| Team: | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Year: | 1990 |
| Record: | 11–5 |
| Division Place: | 2nd AFC West |
| Coach: | Marty Schottenheimer |
| General Manager: | Carl Peterson |
| Owner: | Lamar Hunt |
| Stadium: | Arrowhead Stadium |
| Playoffs: | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Dolphins) 16–17 |
| Shortnavlink: | Chiefs seasons |
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 success of the 1989 season carried into 1990, and the Chiefs put together a successful season to return to the playoffs for only the second time since 1971. The season began on August 4 when Buck Buchanan, a key ingredient of the team's 1969 Super Bowl championship season was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
On opening day, The Chiefs beat the Minnesota Vikings 24–21. On September 17, Stephone Paige catches 10 passes for 206 yards, but the Chiefs still lost to the Denver Broncos, 24–23 on Monday Night Football.
On October 14, Barry Word rushes for a team-record 200 yards against the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead. Kansas City won 43–24 to give the Chiefs a 4–2 record. Word would eventually gain 1,021 yards rushing for the season while Paige caught 65 passes for 1,021 yards. Quarterback Steve DeBerg had his best season ever as a Chief as he passed for 3,444 yards and 23 touchdowns.
On November 11, Derrick Thomas who would get 20 quarterback sacks for the year, sacked Seattle Seahawks quarterback Dave Krieg for an NFL-record seven sacks. On the game's last play, Derrick nearly had his 8th sack, but Krieg eluded him and threw a game-winning touchdown as the Seahawks won 17–16. Derrick Thomas later said, "The thing I most remember about that game, is the sack I didn't get, that's the one that still haunts me." His record of seven sacks in one game is now seen as one of NFL's most "unbreakable records".
On December 9, the Chiefs had two big fourth-down calls and scored two touchdowns. Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer let his team make two big plays that ultimately led to Kansas City's 31–20 win over the Denver Broncos, which clinched a playoff spot.
The first big play was a fourth-and-goal at the Denver 1-yard line, and Barry Word carried the ball into the end zone to give the Chiefs a 17–13 lead. The second fourth-down attempt resulted in a 27-yard touchdown pass from Steve DeBerg to Robb Thomas and put the game away in the fourth quarter. DeBerg passed for 254 yards and three touchdowns in the game. Kansas City trailed 13–10 at the half but scored 21 second-half points to take control of the game.
The win improved their record to 9–4 and control of the AFC West Race. However, the next week the Chiefs lost to Houston, putting the Raiders Back into First place. The Chiefs won their next game at San Diego to Clinch an AFC playoff spot. The Chiefs then defeated the Chicago Bears 21-19 to finish 11–5, the team's best record since 1971. The Raiders held onto first winning in the final week. Defense carried the Chiefs to the playoffs thanks to Pro Bowlers Derrick Thomas, Albert Lewis and Kevin Ross.
Next was the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Wild-Card Playoff Game, which the team led 16-3 but lost 17–16. Kicker Nick Lowery missed short on a 52-yard FG in the final seconds that would have won the game.
See main article: 1990 NFL draft. [1]
| Bryan Barker | Punter | Santa Clara | |
| Willie Davis | Wide receiver | Central Arkansas |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vs Los Angeles Rams | L 3–19 | 0–1 | 55,429 | Recap | |||
| 2 | New York Jets | L 0–20 | 0–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 40,448 | Recap | ||
| 3 | at Detroit Lions | L 21–35 | 0–3 | Pontiac Silverdome | 50,293 | Recap | ||
| 4 | Green Bay Packers | W 27–14 | 1–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 42,806 | Recap |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 9 | Minnesota Vikings | W 24–21 | 1–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | 68,363 | Recap | |
| 2 | at Denver Broncos | L 23–24 | 1–1 | Mile High Stadium | 75,277 | Recap | ||
| 3 | September 23 | at Green Bay Packers | W 17–3 | 2–1 | Lambeau Field | 58,817 | Recap | |
| 4 | September 30 | Cleveland Browns | W 34–0 | 3–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 75,462 | Recap | |
| 5 | October 7 | at Indianapolis Colts | L 19–23 | 3–2 | Hoosier Dome | 54,950 | Recap | |
| 6 | October 14 | Detroit Lions | W 43–24 | 4–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 74,312 | Recap | |
| 7 | October 21 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 7–19 | 4–3 | Kingdome | 60,358 | Recap | |
| 8 | Bye | |||||||
| 9 | November 4 | Los Angeles Raiders | W 9–7 | 5–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 70,951 | Recap | |
| 10 | November 11 | Seattle Seahawks | L 16–17 | 5–4 | Arrowhead Stadium | 71,285 | Recap | |
| 11 | November 18 | San Diego Chargers | W 27–10 | 6–4 | Arrowhead Stadium | 63,717 | Recap | |
| 12 | November 25 | at Los Angeles Raiders | W 27–24 | 7–4 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 65,710 | Recap | |
| 13 | December 2 | at New England Patriots | W 37–7 | 8–4 | Foxboro Stadium | 26,280 | Recap | |
| 14 | December 9 | Denver Broncos | W 31–20 | 9–4 | Arrowhead Stadium | 74,347 | Recap | |
| 15 | December 16 | Houston Oilers | L 10–27 | 9–5 | Arrowhead Stadium | 61,756 | Recap | |
| 16 | December 23 | at San Diego Chargers | W 24–21 | 10–5 | Jack Murphy Stadium | 45,135 | Recap | |
| 17 | at Chicago Bears | W 21–10 | 11–5 | Soldier Field | 60,262 | Recap | ||
See main article: 1990–91 NFL playoffs.
In a scene that would be repeated throughout the 1990s the Chiefs had a great regular season but failed miserably in the post-season. In the Wild Card playoff game, the Chiefs blew a 16–3 lead as the Dolphins scored two touchdowns to take a lead. With 2:28 left in the game, the Dolphins capped an 85-yard drive with quarterback Dan Marino's 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Mark Clayton to take a 17-16 lead. The Chiefs had one last chance for a win, but Christian Okoye's long run was called back due to a questionable holding call. Kicker Nick Lowery, who had 139 points all season and a Pro Bowl berth missed a 52-yard field goal coming up two feet short, ending the Chiefs season.