Chiefs-Colts rivalry

The Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League are considered to be modern playoff rivals [http://www.kcchiefs.com/media/misc/afc_wild_card_indianapolis_1_6_07.pdf Chiefs vs. Colts – AFC Wild Card Playoffs – 6 January 2007] (PDF format)] especially in the 1990s and early 2000s. In 2007, the Colts defeated the Chiefs in the playoffs for the third time in eleven years.

The Colts won the most recent regular season meeting between the two clubs by a 13-10 count at the RCA Dome on November 19, 2007. The Colts hold a 3-0 playoff record over the Chiefs, their most recent coming on their way to victory in Super Bowl XLI.

History

The Chiefs forever hold an 0-4 regular season record at the RCA Dome. The Chiefs’ last road victory against the Colts was a 38-28 decision at Baltimore on December 21, 1980. In both 1995 and 2003, the Chiefs had a 13-3 campaign derailed by Indianapolis. The two AFC Divisional Playoff tilts in this series at Arrowhead Stadium are unquestionably the most memorable contests in Chiefs-Colts history.

Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the Chiefs and Colts have squared off 19 times in regular and post-season play, with Indianapolis holding a 12-7 advantage. In regular season action, the Colts hold an 9-7 edge against Kansas City. Indianapolis also owns victories in the three previous post-season outings both at Arrowhead Stadium twice and the RCA Dome once.

Kansas City posted a 5-3 record against the Colts while they were stationed in Baltimore, but has just a 2-8 mark against them since the franchise relocated to Indianapolis in 1984. Kansas City claimed a 20-7 win in the team’s first-ever meeting against the Indianapolis incarnation of the Colts on November 24, 1985 and snapped a six-game losing streak against the franchise in 2004 with a 45-35 victory on Halloween. The Chiefs are 0-3 on the road against the Colts since the team relocated in Indianapolis, with the Colts winning the last meeting in Indianapolis by a 13-10 count at the RCA Dome on November 18, 2007.

imilarities between teams

The Colts of the modern day and the Chiefs of the 1990's are considered to be very similar. Gretz, Bob. [http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2007/01/05/gretz_chiefs_fanscolts_fans_know_the_pain/ Chiefs fans, Colts fans know the pain] , "KCChiefs.com", 5 January 2007.] Both Kansas City and Indianapolis went to the playoffs in six straight seasons (1990-1995 for the Chiefs and 2002-2007 for the Colts). Both teams prior to the 2006 NFL season had not participated in the Super Bowl since 1970 (Chiefs) and 1971 (Baltimore Colts) respectively.

In 2003, both teams had the NFL's top two offenses, with Kansas City first [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan2003.htm Pro Football Reference — 2003 Kansas City Chiefs] ] and Indianapolis second [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt2003.htm Pro Football Reference — 2003 Indianapolis Colts] ] out of 32 teams. The Chiefs started the season 9-0 with kick returner Dante Hall returning 4 kicks for touchdowns and Priest Holmes breaking Marshall Faulk's single-season touchdown record. The Colts had the second best offense in the league with quarterback Peyton Manning and wide receiver Marvin Harrison's offensive gameplan blooming.

1995-96 playoffs

In NFL playoffs, 1995-96, the underdog Colts defeated the Chiefs 10-7 at Arrowhead Stadium [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt1995.htm Pro Football Reference — 1995 Indianapolis Colts] ] [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt1995.htm Pro Football Reference — 1995 Kansas City Chiefs] ] . Three Kansas City interceptions and three missed field goals from kicker Lin Elliot doomed the Chiefs in a contest played with a -9 windchill as the Colts advanced to the AFC Championship Game at Pittsburgh to come within a game of Super Bowl XXX.

1996 Season

The Colts played the Chiefs in Arrowhead Stadium during week 16 of the season. The Chiefs entered the game with a record of 9-5 and the Colts with a record of 8-6. The Colts edged out the Chiefs 24-19 and improved to 9-6 while the Chiefs fell to 9-6. In the final week of the season the Colts received the final playoff spot over the Chiefs because of the tie-breaker.

The Colts victory over the Chiefs was even more impressive considering the Chiefs home field advantage and great home-field winning percentage. The Chiefs would not lose another home game at Arrowhead in December until 2006.

2003-04 playoffs

In the 2003-04 playoffs, both the Chiefs and Colts had the NFL’s most powerful offenses . The Colts beat the Chiefs again at Arrowhead Stadium with a score of 38-31 in a shootout . The game was the only playoff game in NFL history to have no punts from either team’s kicking squads.

Despite a 92-yard kickoff returned for a touchdown from wide receiver Dante Hall and a franchise playoff record 176 rushing yards from running back Priest Holmes, Colts quarterback Peyton Manning was near perfect throwing for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns. [cite web|url=http://football.about.com/cs/2003nflplayoffs/a/aa011104.htm|title=Manning, Offense Nearly Perfect Again|accessdate=2007-01-15] [cite web|url=http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/sports/football/nfl/kansas_city_chiefs/16395337.htm?source=rss&channel=kansas_kansas_city_chiefs|title=Witchita Eagle - Chiefs Playoffs history|accessdate=2007-01-13]

2006-07 playoffs

In 2007, the Colts defeated the Chiefs 23-8 at the RCA Dome [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/clt2006.htm Pro Football Reference — 2006 Indianapolis Colts] ] despite anticipation that the Chiefs’ Larry Johnson would break through the Colts’ dismal run defense. That past season, the Colts had the NFL’s worst run-defense, while Larry Johnson carried the ball for an NFL record 416 times and gained nearly 1,800 rushing yards. [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/kan2006.htm Pro Football Reference — 2006 Kansas City Chiefs] ]

Unlike the team’s previous playoff meeting which was all about offense, the story of the 2007 game was the team’s respective defenses. Kansas City recorded three interceptions, two coming from cornerback Ty Law, but the Chiefs’ offense could not record a first down in the first forty minutes of the game. The Colts went on to win Super Bowl XLI later in the playoffs.

See also

* Rivalries in the NFL
* NFL Playoffs
* Kansas City Chiefs
* Indianapolis Colts
* Chiefs-Raiders rivalry
* Colts-Patriots rivalry

References