season, along with Chiefs cornerback William Bartee
William Bartee
William Anthony Bartee is a former American football defensive back in the National Football League. He played his entire career for the Kansas City Chiefs. He spent two years at the University of Oklahoma after beginning his college career at Butler County Community College in El Dorado, Kansas...
. Holmes has not played since October 30, 2005
2005 NFL season
The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006...
, when he was injured on a hit by Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
linebacker Shawne Merriman
Shawne Merriman
Shawne DeAndre Merriman is an American football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was drafted 12th overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2005 NFL Draft. On November 2, 2010, the Chargers waived Merriman...
in a game at San Diego. The injury left him with head and neck trauma, diagnosed by three spinal specialists.
Before halftime, the Browns tied the game with another touchdown, 14–14. Kansas City began the second half and Eddie Kennison racked in 39 yards with a pass from Trent Green. The Chiefs moved up field and capped off another offensive drive with a touchdown from Kris Wilson. The play was challenged by Cleveland, but upheld. The Chiefs appeared to have sealed the win as they were up 28–14 with twelve minutes left in the game.
Cleveland fought back by finding holes in the Kansas City defense. A 54-yard pass to Jason Wright set the Browns up for a score. Steve Heiden
Steve Heiden
Steve Allen Heiden is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent in the National Football League.-College career:...
caught a 6-yard pass for a touchdown, placing the Browns within a possession, 28–21. The Browns moved 81 yards in three and half minutes. Kansas City never found its offensive power again: a failed offensive drive gave the Browns possession again. With forty seconds remaining in the game, the Chiefs gave up another touchdown: a 3-yard pass to Steve Heiden
Steve Heiden
Steve Allen Heiden is an American football tight end who is currently a free agent in the National Football League.-College career:...
tied the game. The Chiefs called a timeout with five seconds remaining but were clearly out of Lawrence Tynes
Lawrence Tynes
Lawrence James Henry Tynes is an American football placekicker for the New York Giants. He was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2001.-Early years:...
' range for a game-winning field goal. A short pass to Tony Gonzalez, intending to reach out of bounds to stop the clock, led the game into overtime.
The Chiefs won the toss in overtime but incomplete passes barred them from winning their eighth game of the season. The game marked the second time this season that the Chiefs could not stop a team in overtime from advancing to the red zone and their second overtime loss from a field goal.
Week 14: Baltimore Ravens
at Arrowhead StadiumArrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
, Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
On December 10, the Chiefs looked to extend their "December home game winning streak" to 19 games when they took on the Baltimore Ravens. The Chiefs previously won the past 18 games at home in December, leading back to their loss to the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
on December 15, 1996
1996 NFL season
The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end...
. The game was broadcast on CBS at noon Kansas City time. Before the game, there was a moment of silence
Moment of silence
A moment of silence is the expression for a period of silent contemplation, prayer, reflection, or meditation. Similar to flying a flag at half-mast, a moment of silence is often a gesture of respect, particularly in mourning for those who have recently died or as part of a commemoration ceremony...
for ailing Chiefs owner and founder Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
, who was still in the hospital seeking cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
treatment.
Throughout the first half, it was a defensive fight with the Ravens getting a 41-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 23-yard field goal in the second quarter by kicker Matt Stover
Matt Stover
John Matthew "Matt" Stover is a former American Football placekicker. As of the start of the 2009 NFL season, he was the third most accurate kicker in the history of the National Football League. He is of Greek origin. He has played for the New York Giants, the Cleveland Browns, and the Baltimore...
. Within the first half, Trent Green committed three turnovers
In the third quarter, Kansas City fell big as blown coverage allowed Steve McNair
Steve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair was an American football quarterback who spent the majority of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans....
to complete an 87-yard touchdown pass to Mark Clayton. The pass was the longest made by McNair in his career and Clayton's longest reception The blown coverage would seal the loss for the Chiefs. The score put the Ravens up 13–0 with just under 6 and a half minutes left in the third quarter. Chiefs fans began to file out of Arrowhead Stadium, realizing their team lost for the first time in December at home in over a decade.
Death of Lamar Hunt
In the late hours of Wednesday, December 13, Chiefs founder and owner Lamar HuntLamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
died due to complications to prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
at the age of 74. Hunt had been in the hospital seeking cancer treatment since November 22. Hunt was stricken with prostate cancer in September 1998 and underwent a series of chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
treatments. In October 2003 he had surgery to remove the prostate gland.
Hunt is survived by wife Norma, children Lamar Jr., Sharron Munson, Clark and Daniel; and 13 grandchildren. Clark Hunt
Clark Hunt
Clark Knobel Hunt is Chairman and CEO of the National Football League's Kansas City Chiefs and a founding investor-owner in Major League Soccer. Hunt also serves as Chairman of Hunt Sports Group, where he oversees the operations of FC Dallas and the Columbus Crew of MLS He is the son of Lamar Hunt...
will oversee the family's sports interests. On Thursday, December 14, before the Thursday Night Football
Run to the Playoffs
Thursday Night Football is the brand name used by NFL Network for its schedule of live regular season telecasts of National Football League games on Thursday nights. Also included in the package are some Saturday specials....
game on NFL Network between the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
and Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
, a moment of silence
Moment of silence
A moment of silence is the expression for a period of silent contemplation, prayer, reflection, or meditation. Similar to flying a flag at half-mast, a moment of silence is often a gesture of respect, particularly in mourning for those who have recently died or as part of a commemoration ceremony...
was held to honor Lamar Hunt.
Week 15: at San Diego Chargers
at Qualcomm StadiumQualcomm Stadium
Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area....
, San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
The race in the AFC West continued to heat up in December, especially when the Chiefs took on the San Diego Chargers on prime-time national television. The Chiefs entered the game fighting to keep their playoff dreams alive while the San Diego Chargers looked to secure the home field advantage in the playoffs.
The game was scheduled to be broadcast on CBS at 1pm San Diego time, but on December 4, the game was officially chosen to be aired on NBC Sunday Night Football
NBC Sunday Night Football
NBC Sunday Night Football is a weekly television broadcast of Sunday evening National Football League games on NBC that began airing on Sunday, August 6, 2006 with the pre-season opening Hall of Fame Game. Al Michaels serves as the play-by-play announcer, with Cris Collinsworth as the color...
at 8:15 ET (6:15 San Diego time) as part of the league's new "flex scheduling" policy. The game marked the first time the Chiefs appeared on NBC Sunday Night Football, their first prime-time game in San Diego, and their first game to be aired on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
since facing Denver in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Arrowhead on January 4, 1998
NFL playoffs, 1997-98
The NFL playoffs following the 1997 NFL season led up to Super Bowl XXXII.-Bracket:-NFC: Minnesota Vikings 23, New York Giants 22:The Vikings scored 10 points in the final 90 seconds of the game to stun the Giants.-AFC: Denver Broncos 42, Jacksonville Jaguars 17:Denver ran over the Jaguars with...
.
Publicity fueled the Sunday night match when Chiefs defensive end Tamba Hali
Tamba Hali
Tamba Boimah Hali is an American football outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League. He was the 20th overall pick out of Penn State in the 2006 NFL Draft...
claimed the Chargers were a "finesse team" eight weeks ago after Kansas City beat San Diego 30–27 at Arrowhead Stadium in week 5. The game was the last time the Chargers lost before their seven game winning streak leading into week 14.
Prior to kickoff, there was a video tribute and moment of silence for Hunt, who died Wednesday night of complications from prostate cancer. He was 74. The Chiefs had "LH" decals on the backs of their helmets. The Chiefs opted for white pants in honor of Lamar Hunt. The Chiefs got their start in Kansas City wearing white on white when playing on the road and some players appealed to coach Herm Edwards to go to the traditional look Sunday night.
After getting one sack in the previous two games and none in last week’s loss to Baltimore, the Chiefs were able to put some pressure on Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers
Philip Rivers is an American football quarterback for the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League . He was one half of the Manning-Rivers draft trade which sent him to San Diego and the 1st overall pick, Ole Miss quarterback Eli Manning, to the New York Giants. Rivers played college...
in the first half. James Reed
James Reed
James Reed is an American football defensive tackle for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
and Tamba Hali
Tamba Hali
Tamba Boimah Hali is an American football outside linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs in the National Football League. He was the 20th overall pick out of Penn State in the 2006 NFL Draft...
each had a sack, and the Chiefs would have had a third, but Rivers was penalized for intentional grounding when he unloaded the ball. The Chiefs did not allow Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers to complete a pass until early in the second quarter when he threw for 18 yards to Vincent Jackson
Vincent Jackson
Vincent Jackson , nicknamed "Action Jackson", is an American football wide receiver who currently plays in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers....
. The Chargers still led 7–3 at the time.
Tomlinson broke three NFL records: single-season scoring (186 points), single-season rushing touchdowns (28) and consecutive multitouchdown games (eight). Tomlinson's 85-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was the game’s deciding play. It gave the Chargers a 14–3 lead with less than 3 minutes until halftime. The Chiefs never recovered from the botched blocked punt and let the Chargers run away with their eleventh win of the season and homefield advantage in the playoffs.
Trent Green finished the game 23 of 41 with 185 yards passing, no touchdowns and one interception. It was Green's fourth loss in six games after returning from his injury in week one. Lawrence Tynes
Lawrence Tynes
Lawrence James Henry Tynes is an American football placekicker for the New York Giants. He was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2001.-Early years:...
was the only scorer for the Chiefs, kicking three field goals from 45, 52 and 24 yards out.
The game was the Chiefs' third straight loss and the Chargers' eighth straight win.
Week 16: at Oakland Raiders
at McAfee ColiseumMcAfee Coliseum
O.co Coliseum is a multi-purpose stadium, located in Oakland, California, in the Coliseum Industrial area...
, Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
On December 23, the Chiefs visited the Oakland Raiders for a Saturday night game. The game was broadcasted on the NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
and local Oakland and Kansas City television at 5pm Oakland time. Former Chiefs head coach Dick Vermeil
Dick Vermeil
Richard Albert "Dick" Vermeil is a former American head coach for the National Football League's Philadelphia Eagles , St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs...
helped announce the game with Bryant Gumbel
Bryant Gumbel
Bryant Charles Gumbel is an American television journalist and sportscaster. He is best known for his 15 years as co-host of NBC's The Today Show. He is the younger brother of sportscaster Greg Gumbel.-Early life:...
on NFL Network. The Chiefs had lost three straight and the Raiders lost seven in a row. The Raiders themselves had not beat the Chiefs in four years and were looking for their first division win since 2004
2004 NFL season
The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005...
.
Kansas City managed to hold Oakland throughout the first quarter while Lawrence Tynes
Lawrence Tynes
Lawrence James Henry Tynes is an American football placekicker for the New York Giants. He was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2001.-Early years:...
managed to get a 29-yard field goal. Kansas City's Jared Allen
Jared Allen
-Kansas City Chiefs:Allen was drafted by the Chiefs in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and signed for a one-year, $100,000 contract. On May 21, 2007, Allen, as a restricted free agent, signed the Chiefs' one-year tender offer of $2.35 million for the 2007 season. Allen credited his early...
recovered a fumble from Oakland's Andrew Walter
Andrew Walter
Andrew Scott Walter is a former American football quarterback in National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft after playing college football at Arizona State....
after Walter was sandwiched by Allen and Kawika Mitchell
Kawika Mitchell
Kawika Uilani Mitchell is an American football linebacker who currently is a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round in the 2003 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and New Orleans Saints...
. In the third quarter, the Raiders would get yet another field goal as Janikowski got one from 53 yards out. It would be the final score from Oakland of the night, and the third field goal. Kansas City looked to extend their lead with a kick from Lawrence Tynes but the kick was missed wide right. Kansas City still had the lead, 17–6.
The Chiefs became the first team to ever win eight straight against the Raiders. The Raiders (2–13) have lost eight straight overall and matched the franchise record for losses in a season set when they went 1–13 in 1962—the season before Davis arrived to coach and eventually own the team.
Larry Johnson has 398 yards rushing in three starts against the Raiders, and his 10 touchdowns in six games are his most against any opponent. Johnson broke Christian Okoye
Christian Okoye
Christian Emeka Okoye , is a Nigerian-American former American football running back for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1987 to 1992. Nicknamed "The Nigerian Nightmare," Okoye was known for his powerful running style and ability to break tackles. Okoye's six seasons in the NFL saw a league rushing...
's club record of 370 carries in a season. Johnson's 31 carries gave him 383. With the win, Kansas City snapped its three-game skid, improved its record to 8–7, while the Raiders lost their eighth straight game of the season.
Week 17: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
at Arrowhead StadiumArrowhead Stadium
Arrowhead Stadium is a stadium located in Kansas City, Missouri and home to the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs....
, Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
On New Years Eve 2006, the Chiefs closed out the regular season when they played the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The team looked to restart their "December home game winning streak" during the cold, wintry weather. The game was broadcast on CBS at noon Kansas City time.
The game began with Kansas City under enormous doubt to reach the playoffs. Kansas City would slide into the tournament with losses to Jacksonville, Tennessee
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
and Denver
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The team started the day with the 10th seed in the AFC playoffs, but ended 2006 with a truly happy new year. The Chiefs paid tribute to Hunt with a moment of silence before the game and the video boards played tributes before and during the game.
Quarterback Trent Green was hit hard from Clint Ingram
Clint Ingram
Clint Ingram is a professional American football linebacker who is currently a free agent of the National Football League He played college football for the University of Oklahoma Sooners, and was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft.-Early life:Ingram was...
, resulting in a slightly sprained ankle. He sat out the next few drives as back-up quarterback Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
returned to the field with the Kansas City offense to enormous applause. Huard threw a deep pass to Eddie Kennison (who miraculously held on to the ball after juggling it) and gained 40-yards. Huard handed off to Larry Johnson, who ran in for this third touchdown of the game from 12-yards out. The Chiefs were leading 35–17. By the end of the third quarter, Chiefs starting quarterback Trent Green was back in the game and threw an interception—a play that was met with jeers for Green and chants for Damon Huard to return.
Within the final five minutes, all of which Kansas City held possession, various penalties were issued against the Chiefs and Jaguars. The most notable of which came against Jacksonville's defensive tackle John Henderson and Kansas City's guard Brian Waters
Brian Waters
Brian Demond Waters is an American football guard for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1999 out of the University of North Texas...
, both of which were flagged for unnecessary roughness. Both Henderson and Waters began to brawl against each other. Kansas City ran out the clock throughout the final two minutes and hung on for their ninth win of the season.
The Chiefs, needing four teams to lose in order to gain the final seed in the playoffs, had their wish come true. Kansas City clinched the final playoff berth with Denver's loss to San Francisco and fulfilled an almost impossible playoff scenario. For the first time since 2003
2003 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 2003 Kansas City Chiefs season resulted in a 13–3 record, beginning with a nine-game winning streak—the franchise’s best start in their 40-year history. The Chiefs won the AFC West and clinched the second seed in the playoffs...
, the Chiefs were heading back to the playoffs to face the team they lost to, the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
.
Kansas City's Larry Johnson set the single-season record for carries. Johnson's 416 attempts passed Jamal Anderson
Jamal Anderson
Jamal Sharif Anderson is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the seventh round of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played high school football at El Camino Real High School, where he was named to the CIF Los Angeles City Section...
's (Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
) 1998
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
record of 410 carries. Johnson finished the game with 138 yards on 33 carries with three touchdowns.
Playoffs
The Kansas City Chiefs clinched the final wild card berth (as 6th seed) during the final week of the regular season with their win over JacksonvilleJacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, a loss by Tennessee
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
, and two overtime losses by Cincinnati
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
and Denver
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. The Chiefs, 9–7, played against the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, 12–4, on Saturday, January 6 at 4:30 ET.
The Chiefs were a 50-to-1 bet and the longest shot to win the Super Bowl
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
, according to odds posted January 3, 2007 by online sportsbook PinnacleSports.com. Pinnacle pegged Kansas City at 30–1 to win the AFC title and a berth in the big game. The Chiefs held the sixth seed in the AFC playoff bracket, the same berth as the previous year's Super Bowl champion
Super Bowl XL
Super Bowl XL was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Seattle Seahawks to decide the National Football League champion for the 2005 season...
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. The Chiefs were eliminated by the Colts in the first round of the playoffs, losing by a score of 23–8.
AFC Wild-Card Playoffs: at Indianapolis Colts
at the RCA DomeRCA Dome
RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons ....
, Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
- Game time: 4:30 p.m. ESTNorth American Eastern Time ZoneThe Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time...
(3:30 CSTCentral Time zoneIn North America, the Central Time Zone refers to national time zones which observe standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC , and daylight saving, or summer time by subtracting five hours...
) - TV announcers (NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
): Tom HammondTom HammondTom Hammond is an American sportscaster for NBC Sports television. Hammond is one of the network's staple on-air presenters, along with Bob Costas and Dan Hicks...
, Cris CollinsworthCris CollinsworthAnthony Cris Collinsworth is a former American college and professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League for eight seasons in the 1980s. He played college football for the University of Florida, and thereafter, he played his entire professional career for...
, Bob NeumeierBob NeumeierRobin "Bob" Neumeier is an American sportscaster for NBC Sports and Comcast SportsNet New England, specializing in thoroughbred horse racing. Neumeier is originally from Weymouth, Massachusetts and is a 1972 graduate of Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in television and...
.
Entering the AFC Wildcard Round as the sixth-seed, the Chiefs began their playoff run in the RCA Dome
RCA Dome
RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons ....
against the third-seeded Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. In the first half, Kansas City trailed early as Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri
Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in six Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001,...
getting a 48-yard and a 19-yard field goal in the first quarter, along with a 50-yard field goal in the second quarter. Also in the first half, the Chiefs offense was unable to get a single first down. In the third quarter, Indianapolis continued its domination with a 6-yard TD run by RB Joseph Addai
Joseph Addai
Joseph Addai, Jr. is an American football running back for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. He was selected in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Louisiana State University.-Early years:Addai's family hails from Ghana in West Africa...
. Afterwards, Kansas City's offense finally got going by not only getting some first downs, but they also capped off their drive with QB Trent Green
Trent Green
Trent Jason Green is a retired professional American football quarterback. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Indiana University....
completing a 6-yard TD pass to TE Tony Gonzalez. Following the touchdown, the Chiefs got a successful two-point conversion as Green completed the pass to FB Kris Wilson. However, the Colts continued its domination as in the fourth quarter, Colts QB Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning
Peyton Williams Manning is an American football quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League . Manning holds the record for most NFL MVP awards with four. He was drafted by the Colts as the first overall pick in 1998 after a standout college football career with the...
helped wrap up the game with a 5-yard TD pass to WR Reggie Wayne
Reggie Wayne
Reginald "Reggie" Wayne is a professional American football wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. Wayne was selected in the 1st round of the 2001 NFL Draft by the Colts...
.
RB Larry Johnson, one of the league's top rushers, was held to just 32 yards on 13 carries, along with 29 receiving yards on 5 receptions, by the Colts defense (which was last in the league against the run).
Unlike the teams' previous meeting in the playoffs which consisted of an offensive shootout, both teams' defenses were the story of the game. With the loss, Kansas City ended its season with an overall record of 9–8.
2007 Pro Bowl
Four Chiefs players were selected to play at the 2007 Pro Bowl2007 Pro Bowl
The 2007 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl took place on February 10, 2007, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The game was held on a Saturday instead of the usual Sunday after the Super Bowl because of a request by broadcaster CBS....
, including RB Larry Johnson (2nd selection), TE Tony Gonzalez (8th selection), G Will Shields
Will Shields
Will Herthie Shields is a former American football offensive guard. He attended the University of Nebraska and played his entire NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. In his 14 seasons in the NFL, Shields never missed a game...
(12th selection) and G Brian Waters
Brian Waters
Brian Demond Waters is an American football guard for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1999 out of the University of North Texas...
(3rd selection). Shields will make his 12th straight trip to Honolulu as a Pro Bowl performer, extending his record for the longest streak of Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
appearances in team history.
Offense
Yards per game: 321.4 (#16 in NFL)Total yards in season: 5,143 (#16 in NFL)
Points per game: 20.7 (#15 in NFL)
Quarterback rating: QB Damon Huard
Damon Huard
Damon Paul Huard is a former American football quarterback. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1996. He played college football at Washington....
, 98.0 (#2 in NFL)
Rushing yards: RB Larry Johnson, 1,789 (#2 in NFL)
Total touchdowns: RB Larry Johnson, 19 (#2 in NFL)
Defense
Yards per game: 328.9 (#16 in NFL)Total yards in season: 5,262 (#16 in NFL)
Points per game: 19.7 (T-#11 in NFL)
Final roster
| Kansas City Chiefs 2006 final roster | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
|
Offensive Linemen
Chris Bober Chris Scott Bober is an American football offensive lineman who is currently a free agent in the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2000... T Rudy Niswanger Rudolph Nelson "Rudy" Niswanger is an American football center in the National Football League who is currently is a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2006... C Will Shields Will Herthie Shields is a former American football offensive guard. He attended the University of Nebraska and played his entire NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. In his 14 seasons in the NFL, Shields never missed a game... G Tre' Stallings Cornelius Tre' Stallings is an American football guard most recently was in training camp for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft He played college football at Mississippi.-External links:**... G Chris Terry (American football) Christopher Alexander Terry is a free agent American football offensive tackle in the National Football League... T Brian Waters Brian Demond Waters is an American football guard for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1999 out of the University of North Texas... G John Welbourn John Welbourn is an American football offensive tackle and guard who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 1999 NFL Draft. He played college football at California... T Casey Wiegmann Casey Peter Wiegmann is an American football center for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 1996... C Defensive Linemen
|
Linebackers
Kendrell Bell Kendrell Alexander Bell is a former American football linebacker. He was originally drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia... OLB Keyaron Fox Keyaron James Fox [Key-AARON] is an American football linebacker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft... OLB Kris Griffin Kristofor Lawrence Griffin is an American football linebacker for the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2005... OLB Boomer Grigsby Appearing in 15 games in 2006, Grigsby again ranked third on the Chiefs in special teams tackles with 18. He missed one game that season with foot injury.Prior to the 2007 regular season, Grigsby was converted from linebacker to fullback... ILB Derrick Johnson -Kansas City Chiefs:Johnson started every game for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2005, becoming the first Chiefs linebacker in 20 years to start all 16 games of his rookie campaign. He was subsequently awarded the Mack Lee Hill Award by the Chiefs... OLB William Kershaw William Howard Kershaw, Jr. is an American football linebacker who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2006... OLB Kawika Mitchell Kawika Uilani Mitchell is an American football linebacker who currently is a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the second round in the 2003 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and New Orleans Saints... ILB Defensive Backs
Special Teams
|
Injured Reserve 
Ronnie Cruz Ronnie Valentin Cruz is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004... FB Kevin Sampson Kevin M. Sampson is an American football tackle who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft... OT Rich Scanlon Richard James Scanlon is an American football linebacker. He was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004... OLB Will Svitek Will Svitek is an American football offensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Stanford.-College career:He played in 38 games at Stanford University... OT Kyle Turley Kyle John Turley is a former American football offensive tackle of the National Football League, and current American recording artist. He was originally drafted by the New Orleans Saints seventh overall in the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at San Diego State.In addition to the... OT Physically Unable to Perform
NFL Europe Injured Reserve
Did Not Report
Practice Squad
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