The Kansas City Chiefs were founded in 1960. In the 63 seasons since, there has been a vast collection of historic moments that some fans will never be able to forget. Obviously, their two Super Bowl wins are accomplishments that should be celebrated by fans for years to come, and it’s hard to top the franchise’s first-ever Lombardi Trophy victory, but there are so many sequences that stand the test of time.
Going in reverse order of importance, here are the five most iconic moments in Kansas City Chiefs playoff history.
5. Chiefs participate in Super Bowl I
Long before Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid took over the Chiefs, it was Len Dawson and Hank Schram who became local legends thanks to their success from 1962-74. While we’ll get into their 1969 team down below, for now let’s focus on the 1966 squad that made history by playing in Super Bowl I.
This Chiefs team ranked first in scoring and second in points allowed, leading the best record in the AFL, pitting Kansas City to take on the NFL’s best team, the Green Bay Packers, for the league title.
While making it to the Super Bowl is a feat in itself, that was where the fun ended, for now. The Chiefs would go on to be crushed 35-10 by Vince Lombardi’s Packers. Still, to be a part of NFL history, that’s special.
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4. 13 seconds to beat the Bills
While the stakes may not match the other mentions on this list, being that the Bills vs Chiefs 2022 Divisional Round matchup wasn’t even for a conference title, let alone a Super Bowl. Still, if we’re talking iconic moments, it doesn’t get much better than the 13-second comeback the Chiefs executed to send one of the most exciting football games of all time to OT.
Coming off a 17-play, 7-minute drive that saw Josh Allen and the Bills masterfully march down the field to take a 29-26 lead with just 1:54 to go on the game clock, the Chiefs struck back quickly, with a five-play, 75-yard drive ending with a 64-yard Tyreek Hill touchdown catch to put the Chiefs back ahead at 33-29 with 62 seconds to go.
Once again, the Bills thought they had a win secured after once again soaking up 49 seconds on six plays to take a 36-33 lead thanks to a 19-yard Gabe Davis touchdown. With 13 seconds to go, one would think the game would be over, but not for Patrick Mahomes. He needed just three plays to rack up 44 yards, getting Harrison Butker in position to connect on a 49-yard game-tying field goal as time expired.
But that was just the end of regulation. In a game that felt like whoever would touch the ball last would win, that’s exactly what happened, as the Chiefs won the coin toss in overtime, setting up for more Mahomes magic. He would then lead an eight-play, 75-yard drive, finding Travis Kelce in the endzone for an eight-yard touchdown to crush Buffalo’s Super Bowl hopes again.
In a game that featured a combined 974 yards of offense, leading to a total of 78 points scored, it’s hard not to place the 2022 playoff win over the Bills as one of the greatest moments in Chiefs’ team history.
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3. Chiefs shut out Texans for first playoff win in 22 years
On Jan. 16, 1994, the Chiefs defeated the Houston Oilers 28-20. While the Chiefs are enjoying a great run of success in the last two decades, a span of nearly 22 years separated their eighth and ninth playoff wins in team history.
On Jan. 9, 2016, the Chiefs ended this long drought, which included eight losses in between wins, by defeating the Houston Texans in a 30-0 shutout. It was coach Andy Reid’s first postseason win with the Chiefs, which he did in his third season with the team.
The Chiefs’ defense forced Brian Hoyer to turn the ball over four times and Travis Kelce was his typical self, going off for his first career playoff game over the century mark with 128 receiving yards. Yet, Patrick Mahomes wasn’t quite on the case yet, instead, it was Alex Smith leading the Chiefs into battle. Unfortunately, Kansas City wouldn’t win another playoff game for three years.
2. Patrick Mahomes completes another comeback, wins Super Bowl LIV
It’s easy to look back and see the Chiefs as the 2019 Super Bowl winners, but what that achievement doesn’t signify is how the team accomplished the feat. After avoiding the Wild Card round thanks to their 12-4 record as the No. 2 seed in the AFC, the Chiefs found themselves facing a 24-point deficit against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round before Mahomes went berserk, scoring 28 points in the second quarter alone.
In all, the Kansas City QB would finish with 321 passing yards, 53 rushing yards, and five touchdowns as the Chiefs defeated the Texans 51-31. Next week in the AFC Championship, the Chiefs once again were trailing by 10 points before emerging victorious 35-24 against Tennessee.
Even in the Super Bowl against the San Francisco 49ers, the Chiefs were down 20-10 as the third quarter came to a close. But Kansas City only needed the final frame, as they would go on to score 21 unanswered points to take home the Super Bowl LIV Trophy, giving Mahomes his first ring at the age of 24.
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1. Kansas City Chiefs win franchise’s first Super Bowl
The Chiefs may have played in the first-ever Super Bowl, but they lost. However, it only took Kansas City three years to make it back to the NFL’s biggest stage. Only, in 1969, the Chiefs actually won Super Bowl IV, in a game few expected them to win.
Facing off against Bud Grant’s Purple People Eaters version of the Minnesota Vikings, who led the NFL in both points scored and points allowed, the Chiefs entered the day as 12-point underdogs. Can you imagine such a perceived difference in talent in the NFL today between two teams playing in the Super Bowl. It just doesn’t happen.
Yet, the Chiefs didn’t care about anyone doubting their abilities, with Hank Stram’s team leading from wire-to-wire as they sunk the Vikings’ ship in a 23-7 rout. If we’re ranking the top moments in Kansas City Chiefs’ playoff history, why not start with the franchise’s first Super Bowl win?