1988 Kansas City Chiefs season
The 1988 Kansas City Chiefs season was the franchise's 19th season in the National Football League and the 29th overall.
1988 Kansas City Chiefs season | |
---|---|
Owner | Lamar Hunt |
General manager | Jim Schaaf (fired Dec. 8) Carl Peterson (after Dec. 19) |
Head coach | Frank Gansz |
Home field | Arrowhead Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 4–11–1 |
Division place | 5th AFC West |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | LB Dino Hackett CB Albert Lewis S Deron Cherry |
Bill Kenney opened the team's initial two games at quarterback, but was replaced by Steve DeBerg for the second half against Seattle.[1] DeBerg guided the team to a 20–13 win against Denver in his initial start as a member of the Chiefs. However, six losses, and a tie followed as Kenney and DeBerg jostled for the starting job.
As the season drew to a close, it became apparent the winds of change were blowing across the organization. President Jack Steadman resigned on December 8, while general manager Jim Schaaf was relieved of his duties the same day.[1] Steadman was later named chairman of the board. On the field, the Chiefs finished the year at 4–11–1 as questions swirled regarding head coach Frank Gansz's future and who would fill the club's leadership void. One day after the season's conclusion, former Philadelphia Eagles and United States Football League executive Carl Peterson was named the club's president/general manager and chief operating officer on December 19.
Offseason
The spring was marked by several notable trades as the club jockeyed to improve on its 4–11 finish in 1987. Todd Blackledge was traded to Pittsburgh on March 29 and 12-year veteran quarterback Steve DeBerg was acquired from Tampa Bay on March 31. The Chiefs moved up one spot in the first round of the draft to select defensive end Neil Smith with the second overall pick.
NFL draft
1988 Kansas City Chiefs draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | Neil Smith * | Defensive end | Nebraska | |
3 | 59 | Kevin Porter | Defensive back | Auburn | |
4 | 96 | Johnny Ray Ambrose | Wide receiver | Mississippi | |
6 | 139 | James Saxon | Running back | San Jose State | |
7 | 170 | Troy Stedman | Linebacker | Washburn | |
8 | 197 | Alfredo Roberts | Tight end | Miami (FL) | |
9 | 224 | Azizuddin Abdur-Ra'oof | Wide receiver | Maryland | |
10 | 251 | Kenny Gamble | Running back | Colgate | |
11 | 282 | Danny McManus | Quarterback | Florida State | |
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
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
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
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Preseason
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 6 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 34–21 | 1–0 | Arrowhead Stadium | 31,947 | Recap |
2 | August 13 | at Atlanta Falcons | W 27–13 | 2–0 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 23,369 | Recap |
3 | August 19 | at Green Bay Packers | T 21–21 (OT) | 2–0–1 | Milwaukee County Stadium | 32,361 | Recap |
4 | August 25 | Phoenix Cardinals | L 21–41 | 2–1–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 36,883 | Recap |
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 4 | Cleveland Browns | L 3–6 | 0–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 55,654 | Recap |
2 | September 11 | at Seattle Seahawks | L 10–31 | 0–2 | Kingdome | 61,512 | Recap |
3 | September 18 | Denver Broncos | W 20–13 | 1–2 | Arrowhead Stadium | 63,268 | Recap |
4 | September 25 | San Diego Chargers | L 23–24 | 1–3 | Arrowhead Stadium | 45,498 | Recap |
5 | October 2 | at New York Jets | T 17–17 (OT) | 1–3–1 | Giants Stadium | 66,110 | Recap |
6 | October 9 | at Houston Oilers | L 6–7 | 1–4–1 | Houston Astrodome | 39,134 | Recap |
7 | October 16 | Los Angeles Raiders | L 17–27 | 1–5–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 77,078 | Recap |
8 | October 23 | Detroit Lions | L 6–7 | 1–6–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 66,926 | Recap |
9 | October 30 | at Los Angeles Raiders | L 10–17 | 1–7–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 36,103 | Recap |
10 | November 6 | at Denver Broncos | L 11–17 | 1–8–1 | Mile High Stadium | 74,227 | Recap |
11 | November 13 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 31–28 | 2–8–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 34,614 | Recap |
12 | November 20 | Seattle Seahawks | W 27–24 | 3–8–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 33,152 | Recap |
13 | November 27 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 10–16 | 3–9–1 | Three Rivers Stadium | 42,057 | Recap |
14 | December 4 | New York Jets | W 38–34 | 4–9–1 | Arrowhead Stadium | 30,059 | Recap |
15 | December 11 | at New York Giants | L 12–28 | 4–10–1 | Giants Stadium | 69,807 | Recap |
16 | December 18 | at San Diego Chargers | L 13–24 | 4–11–1 | Jack Murphy Stadium | 26,339 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Week 1: vs. Cleveland Browns
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Browns | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 4
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Mostly Cloudy, 77 °F (25 °C)
- Game attendance: 55,654
- Referee: Jim Tunney
- TV announcers (NBC): Gary Gerould and Reggie Rucker
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
Seahawks | 3 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 31 |
at Kingdome, Seattle, Washington
- Date: September 11
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT/1:00 p.m. PDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 61,512
- Referee: Jerry Markbreit
- TV announcers (NBC): Sam Nover and Jon Morris
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs. Denver Broncos
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
Chiefs | 3 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 18
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Cloudy and Rain, 73 °F (23 °C)
- Game attendance: 63,268
- Referee: Jerry Seeman
- TV announcers (NBC): Jim Donovan and Joe Namath
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 4: vs. San Diego Chargers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chargers | 14 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
Chiefs | 0 | 14 | 9 | 0 | 23 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: September 25
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 78 °F (26 °C)
- Game attendance: 45,498
- Referee: Pat Haggerty
- TV announcers (NBC): Ray Scott and Merlin Olsen
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 5: at New York Jets
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 17 |
Jets | 3 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
- Date: October 2
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT/3:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 78 °F (26 °C)
- Game attendance: 66,110
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- TV announcers (NBC): Merle Harmon and Al DeRogatis
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 6: at Houston Oilers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
Oilers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
- Date: October 9
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 39,134
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV announcers (NBC): Jay Randolph and Reggie Rucker
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 7: vs. Los Angeles Raiders
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 7 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 27 |
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 16
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 67 °F (19 °C)
- Game attendance: 77,078
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers (NBC): Tom Hammond and Joe Namath
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 8: vs. Detroit Lions
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: October 23
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear and Sunny, 58 °F (14 °C)
- Game attendance: 66,926
- Referee: Tom Dooley
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel and Ken Stabler
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 9: at Los Angeles Raiders
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
Raiders | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
- Date: October 30
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: Clear, 70 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 36,103
- Referee: Johnny Grier
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 10: at Denver Broncos
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 |
Broncos | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado
- Date: November 6
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST/2:00 p.m. MST
- Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 63 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 74,227
- Referee: Gordon McCarter
- TV announcers (NBC): Gary Gerould and Reggie Rucker
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 11: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bengals | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
Chiefs | 6 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 31 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 13
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 59 °F (15 °C)
- Game attendance: 34,614
- Referee: Jerry Seeman
- TV announcers (NBC): Don Criqui and Bob Trumpy
- Recap
Game information | ||
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Week 12: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seahawks | 0 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
Chiefs | 7 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 27 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: November 20
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 34 °F (1 °C)
- Game attendance: 33,152
- Referee: Bob McElwee
- TV announcers (NBC): Gary Gerould and Jimmy Cefalo
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 13: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
Steelers | 6 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: November 27
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Partly Cloudy, 51 °F (11 °C)
- Game attendance: 42,057
- Referee: Dick Jorgensen
- TV announcers (NBC): Gary Gerould and Reggie Rucker
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 14: vs. New York Jets
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jets | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
Chiefs | 14 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 38 |
at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri
- Date: December 4
- Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Sunny, 44 °F (7 °C)
- Game attendance: 30,059
- Referee: Fred Wyant
- TV announcers (NBC): Marv Albert and Paul Maguire
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 15: at New York Giants
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 0 | 3 | 9 | 0 | 12 |
Giants | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 28 |
at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Game information | ||
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Week 16: at San Diego Chargers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chiefs | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
Chargers | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
Game information | ||
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Standings
AFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Seattle Seahawks(3) | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 6–2 | 8–4 | 339 | 329 | W2 |
Denver Broncos | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 3–5 | 5–7 | 327 | 352 | W1 |
Los Angeles Raiders | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 6–2 | 6–6 | 325 | 369 | L2 |
San Diego Chargers | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 3–5 | 4–8 | 231 | 332 | W2 |
Kansas City Chiefs | 4 | 11 | 1 | .281 | 2–6 | 4–9–1 | 254 | 320 | L2 |
References
- "Kansas City Chiefs History 1980's". Archived from the original on August 6, 2007. Retrieved July 31, 2007.
- "1988 Kansas City Chiefs draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 12, 2014.