1997 Kansas City Chiefs season
1997 Kansas City Chiefs season | |
---|---|
Owner | Lamar Hunt |
General manager | Carl Peterson |
Head coach | Marty Schottenheimer |
Home field | Arrowhead Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 13–3 |
Division place | 1st AFC West |
Playoff finish | Lost Divisional Playoffs (vs. Broncos) 10–14 |
Pro Bowlers | 6 |
AP All-Pros | 3
|
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.[1] 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.
This was the last season that head coach Marty Schottenheimer would coach the team into the playoffs, with the loss to Denver in the divisional round 14–10 capping off many years of disappointing playoff struggles. This was also the final season for future Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen.
Offseason
[edit]NFL draft
[edit]1997 Kansas City Chiefs draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 13 | Tony Gonzalez * † | Tight end | California | |
2 | 47 | Kevin Lockett | Wide receiver | Kansas State | |
4 | 110 | Pat Barnes | Quarterback | California | |
6 | 163 | June Henley | Running back | Kansas | |
6 | 195 | Isaac Byrd | Wide receiver | Kansas | |
7 | 214 | Nathan Parks | Offensive tackle | Stanford | |
Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Personnel
[edit]Staff
[edit] Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Roster
[edit]Preseason
[edit]Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 14–28 | 0–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 72,726 | Recap |
2 | August 9 | at New Orleans Saints | L 7–26 | 0–2 | Louisiana Superdome | 55,211 | Recap |
3 | August 14 | Carolina Panthers | W 30–10 | 1–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,972 | Recap |
4 | August 22 | at St. Louis Rams | L 13–14 | 1–3 | Trans World Dome | 63,936 | Recap |
Regular season
[edit]Schedule
[edit]Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 31 | at Denver Broncos | L 3–19 | 0–1 | Mile High Stadium | 75,600 | Recap |
2 | September 8 | at Oakland Raiders | W 28–27 | 1–1 | Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum | 61,523 | Recap |
3 | September 14 | Buffalo Bills | W 22–16 | 2–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 78,169 | Recap |
4 | September 21 | at Carolina Panthers | W 35–14 | 3–1 | Ericsson Stadium | 67,402 | Recap |
5 | September 28 | Seattle Seahawks | W 20–17 (OT) | 4–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 77,877 | Recap |
6 | October 5 | at Miami Dolphins | L 14–17 | 4–2 | Pro Player Stadium | 71,794 | Recap |
7 | Bye | ||||||
8 | October 16 | San Diego Chargers | W 31–3 | 5–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 77,196 | Recap |
9 | October 26 | at St. Louis Rams | W 28–20 | 6–2 | Trans World Dome | 64,864 | Recap |
10 | November 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers | W 13–10 | 7–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 78,301 | Recap |
11 | November 9 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | L 10–24 | 7–3 | Alltel Stadium | 70,444 | Recap |
12 | November 16 | Denver Broncos | W 24–22 | 8–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 77,963 | Recap |
13 | November 23 | at Seattle Seahawks | W 19–14 | 9–3 | Kingdome | 66,264 | Recap |
14 | November 30 | San Francisco 49ers | W 44–9 | 10–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 77,535 | Recap |
15 | December 7 | Oakland Raiders | W 30–0 | 11–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,379 | Recap |
16 | December 14 | at San Diego Chargers | W 29–7 | 12–3 | Qualcomm Stadium | 54,594 | Recap |
17 | December 21 | New Orleans Saints | W 25–13 | 13–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 66,772 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
[edit]Week 1: at Denver Broncos
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Broncos | 3 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 19 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
- Date: August 31
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT/2:00 p.m. MDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 82 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 75,600
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire, Phil Simms and Jim Gray
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 2: at Oakland Raiders
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 28 |
Raiders | 7 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 27 |
at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California
- Date: September 8
- Game time: 8:00 p.m. CDT/6:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 74 °F (23 °C)
- Game attendance: 61,523
- Referee: Gary Lane
- TV announcers (ABC): Al Michaels, Frank Gifford, Dan Dierdorf and Lynn Swann
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 3: vs. Buffalo Bills
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bills | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 16 |
Chiefs | 6 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 22 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 14
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 77 °F (25 °C)
- Game attendance: 78,169
- Referee: Tom White
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Breen and James Lofton
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 4: at Carolina Panthers
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 7 | 14 | 35 |
Panthers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 5: vs. Seattle Seahawks
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seahawks | 7 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 20 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 28
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 79 °F (26 °C)
- Game attendance: 77,877
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Jim Mora
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 6: at Miami Dolphins
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Dolphins | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Pro Player Stadium, Miami, Florida
- Date: October 5
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C)
- Game attendance: 71,794
- Referee: Johnny Grier
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones, Bob Trumpy and Randy Cross
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 8: vs. San Diego Chargers
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Chiefs | 7 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 16
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 61 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 77,196
- Referee: Dick Hantak
- TV announcers (TNT): Verne Lundquist, Pat Haden, Mark May and Craig Sager
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 9: at St. Louis Rams
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 6 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 28 |
Rams | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 20 |
at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri
- Date: October 26
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 64,864
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers (NBC): Joel Meyers and Beasley Reece
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 10: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Chiefs | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 11: at Jacksonville Jaguars
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
Jaguars | 7 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
- Date: November 9
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Clear, 59 °F (15 °C)
- Game attendance: 70,444
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (NBC): Dan Hicks, Jim Kelly and James Lofton
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 12: vs. Denver Broncos
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 3 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 22 |
Chiefs | 0 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 24 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 16
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Clear and cold, 31 °F (−1 °C)
- Game attendance: 77,963
- Referee: Bill Carollo
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire, Phil Simms and Jim Gray
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 13: at Seattle Seahawks
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 7 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 19 |
Seahawks | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington
- Date: November 23
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 66,264
- Referee: Larry Nemmers
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Breen and James Lofton
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 14: vs. San Francisco 49ers
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
49ers | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
Chiefs | 7 | 21 | 0 | 16 | 44 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 30
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 45 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 77,535
- Referee: Gary Lane
- TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall, John Madden and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 15: vs. Oakland Raiders
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Chiefs | 10 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 30 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 16: at San Diego Chargers
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 29 |
Chargers | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: December 14
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: Clear and sunny, 68 °F (20 °C)
- Game attendance: 54,594
- Referee: Bernie Kukar
- TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Randy Cross
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week 17: vs. New Orleans Saints
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saints | 0 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 13 |
Chiefs | 3 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 25 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 21
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Drizzle, 32 °F (0 °C)
- Game attendance: 54,594
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck and Bill Maas
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Standings
[edit]AFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |||
(1) Kansas City Chiefs | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 375 | 232 | W6 | ||
(4) Denver Broncos | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 472 | 287 | W1 | ||
Seattle Seahawks | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 365 | 362 | W2 | ||
Oakland Raiders | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 324 | 419 | L5 | ||
San Diego Chargers | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 266 | 425 | L8 |
Postseason
[edit]Schedule
[edit]Round | Date | Opponent (seed) | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wild Card | First-round bye | ||||||
Divisional | January 4, 1998 | Denver Broncos (4) | L 10–14 | 0–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 76,965 | Recap |
Game summaries
[edit]AFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (4) Denver Broncos
[edit]Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Gretz, Bob. Quarterbacks and controversy Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine KCChiefs.com, November 1, 2006
- ^ "1997 Kansas City Chiefs draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 5, 2014.