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1986 Kansas City Chiefs season
Head Coach John Mackovic
Home Field Arrowhead Stadium
Results
Record 10–6
Place 2nd AFC West
Playoff Finish Lost AFC Wild Card round (Jets) 15–35
Timeline
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1985 1987

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

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

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

Regular season[]

Schedule[]

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

Standings[]

AFC West
W L T PCT PF PA STK
Denver Broncos 11 5 0 .683 378 327 L-1
Kansas City Chiefs 10 6 0 .625 358 326 W-3
Seattle Seahawks 10 6 0 .625 366 293 W-5
Los Angeles Raiders 8 8 0 .500 323 346 L-4
San Diego Chargers 4 12 0 .250 335 396 L-2

Playoffs[]

AFC Wild Card Playoffs[]

1 2 3 4 Total
Chiefs 6 0 0 9

15

Jets 7 14 7 7

35

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

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

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

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

References[]

AFC East Central West East Central West NFC
Buffalo Cincinnati Denver Dallas Chicago Atlanta
Indianapolis Cleveland Kansas City NY Giants Detroit LA Rams
Miami Houston LA Raiders Philadelphia Green Bay New Orleans
New England Pittsburgh San Diego St. Louis Minnesota San Francisco
NY Jets Seattle Washington Tampa Bay
1986 NFL DraftNFL PlayoffsPro BowlSuper Bowl XXI
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