The 1997 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 28th in the National Football League (NFL) and their 38th overall. The Chiefs improved on their 9–7 record from 1996, and finished with a 13–3 record and as AFC West division champions. The Rich Gannon–Elvis Grbac quarterback controversy was a focal point of the team's season.Gretz, Bob. Quarterbacks and controversy KCChiefs.com, November 1, 2006 It brewed throughout the entire season and arguably cost the Chiefs a victory in the playoffs. The Chiefs were defeated by division rival and eventual Super Bowl champion, Denver Broncos, in the 1997 playoffs. 1997 was the final season the Chiefs appeared in the playoffs during the 1990s and for the next several seasons, they fell into futility. They did not return to the playoffs until 2003.
This was the last season that head coach Marty Schottenheimer would coach the team into the playoffs, with the loss to Denver in the divisional round 14–10 capping off many years of disappointing playoff struggles. This was also the final season for future Hall of Fame running back Marcus Allen.
Offseason NFL draft
Personnel Staff
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 Pittsburgh Steelers L 14–28 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium 72,726 Recap 2 at New Orleans Saints L 7–26 0–2 Louisiana Superdome 55,211 Recap 3 Carolina Panthers W 30–10 1–2 Arrowhead Stadium 76,972 Recap 4 at St. Louis Rams L 13–14 1–3 Trans World Dome 63,936 Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 August 31 at Denver Broncos L 3–19 0–1 Mile High Stadium 75,600 Recap 2 at Oakland Raiders W 28–27 1–1 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum 61,523 Recap 3 September 14 Buffalo Bills W 22–16 2–1 Arrowhead Stadium 78,169 Recap 4 September 21 at Carolina Panthers W 35–14 3–1 Ericsson Stadium 67,402 Recap 5 September 28 Seattle Seahawks W 20–17 4–1 Arrowhead Stadium 77,877 Recap 6 October 5 at Miami Dolphins L 14–17 4–2 Pro Player Stadium 71,794 Recap 7Bye 8 San Diego Chargers W 31–3 5–2 Arrowhead Stadium 77,196 Recap 9 October 26 at St. Louis Rams W 28–20 6–2 Trans World Dome 64,864 Recap 10 Pittsburgh Steelers W 13–10 7–2 Arrowhead Stadium 78,301 Recap 11 November 9 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 10–24 7–3 Alltel Stadium 70,444 Recap 12 November 16 Denver Broncos W 24–22 8–3 Arrowhead Stadium 77,963 Recap 13 November 23 at Seattle Seahawks W 19–14 9–3 Kingdome 66,264 Recap 14 November 30 San Francisco 49ers W 44–9 10–3 Arrowhead Stadium 77,535 Recap 15 December 7 Oakland Raiders W 30–0 11–3 Arrowhead Stadium 76,379 Recap 16 December 14 at San Diego Chargers W 29–7 12–3 Qualcomm Stadium 54,594 Recap 17 December 21 New Orleans Saints W 25–13 13–3 Arrowhead Stadium 66,772 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: at Denver Broncos
Week 2: at Oakland Raiders
Week 3: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 4: at Carolina Panthers
Week 5: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 6: at Miami Dolphins
Week 8: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 9: at St. Louis Rams
Week 10: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 11: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 12: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 13: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 14: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 15: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 16: at San Diego Chargers
Week 17: vs. New Orleans Saints
Standings
Postseason
Schedule Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Wild CardFirst-round bye Divisional January 4, 1998 Denver Broncos (4) L 10–14 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium 76,965 Recap
Game summaries AFC Divisional Playoffs: vs. (4) Denver Broncos
See also Rich Gannon/Elvis Grbac quarterback controversy
References