1998 Kansas City Chiefs season

Last updated

1998 Kansas City Chiefs season
Owner Lamar Hunt
General manager Carl Peterson
Head coach Marty Schottenheimer
Home field Arrowhead Stadium
Results
Record7–9
Division place4th AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
AP All-Pros None

The 1998 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 39th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 29th overall.

Contents

The season began with the team hoping to not only improve on their 13–3 campaign the previous season but to also avenge their loss in the 1998 playoffs against the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. However, instead, the Chiefs failed to succeed in the highly competitive AFC West.

Kansas City began the season on a bright spot, with a 4–1 record and three wins against division rivals; however they then endured a 6-game losing streak, dropping their record to 4–7, and the team finished with a 7–9 record and 4th place in the AFC West. The biggest low point of the season was during a Week 11 matchup against their division rival Denver Broncos, in which the Chiefs defense were penalized five times on the same drive, including three penalties by linebacker Derrick Thomas, topping off an embarrassing 30–7 loss. Following the season, head coach Marty Schottenheimer announced his intention to resign after ten seasons with the team, and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham assumed coaching duties for 1999.

This was the first time Derrick Thomas was not named to the Pro Bowl roster.

Offseason

On April 9, Marcus Allen announced his retirement.

Draft

1998 Kansas City Chiefs draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
127 Victor Riley   Offensive tackle Auburn
388 Rashaan Shehee   Running back Washington
4120 Greg Favors   Linebacker Mississippi State
5128 Robert Williams   Defensive back North Carolina
6181 Derrick Ransom   Defensive tackle Cincinnati
7216 Eric Warfield  Defensive back Nebraska
7224Ernest Blackwell Running back Missouri
      Made roster  

[1]

Personnel

Staff

1998 Kansas City Chiefs staff
Front office
  • Founder – Lamar Hunt
  • chairman of the board – Jack Steadman
  • President/general manager/chief executive officer – Carl Peterson
  • Executive vice-president/assistant general manager – Dennis Thum
  • Administrative assistant to the head coach – Russ Ball

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

Roster

1998 Kansas City Chiefs roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad

53 active, 7 inactive, 5 practice squad


Rookies in italics

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
1August 1vs. Green Bay Packers L 24–27 (OT)0–1 Flag of Japan.svg Tokyo Dome (Tokyo)42,018 Recap
2August 8vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 17–131–1 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Norman, OK)43,657 Recap
3August 15at Minnesota Vikings L 0–341–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 60,955 Recap
4August 22 Jacksonville Jaguars W 22–212–2 Arrowhead Stadium 71,079 Recap
5August 28 St. Louis Rams L 6–102–3Arrowhead Stadium69,501 Recap

Regular season

The Chiefs began the season well on September 6 with an impressive performance and easily defeated the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead 28–8. Kansas City sacked the Raiders quarterbacks 10 times, with Derrick Thomas collecting 6 by himself.

On September 13, Kansas City fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road, 21–16.

On September 27, the Chiefs visited the Philadelphia Eagles for the first time in franchise history.

On October 4, Kansas City conquered the Seattle Seahawks and the rain at Arrowhead, 17–6. Rich Gannon hit Andre Rison for an 80-yard touchdown pass after a 54-minute rain delay caused by a violent storm. The two teams combined for nine turnovers, five by Kansas City. The win improved the Chiefs' record to 4–1, however a 6-game losing streak following this game dropped the team to 4–7.

On November 16, against the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs defense was penalized five times on one drive, three of the penalties coming from legendary linebacker Derrick Thomas. The game is known now by Chiefs fans as the "Monday Night Meltdown". After that it was all downhill as the Chiefs suffered their first losing season since 1988.

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
1September 6 Oakland Raiders W 28–81–0 Arrowhead Stadium 78,945 Recap
2September 13at Jacksonville Jaguars L 16–211–1 Alltel Stadium 69,821 Recap
3September 20 San Diego Chargers W 23–72–1Arrowhead Stadium73,730 Recap
4September 27at Philadelphia Eagles W 24–213–1 Veterans Stadium 66,675 Recap
5October 4 Seattle Seahawks W 17–64–1Arrowhead Stadium66,418 Recap
6October 11at New England Patriots L 10–404–2 Foxboro Stadium 59,749 Recap
7 Bye
8October 26 Pittsburgh Steelers L 13–204–3Arrowhead Stadium79,431 Recap
9November 1 New York Jets L 17–204–4Arrowhead Stadium65,104 Recap
10November 8at Seattle Seahawks L 12–244–5 Kingdome 66,251 Recap
11November 16 Denver Broncos L 7–304–6Arrowhead Stadium78,100 Recap
12November 22at San Diego Chargers L 37–384–7 Qualcomm Stadium 59,894 Recap
13November 29 Arizona Cardinals W 34–245–7Arrowhead Stadium69,613 Recap
14December 6at Denver Broncos L 31–355–8 Mile High Stadium 74,962 Recap
15December 13 Dallas Cowboys W 20–176–8Arrowhead Stadium77,697 Recap
16December 20at New York Giants L 7–286–9 Giants Stadium 66,040 Recap
17December 26at Oakland Raiders W 31–247–9 Network Associates Coliseum 52,679 Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Oakland Raiders

Week 1: Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Raiders00808
Chiefs1733528

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs063716
Jaguars777021

at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida

Game information

Week 3: vs. San Diego Chargers

Week 3: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chargers00707
Chiefs6107023

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 4: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 4: Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs0701724
Eagles707721

at Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 5: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 5: Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Seahawks30306
Chiefs377017

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: October 4
  • Game time: 7:20 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Heavy rain expected, 66 °F (19 °C)
  • Game attendance: 66,418
  • Referee: Phil Luckett
  • TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Paul Maguire and Solomon Wilcots
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 6: at New England Patriots

Week 6: Kansas City Chiefs at New England Patriots – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs007310
Patriots72010340

at Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

  • Date: October 11
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: Light rain, 61 °F (16 °C)
  • Game attendance: 59,749
  • Referee: Larry Nemmers
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms and Armen Keteyian
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 8: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 8: Pittsburgh Steelers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Steelers733720
Chiefs337013

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 9: vs. New York Jets

Week 9: New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Jets01001020
Chiefs703717

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 10: at Seattle Seahawks

Week 10: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs330612
Seahawks14100024

at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: November 8
  • Game time: 3:15 p.m. CST/1:15 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 66,251
  • Referee: Bill Carollo
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Mark May
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 11: vs. Denver Broncos

Week 11: Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Broncos1463730
Chiefs07007

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: November 16
  • Game time: 7:20 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Clear, 54 °F (12 °C)
  • Game attendance: 78,100
  • Referee: Dick Hantak
  • TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Dan Dierdorf, Boomer Esiason and Lesley Visser
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 12: at San Diego Chargers

Week 12: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs77131037
Chargers71002138

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: November 22
  • Game time: 3:15 p.m. CST/1:15 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: Clear and sunny, 74 °F (23 °C)
  • Game attendance: 59,894
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • TV announcers (CBS): Don Criqui and Beasley Reece
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 13: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Week 13: Arizona Cardinals at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Cardinals0107724
Chiefs77101034

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 14: at Denver Broncos

Week 14: Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs2107331
Broncos71401435

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

  • Date: December 6
  • Game time: 3:15 p.m. CST/2:15 p.m. MST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 35 °F (2 °C)
  • Game attendance: 74,962
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Phil Simms and Armen Keteyian
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 15: Dallas Cowboys at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Period1234Total
Cowboys0301417
Chiefs3014320

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

Game information

Week 16: at New York Giants

Week 16: Kansas City Chiefs at New York Giants – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs00707
Giants1477028

at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: December 20
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 49 °F (9 °C)
  • Game attendance: 66,040
  • Referee: Ron Winter
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan and Sam Wyche
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: at Oakland Raiders

Week 17: Kansas City Chiefs at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Period1234Total
Chiefs0717731
Raiders1403724

at Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, California

  • Date: December 26
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 51 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 52,679
  • Referee: Mike Carey
  • TV announcers (CBS): Verne Lundquist, Randy Cross and Michele Tafoya
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings

AFC West
WLTPCTPFPASTK
(1) Denver Broncos 1420.875501309W1
Oakland Raiders 880.500288356L1
Seattle Seahawks 880.500372310L1
Kansas City Chiefs 790.438327363W1
San Diego Chargers 5110.313241342L5

Awards and records

The team was penalized 158 times for 1,304 yards, an NFL record that stood until the Oakland Raiders surpassed it in 2011. [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Kansas City Chiefs season</span> NFL team season

The 2005 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 36th in the National Football League (NFL), their 46th overall, and their fifth and final season under head coach Dick Vermeil.

The 2004 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 35th in the National Football League (NFL), their 45th overall and their 42nd in Kansas City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2002 Kansas City Chiefs season</span> NFL team season

The 2002 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 33rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 43rd overall and the franchise's 40th in Kansas City, Missouri.

The 2001 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 32nd in the National Football League (NFL) and their 42nd overall. It was their first year under head coach Dick Vermeil and 13th under general manager Carl Peterson. They finished the regular season with a 6–10 record.

The 2000 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 31st in the National Football League (NFL), their 41st overall and their second and final season under head coach Gunther Cunningham. They failed to improve on their 9–7 record from 1999 and finished the season 7–9, marked by a series of on and off-field struggles and incidents.

The 1999 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 40th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 30th overall. The season began with the promotion of defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham to head coach following the resignation of Marty Schottenheimer after the Chiefs finished with a 7–9 record in 1998.

The 1997 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 28th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 38th overall. The Chiefs improved on their 9–7 record from 1996, and finished with a 13–3 record and as AFC West division champions. The Rich Gannon–Elvis Grbac quarterback controversy was a focal point of the team's season. It brewed throughout the entire season and arguably cost the Chiefs a victory in the playoffs. The Chiefs were defeated by division rival and eventual Super Bowl champion, Denver Broncos, in the 1997 playoffs. 1997 was the final season the Chiefs appeared in the playoffs during the 1990s and for the next several seasons, they fell into futility. They did not return to the playoffs until 2003.

The 1996 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 27th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 37th overall. Following their loss to the Colts in the playoffs the year before, the Chiefs failed to improve their 13–3 record from 1995 and finishing 9–7 record and second-place finish in the AFC West. Despite being predicted as one of the eventual winners of Super Bowl XXXI by Sports Illustrated, the team missed the playoffs for the first time since 1989.

The 1992 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 23rd season in the National Football League and the 33rd overall. The Chiefs matched their 10–6 record from 1991, but were shut out by the San Diego Chargers 17–0 in the wild-card round.

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

The 1990 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 21st season in the National Football League, the 28th as the Kansas City Chiefs and the 31st overall. The team improved from an 8–7–1 record to an 11–5 record and Wild Card spot in the 1991 playoffs. In Marty Schottenheimer's first playoff appearance with the Chiefs, they lost to the Miami Dolphins 17–16 in the wild-card round. Starting with the home opener, the Chiefs began an NFL-record 19 consecutive seasons with every home game sold out. The streak was finally broken in the final home game of the 2009 Kansas City Chiefs season versus Cleveland.

The 1981 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 12th season in the National Football League and 22nd overall. They improved from 1980 from an 8–8 record to a 9–7 record but missing the playoffs for the tenth consecutive season.

The 1983 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 14th season in the National Football League and the 24th overall. They matched on their 6–10 record and last place finish in the AFC West.

The 1986 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 17th season in the National Football League and the 27th overall. It ended with a 10–6 record, the most wins for the franchise since 1971. The Chiefs clinched a wild card playoff berth, but lost to the New York Jets 35–15.

The 1988 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 19th season in the National Football League and the 29th overall.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Kansas City Chiefs season</span> NFL team season

The 2012 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 43rd in the National Football League (NFL), their 53rd overall and their first and only full season under head coach Romeo Crennel, who had served as the interim head coach for the final three games of the 2011 season following Todd Haley's termination. The Chiefs failed to rebound from their 7–9 record in 2011, and were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 12. Although they shared the same 2–14 record as the Jacksonville Jaguars for the worst record of the season, the Chiefs had a lower strength of schedule, so they were awarded the first pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. The Chiefs went 0–12 against AFC opponents in 2012; their only wins of the season were from NFC teams, against the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. In 2017, ESPN.com named the 2012 season the Chiefs’ worst in franchise history. The season remains, as of 2023, the most recent season that the Chiefs had a losing record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Kansas City Chiefs season</span> NFL team season

The 2014 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 45th in the National Football League (NFL), their 55th overall and their second under the head coach/general manager tandem of Andy Reid and John Dorsey. The Chiefs broke the crowd noise record on Monday Night Football against the New England Patriots on September 29, 2014 with a crowd roar of 142.2 decibels. The Chiefs failed to match their 11–5 record from 2013, and missed the playoffs. However, they defeated both teams that would eventually meet in that season's Super Bowl: the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks. The 2014 Kansas City Chiefs became the first NFL team since the 1964 New York Giants, and the only team in the 16 game season era, to complete an entire season with no touchdown passes to a wide receiver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Kansas City Chiefs season</span> NFL team season

The 2015 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 46th in the National Football League (NFL), their 56th overall and their third under the head coach/general manager tandem of Andy Reid and John Dorsey. The Chiefs went through a poor start in their first six games as they were 1–5, and lost their star running back, Jamaal Charles, to a torn ACL in his right knee during an 18–17 Week 5 loss at home against the Chicago Bears. In week 16, after their ninth consecutive victory and the Baltimore Ravens defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Chiefs clinched a playoff berth, their second in three years. They are the first team since the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals to start the season 1–5 and qualify for the playoffs. They also set the franchise record for the most consecutive victories, winning 10 in a row. In their Wild Card matchup, the Chiefs were set up to play against the Houston Texans. The Chiefs shutout the Texans 30–0 to earn their first playoff win in 22 years, ending what was at the time, until the Bengals broke the record the night the Chiefs won, an NFL record for consecutive playoff losses. The shutout was the Chiefs first ever playoff shutout and remains, as of the 2022–23 playoffs, the most recent playoff shutout in the NFL. The following week, they were defeated by the New England Patriots in the divisional round 27–20.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Kansas City Chiefs season</span> NFL team season

The 2016 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 47th in the National Football League (NFL), their 57th overall and their fourth under head coach Andy Reid and the fourth and final season under general manager John Dorsey who was fired June 22, 2017. The Chiefs clinched their first AFC West division title since 2010. The Chiefs also clinched a first-round bye for the first time since 2003, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Divisional round 18–16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Kansas City Chiefs season</span> 60th season in franchise history; third Super Bowl appearance and second win

The 2019 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 50th in the National Football League (NFL), their 60th overall, their seventh under head coach Andy Reid and third under general manager Brett Veach.

References

  1. "1998 Kansas City Chiefs draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 5, 2014.
  2. "Raiders vs. Chiefs - Game Recap - December 24, 2011 - ESPN".