1986: Simms Rallies NFC to Pro Bowl Win

It was a calm, sunny day at Aloha Stadium with 50,101 fans in attendance for the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl on February 2, 1986, marking the seventh straight year that the NFL’s annual all-star game was held in Honolulu. The coaches were John Robinson of the Rams for the NFC and Miami’s Don Shula for the AFC.

The NFC had first possession and advanced to the AFC 37 but came up empty when Morten Andersen of the Saints missed a 54-yard field goal attempt. The AFC drove 63 yards in 11 plays as San Diego QB Dan Fouts completed five passes, three of them to WR Steve Largent of the Seahawks. RB Marcus Allen of the Raiders ran for a two-yard touchdown and Pittsburgh’s Gary Anderson added the extra point.

The teams exchanged punts but the NFC was on the move as the opening period ended thanks to three pass completions by QB Phil Simms of the Giants (pictured above), two of them for 16 yards apiece to Tampa Bay TE Jimmie Giles and WR James Lofton of the Packers. However, facing fourth-and-two at the AFC 31 early in the second quarter, a carry by Atlanta RB Gerald Riggs came up short. But the NFC got a break three plays later when a Fouts pass was intercepted by safety Joey Browner of the Vikings, who returned it 48 yards for a TD. Morten Andersen’s conversion tied the score at 7-7.

The AFC responded with a 78-yard drive in eight plays. Allen ran effectively and Fouts completed another two throws to Largent (pictured below), and it was Allen taking a pitchout and tossing an option pass to San Diego WR Wes Chandler for a 51-yard touchdown. Gary Anderson added the point after and the AFC was back in the lead by 14-7.

QB Jim McMahon of the recently-crowned champion Bears was behind center for the next NFC series, but he was hindered by a knee injury suffered in the Super Bowl. McMahon was sacked for an eight-yard loss by DE Howie Long of the Raiders on first down and, two plays later, was picked off by Denver CB Louis Wright, who returned it 12 yards to the NFC 19. The AFC picked up another three points when Gary Anderson booted a 34-yard field goal four plays later for a 17-7 advantage.

Another short series for the NFC ended with McMahon fumbling when sacked by DE Mark Gastineau of the Jets on third down and Denver DE Rulon Jones recovered for the AFC at the NFC 10. On the next play, QB Ken O’Brien of the Jets connected with Pittsburgh WR Louis Lipps for a touchdown. Gary Anderson added the extra point and, with four minutes remaining in the first half, the AFC held a 24-7 lead, which remained the score at halftime.

The AFC started off the third quarter by advancing to midfield, but O’Brien fumbled when attempting to hand off and Dallas DT Randy White recovered for the NFC at the AFC 49. After a running play lost a yard, Simms, back behind center for the NFC due to McMahon’s injury, completed three consecutive passes, the longest to TE Doug Cosbie of the Cowboys for 23 yards. Simms finished off the six-play possession with a pass to Washington WR Art Monk for a 15-yard TD, Morten Andersen converted, and the AFC lead was narrowed to 24-14.

The teams traded punts before the AFC put together a promising drive. Allen again ran the ball well and Fouts completed three passes, two to Largent for 20 yards and one to Chandler for 23. But after reaching the NFC 18, a Fouts throw into the end zone was intercepted by CB Leroy Irvin of the Rams to snuff out the opportunity.

The clubs again exchanged punts and, as the game entered the fourth quarter, Irvin’s 32-yard punt return put the NFC at the AFC 32. Simms threw to Cosbie for 19 yards and San Francisco RB Roger Craig ran twice for 11 yards. It was Simms to Cosbie for a two-yard touchdown and, with Morten Andersen adding the extra point, the AFC lead was whittled down to three points at 24-21.

The AFC went primarily to the air on the next series and O’Brien connected on five straight passes and a roughing-the-passer penalty on LB Otis Wilson of the Bears put the ball on the NFC 13. But once again the NFC came through with an interception in the end zone as O’Brien’s next toss was picked off by Chicago LB Mike Singletary.

Starting from their 20, the NFC drove 80 yards in 10 plays. Simms converted a third-and-six situation with a completion to Lofton for 19 yards and, after a fumble resulted in a nine-yard loss, he threw to Monk for 17 yards on a third-and-16 play. RB Joe Morris of the Giants gained 11 yards on a fake reverse and, two plays after that, it was Simms to Monk for 17 yards to the AFC 15. From there, Simms connected with Giles for a touchdown and Morten Andersen’s kick made it a four-point game. The AFC had one last shot and it ended when a Fouts pass was intercepted by Irvin to nail down the 28-24 win for the NFC.   

The AFC had the edge in total yards (382 to 272) and first downs (24 to 18). However, they also turned the ball over five times, to two suffered by the NFC.

Phil Simms, who was named the game’s MVP, completed 15 of 27 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns while giving up no interceptions. The hobbled Jim McMahon was a lackluster one-of-six for seven yards and gave up an interception and fumble. Joe Morris led the NFC rushers with 34 yards on 8 attempts and Roger Craig, who also carried 8 times, was second with 25. Art Monk and Doug Cosbie caught four passes apiece, for 61 and 55 yards, respectively. On defense, LeRoy Irvin accounted for two interceptions and Joey Browner had one that was returned for a score.

For the AFC, Dan Fouts was successful on 16 of 27 throws for 173 yards, but none were for TDs and he was intercepted three times. Ken O’Brien was 8-of-15 for 87 yards and a touchdown with an interception as well. Marcus Allen rushed for 58 yards on 16 carries that included a TD and also threw a scoring pass. Steve Largent caught a then-Pro Bowl-record 8 passes, for 82 yards, and Wes Chandler gained 114 yards on his four pass receptions that included a touchdown. 

“When Jim (McMahon) got hurt, I knew I was going to play the rest of the game,” said Phil Simms. “I can’t say I was real thrilled about Jim getting hurt…but it turned out well.”

The game marked a return to the victory column for the NFC, which lost the previous year’s contest after having won two straight. The NFC held a 10-6 advantage since the AFC vs. NFC format had been adopted following the 1970 merger.

Highlighted Year: Marcus Allen, 1993

Running Back, Kansas City Chiefs

Age: 33

12^th season in pro football, 1^st with Chiefs

College: Southern California

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 210

Prelude:

After winning the 1981 Heisman Trophy at USC, Allen was chosen by the Raiders in the first round of the ’82 draft. In the strike-shortened 1982 season, he led the NFL with 1098 yards from scrimmage, 14 TDs, and 84 points. For his efforts, he was a consensus Rookie of the Year and first-team All-NFL selection and was chosen to the Pro Bowl. He gained over a thousand yards rushing in each of the next three seasons, with a high of 1759 yards in ’85, which led the league along with his 2314 yards from scrimmage. He also topped the league in touchdowns with 18 in 1984 and was the MVP of the Super Bowl following the ’83 season, after rushing for 191 yards. Allen was a proficient receiver out of the backfield, catching a total of 237 passes in his first four seasons. He was a consensus first-team All-Pro in 1982 and ’85, when he also received MVP recognition, and was selected to the Pro Bowl five times. However, after 1985, Allen never again ran for a thousand yards or caught more than 51 passes in a season. Bothered by injuries (and involved in disputes with owner Al Davis), he shared time with other running backs during the remainder of his career with the Raiders, most notably Bo Jackson. Having rushed for 8545 yards on 2090 carries (4.1 avg.) and caught 446 passes for another 4258 yards (9.5 avg.) and scoring a total of 98 touchdowns, Allen left the Raiders for the Chiefs in 1993 and took over the starting running back job from Harvey Williams during the season.

1993 Season Summary

Appeared in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 206 [15]

Most attempts, game – 22 (for 74 yds.) vs. Buffalo 11/28

Yards – 764 [15]

Most yards, game – 91 yards (on 17 carries) vs. Denver 9/20

Average gain – 3.7

TDs – 12 [1]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 34

Most receptions, game – 5 (for 36 yds.) at Miami 10/31, (for 20 yds.) vs. San Diego 12/19

Yards – 238

Most yards, game – 36 (on 5 catches) at Miami 10/31

Average gain – 7.0

TDs – 3

Scoring

TDs – 15 [2, tied with Andre Rison, 1^st in AFC]

Points – 90

Postseason: 3 G

Rushing attempts – 53

Most rushing attempts, game – 21 vs. Pittsburgh, AFC Wild Card playoff

Rushing yards – 191

Most rushing yards, game – 74 at Houston, AFC Divisional playoff

Average gain rushing – 3.6

Rushing TDs – 3

Pass receptions – 7

Most pass receptions, game – 4 vs. Pittsburgh, AFC Wild Card playoff

Pass receiving yards – 77

Most pass receiving yards, game – 36 at Buffalo, AFC Championship

Average yards per reception – 11.0

Pass Receiving TDs – 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Comeback Player of the Year: AP

1^st team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Chiefs went 11-5 to finish first in the AFC West. Won AFC Wild Card playoff over Pittsburgh Steelers (27-24) and AFC Divisional playoff over Houston Oilers (28-20). Lost AFC Championship to Buffalo Bills (30-13).

Aftermath:

Having reinvigorated his career, Allen played another four seasons with the Chiefs, still scoring 11 TDs as a backup in his final year at age 37. He retired in 1997 with 123 career touchdowns, as well as 12,243 rushing yards and 587 pass receptions (the record for a running back at the time) for another 5412 yards. Of those totals, 3698 rushing yards and 1153 receiving yards came in Kansas City. Allen was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2003.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

Highlighted Year: Marcus Allen, 1984

Running Back, Los Angeles Raiders

Age: 24

3^rd season in pro football & with Raiders

College: Southern California

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 205

Prelude:

After winning the 1981 Heisman Trophy at USC, Allen was chosen by the Raiders in the first round of the ’82 draft. In the strike-shortened 1982 season, he led the NFL with 1098 yards from scrimmage, 14 TDs, and 84 points. For his efforts, he was a consensus Rookie of the Year and first-team All-NFL selection and was selected to the Pro Bowl. Allen rushed for 1014 yards in ’83 and caught 68 passes for another 590 yards while scoring 12 TDs, although he also led the league by fumbling 14 times. He was the MVP of the Super Bowl after rushing for 191 yards in the win against the Redskins.

1984 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 275 [10]

Most attempts, game – 22 (for 69 yds.) at Kansas City 9/16

Yards – 1168 [10]

Most yards, game – 155 yards (on 20 carries) at Miami 12/2

Average gain – 4.2 [18]

TDs – 13 [3, tied with Gerald Riggs & James Wilder]

100-yard rushing games – 3

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 64

Most receptions, game – 6 (for 46 yds.) at Kansas City 9/16, (for 62 yds.) vs. San Diego 9/24, (for 42 yds.) vs. Minnesota 10/14, (for 63 yds.) vs. Denver 10/28

Yards – 758

Most yards, game – 173 (on 4 catches) vs. Seattle 10/7

Average gain – 11.8

TDs – 5

100-yard receiving games – 1

All-purpose yards – 1926 [4]

Passing

Pass attempts – 4

Pass completions – 1

Passing yardage – 38

TD passes – 0

Interceptions – 0

Scoring

TDs – 18 [1, tied with Mark Clayton]

Points – 108 [8, tied with Mark Clayton & Tony Franklin]

Postseason: 1 G (AFC Wild Card playoff at Seattle)

Rushing attempts – 17

Rushing yards – 61

Average gain rushing – 3.6

Rushing TDs – 0

Pass receptions – 5

Pass receiving yards - 90

Average yards per reception – 18.0

Pass Receiving TDs – 1

Awards & Honors:

2^nd team All-NFL: AP, NEA

1^st team All-AFC: UPI, Pro Football Weekly

Pro Bowl

Raiders went 11-5 to finish third in the AFC West and qualify as a Wild Card entry in the playoffs. Lost AFC Wild Card playoff to Seattle Seahawks (13-7).

Aftermath:

Allen received multiple MVP honors in 1985 in addition to being a consensus first-team All-NFL selection following a season in which he led the NFL in rushing (1759 yards) and yards from scrimmage (2314) when adding in his 555 yards on 67 pass receptions. He was chosen to the Pro Bowl in 1985, ‘86, ’87, and ’93, but never again ran for a thousand yards or caught more than 51 passes after ‘85. Bothered by injuries (and involved in disputes with owner Al Davis), he shared time with other running backs during the remainder of his career with the Raiders, most notably Bo Jackson. Signing with the Chiefs as a free agent in 1993 reinvigorated his career at age 33, and he led the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns. Allen retired in 1997 with 123 career touchdowns, as well as 12,243 rushing yards and 587 pass receptions for another 5412 yards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2003.

--

Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970

1982: Raiders Overcome 24-Point Deficit to Beat Chargers in LA Debut

The Raiders made their long-delayed regular season home debut as a Los Angeles team against the San Diego Chargers on November 22, 1982. Having made the move from Oakland to LA in the face of much resistance from the NFL, the Raiders won their first two games on the road before the 57-day players’ strike put the entire league on hiatus.

The Raiders, coached by Tom Flores, fell to 7-9 in ’81, which was their first sub-.500 record since 1964, and were looking to rebound. QB Jim Plunkett had been troubled by injuries but was healthy again and HB Marcus Allen (pictured above), the first draft choice out of USC, was a welcome addition to the offense – indeed, the game against the Chargers marked his return to the stadium where he had starred in college and won the Heisman Trophy. Todd Christensen took over as starting tight end in place of the injured Derrick Ramsey with promising results. On defense, DE Lyle Alzado was obtained from the Browns and combined with second-year DE Howie Long to provide an enhanced pass rush.

San Diego came into the game at 1-1 following the long layoff. Under offensive-minded Head Coach Don Coryell, the Chargers boasted the league’s most prolific passing attack, guided by QB Dan Fouts and including TE Kellen Winslow and wide receivers Charlie Joiner and Wes Chandler. RB Chuck Muncie provided power and all-purpose RB James Brooks speed.

Skies were overcast for the nationally-televised Monday night game at the Memorial Coliseum with just 42,162 fans in attendance. Fans were disgruntled from the long work stoppage and, as was the case at other locales in this first post-strike weekend, there were many no-shows. The Chargers had the first possession and drove 79 yards in 12 plays. Dan Fouts was quick to go to the air and completed six passes along the way, the longest to TE Eric Sievers for 21 yards, and two penalties on the Raiders helped the visitors along. But with first-and-goal at the one, three carries by Chuck Muncie netted a loss of a yard and Rolf Benirschke kicked a 19-yard field goal.

The Raiders were forced to punt following their first series and San Diego moved quickly to another score, advancing 83 yards in just four plays. Following a five-yard run by Muncie, Fouts (pictured below) connected on passes of 12 yards to Sievers and 22 yards to Charlie Joiner. A personal foul on the Raiders added another ten yards and then Fouts threw to WR Dwight Scales for a 29-yard touchdown. Benirschke added the extra point and the Chargers were ahead by 10-0.

QB Jim Plunkett was intercepted by FS Tim Fox on the next possession, but while Fouts completed passes to Muncie for 27 yards and three to WR Wes Chandler that picked up a total of 41 yards, the Chargers ultimately had to punt. As the game headed into the second quarter, the Raiders also punted and, with good starting field position at the LA 48, San Diego moved quickly down the field. Fouts had completions to Chandler for 24 yards and Kellen Winslow for 19 yards to reach the five yard line, and two plays later Muncie ran up the middle for a two-yard TD. Benirschke added the point after to make it a 17-0 contest.

The Raiders moved well on their next series as Plunkett completed three passes, the longest to WR Malcolm Barnwell for a gain of 25 yards. Marcus Allen picked up 15 yards on a sweep and HB Greg Pruitt ran for another 13, but after reaching the San Diego 29, Plunkett was sacked by DE Leroy Jones for an 11-yard loss and then was intercepted by LB Cliff Thrift. The Chargers made the most of the turnover, going 57 yards in six plays, although it was a 42-yard pass interference penalty on CB Ted Watts that moved them all the way to the LA two. Muncie dove for a one-yard touchdown shortly thereafter and, with Benirschke’s PAT, the visitors extended their lead to 24-0.

Now in a deep hole, the Raiders stormed back. Plunkett completed five passes, with throws to WR Cliff Branch for 16 yards and FB Kenny King (pictured at left) for 28. Allen ran effectively, including a 17-yard carry on a trap play. But Plunkett was again thrown for a loss while rolling out on a third down play and Chris Bahr missed wide to the left on a 36-yard field goal attempt.

LA got a break on the next play, however, as Muncie fumbled the handoff and LB Ted Hendricks recovered for the Raiders at the San Diego 17. Five plays later, Plunkett connected with TE Todd Christensen for a one-yard touchdown to finally get the Raiders on the board. Bahr converted and the score was 24-7 at halftime.

The Raiders punted after a short series to start the third quarter and the Chargers lost ground due to two penalties and a sack of Fouts by Hendricks. Maury Buford punted and the shanked kick traveled only 27 yards to the LA 36. Plunkett came out throwing, hitting Christensen twice for 11 and 12 yards. King and Allen then combined for 40 yards on the ground with the star rookie gaining the last three for a TD. Bahr added the PAT and San Diego’s lead was cut to ten points at 24-14.

Following the kickoff, Fouts threw to Winslow for 21 yards to midfield, but three plays later Winslow fumbled when hit by DB Odis McKinney after catching a short pass and NT Ruben Vaughn recovered for the Raiders. LA scored again in four plays, highlighted by King running for a 21-yard gain up the middle, and Allen swept for the last three yards and another touchdown. Bahr’s extra point made it a three-point game.

The teams traded punts to finish out the period and San Diego started off the fourth quarter with a drive to the LA 15. James Brooks picked up 23 yards on three carries and Fouts had passes to Winslow for 15 yards and Chandler for nine. But the Chargers came up empty when Benirschke missed a 22-yard try for a field goal.

The Raiders responded by going 80 yards in nine plays. Plunkett was successful on three passes, including one to Christensen for 24 yards on a third-and-three play, and Barnwell gained 14 yards on a reverse. FB Frank Hawkins ran for a one-yard TD, Bahr added the point after, and the home team, once down by 24 points, was in front by four with 5:54 remaining to play.

San Diego fought back as Fouts fired to Chandler for completions of 30 and 24 yards. But after getting to the LA 18, Fouts threw into the end zone under a heavy rush and was intercepted by FS Vann McElroy. It in effect clinched the game for the Raiders as, with 1:56 remaining on the clock, they were able to maintain possession until the final seconds when Fouts threw a last desperation pass into the end zone that was batted away to nail down the 28-24 comeback win for Los Angeles.

The Chargers gained more total yards (411 to 326) and had the edge in first downs (26 to 23), but they also turned the ball over four times, to two by LA. The Raiders were dominant on the ground (181 yards to 72).

Marcus Allen rushed for 87 yards on 18 carries that included two touchdowns and caught 5 passes for 37 more yards. Jim Plunkett completed 18 of 25 passes for 163 yards and a TD while giving up two interceptions. Kenny King contributed 68 yards on 13 rushing attempts. Todd Christensen topped the club with 8 catches for 83 yards and a TD.

For the Chargers, Dan Fouts was successful on 24 of 42 throws for 357 yards and a touchdown while tossing two interceptions. Kellen Winslow (pictured below) caught 8 passes for 105 yards and Wes Chandler gained 118 yards on his 7 receptions. Chuck Muncie had six catches for 50 yards but was held to 23 yards on 15 rushing attempts that included two for TDs. James Brooks topped the club with 49 yards on eight carries.

"I don’t know what it is about Monday night football, but we’re very proud of our Monday night record,” said Coach Tom Flores, commenting on the fact that the come-from-behind win gave the Raiders a 19-2-1 record in Monday night contests.

The Raiders lost at Cincinnati the next week but didn’t drop another game during the remainder of the truncated regular season, finishing atop the AFC with an 8-1 record. With the divisions set aside, LA was the top seed in an eight-team conference postseason tournament and handily defeated the Browns in the first round before losing to the Jets in the second. San Diego, which lost to the Raiders again in the season finale, ended up at 6-3 and fifth-seeded in the AFC. The Chargers also won their first round game at Pittsburgh and lost to Miami in the second round.

Marcus Allen continued to have an excellent first season, receiving consensus first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl honors as well as Rookie of the Year recognition. He rushed for 697 yards on 160 carries (4.4 avg.) and caught 38 passes for another 401 yards to lead the league in yards from scrimmage with 1098. His 14 touchdowns also led the circuit, as did his 84 points, making him the first rookie to lead the NFL in scoring since Gale Sayers in 1965.

As he had in each of the previous three seasons, Dan Fouts led the NFL in passing yards with 2883 and also topped the circuit in TD passes (17, tied with Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana) and yards per attempt (8.7). Kellen Winslow led the AFC in pass receptions (54) and Wes Chandler topped the league in pass receiving yards (1032). All three received consensus first-team All-NFL honors and were selected to the Pro Bowl. 

1991: Bills Mount 4th Quarter Rally, Defeat Raiders in OT

The Buffalo Bills, reigning AFC Champions, were 11-2 and had clinched the AFC East title but needed a win to assure home field advantage in the playoffs as they faced the Los Angeles Raiders on December 8, 1991. Head Coach Marv Levy’s team excelled with a quick-striking, no-huddle offense developed by offensive coordinator Ted Marchibroda and directed by QB Jim Kelly (pictured above). Other key players on offense were highly-dependable WR Andre Reed and RB Thurman Thomas, an outstanding all-purpose back. Star DE Bruce Smith missed most of the season with a bad knee but the linebackers and backfield were strengths.

The Raiders, coached by Art Shell, had won four straight games and were contending in the AFC West with a 9-4 record. As usual, the roster was loaded with veterans. QB Jay Schroeder was inconsistent but third-year WR Tim Brown was a rising talent. The defense benefited from the addition of 32-year-old SS Ronnie Lott.

There was a big crowd of 85,081 at the cavernous LA Memorial Coliseum. The teams traded punts before the Raiders, starting at the Buffalo 32, drove to a score in seven plays. RB Marcus Allen ran the ball six times and Jeff Jaeger kicked a 19-yard field goal.

The Bills reached midfield before having to punt and the Raiders started with possession at their seven yard line. However, they took just four plays to advance 93 yards. RB Roger Craig ran twice for 17 yards and, after a short pass to FB Steve Smith lost two yards, Jay Schroeder threw to Tim Brown, who charged down the right sideline for a 78-yard touchdown. Jaeger added the extra point and Los Angeles was ahead by 10-0. The ten-point margin didn’t last long, however, as WR Al Edwards took the ensuing kickoff all the way back for a 91-yard TD. Scott Norwood’s extra point made it a three-point game in short order.

The Raiders had the ball as the contest moved into the second quarter and put together an 80-yard series in 13 plays. Schroeder completed a third-and-four pass to Allen for 21 yards and, after running plays moved the ball to the Buffalo 40, to TE Ethan Horton for a 17-yard gain on third-and-eight. A run by Allen on third-and-10 got the ball to the 14 and Schroeder kept the ball himself for a two-yard gain to convert fourth down. That set up a 12-yard touchdown carry by RB Nick Bell and, with Jaeger’s successful point after, the Raiders were up by 17-7.

The teams again exchanged punts before the Bills, starting at their nine, drove into LA territory. After a roughing-the-passer penalty on first down, Jim Kelly completed four straight passes to start things off, gaining 32 yards to the LA 48. However, facing fourth-and-one shortly thereafter, FB Carwell Gardner was stopped short.

As the half came down to the last two minutes, the Raiders punted and CB Clifford Hicks returned it 59 yards to the LA 33. Three plays later, Kelly threw to TE Keith McKeller for a nine-yard TD and Norwood added the PAT that made it a three-point game once again. But the first half scoring wasn’t yet over as the Raiders drove to the Buffalo 11 in the last minute. The big plays were Schroeder passes to WR Mervyn Fernandez for 16 yards and to Tim Brown for 28 yards. Jaeger kicked a 28-yard field goal and the Raiders were ahead by 20-14 at halftime.

The Bills had first possession in the third quarter and were forced to punt. Los Angeles added to its lead with a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive. The big play was a Schroeder pass to Fernandez that gained 59 yards to the Buffalo 13. An apparent Schroeder touchdown on a fourth down play was reversed upon review of the replay, but five plays later, and with the help of two penalties on the Bills, Allen ran for a TD from a yard out and Jaeger’s extra point made the score 27-14.

Kelly went to the air often in the next series, but after reaching the LA 17 he was sacked by DE Greg Townsend for a nine-yard loss and a false start moved the Bills five yards farther back. Norwood’s 49-yard field goal attempt sailed wide to the right.

The Raiders punted following their next possession and, in a drive that extended into the fourth quarter, the Bills again penetrated deep into Los Angeles territory. Kelly had completions to WR James Lofton for 19 and 16 yards and to Andre Reed (pictured at left) for 12 and 11 yards. But Buffalo once again came up empty when Norwood missed another field goal, this time hitting the right upright from 32 yards away.

The teams traded turnovers when Schroeder fumbled and LB Darryl Talley recovered for the Bills at the LA 28, but two plays later Ronnie Lott intercepted a Kelly pass. The resulting short series for the Raiders that ended with a punt and this time Buffalo did not falter. With Kelly firing exclusively out of the shotgun, the Bills reached the LA three and, on his third attempt, RB Kenneth Davis reached the end zone from a yard out. The snake-bitten Norwood shanked the extra point try, however, and the score remained 27-20 in favor of the Raiders with just over four minutes remaining in regulation.

Playing conservatively, the Raiders ran the ball three times and punted. The Bills took over at their 36 and went 64 yards in eight plays. Kelly started off with back-to-back 13-yard completions to Thurman Thomas but tossed three incomplete passes, with a 10-yard holding penalty interspersed, to face a third-and-20 situation from the LA 48. A pass to Thomas gained 19 yards and, on fourth-and-one, Kelly threw to Reed for a 20-yard gain. Two plays later, Kelly connected with Lofton for a nine-yard TD and, with Norwood coming through with the all-important extra point, the score was tied at 27-27. There was no further scoring in the last minute and the contest headed into overtime.

The Raiders had the first possession in the extra period, but a long Schroeder pass was intercepted by FS Mark Kelso. Starting from their own 36, the Bills struck quickly as Kelly connected with Reed for a 31-yard gain to the LA 33. Thomas ran the ball three times and then Norwood came through with a 42-yard field goal to win the game for Buffalo at 2:34 into overtime by a score of 30-27.

The Bills had the edge in total yards (409 to 386) and first downs (25 to 18). However, they were also penalized 10 times, to five flags thrown on the Raiders. While Scott Norwood’s three missed field goals and one extra point also were a handicap, the Bills benefited from 195 yards in combined kick returns, including a touchdown on a kickoff and a long punt return to set up another score. Los Angeles turned the ball over three times, to one suffered by Buffalo, and the offense faltered badly in the crucial fourth quarter.

Jim Kelly completed 33 of 52 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. Thurman Thomas was held to 57 yards on 15 carries but also had 7 catches for 76 yards. Keith McKeller caught 10 passes for 57 yards and a TD and Andre Reed gained 107 yards on his 8 pass receptions.

For the Raiders, Jay Schroeder was successful on 11 of 21 throws for 252 yards and a TD with two intercepted. Tim Brown (pictured below) gained 106 yards on just two catches thanks to his one long scoring reception. Marcus Allen ran for 57 yards on 16 attempts that included a touchdown and also had three catches for 38 yards. Mervyn Fernandez contributed two receptions for 75 yards.

The win assured that Buffalo would be top seed in the AFC for the postseason. Finishing with a 13-3 record, the Bills advanced to the Super Bowl for the second straight year, but lost to the Washington Redskins. The Raiders fell out of a tie for first in the AFC West with Denver and lost their remaining games to end up third in the AFC West at 9-7, but still secured a playoff spot. With rookie QB Todd Marinovich replacing Jay Schroeder, they lost in the Wild Card round to the Chiefs.

Jim Kelly led the league in TD passes with 33 and the AFC in overall passing with a 97.6 rating. He received consensus first-team All-NFL honors and was chosen to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time. Thurman Thomas topped the NFL with 2038 all-purpose yards and was the AFC rushing leader with 1407 yards. He was the consensus league MVP. Andre Reed was chosen to the Pro Bowl for the fourth straight year after catching 81 passes for 1113 yards and a career-high 10 touchdowns.

Scott Norwood’s placekicking inconsistency was indicative of a season in which he was successful on 18 of 29 field goal attempts, but only 10 of 20 from 30 yards or more. He had missed a potential game-winning field goal try from 47 yards at the conclusion of the previous year’s Super Bowl against the Giants, and it all set the stage for his departure from the Bills after seven years.

1996: Allen’s Last-Minute TD Gives Chiefs Thanksgiving Win Over Lions

The Kansas City Chiefs had an 8-4 record as they faced the Detroit Lions on November 28, 1996, but there were causes for concern. Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer’s team had been to the postseason after each of the past six seasons, although it had come up short of reaching the Super Bowl. The Chiefs had gotten off to a quick start with Steve Bono at quarterback, but he had been benched in favor of backup QB Rich Gannon. 36-year-old RB Marcus Allen (pictured above) was being supplanted by Greg Hill, but was still a master in short yardage situations. The defense, however, was not playing up to past standards.

The Lions, coached by Wayne Fontes, were a high-scoring playoff team in 1995 and got off to a 4-2 start in ’96, but then lost five of their next six games and were struggling at 5-7 as they hosted the Chiefs. RB Barry Sanders remained an exciting big-play runner and WR Herman Moore was one of the league’s best receivers, but QB Scott Mitchell was inconsistent and the defense was unable to compensate for the offseason loss of LB Chris Spielman and FS Willie Clay to free agency. DE Robert Porcher was one of the few bright spots in the unit.

There were over 75,000 fans in attendance at the Pontiac Silverdome for the Thanksgiving Day matchup. The teams exchanged punts to start the game before the Chiefs put together a nine-play, 91-yard scoring drive. Rich Gannon threw to FB Kimble Anders for a 25-yard gain that was immediately followed by Marcus Allen running for 35 yards to the Detroit 28. Allen finished the series off with a one-yard touchdown carry and Pete Stoyanovich added the extra point.

The Lions were driving as the first quarter ended. Scott Mitchell completed a pass to WR Brett Perriman for a 30-yard gain and Barry Sanders had consecutive carries that picked up 21 yards. On the first play of the second quarter, Mitchell connected with WR Johnnie Morton for a 16-yard TD and Jason Hanson tied the score with his successful PAT.

Detroit’s defense came through with a big play on the next series when Gannon, back to pass in a third-and-five situation, fumbled while being sacked by Robert Porcher. DT Mike Wells recovered the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

The Chiefs punted following their next possession but got the ball back when Mitchell threw a pass that was intercepted by LB Donnie Edwards, who returned it 22 yards to the Detroit 24. The visitors made the most of the opportunity when, following two running plays, Gannon threw to WR Chris Penn for a 17-yard TD. Stoyanovich added the extra point and the contest was again tied at 14-14.

The Lions drove into Kansas City territory as Mitchell converted a third-and-nine play with a 10-yard completion to Perriman and Sanders cut outside for a 41-yard gain. But after reaching the KC 25, Sanders threw an option pass that was picked off by FS Mark Collins in the end zone. With 2:38 remaining in the half, the Chiefs moved methodically down the field, but time ran out at the Detroit 32 and the score remained knotted at the intermission.

The Lions took the second half kickoff and again advanced into KC territory. Mitchell completed five passes, but a tipped throw was intercepted by CB Tony Stargell at the Kansas City 18. The Chiefs were forced to punt and this time Detroit didn’t come up empty. The Lions moved 81 yards in 14 plays, the longest a 17-yard pass play from Mitchell to Herman Moore that set up a 13-yard scoring run around end by Sanders. Hanson added the extra point and the score was 21-14 heading into the final period.

The Chiefs responded with a nine-play, 64-yard series. Greg Hill (pictured at left) ran effectively, picking up 38 yards in four carries, and Gannon threw to TE Derrick Walker for a nine-yard touchdown. Stoyanovich added the PAT and the score was once again tied.

Detroit put together a series that was highlighted by Mitchell throwing to Perriman for a 44-yard gain to the Kansas City two. However, the Lions were unable to reach the end zone from there and settled for a 21-yard Hanson field goal. Still, they were in front by 24-21 midway through the fourth quarter.

The Chiefs responded with a long drive of 76 yards in 15 plays that burned nearly eight minutes off the clock. Hill ran the ball seven times for 29 yards and Kansas City converted two third downs. Gannon ran for 16 yards and contributed three short pass completions. Finally, it was the veteran Allen diving for the last yard and a touchdown. Stoyanovich added the extra point and the visitors were up by four with less than a minute remaining to play. Time ran out on the Lions and Kansas City came away the winner by a final score of 28-24.

The Chiefs had the edge in total yards (338 to 318), with 243 of that total coming on the ground. Kansas City also had more first downs (26 to 21). The Lions were hurt by three turnovers, to one suffered by the Chiefs.

Rich Gannon was efficient as he completed 15 of 18 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns with none intercepted. He also ran the ball seven times for 45 yards. Greg Hill rushed for 103 yards on 17 carries and Marcus Allen contributed 73 yards on 15 attempts that included two for TDs. Kimble Anders led the team with 5 catches for 44 yards.

For the Lions, Scott Mitchell was successful on 18 of 29 throws for 247 yards and a TD, but with two intercepted. Brett Perriman caught 8 of those passes for 131 yards and Herman Moore added 7 receptions for 84 yards. Barry Sanders rushed for 77 yards on 20 carries.

“It wasn’t pretty, but we won,” summed up Rich Gannon. “I have to give a lot of credit to the offensive line, because they just pounded the Detroit defense. We ran the ball a ton, and they really came through.”

The win for the Chiefs marked the season’s high water mark for the club. They lost their last three games to end up with a 9-7 record, second in the AFC West and out of the postseason. Detroit also lost its remaining games to finish at 5-11 and at the bottom of the NFC Central. It marked the end of the line for Coach Fontes after more than eight seasons at the helm (he was elevated to head coach during the 1988 season).

Marcus Allen’s two rushing touchdowns gave him 112 and broke a tie with Walter Payton for the NFL career record (he would end up with 123). For the year, Allen rushed for 830 yards on 206 carries (4.0 avg.) and scored nine TDs. Greg Hill gained 645 yards on 135 attempts for a 4.8 average and four touchdowns. Rich Gannon, over the course of four games, completed 60 percent of his passes (54 of 90) for 491 yards with six touchdowns and just one interception. His best days were yet to come – and would come in Oakland, not Kansas City. 

Rookie of the Year: Marcus Allen, 1982

Running Back, Los Angeles Raiders

Age: 22

College: Southern California

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 205

Prelude:

Allen was used primarily as a blocking fullback in his first two college seasons, but became the starting tailback as a junior with spectacular results. He won the 1981 Heisman Trophy, capping a season in which he rushed for 2427 yards and 22 touchdowns, and was chosen by the Raiders in the first round of the ’82 draft (10^th overall).

1982 Season Summary

Appeared and started in all 9 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Rushing

Attempts – 160 [6]

Most attempts, game - 25 (for 93 yds.) vs. LA Rams 12/18

Yards – 697 [4]

Most yards, game – 156 yards (on 24 carries) vs. Seattle 12/5

Average gain – 4.4 [7, tied with George Rogers]

TDs – 11 [1]

100-yard rushing games - 3

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 38 [12, tied with Wendell Tyler]

Most receptions, game – 8 (for 61 yds.) vs. LA Rams 12/18

Yards – 401

Most yards, game - 91 (on 5 catches) vs. Denver 12/26

Average gain – 10.6

TDs - 3

Passing

Pass attempts – 4

Pass completions – 1

Passing yardage – 47

TD passes – 0

Interceptions – 0

All-Purpose yards – 1098 [2]

Scoring

TDs – 14 [1]

Points – 84 [1]

Postseason: 2 G

Rushing attempts – 32

Most rushing attempts, game - 17 vs. Cleveland, AFC First Round playoff

Rushing yards – 108

Most rushing yards, game - 72 vs. Cleveland, AFC First Round playoff

Average gain rushing – 3.4

Rushing TDs – 3

Pass receptions – 12

Most pass receptions, game - 6 vs. Cleveland, AFC First Round playoff, vs. NY Jets, AFC Second Round playoff

Pass receiving yards - 112

Most pass receiving yards, game - 75 vs. Cleveland, AFC First Round playoff

Average yards per reception – 9.3

Pass Receiving TDs - 0

Awards & Honors:

NFL Rookie of the Year: NEA, Sporting News

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year: AP, PFWA

AFC Rookie of the Year: UPI

1^st team All-NFL: AP, PFWA, NEA, Pro Football Weekly

1^st team All-AFC: UPI

Pro Bowl

Raiders went 8-1 in strike-shortened season and were first seed in the AFC playoff tournament that replaced the usual postseason format. Won First Round playoff over Cleveland Browns (27-10). Lost Second Round playoff to New York Jets (17-14).

Aftermath:

Allen gained over a thousand yards rushing in each of the next three seasons, with a high of 1759 yards in 1985, which led the league along with his 2314 yards from scrimmage. He also was the MVP of the Super Bowl following the ’83 season, after rushing for 191 yards, and led the NFL with 18 touchdowns in 1984. Allen was a proficient receiver out of the backfield, catching a total of 237 passes in his first four seasons. He played for 16 years in the NFL, and went to the Pro Bowl six times, but after 1985 never again ran for a thousand yards or caught more than 51 passes. Bothered by injuries (and involved in disputes with owner Al Davis), Allen shared time with other running backs during the remainder of his career with the Raiders, most notably Bo Jackson. Signing with the Chiefs as a free agent in 1993 reinvigorated his career at age 33, and he led the NFL with 12 rushing touchdowns. Allen retired in 1997 with 123 career touchdowns, as well as 12,243 rushing yards and 587 pass receptions for another 5412 yards. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2003.

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were named Rookie of the Year in the NFL, AFL (1960-69), or USFL (1983-85) by a recognized organization (Associated Press – Offense or Defense, Newspaper Enterprise Association, United Press International, The Sporting News, or the league itself – Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year). 

1984: Raiders Overwhelm Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII

Super Bowl XVIII on January 22, 1984 featured the defending NFL Champions, the Washington Redskins, against the Los Angeles Raiders. If anything, the Redskins, coached by Joe Gibbs, appeared to be even better in ’83, at least on offense. After losing their opening game, they breezed through the rest of the schedule to again top the NFC East at 14-2. Along the way, they set a new league record for points (541) thanks to a high-powered offense directed by QB Joe Theismann and including RB John Riggins and wide receivers Charlie Brown, Art Monk, and Alvin Garrett along with an outstanding offensive line, known as “the Hogs”. If there were major concerns, they were in regard to the pass defense. 

The Raiders, coached by Tom Flores, topped the AFC West with a 12-4 record. While QB Jim Plunkett had lost his job to Marc Wilson for a time during the season, he played well down the stretch. Second-year RB Marcus Allen (pictured above) was outstanding both as a runner from scrimmage and receiver out of the backfield, TE Todd Christensen caught 92 passes, and veteran WR Cliff Branch was still productive when healthy. The veteran-laden defense was tough and aggressive.

The two teams had met during the regular season and the Redskins won an exciting back-and-forth contest in Washington. The defending champs, having thrashed the Rams and then just gotten past the 49ers in the postseason to win the NFC title, were three-point favorites coming into the game. Meanwhile, LA had soundly beaten the Steelers and Seahawks in the playoffs.

There were 72,920 fans in attendance at Tampa Stadium. Following their first possession, the Redskins were forced to punt from their 30 yard line. The kick by Jeff Hayes was blocked by TE Derrick Jensen (pictured below), who then recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown to give Los Angeles the early lead.

On Washington’s next series, it was the turn of the Raiders to suffer a miscue on a punt as the kick by Hayes hit Los Angeles CB Ted Watts in the back and was recovered by the Redskins. However, they failed to capitalize, gaining just 15 yards before Mark Moseley missed a field goal try from 44 yards out.

Both teams had difficulty generating offense in the early going. On the third play of the second quarter, it seemed as though the Redskins might benefit from a botched punt when Ray Guy had to jump for a high snap, but he one-handed it and was able to get the kick away. LA held the Redskins on the next series and, upon regaining possession, came out throwing. Jim Plunkett connected with Cliff Branch down the middle for a 50-yard gain. Two plays later, it was Plunkett to Branch again for a 12-yard touchdown and, with the successful extra point, a 14-0 lead.

Down by two touchdowns, the Redskins put together a 13-play, 73-yard series, highlighted by Theismann completing a pass to Alvin Garrett for 17 yards in a third-and-17 situation and throwing to TE Clint Didier twice, for 18 yards and then 20 yards to get inside the LA 20. However, they were unable to reach the end zone as the drive stalled at the seven. Moseley kicked a 24-yard field goal to get Washington on the board.

The Redskins got the ball back following a punt by the Raiders at their 12 yard line with 12 seconds left in the half. Theismann, with three receivers set wide to his right, tossed a swing pass to the left intended for RB Joe Washington – a play that had been a big-gainer when the clubs met in the regular season – but LB Jack Squirek stepped in front of the receiver, picked off the pass at the five, and had clear sailing for a touchdown (pictured at left) that made it 21-3 in favor of the Raiders at the half.

Washington started the second half strong with a 70-yard scoring drive. Theismann completed three passes and John Riggins ran the ball six times, the last on a one-yard plunge into the end zone for a TD. However, TE Don Hasselbeck blocked Moseley’s extra point attempt to keep the score at 21-9.

The Raiders responded with a 70-yard drive in eight plays that was helped along by a 38-yard pass interference penalty on CB Darrell Green. Los Angeles converted a third-and-four play at the Washington 11 as Plunkett threw to FB Frank Hawkins for six yards and Marcus Allen capped the series with a five-yard touchdown carry.

Trying to keep up, the Redskins were unable to convert on fourth-and-one at the LA 26 and, on the last play of the third quarter, Allen made a big play that, for all intents, finished off the defending champs. With a first down at the LA 26, Allen took a pitchout from Plunkett and began to sweep to his left. However, with SS Ken Coffey fast approaching, he reversed field and had clear sailing to a 74-yard TD. It set a new Super Bowl record for longest run, eclipsing the 58-yard carry by Tom Matte of the Colts in Super Bowl III. More importantly for the Raiders, it put Washington in a very deep hole at 35-9.

The fourth quarter was anticlimactic. The Raiders added a 21-yard field goal by Chris Bahr following an interception by CB Mike Haynes and came away with a stunning 38-9 win. It was the most points scored in a Super Bowl up to that time, as well as a record victory margin.

LA had more total yards (385 to 283) although the Redskins generated more first downs (19 to 18). But, critically, Washington was only able to gain 90 yards on the ground, averaging 2.5 yards per carry as the Raiders typically dominated the line of scrimmage.  In addition, the Los Angeles defense sacked Theismann six times and the Redskins turned the ball over three times – once directly for a score – as opposed to two turnovers by LA.

NT Reggie Kinlaw was a big part of the successful effort against the ground game while cornerbacks Mike Haynes and Lester Hayes blanketed wide receivers Charlie Brown and Art Monk.

Marcus Allen was the game’s MVP as he rushed for 191 yards on 20 carries that included two touchdowns;  the rushing total set a new Super Bowl record, breaking that of John Riggins set a year earlier. Jim Plunkett completed 16 of 25 passes for 172 yards and a TD with none intercepted. Cliff Branch (pictured at right) caught 6 passes for 94 yards and a score.

For the Redskins, the continually-harassed Joe Theismann was successful on 16 of 35 throws for 243 yards with no touchdowns and two picked off. John Riggins was held to 64 rushing yards on 26 carries and scored a TD. Clint Didier led the club with 5 pass receptions, for 65 yards, while Charlie Brown gained 93 yards on his three catches.

 “The turning point was when they scored at the start of the second half and we came right back and scored,” said Tom Flores. “That was big for us.”

“What hurt the most was the Raiders coming back right after we scored at the start of the third quarter,” echoed Charlie Brown in summing up the defeat.

“This is the first time since Joe Gibbs has been here that any team has controlled our offense the way the Raiders did,” Joe Theismann noted.

“They pressed us with tight man-to-man coverages,” explained Coach Gibbs. “When they play you like that you either get the big plays or you have problems.”

In speaking to the Raiders afterward, managing general partner Al Davis enthused, “Of all the great teams we’ve had, this team dominated so much that, in my opinion, you are the greatest Raider team of all time and you rank with the greatest teams that ever played in any sport.”

The Raiders were 11-5 in the highly-competitive AFC West in 1984, reaching the postseason as a Wild Card team and losing to the division-rival Seahawks in the first playoff round. Washington topped the NFC East again in ’84, but also fell short of a return to the Super Bowl with a loss to the Bears in the Divisional round of the playoffs. The Redskins would win another NFC title in 1987, by which time such stalwarts as Joe Theismann and John Riggins were long gone. 

1993: Marcus Allen Signs with Chiefs

On June 9, 1993 the Kansas City Chiefs signed 33-year-old free agent RB Marcus Allen to three one-year contracts. Allen joined another established veteran, QB Joe Montana, who had come to the Chiefs via trade from the 49ers earlier in the offseason.

Allen had played 11 seasons for the Los Angeles Raiders and was ranked 12^th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list following the ’92 season. Having won the Heisman Trophy at USC in 1981, he was taken by the Raiders, newly moved from Oakland to LA, in the first round of the NFL draft and led the league in yards from scrimmage (1098) and rushing touchdowns (11) in the strike-shortened ’82 season. When the Raiders won the Super Bowl following the 1983 season, Allen was the game’s MVP with a then-record 191 yards rushing, and in the four seasons from 1984 through ’87 he was selected to the Pro Bowl. He also received MVP honors in 1985 as he led the NFL with 1759 rushing yards and caught 67 passes for 555 more yards, adding up to a league-leading total of 2314 yards from scrimmage.

A versatile back who excelled both at running the ball and catching it out of the backfield, the 6’2”, 210-pound Allen had been one of pro football’s best backs in his first six seasons. But beginning with the arrival of RB Bo Jackson in 1987, who split his time between major league baseball and pro football, Allen became less of a factor in the Raiders’ offense. To be sure, injuries played a role in Allen’s decline, but even after Jackson’s career came to an end in the 1990 postseason, he found himself backing up other running backs (including over-the-hill former stars Roger Craig and Eric Dickerson) due to a bitter feud with LA’s managing general partner, Al Davis. In 1991 and ’92, he carried the ball just 130 times and publicly accused Davis of trying to wreck his career. In a parting shot after the season, Davis referred to Allen as an “asterisk” in Raiders history.

Having Montana on the team was a selling point for Allen to sign with Kansas City.  “You’d have to be crazy not to take advantage of an opportunity to play with Joe Montana,” he said. “I want to go to the Super Bowl and Kansas City does, too. Hopefully, I can help them get there.”

The Chiefs had become a revitalized franchise with the arrival of President/GM Carl Peterson and Head Coach Marty Schottenheimer in 1989. Having had just two winning seasons and one postseason appearance in the 14 years between the end of the Hank Stram coaching era and the arrival of Peterson and Schottenheimer, Kansas City had put together four straight winning records and three consecutive trips to the playoffs from ’89 through 1992. However, the Chiefs had yet to make it beyond the Divisional playoff round, and it was hoped that adding the two accomplished veterans would get the team deeper into the postseason.

“The last couple of years I haven’t had much enthusiasm, and it showed in my play,” said Allen at the time of his signing with Kansas City, alluding to the conflict with Al Davis. “Believe me, there’s a lot left. You’ll see.”

Allen proved during the 1993 season that he did indeed have something left. When young RB Harvey Williams had difficulties in the early going, the savvy veteran moved into the starting lineup and rushed for 764 yards on 206 carries (both figures his most since the ’88 season) and caught 34 passes for another 238 yards. He tied for the AFC lead with 15 touchdowns and led the entire NFL in rushing TDs with 12. It earned Allen selection to the Pro Bowl for the first time in six years. While he might have lost a step, he was still a solid all-around back and fit well in Kansas City’s offense.

With Montana and Allen in the lineup the Chiefs won the AFC West in ’93 with an 11-5 record and advanced to the conference title game before losing to Buffalo. That would prove to be the postseason high-water mark for Kansas City during the period in which Montana, who retired following the 1994 season, and Allen were with the club.

In all, Allen played another four seasons for the Chiefs, rushing for a total of 3698 yards (of a career total 12,243) with a high of 890 in 1995 and pulling in 141 catches for 1153 yards (he retired with 587 receptions, the most for a running back up to that time). Even as a backup in 1997, his last year at age 37, he still rushed for 11 touchdowns, giving him a career total of 145 (123 by rushing). While there were no Super Bowl appearances, Kansas City did make it to the playoffs in three of those four years (four of five overall). It was also no doubt satisfying for Allen that the Chiefs posted a 9-1 record against the Raiders during his tenure with the team.

As a footnote, Marcus Allen was ultimately enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, part of the Class of 2003.