1985 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1985 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 16th season in the National Football League and the 26th overall.
1985 Kansas City Chiefs season | |
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Owner | Lamar Hunt |
General manager | Jim Schaaf |
Head coach | John Mackovic |
Home field | Arrowhead Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 6–10 |
Division place | 5th AFC West |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | S Deron Cherry |
The Chiefs got off to a great start in 1985 with a 47–27 win at New Orleans, while safety Deron Cherry tied an NFL record by registering four interceptions in a 28–7 win against Seattle on September 29 as the club boasted a 3–1 record four games into the season.[1] The club was then confronted with a seven-game losing streak (amidst, nonetheless, the neighboring Kansas City Royals's World Series run) that wasn’t snapped until quarterback Todd Blackledge was installed as the starter against Indianapolis on November 24. The team rebounded to win three of its final five contests of the year with Blackledge under center, further inflaming a quarterback controversy that continued into the 1986 season.[1]
Among these wins was the first time since 1972 that the Chiefs played the Atlanta Falcons, and merely the second in team history.[2] The reason for this is that before the admission of the Texans in 2002, NFL scheduling formulas for games outside a team's division were much more influenced by table position during the previous season.[3]
One of the few remaining bright spots in a disappointing 6–10 season came in the regular season finale against San Diego when wide receiver Stephone Paige set an NFL record with 309 receiving yards in a 38–34 win, breaking the previous mark of 303 yards set by Cleveland's Jim Benton in 1945. Paige's mark was subsequently surpassed by a 336-yard effort by Flipper Anderson (Los Angeles Rams) in 1989.[1]
Offseason
NFL draft
Round | Selection | Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15 | Ethan Horton | Tight end | North Carolina |
2 | 41 | Jonathan Hayes | Tight end | Iowa |
4 | 99 | Bob Olderman | Guard | Virginia |
5 | 126 | Bruce King | Fullback | Purdue |
6 | 149 | John Bostic | Defensive end | Bethune–Cookman |
7 | 180 | Vince Thomson | Defensive end | Missouri Western |
7 | 183 | Dave Heffernan | Guard | Miami (FL) |
8 | 210 | Ira Hillary | Wide receiver | South Carolina |
9 | 237 | Earl Johnson | Defensive back | Southwest Missouri State |
10 | 267 | Jeff Smith | Running back | Nebraska |
11 | 293 | Chris Jackson | Center | SMU |
Personnel
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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Roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen |
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
Practice squad
|
Preseason
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 10 | at Cincinnati Bengals | W 35–27 | 1–0 | Riverfront Stadium | 41,115 | Recap |
2 | August 17 | New England Patriots | L 13–31 | 1–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 35,162 | Recap |
3 | August 24 | at Houston Oilers | W 24–19 | 2–1 | Houston Astrodome | 36,501 | Recap |
4 | August 31 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 17–13 | 3–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 38,618 | Recap |
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 8 | at New Orleans Saints | W 47–27 | 1–0 | Louisiana Superdome | 57,760 | Recap |
2 | September 12 | Los Angeles Raiders | W 36–20 | 2–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | 72,686 | Recap |
3 | September 22 | at Miami Dolphins | L 0–31 | 2–1 | Miami Orange Bowl | 69,791 | Recap |
4 | September 29 | Seattle Seahawks | W 28–7 | 3–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 50,485 | Recap |
5 | October 6 | at Los Angeles Raiders | L 10–19 | 3–2 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 55,133 | Recap |
6 | October 13 | at San Diego Chargers | L 20–31 | 3–3 | Jack Murphy Stadium | 50,067 | Recap |
7 | October 20 | Los Angeles Rams | L 0–16 | 3–4 | Arrowhead Stadium | 64,474 | Recap |
8 | October 27 | Denver Broncos | L 10–30 | 3–5 | Arrowhead Stadium | 68,246 | Recap |
9 | November 3 | at Houston Oilers | L 20–23 | 3–6 | Houston Astrodome | 41,238 | Recap |
10 | November 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 28–36 | 3–7 | Arrowhead Stadium | 46,126 | Recap |
11 | November 17 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 3–31 | 3–8 | Candlestick Park | 56,447 | Recap |
12 | November 24 | Indianapolis Colts | W 20–7 | 4–8 | Arrowhead Stadium | 21,762 | Recap |
13 | December 1 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 6–24 | 4–9 | Kingdome | 52,655 | Recap |
14 | December 8 | Atlanta Falcons | W 38–10 | 5–9 | Arrowhead Stadium | 18,199 | Recap |
15 | December 14 | at Denver Broncos | L 13–14 | 5–10 | Mile High Stadium | 69,209 | Recap |
16 | December 22 | San Diego Chargers | W 38–34 | 6–10 | Arrowhead Stadium | 18,178 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Week 1: at New Orleans Saints
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 10 | 16 | 7 | 14 | 47 |
Saints | 3 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 27 |
at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Date: September 8
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 57,760
- Referee: Bob Frederic
- TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Bob Kuechenberg
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 2: vs. Los Angeles Raiders
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 20 |
Chiefs | 3 | 9 | 17 | 7 | 36 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 12
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Overcast, 72 °F (22 °C)
- Game attendance: 72,686
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford, Joe Namath and O. J. Simpson
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 3: at Miami Dolphins
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Dolphins | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 | 31 |
at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
- Date: September 22
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 89 °F (32 °C)
- Game attendance: 69,791
- Referee: Tom Dooley
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Reggie Rucker
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seahawks | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Chiefs | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 29
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Overcast, 47 °F (8 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,485
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones, Sam Rutigliano and Paul Zimmerman
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 5: at Los Angeles Raiders
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
Raiders | 0 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 19 |
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
- Date: October 6
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: High Clouds, 82 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 55,133
- Referee: Gene Barth
- TV announcers (NBC): Dick Enberg and Merlin Olsen
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 6 : at San Diego Chargers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
Chargers | 0 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
at Jack Murphy Stadium, San Diego, California
- Date: October 13
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: Clear and Sunny, 74 °F (23 °C)
- Game attendance: 50,067
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (NBC): Phil Stone and Dave Rowe
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 7: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rams | 0 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 20
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Overcast, 57 °F (14 °C)
- Game attendance: 64,474
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Hill and John Dockery
- Recap
Game information | ||
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Week 8: vs. Denver Broncos
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 10 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 30 |
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 27
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 70 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 68,246
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Bob Griese
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 9: at Houston Oilers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
Oilers | 0 | 6 | 14 | 3 | 23 |
at Houston Astrodome, Houston, Texas
- Date: November 3
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 41,238
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (NBC): Gary Gerould and Sam Rutigliano
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 10: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Steelers | 10 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 36 |
Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
Game information | ||
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Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
49ers | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
- Date: November 17
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: Clear skies, 56 °F (13 °C)
- Game attendance: 56,447
- Referee: Jerry Seeman
- TV announcers (NBC): Gary Gerould and Dave Rowe
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 12: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colts | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 7 |
Chiefs | 7 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 20 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 24
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 25 °F (−4 °C)
- Game attendance: 21,762
- Referee: Chuck Heberling
- TV announcers (NBC): Fred Roggin and Dave Rowe
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 13: at Seattle Seahawks
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
Seahawks | 3 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
Game information | ||
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Week 14: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Chiefs | 14 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 38 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 8
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Partly Sunny, 39 °F (4 °C)
- Game attendance: 18,199
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (CBS): Jack Buck and Hank Stram
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 15: at Denver Broncos
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 13 |
Broncos | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
- Date: December 14
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: Sunny, 51 °F (11 °C)
- Game attendance: 69,209
- Referee: Red Cashion
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 16 : vs. San Diego Chargers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 3 | 3 | 7 | 21 | 34 |
Chiefs | 7 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 38 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 22
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 45 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 18,178
- Referee: Tom Dooley
- TV announcers (NBC): Charlie Jones and Jimmy Cefalo
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Standings
AFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Los Angeles Raiders(1) | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–3 | 9–3 | 354 | 308 | W6 |
Denver Broncos | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 5–3 | 8–4 | 380 | 329 | W2 |
Seattle Seahawks | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 4–4 | 6–6 | 349 | 303 | L2 |
San Diego Chargers | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3–5 | 7–7 | 467 | 435 | L1 |
Kansas City Chiefs | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 3–5 | 4–8 | 317 | 360 | W1 |
References
- "Kansas City Chiefs History 1980's". Archived from the original on August 6, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
- Atlanta Falcons v Kansas City Chiefs
- History of the NFL’s Structure and Formats