Blast from the past - Week 4

September 9th 1984: Kansas City Chiefs 27 – Cincinnati Bengals 22

The Chiefs and Bengals served up an entertaining match at the Riverfront Stadium in week 2 of the 1984 season. Despite the Bengals losing their opener, and the Chiefs winning theirs (away in Pittsburgh), the Vegas line had the Bengals down as home favourites. Although the outcome was in doubt right to the end, it would be Kansas City who would prevail and get their season off to a 2 and 0 start.

After a Theotis Brown rushing TD for the Chiefs was the only score of the first quarter, KC struck again early in the second through a Todd Blackledge pass to Anthony Hancock. After a stellar college career, leading Penn State to a college championship in 1982, Blackledge had been selected by the Chiefs in the first round of the 1983 draft (above both Jim Kelly and Dan Marino). He never managed to consistently hold down a starting role, though, and in fact started only 40 games in his five years with the Chiefs. An infamous trivia fact: at the time of writing, he remains the last quarterback drafted by the Chiefs to win a game for us!

Two touchdowns for the home side made the game level at 14-14 at the interval, and then the Bengals took the lead with a field goal in the 3rd. But the Chiefs were soon back in front as Blackledge hit the mark again, this time with a 29 yard play to Carlos Carson.

In case you were wondering (as I was), Carlos Carson is not in fact Lenny’s friend from the Simpsons, but actually a solid wide receiver with over 30 TDs in his 10 years as a Chief. He had multiple 1,000 yard seasons - his best performance, 1,351 yards in the 1983 season, was enough for second overall in the NFL behind Philadelphia’s Mike Quick, and a place in the Pro Bowl.

A Nick Lowery field goal to end the quarter gave us a 24-17 lead, but the Bengals fought back again with a safety and a field goal. Finally, a late second field goal from Lowery allowed Chiefs fans to breathe a little more easily.Despite the contrasting starts to the season, both teams would finish with a very average 8 and 8 record (the Bengals actually scored exactly as many point as they conceded and so were absolutely middle-of-the-road).

Elsewhere in the NFL at the time:

The Detroit Lions went to Atlanta and won a thriller – they led 17-0 and 24-17 but both times the Falcons pulled them back. A 48-yard field goal in overtime sealed the win – although it would be a disappointing season overall for both of these teams.

Elsewhere in the world:

‘Now That’s What I Call Music 3’, featuring hits such as Two Tribes and Wake Me Up before you Go-Go is top of the album charts, as royal hell-raiser Prince Harry is born.

Editors note - Prince Harry keeps good company.