Lucky Chiefs? Ahead of Browns game, revisit KC’s history of last-play dramatics
The Chiefs’ winning streak in one-score games — eight points or fewer — has reached 15. It dates to last season and is the longest such stretch in NFL history. Three playoff games, including the Super Bowl, are included.
Just as amazing is the Chiefs’ run of victories on a game’s final play. Half of the Chiefs’ 12 wins this season have ended that way, and their Super Bowl LVIII victory over the San Francisco 49ers — on Patrick Mahomes’ TD pass to Mecole Hardman in overtime — makes it seven of their last 13.
The Chiefs’ remarkable fortune — being referred to as luck in some circles — brings to mind other walk-off triumphs in the franchise’s history ... and who better to guide us through some of the wildest conclusions to games in previous eras than broadcaster Mitch Holthus.
Voice of the Chiefs since 1994, Holthus has called more than 500 games. But these five stand among the most stunning finishes in franchise history. Holthus this week shared memories of some of these winning plays, with his call for each.
Because the Chiefs are headed to Cleveland on Sunday, let’s start there:
Sept. 8, 2002: Chiefs 40, Browns 39
Kicker Morten Andersen booted a 30-yard field goal to beat the Browns, but the play that set up the kick lives in infamy in Cleveland.
The Chiefs trailed 39-37 with four seconds remaining and the ball at their 47. Time for a final play. Quarterback Trent Green couldn’t escape the clutches of Browns linebacker Dwayne Rudd and was spun around, headed to the ground for a sack.
But Green managed to flip the ball behind him, lateraling to tackle John Tait.
“A last chance,” Holthus said. “It looked like all hope is lost, but I see Dwayne Rudd has thrown his helmet. I say, “The game cannot end on a defensive penalty.’
“But where I blew it was I wasn’t calling yard lines as Tait was running.”
With a wall of fellow linemen blocking, Tait rumbled 29 yards before being pushed out of bounds. That gain, plus an unsportsmanlike conduct flag on Rudd for removing his helmet, set up the Chiefs at Browns’ 12 for Andersen’s short field goal on an untimed down.
Oct. 12, 2003: Chiefs 40, Packers 34 OT
The Chiefs trailed at Lambeau Field 31-14 entering the fourth quarter but a rally fueled by Jerome Woods’ 79-yard pick-six got the game to overtime. Then came this bizarre three-play sequence:
Andersen’s 48-yard field goal was blocked; Packers running back Ahman Green had the ball jarred loose by Woods for a fumble; and Green hit Eddie Kennison on a 51-yard bomb for the walk-off winner.
“I remember saying that this would take a comeback of historic proportion,” Holthus said. Until that day, the Chiefs had not won a game while trailing by as many as 17 in the fourth quarter.
Nov. 16, 1997: Chiefs 24, Broncos 22
John Elway made a habit of crushing Chiefs fans hopes, and this was shaping up as another heart-breaking loss as the Broncos took a late lead.
But Rich Gannon and Andre Rison hooked up for a 10-yard completion to the Denver 37. Four seconds remained and Pete Stoyanovich, acquired the previous season from the Miami Dolphins, came on to attempt a 54-yard field goal on a frigid day at Arrowhead.
The ball barely made it over the crossbar. As it did, Holthus shouted, “Pete Stoyanovich for president!”
“That kick was a Phil Niekro knuckleball,” Holthus said. “Stoyo’s range that day was like 53.779. It felt like it took forever to get there.
“’Pete Stoyanovich for president’ just popped out. People still remember that one.”
Sept. 17, 1995: Chiefs 23, Raiders 17 OT
The 1995 season rivals what’s happening this season. The Chiefs won three of their first five games in walk-off fashion, starting with a victory over the New York Giants 20-17 on Lin Elliott’s 23-yard field goal in Week 2.
The Chiefs trailed by 14 in the fourth quarter. Then things got crazy. A week later, the Chiefs opened an overtime period with the Raiders with the ball. But Marcus Allen fumbled.
The Raiders were closing in on field goal range when wide receiver Tim Brown’s route was disrupted by a referee. Chiefs cornerback James Hasty was in the right spot to pick off Jeff Hostetler and return it 64 yards.
Nobody was happier than Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer, who pumped up the rivalry’s hype and made Raider Week into a cause.
“Hasty was such an underrated player,” Holthus said. “But I don’t know who was running faster, Hasty or Marty. It seems like he almost caught up with him.”
Oct. 9, 1995 Chiefs 29, Chargers 23 OT
Less than a month after Hasty’s big play, the Chiefs delivered another dramatic finish.
Returning kicks was Tamarick Vanover’s specialty. He finished with eight in his four seasons with the Chiefs. On “Monday Night Football” against the Chargers, he decided not to fair-catch a punt in traffic at the 14. He went left, broke free from the only player to get a hand on him — the punter — and ended the game with an 84-yard return.
What does Holthus remember about this play? Arrowhead Stadium was at its loudest during that winning big-play return, but Holthus could hardly be heard over the air because his microphone had been turned down so he wouldn’t compete with the crowd noise.
“As for the play, you had this return man with speed in a fullback’s body,” Holthus said. “He did this (touchdown returns) a lot.”
This story was originally published December 12, 2024 at 11:37 AM.