The 1998 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 39th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 29th overall.
The season began with the team hoping to not only improve on their 13–3 campaign the previous season but to also avenge their loss in the 1998 playoffs against the eventual Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. However, instead, the Chiefs failed to succeed in the highly competitive AFC West.
Kansas City began the season on a bright spot, with a 4–1 record and three wins against division rivals; however they then endured a 6-game losing streak, dropping their record to 4–7, and the team finished with a 7–9 record and 4th place in the AFC West. The biggest low point of the season was during a Week 11 matchup against their division rival Denver Broncos, in which the Chiefs defense were penalized five times on the same drive, including three penalties by linebacker Derrick Thomas, topping off an embarrassing 30–7 loss.
This was the first losing season of head coach Marty Schottenheimer's career. Following the season, Schottenheimer announced his intention to resign after ten seasons with the team, and defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham assumed coaching duties for 1999.
This was the first time Derrick Thomas was not named to the Pro Bowl roster.
Offseason On April 9, Marcus Allen announced his retirement.
Draft
Personnel
Staff
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 vs. Green Bay Packers L 24–27 0–1 Tokyo Dome 42,018 Recap 2 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 17–13 1–1 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium 43,657 Recap 3 at Minnesota Vikings L 0–34 1–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 60,955 Recap 4 Jacksonville Jaguars W 22–21 2–2 Arrowhead Stadium 71,079 Recap 5 St. Louis Rams L 6–10 2–3 Arrowhead Stadium 69,501 Recap
Regular season The Chiefs began the season well on September 6 with an impressive performance and easily defeated the Oakland Raiders at Arrowhead 28–8. Kansas City sacked the Raiders quarterbacks 10 times, with Derrick Thomas collecting 6 by himself.
On September 13, Kansas City fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars on the road, 21–16.
On September 27, the Chiefs visited the Philadelphia Eagles for the first time in franchise history.
On October 4, Kansas City conquered the Seattle Seahawks and the rain at Arrowhead, 17–6. Rich Gannon hit Andre Rison for an 80-yard touchdown pass after a 54-minute rain delay caused by a violent storm. The two teams combined for nine turnovers, five by Kansas City. The win improved the Chiefs' record to 4–1, however a 6-game losing streak following this game dropped the team to 4–7.
On November 16, against the Denver Broncos, the Chiefs defense was penalized five times on one drive, three of the penalties coming from legendary linebacker Derrick Thomas. The game is known now by Chiefs fans as the "Monday Night Meltdown". After that it was all downhill as the Chiefs suffered their first losing season since 1988.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 6 Oakland Raiders W 28–8 1–0 Arrowhead Stadium 78,945 Recap 2 September 13 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 16–21 1–1 Alltel Stadium 69,821 Recap 3 September 20 San Diego Chargers W 23–7 2–1 Arrowhead Stadium 73,730 Recap 4 September 27 at Philadelphia Eagles W 24–21 3–1 Veterans Stadium 66,675 Recap 5 October 4 Seattle Seahawks W 17–6 4–1 Arrowhead Stadium 66,418 Recap 6 October 11 at New England Patriots L 10–40 4–2 Foxboro Stadium 59,749 Recap 7Bye 8 Pittsburgh Steelers L 13–20 4–3 Arrowhead Stadium 79,431 Recap 9 November 1 New York Jets L 17–20 4–4 Arrowhead Stadium 65,104 Recap 10 November 8 at Seattle Seahawks L 12–24 4–5 Kingdome 66,251 Recap 11 Denver Broncos L 7–30 4–6 Arrowhead Stadium 78,100 Recap 12 November 22 at San Diego Chargers L 37–38 4–7 Qualcomm Stadium 59,894 Recap 13 November 29 Arizona Cardinals W 34–24 5–7 Arrowhead Stadium 69,613 Recap 14 December 6 at Denver Broncos L 31–35 5–8 Mile High Stadium 74,962 Recap 15 December 13 Dallas Cowboys W 20–17 6–8 Arrowhead Stadium 77,697 Recap 16 December 20 at New York Giants L 7–28 6–9 Giants Stadium 66,040 Recap 17 at Oakland Raiders W 31–24 7–9 Network Associates Coliseum 52,679 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 3: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 4: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 5: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 6: at New England Patriots
Week 8: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 9: vs. New York Jets
Week 10: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 11: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 12: at San Diego Chargers
Week 13: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 14: at Denver Broncos
Week 15: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 16: at New York Giants
Week 17: at Oakland Raiders
Standings
Awards and records The team was penalized 158 times for 1,304 yards, an NFL record that stood until the Oakland Raiders surpassed it in 2011.
References