This Week In Chiefs History - Chiefs at Lions, November 1996

I used to post this series every week on Chiefsplanet a few years. I think it's time to bring it back for all of the internet to enjoy! 

THIS WEEK IN CHIEFS HISTORY

Nov. 28, 1996

KANSAS CITY 28, DETROIT 24

Allen's Td Ices Win, Keeps Heat On Lions' Fontes


PONTIAC, Mich. — Marcus Allen says records are nice, yet winning is better. He experienced both Thursday.

Allen rushed for two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 46 seconds remaining, sending the Kansas City Chiefs to a 28-24 victory and virtually ending the Detroit Lions' slim playoff hopes.

Allen now has 112 rushing touchdowns, bettering the old mark of 110 he had shared with Walter Payton.

"The second touchdown was better, because we really needed the win after last week (a 28-14 loss to the Chargers)," said Allen, who had 73 yards on 15 carries. "Records are made to be broken, and there is already someone on my heels (Emmitt Smith of Dallas), so I feel like I'm just borrowing the record."

The Chiefs also buried any quarterback controversy that might have grown from coach Marty Schottenheimer's decision to start Rich Gannon ahead of Steve Bono.

Gannon, given the job because of his mobility, scrambled for 45 of the 243 rushing yards for Kansas City (9-4). He also completed 15 of 18 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

"It wasn't pretty, but we won," Gannon said. "I have to give a lot of credit to the offensive line, because they just pounded the Detroit defense. We ran the ball a ton, and they really came through."

Detroit (5-8) needed another miracle finish to take the heat off beleaguered coach Wayne Fontes. Instead, the Lions have lost six of their last seven after starting the season 4-2.

"We need to play defense," Fontes said. "That's the bottom line. You look at the teams that win championships or just win. They have the quarterback and the running back and we have those. What makes those teams different is when their defenses go on the field, they stop people."

The Lions couldn't do that in the clutch against Kansas City. The Chiefs ran the ball on 12 of 15 plays during their 76-yard drive for Allen's winning touchdown. They ran 7:55 off the clock in the process.

"We played fairly well today, but in the end they ran the ball right down our throats," said Detroit safety Bennie Blades. "We just couldn't stop the run. That's the way Kansas City likes to play."

The Chiefs also played solid defense. They picked off three Detroit passes, one by Barry Sanders, who lobbed a floater toward Herman Moore in the end zone.

Sanders had 77 yards on 20 rushes, including a vintage 13-yard touchdown dash. And a 21-yard field goal by Jason Hanson gave Detroit a 24-21 lead with 8:41 left. Thereafter, it was all Kansas City.

Greg Hill, who had 103 yards on 17 carries, ran seven times for 29 yards during the clinching drive. After a 7-yard run by Hill gave Kansas City first and goal at the 2, Allen returned to the backfield and scored the game-winner two plays later.Allen got No. 111 at 11:11 of the first quarter. With three touchdowns Sunday, Smith now has 108 for his career, moving into third place.[/quote]

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