Visitor:  Indianapolis Colts

Home:  Kansas City Chiefs

Date:  January 7, 1996

AFC Divisional Playoff

 

Scoring:

Team               1          2          3          4          Final

IND                 0          7          3          0            10

KC                  7          0          0          0             7

 

Visitor playmakers:

WR Floyd Turner, CB Ashley Ambrose, LB Quentin Coryatt, CB Eugene Daniel

 

Home playmakers:

WR Lake Dawson, CB Mark Collins, CB Dale Carter, S Martin Bayless, DE Vaughn Booker, DE Neil Smith

 

Network:  NBC (KSDK St. Louis)

Announcers:  Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire, Phil Simms

 

Pregame:  No – JIP just after kickoff

Halftime:  No

Postgame:  Yes

Commercials:  Yes

 

Grade:  8.5/10 (low audio)

 

Notes:  Frigid conditions, four turnovers, and three missed field goals contributed to one of the most shocking upsets in Chiefs history as Kansas City (13-3) suffered a 10-7 loss to Indianapolis (9-7) at Arrowhead.

 

A kickoff temperature of 11 degrees and a wind chill of -9 seemingly did little to faze the dome-dwelling Colts.  Indianapolis didn’t lose any of its four fumbles and despite missing two field goals, it still made one when it counted as Kansas City squandered a solid effort from its league-leading scoring defense and 94 rushing yards from Marcus Allen, the fourth-best total in KC playoff history.

 

The Chiefs got off to a promising start, putting together a five-play, 62-yard TD drive on their third possession of the game.  That march culminated with a 20-yard scoring pass from QB Steve Bono to WR Lake Dawson to give Kansas City its only score of the day and a 7-0 lead.

 

Colts QB Jim Harbaugh then made arguably the biggest play of the game on Indianapolis’ next possession.  Facing third-and-11 at his own 22-yard line, Harbaugh scrambled for an 18-yard gain.  The Colts would convert six times on either third or fourth down on the drive, including a five-yard TD catch by WR Floyd Turner on third down which capped an 18-play, 77-yard drive that ate 8:40 off the clock and tied the count at 7-7.

 

Indianapolis K Cary Blanchard was short on a 47-yard FG after a KC fumble.  Chiefs K (name removed) had a shot to put his team ahead with 0:12 left in the first half, but he was wide right from 35 yards out as the contest remained tied at halftime.

 

Kansas City boasted an NFL-best +12 turnover differential during the regular season and forced its only takeaway of the day when CB Mark Collins picked off Harbaugh.  But just two plays later, Bono was intercepted by CB Ashley Ambrose, setting up a 30-yard FG to put the Colts ahead 10-7 with 2:48 left in the third quarter.

 

KC’s defense kept it close in the final 15 minutes, but it was not enough.  (Name removed) was wide right on a 39-yard field goal to open the fourth quarter and Bono was picked off by LB Quentin Coryatt on the Chiefs next possession.  KC still appeared to have a shot when Blanchard’s 49-yard FG fell short with 5:44 left in the game, but three plays later Bono was picked off by CB Eugene Daniel.  However, the Chiefs defense held once again, setting the stage for one final drive with 4:12 remaining in the contest.

 

QB Rich Gannon came on in relief of Bono and took over at the Chiefs 18-yard line.  He methodically moved the club downfield, converting three third downs, including a 14-yard scramble that put Kansas City at the Colts 25-yard line with 0:56 left.  Gannon narrowly missed WR Lake Dawson in the end zone on third down, setting the stage for a final field goal attempt by (name removed) from 42 yards out.  But the kick sailed wide left as Indianapolis claimed a 10-7 victory and advanced to the AFC Championship Game.

 

Thanks Adam!

 

Running time:  2:55 (2 discs)